In the Dutch Republic in 1672, a wealthy man named Cornelius Van Baerle devotes his life to growing tulips, unaware of his family's close involvement with political intrigue.
An escaped convict is on the loose, and the police are searching all the doss-houses in the hopes of finding him there. A young journalist is sent by his editor to assist in the search with the aim of reporting on any interesting stories he may find among those seeking shelter that night in the...