Venice, 1640. Jaffier is in exile on an island. Years before, in 1618, he was the leader of the conspiracy hatched by the Spaniards in order to conquer Venice. But he denounced the conspiracy to the Venice government and saved the city. Therefore he was banished by the Serenissima Republic for high treason. Now, in 1640, he lives on an island of Venice like a hermit, facing his own defeat every day.
