Prince Alexander, a nephew of the Tsar, and the commoner Vera love one another and wish to marry. But the groom waits in vain for the wedding day: the bride is socially unacceptable and these prejudices in St. Petersburg society prevent the marriage. Years later, the two see one another again in Berlin. Vera is now a famous singer; he, a taxi driver. Again, they wish to marry; but this time, the groom is the problem: he is ashamed to think this woman will be married to an impoverished emigrant.