Elizabeth and her secretary Ilona have arrived at a hotel in Ostend, Belgium. Concierge Pierre is astonished to see the Countess again. He last saw her 40 years ago when he was but a young bellboy, and she hasn't changed a bit. It is winter, and the only other hotel guests are a newlywed couple, Stefan and Valérie, who are en route from Switzerland to England, where Stefan's mother lives ...