One day in the countryside the gamekeeper Stefano is ambushed and beaten by a group of vigilantes led by Nanni, who take revenge on him for enforcing the poaching laws on the young Count's land and sending him to prison in Florence.

Stefano turns up soon afterwards at the shop owned by Nanni and although he is aware who attacked him he pretends it had been accident.

Despite the fact that they had been childhood friends, Stefano manages to persuade Nanni that the Count is betraying him.

Stoking his jealousy, he lures him out one night to a hunt for badgers, promising that the count has invited him.

When the other villagers arrives, the Count takes the blame for the shooting, claiming it was an accident on his part.