Evenings for Sale

The Count von Degenthal was impoverished and facing complete financial ruin. With his debts insurmountable and his status as a nobleman stripped of meaning, he resolved to end his life during what he believed would be his final night at the lavish costume ball.

After encountering his former butler Bimpfl at the ball, the Count was offered work as a gigolo at a local dance club. Despite the job conflicting with his noble dignity, he accepted because it promised a way out of his crushing debt and provided immediate financial relief.

Jenny Kent, a wealthy American heiress, became enchanted with the Count after dancing with him at the ball. Captivated by his charm, she purchased his castle and cleared all his debts as a gesture of genuine affection and financial support.

The moment foreshadows a dramatic change in his status, as noted in the timeline.

The Count gave Jenny his family's treasured ring as a token of gratitude for her generosity in buying his castle and clearing his debts. The ring symbolized his past and his appreciation for her financial salvation, though it was not meant as an engagement gesture.

Bimpfl lied to Lela by making her believe the Count's gift of the ring indicated an engagement to Jenny. His motivation was to secure a serving position in the household; he used the misunderstanding to manipulate the situation for his own employment benefit.

Lela's belief that the Count was engaged to Jenny stemmed from Bimpfl's deception during her visit to the mansion. The truth eventually emerged, clarifying that the ring gesture was one of gratitude, not an engagement announcement. Once the misunderstanding was cleared, Lela's confidence in her judgment was restored.

Jenny learned from news in America that she had become a grandmother. This realization made her see the folly of pursuing a much younger man and prompted her to reconsider her romantic pursuit of the Count. She decided to return to the United States, though she hinted at converting the mansion into a hotel.

After the misunderstandings were cleared up, the Count and Lela worked toward reconciliation. They overcame the misperceptions caused by Bimpfl's deception and the class barriers between them. The story ends with them reaffirming their feelings and choosing a path forward together.