 A visitor to the region, Count Franz de Telek, is intrigued by the stories and decides to go to the castle and investigate.He finds that the owner of the castle is Baron Rodolphe de Gortz, with whom he is acquainted; years earlier, they were rivals for the affections of the celebrated Italian prima donna La Stilla.The Count thought that La Stilla was dead, but he sees her image and hears her voice coming from the castle.