[Don Lorenzo, a man of wealth and position living in Madrid,
has discovered that he is the son, not as he and all the
world had supposed, of the lady whose wealth and name he has
inherited, but of his nurse Juana, who dies after she has
revealed to him the secret of his birth. In consequence he
resolves publicly to renounce his name and his possessions,
although by doing so he will prevent the marriage of his
daughter Inez to Edward, the son of the Duchess of Almonte.
The mother will consent to Don Lorenzo's renunciation of his
possessions but not of his name, as this would throw a stigma
on Inez's origin. He refuses to listen either to the
reasoning or to the entreaties of his wife, the duchess,
Edward, and Dr. Tomas. Finally they are persuaded that he is
mad, and Dr. Tomas calls in a specialist to examine him. The
specialist, with two keepers, arrives at the house at the
same time with the notary, whom Don Lorenzo has sent for to
make before him a formal act of renunciation of his name and
possessions.]