With the intention of discrediting the King and of inciting the people to rebel, Blancbec has persuaded the nobility of a province to raise excessive and unfair taxes from their subjects. But a mysterious character called Pedigreen Hood, the leader of a band of outlaws who hide in a forest, robs the nobility and shares out the proceeds among the poor. The nobles go to Paris to protest to the King and to demand assistance. Richelieu decides to send Widimer and his men.