This adventure story is built on a historical fact which happened when a serious earthquake hit Malta in 1693. Two young friends were helping in the rebuilding of Mdina cathedral when they come across a jar full of gold coins hidden in the ground. The Grand Master of the Order and the Archpriest of the cathedral both claim the treasure. One of the two friends keeps some of the coins, tries to sell them and finds himself in a lot of trouble. The friendship of the other young man with a nobleman's son changes his life altogether and leads him to an intimacy with his sister.