For a rich young Prince travelling incognito with his loyal companion, Venice promises only freedom and independence - until they encounter a mysterious masked Armenian who delivers them a strange prophecy. And when his words prove true, this enigmatic figure develops a deeply sinister influence over them, drawing them into darker forms of 'magic'. Misled by Schiller's ingenious metaphorical mirrors and narrative smokescreens, it becomes increasingly unclear whether the apparitions the Prince sees are the manifestations of a troubled spirit world or simply an elaborate hoax. Whatever the case, it seems that unknown powers are at work amidst the lavish atmosphere of the Venetian setting.