The tragedy and comedy in Carlo's life begins, grows and ends like the tragedy and comedy of Portugal       In the company of his close friend, João da Ega, allegedly a brilliant writer, Carlos, with his idle existence as an aristocratic doctor, spends his time to enjoying friends and lovers       Until he falls in love       She is a new character in this revolutionary novel       It's a vertiginous passion that goes beyond that past gloominess to reach a new and darker abyss, incest