The events described in the letters that make up the outline of the story fit into a short period of time: August - December 17 ... But for such a short period of time from the correspondence of the main characters we comprehend their philosophy of life.

Quite a long-term relationship connects de Valmont, the main character, with his correspondent, Madame de Merteuil. She is witty, charming and in communication with the opposite sex is no less experienced than he. So, at the beginning of the story from the letter of the Marquise de Merteuil from Paris, addressed to the Viscount de Valmont, who lives in the castle of Aunt de Rosmond in the summer, we learn about her insidious intrigue. The Marquise, wanting revenge on her lover who had left her, Count Jercourt, invites Valmont to seduce the future bride of the Count, fifteen-year-old Cecilia Volange, a pupil of the monastery, whose income is sixty thousand livres. But the Viscount rejects this tempting offer, because he is passionate about the presidential de Tourvell and does not intend to stop halfway, since this lady, a virtuous wife, is much more attractive to Valmont and defeating her will bring him incomparably more pleasure than seducing a boarder. Madame de Turvelle, modest and pious, having heard about the countless novels of Valmont, from the very beginning accepts the courtship of a secular lion with fear and distrust. But the cunning female lover still manages to win over the untouchable. Having discovered that the servant of the president is following him at the request of his mistress, he uses this to his advantage. Having chosen the right moment, in front of a bewildered crowd, among whom, of course, is a servant, the Viscount rescues the poor family from ruin, generously giving her a large sum of money. A shocked servant reports on what he saw to the lady, and Valmont’s calculation is correct, since that very evening de Tourvell gives the Viscount a gentle look, appreciating his kindness, but nevertheless wondering how he has coexisted with debauchery and nobility. The viscount continues the offensive and throws letters at Madame de Turvelle, filled with tenderness and love, while gladly retelling their contents to the Marquise de Merteuil, who is extremely dissatisfied with this passion and insistently advises to leave this extravagant undertaking. But Valmont is already carried away by the pursuit of that intoxication which is condescending to a person when only two remain in the whole world - he and his love. This state, of course, cannot last forever, but when it occurs, it cannot be compared with anything. Valmon strives precisely for these sensations - he is a womanizer, he is a libertine, he has won many victories, but only because he wants to experience deeper feelings. Starting to drag herself for the excessively bashful wife of the judge, the “divine sanctuary” Madame de Turvel, the Viscount does not assume that, ironically, this is the woman he has been looking for all his life.

Meanwhile, we learn the story of young lovers, Cecilia Volange and the gentleman of Dunsany, who were involved in the intrigues of Valmont and Mertej. Danseny, a music teacher who gives Cecilia singing lessons, falls in love with a girl and not without reason hopes for reciprocity. The education of the feelings of two young people is watched with interest by the Marquis de Merteuil. Cecilia is fascinated by this woman and in frank conversations trusts her all her secrets, showing the first impulses of an inexperienced heart. The Marquise is interested in the fact that the marriage of Cecilia and the Count de Gercourt did not take place, so she strongly encourages this sudden outburst of feeling. It was the Marquise who arranges for young people in private, taking Madame Volange out of the house under various specious pretexts. But the clever procurer is dissatisfied with the slowness of Danseny, she expects more decisive action from him, therefore, turns to Valmont with a request to engage in an inexperienced handsome man and teach him the science of love.

In one of the letters Madame de Merteu sets out her story and her life rules. The magnificent de Merteuil is a woman who was able to win her place in the high society of the French monarchy due to her appearance, audacity and wit. From a young age, she carefully listens to everything that they want to hide from her. This curiosity taught the marquise the art of pretense, and the true way of her thoughts became only her secret, but only what was profitable was shown to people. After the death of her husband, the widow leaves for a year in the village, and at the end of the mourning returns to the capital. First of all, she takes care of being considered invincible, but does this in a very original way. The deceiver accepts courtship only of those men who are indifferent to her, therefore, it does not cost her any difficulty to resist unsuccessful fans; to numerous lovers, before whom the marquise pretends to be a shy person, she forbids her to pay attention to her in people, therefore, in society she has a reputation as a woman inaccessible and pious. Ms. de Merteuil admits in a letter to Valmont that he was the only one of her hobbies that gained power over her for a moment, but at the moment she is entering into a game with de Prevain, a man who publicly announced his intention to conquer the "proud" . A reprisal against the insolent followed immediately. A few days later, the Marquis, delightedly savoring the details and triumphing the victory, describes this adventure to Valmont. The temptress favorably takes Prevan's courtship and encourages him, inviting him to a dinner party. After the card game, all guests disperse home, Prevan, by agreement with the Marquise, hides on a secret staircase, and at midnight enters her boudoir. As soon as he finds herself in the arms of a pretty woman, she struggles to ring, summoning servants as witnesses. After this scandal, Prevan was dismissed from the unit in which he served and was deprived of the officer rank, and the Marquis did not allow, therefore, to doubt his piety.

Valmont, meanwhile, wishing to check how impressed Ms. de Tourvell would be with his departure, leaves the castle for a while. He continues to passionately declare his love, and de Tourvell, upset by the Viscount's departure, realizes that she is in love. She, frightened by her feelings, tries to overcome them, but this is beyond her power. As soon as Valmont notices a change in his gentle sanctuary, he immediately shows interest in young Volange, paying attention to the fact that she is very pretty and falling in love with her, like Dunsany, would be stupid, but not having fun with her is no less stupid. In addition, the baby needs comfort. Marquise de Merteil, annoyed by the slowness of Danseny, finds a way to stir him up. She believes that he needs obstacles in love, for happiness puts him to sleep. Therefore, she tells Ms. Volange about her daughter's correspondence with Danseny and about the dangerous relationship between them. An angry mother sends Cecilia from Paris to the castle, and young people suspect a betrayal of the maid. The Marquise asks de Valmont to become an intermediary between the lovers and their adviser. Soon, Valmont gains the trust of inexperienced Cecilia, convincing her of his devotion and friendship. In a letter to the Marquise, our hero-lover describes his next victory. He does not have to come up with any ways to seduce Cecilia, he penetrates the girl’s bedroom at night and does not receive a rebuff. Moreover, soon the Marquise in response painted Valmont how good the ardent lover of Danseny was. So, young lovers get their first sensual lessons in the beds of our protagonists, showing their true innocence with its curiosity and bashfulness.

In one of the letters, Valmont complains to the Marquise of Madame de Turvel. He was sure that she was completely in his power, but her unexpected departure, which the Viscount regards as an escape, confused all his cards. He is at a loss: what rock is tying him to this woman, because there are hundreds of others who are eager for his attention, but now there is no happiness, no peace, and he has only one goal - to possess Ms. de Turvel, whom he also ardently hates, as he loves. Once at home at the beautiful recluse (from the day she returns to Paris, she has not accepted anyone), the Viscount conquers this touchy. He is at the top of bliss. Oaths of eternal love, tears of happiness - all this is described in a letter to the marquise, which he recalls about betting (if he succeeds in seducing de Turvel, the marquise will give him a night of love) and already with delight awaits the promised reward. For three months he sought Mrs. de Turvel, but if his mind was busy with her, does this mean that the heart is enslaved as well? Valmont himself refuses to answer, he is frightened of the true feeling and abandons his beloved. In doing so, he inflicts a mortal wound on her, and she hides in a monastery, where two weeks later she dies of grief.

Valmont, having learned from the maid that the lady had gone to the monastery, again turned to the marquise with a request for a meeting. But Mertei spends all his time with Danseny and refuses to accept Valmont. He is offended and declares war on his former friend. The viscount sends Danseny a letter in which he reminds the young man of the existence of Cecilia, eager for attention and love and ready to meet him that night, that is, Danseny must choose between coquetry and love, between pleasure and happiness. Danseny, without warning the marquise that their night date is canceled, meets his young lover. The marquise is furious when she wakes up a note from Valmont: “Well, how do you find the joys of the past night? ..” and comes up with a way to cruelly take revenge on him. She shows Danseny's note and convinces him to challenge Viscount to a duel. Valmont dies, but before he dies, he opens Danseny's eyes to the Marquise de Merteuil, showing many letters testifying to regular correspondence between them. In them she tells about herself, moreover, in the most shameless way, scandalous stories. Danseny does not make this a secret. Therefore, soon the Marquise has to endure a cruel scene. In the theater, she finds herself alone in her box, although there have always been many fans next to her, after the performance, leaving the lobby, she is booed by the men present; the cup of her humiliation overflows when Herr de Prevain, who has not appeared anywhere after his adventure, enters the foyer, where everyone joyfully greets him. There is no doubt that in the future both the position and the rank will be returned to him.

The marquise, having been ill with smallpox, turns out to be terribly disfigured, and one of her friends pronounces the phrase, taken up by everyone: "The disease turned her inside out, and now her soul is on her face." She flees to Holland, taking with her a very large amount of diamonds, which were to be returned to her husband’s inheritance. Cecilia Volange, learning about the death of de Turvel and Valmont and the shame of the Marquise, goes to the monastery and brings a vow to the novice. Danseny leaves Paris and goes to Malta, where he intends to stay forever and live away from the light.