From her sister Ida, a ballet dancer, the chambermaid Adele has got an invitation to a ball at the palace of the Russian Prince Orlovsky. Now she has to pretend to her mistress, Lady Gabriel von Eisenstein, that she needs an evening off to nurse her sick aunt; besides she has to get away with a beautiful dress of her mistress. At last she is granted an evening off..

Gabriel von Eisenstein, a gentleman of private means, is persuaded by his friend, the notary Dr.Falke, to join him at Prince Orlovsky’s party instead of going to prison - he is to be jailed briefly for insulting an official. Dr.Falke pursues a special plan, for Eisenstein had once shamed him in the whole town by making him walk home drunk from a masked ball, dressed up as a bat. Now Dr.Falke thinks it a good opportunity for the "revenge of the bat". That is why he also invites Eisenstein’s wife Rosalinde to the ball.

In the street Alfred’s tenor voice can be heard. After Eisenstein’s presumed exit (to jail) Alfred turns up, one of Rosalinde’s former admirers, who wants to make use of Eisenstein’s temporary absence. Alfred does not want to get Rosalinde into trouble and allows himself to be arrested and jailed in Eisenstein’s place. After having done his duty Frank happily attends Orlovsky’s ball.