ARGUMENT OF THE FIRST ACT

In Scène i. Léonie on coming into the room overhears tlie footman Charles making remarks on a picture of her Aunt. This and his subséquent language,before and after the entry of the Countess in the next Scène, lead her to complain of him (Se. iii.). "If I were niistress, " she exclaims, "he should not stay in the house. " Her Aunt rings for Charles, reprimands him, and sends Léonie to dress for a ride (Se. iv.), keeping back Charles — who is in reality Henri de Flavigneul, a proscnbedJBoiiapartist in disguise — to caution him against thèse extravagances, which are sure to betray him — the more so beçause the newly appointed Prefect of the district.M. de Montrichard is a dangerous and clever foe. Henri niakcs rather a lame defence and rccounts incidentally how, after his arrest by the Royalists, he owes his escape and ]iresent safety enlirely to the Countess (Se. v.). Léonie réturns dressed for a ride (Se. vi. ) and followed by de Grignon (Se. vii.) an enthusiastically courageous person in idea — but in reality less 30 — for reasons which he détails (Se. ix.). He is in love with the Countess and proceeds to leave a statement to that effect for her in writing. As he does so the Countess returns with Léonie, who has fainted during her ride, but recovers (while de Grignon, glad of the excuse (Se. x.), has gone for a doctor) and explains (Se. xi.) how Henri has betiayed to her his true position and — that she loves him. The Countess is overcome at the ccrtainty that what she had feared has actually happened, and (Se. xii.) confesses herself to a love for Henri which can no longer be concealed under a plca of sisterly interest. Unable to suppress her feelings altogether, she décides to leave Henri open to choose betwccn herself and Léonie. At this moment

she discovers de Grignon's letter and he enters (Se. xiii.) to find her reading it. To his delight she is kinder than he dared hope, and he leads her to a village fête given in her honour.