2. Fête galanteThe young Count René marries the young girl, Suzon. She has no idea that the marriage is invalid and
signed by a drunken lackey. Theater director Scaramouche discovers the deception and wants to take advantage of the situation. He gets a notary to sign the marriage contract and offers it to Suzon – he will demand payment later. René confesses that the marriage was invalid, but that he actually loves Suzon. Suzon just thinks he wants to test her, because she just saw the valid document. When the Marquis d'Argenville, one of René's friends, preys on Suzon, René challenges him to a duel. René demands silence from his friends about the deception, but Suzon has heard the whole thing. The king arrives, calls off the duel and demands to see the bride, to whom he has first right on the wedding night. René defends himself, and Scaramouche's wife is revealed to be Suzon. The king is immediately very smitten by her – much to Scaramouche's chagrin. Suzon reveals that she knows all about René's deception and tears up the marriage contract. However, René manages to convince her of his real intentions, and they reconcile.