In Andre Brissard's studio in Paris painters and their models are having an exceedingly gay party when, amidst great jubilation, Rene, Count of Luxembourg, arrives on the scene. He has barely two sous in his pocket but nothing can spoil his good humour—not even the arrival of a group of decidedly sinister strangers wearing black dominoes who ask to speak to him in private. Mysteriously they infer that a considerable sum of money is involved which could be his if he agrees with their plan.

It appears that their leader, the Grand Duke Basil Basilovitch. is in love with a famous singer, Angele Didier, and wants to marry her, but first she must be given the necessary aristocratic standing. Basil's proposal is that in return for payment of half-a-million francs Rene shall marry her—thus making her Countess of Luxembourg. After three months they will be divorced. He has not to set eyes on his bride—not even during the marriage service and during the three months he is not to appear in Paris under his own name. After a moment's hesitation the lure of half-a-million francs is too much for him, and Rene enters into the spirit of the masquerade and agrees to the bargain.

Presently Angele Didier arrives at the studio. She has consented to marry the old Grand Duke partly from ambition and partly for the help he has given her in her career. The wedding duly takes place and the rings are exchanged with the couple separated by an outsize canvas. Nor is Rene told his bride's name. But in spite of this each of them is drawn to romantic speculation on the other, and they both experience a peculiarly intimate sense of sympathy.

The wedding over, the Grand Duke removes Angele, and left alone in the studio Rene fancies himself in love with an unknown woman.

Three months later a farewell party to Angele Didier is in full swing at the Grand Hotel. The singer has made her last public appearance and next day she will be divorced from Rene and marry the Grand Duke Basil. Rene has just returned with his friend Andre Brissard from three months travelling about Europe. They have been to the theatre that night, and there Rene has seen Angele on stage. He is so taken with her that he is de- termined to meet her. When Angele surprises him as he stands alone he loses no time in declaring his love for her. She is strangely drawn to him. Finally she wards him off by confessing that she is already married. The Grand Duke Basil is greatly shocked when he sees Angele dancing with Rene and makes haste to announce to the guests his forthcoming marriage to her. Brissard, whom Rene has confided in, protests that Angele is already married, and Basil and Angele are forced to make public the details of the marriage of convenience. Angele expressing her contempt for the Count of Luxembourg—a man who was prepared to marry for money. Rene steps forward and admits that he is the husband she so despises.

"Farewell, Angele," he says. "I sold you far more than my name ... I sold you my heart's happiness."

Angele cannot bear to see him go but though they both now admit their love, the Grand Duke Basil and Rene's sense of honour still stand between them. As they sadly embrace they are surprised by one of the hotel guests. the eccentric Princess Tatiana Kokozov. She tells them that she is in Paris to find the Grand Duke Basilovitch to whom she has been engaged to be married for twenty years.

"In our country," she adds, "an engagement is for ever!"

Basil, storming in, is transfixed with horror at the sight of Princess Kokozov, but there is no course open to him but to release Rene from his obligations and give in meekly to the Princess's possessive protestations of affection as Rene and Angele declare ecstatically,