 A marriage with Pomponnet, a sweet and gentle hairdresser, has been arranged for her against her wishes, for she is in love with Ange Pitou, a dashing poet and political activist, who is continually in trouble with the authorities.His latest song lyric, "Jadis les rois", satirises the relations between Mlle.Lange – an actress and the mistress of Barras – and Barras's supposed friend Larivaudière.