 The latter has paid Pitou to suppress the song but Clairette gets hold it and, to avoid her marriage with Pomponnet, sings it publicly and is, as she expects, arrested so that her wedding is unavoidably postponed.Lange summons the girl to learn the reason for her attack and is surprised to recognise her as an old schoolfriend.Pomponnet loudly protests Clairette's innocence and says that Ange Pitou is the author of the verses.