 One of the guests is a handsome young man named François de Séryeuse (played by Bruno Garcin), who during the course of the ball falls in love with the Comte's wife, Comtesse Mahé (played by Sylvie Fennec).The Comtesse alerts her husband (the Comte), but he dismisses it, seeing de Séryeuse as childish and common.However, Mahé falls for François, and faints with passion on stage during a performance of The Tempest with François.