Count Rene Reviere, a bankrupt Royalist, makes a bargain with the Duc de Mauriere that Raoul, the dissolute son of the latter shall marry Louise, Raciere's daughter, if the Duke will loan him money enough to retrieve his estate. Boceni, a young Italian, an unselfish lover of the girl, promises to help her escape. At a performance of Romeo and Juliet, Louise and Hawksford, the English actor, who plays the enamored Montague, fall in love. Hawksford meets the girl through Boceni, and, learning of her plight, plots to disguise himself and impersonate the Italian at the engagement banquet of Louise and Raoul. During the feast Raoul picks a quarrel with the actor who he supposes is Boceni. In the ensuing duel, Hawksford is wounded. Louise seizes the sword, and before she can be restrained, she has given Raoul a mortal thrust. The lovers escape on horseback, pursued by the vengeful duke. Louise leaps from her horse into the sea. Hawksford follows her, and they swim in safety to Boceni's yacht, where they are married.