Act One

Out of this cast of players the producers pick their leading actors the beautiful Garance and the mime player Baptiste Deburau. Baptiste loves Garance and she returns her love in spite of the advances of Lacenaire. A petty crook, and Frederick Lemaitre, a young and unknown actor. Count Edouard de Montray who offers her, with his fortune, an escape to a new life is also one Of her suitors, but Garance is not for sale. However, the Count leaves his card with her and begs her to call on him if she needed his services. Meanwhile the criminal Lacenaire is plotting a hold-up; he fails and the innocent Garance falls into the hands of the police in his place. All she is about to be arrested she remembers the Count and shows the detectives his card. The detectives arc frightened and Garance is allowed to free. The curtain falls on Art [unclear: I]