The Lady of Lyons

Pauline Deschappelles is the object of affection for every bachelor in Lyons. But she and her mother insist she marry a man worthy of her status. When she rejects Beauseant, a former marquis stripped of his title but still wealthy, he and his friend (whom Pauline also rejected) decide to humble her. They convince the noble peasant Claude Melnotte to disguise himself as a foreign prince and trick Pauline into marrying him. The scheme works, but the newlyweds are left heartbroken when Claude is unmasked. Too ashamed to accept Pauline’s forgiveness and fidelity, Claude absconds to join the French army, leaving Beauseant a perfect opportunity to stake his claim. Edward Bulwer-Lytton’s romantic melodrama was first performed in 1838 and was still popular at the turn of the century.