Les caprices de marianne

Young Coelio dreams of conquering Marianne, wife of Judge Claudio. Not daring to approach her, he first tries to use the mediation of the elderly Ciuta, who obtains nothing from the young woman other than an affirmation of her marital fidelity.

Coelio turns to another matchmaker, his friend Octave, bon-vivant and libertine and cousin of Marianne's husband Claudio. Marianne remains indifferent to Coelio, but falls in love with Octave; she reveals her love to him in hushed tones and arranges a rendezvous. Octavian, at first indecisive, chooses loyalty and sends Coelio to the rendezvous obtained.

However, Claudio suspects his wife's infidelity and hires spadassins to kill any lover who comes near the house. Coelio falls for the ambush and, dying, is able to believe in his friend's betrayal when he hears Marianne, deceived by the darkness, greet him with the name Octave.
Octave, overwhelmed, renounces his life of pleasure and curtly rejects the love Marianne declares for him.