hat once when taking a walk, he surprised a band of
students, molesting a lady in a litter. He rescued her and as she
graciously thanked him for his gallant service, he thought her more
beautiful than any maiden he had ever before seen. His heart burnt
with love for her, though he did not know her name. While Raoul drinks
with the noblemen, Marcel, his old servant warns him of the danger of
doing so.

Marcel is a strict old protestant and sings a ballad of the Huguenots
to the young people, a song wild and fanatic. They laugh at his
impotent wrath, when a lady is announced to Count Nevers, in whom Raoul
recognizes the lady of his dreams.

{136}

Of course he believes her false and bad, while as a matter of fact she
only comes to beseech Nevers, her destined bridegroom, to set her free.
Nevers does so, though not without pain. When he returns to his
companions, he conceals the result of the interview, and presently
Urbain, a page, enters with a little note for Raoul de Nangis, in which
he is ordered to attend a lady, unknown to him. The others recognize
the seal of Queen Margarita of Valois, and finding him so worthy, at
once seek to gain his friendship.

In the second act we find Raoul with the beautiful Queen, who is trying
to reconcile the Catholics with the Protestants. To this end the Queen
has resolved to unite Raoul with Valentine, her lady of honor, and
daughter of the Count of St. Bris, a staunch catholic. Valentine tells
her heart's secret to her mistress, for to her it was that Raoul
brought assistance, and she loves him. The noble Raoul, seeing
Margarita's beauty and kindness, vows himself her knight, when suddenly
the whole court enters to render her homage. Recognizing her at last
to be the Queen, Raoul is all the more willing to fulfil her wishes and
offers his hand in reconciliation to the proud St. Bris, promising to
wed his daughter. But when he perceives in her the unknown lady, whom
he believes to be so unworthy, he takes back his word. All are
surprised, and the offended father vows bloody vengeance.

In the third act Marcel brings a challenge to {137} St. Bris, which the
latter accepts, but Maurevert, a fanatical catholic nobleman, tells him
of other ways in which to annihilate his foe. Valentine though deadly
offended with her lover, resolves to save him. Seeing Marcel, she bids
him tell his master not to meet his enemy alone. Meanwhile Raoul is
already on the spot, and so is S