Before consenting to the marriage of his daughter Hermance to Count Montmeillan, Trugadin impersonates a servant to judge the suitability of the count. He finds that the count is rich and otherwise satisfactory, but he is disturbed to discover that he has a mistress who is a singer. After determining that the count is genuinely in love with Hermance, Trugadin enlists the help of his cashier and "nobly" spends his own money to send the singer on an imaginary concert tour of Russia. He considers his investment sound since he has gained a wealthy son-in-law and pleased his daughter.