Comedy revolving around a complicated matchmaking scheme. Impecunious but well-born, Dorante is in love with Araminte, wealthy and widowed daughter of Mme. Argante, who hopes to arrange for her a socially advantageous marriage with Count Dorimont. At the suggestion of Dubois, his former valet, who is now in Araminte's employ, Dorante has his uncle M. Rémy recommend him to the widow as a steward. M. Rémy then innocently misleads Marton, Araminte's maid, into assuming that Dorante is in love with her. Meanwhile, Dubois "secretly" tells Araminte of Dorante's real passion, hoping to inspire reciprocal feelings. Dorante's love becomes known to Mme. Argante when a portrait of Araminte belonging to him comes into the hands of Marton, who angrily denounces what she considers his deceit. Faced with Mme. Argante' s demands for the steward's dismissal, Araminte is forced to confess her own love for Dorante, whom she now plans to marry.