Les Mousquetaires au couvent

The action takes place in Touraine under the reign of Louis XIII.

Act I
At the inn “Au Mousquetaire Gris” there is a highly-charged atmosphere, vendors mingling with musketeers who scoff at the bourgeois, delighting Simone, the maid. The army is mobilized as Cardinal Richelieu, who is to pass through Touraine back from the siege of La Rochelle, fears conspiracy. Good Abbé Bridaine appears looking for his former pupil, musketeer Gontran de Solanges. He has been informed of his sudden melancholy by dashing Captain Narcisse de Brissac. Gontran confesses his love for a girl of the Ursulines convent, Marie, the niece of the governor of Touraine, the only man allowed to enter the convent. 
A ball is about to begin when Count de Pontcourlay, governor of Touraine, appears. He asks Bridaine to tell his two nieces Marie and Louise the fate imposed upon them by reason of State: take the veil within two days. Then the governor commands innkeeper Pichard to accommodate two pilgrims despite their being mendicant friars: they are to preach renunciation to the two girls. The festivity goes on without regard for the friars’ sleep while Bridaine notifies Gontran of the fate awaiting his sweetheart.
Enterprising Brissac devises a way to reach the girls: he and Gontran leave the inn wearing the friars’ frocks unbeknownst to Bridaine and asking the other musketeers to guard the pilgrims’ door.

Act II
In the study of the convent, the girls’ dictation is interrupted by the mother superior who announces the arrival of two priests sent by the governor. Before they confess to them, the girls are to examine their conscience. Marie is the most sincere because she is in love with an unknown musketeer. As the preachers enter, Gontran makes himself known to Marie and Brissac informs biting Louise.
The girls go to the refectory, leaving the two clerics on their own. Hungry Brissac rummages the girls’ desks and discovers Marie’s examination of conscience: Gontran reads it and learns of her love for him. Brissac obtains a good meal from the mother superior so as to be ready for his sermon.
Fearing a foolish act from Gontran, Bridaine arrives and entreats Marie to write Gontran a letter saying that she is taking the veil. The sacrifice pains the girl who knows she is loved. Bridaine soon unmasks the fake pilgrims. Gontran is upset by Marie’s letter and Brissac is somewhat inebriated after his famous meal. His sermon praising love delights the girls and appalls the nuns.

Act III
In the courtyard of the convent, Gontran organizes the girls’ escape with the help of musketeers outside. After the recreation, Brissac succeeds in meeting Louise who suits his taste. Simone appears looking for Bridaine: where is Brissac and what to do with the pilgrims tied up in their room?
Gontran asks her to fetch Marie and an interview enables the two lovers to prepare their flight. Louise surprises them and demands to be abducted along with her sister. A ladder is there to help them flee but Bridaine shows up unexpectedly followed by the governor with great pomp.
Before the cardinal’s arrival, the governor is there to arrest the pilgrims identified as the agents of a dangerous plot. When Gontran and Brissac appear as musketeers and reveal they have captured the pilgrims, the governor gives them his nieces as reward: reason of State is safe!