In his
eyes there is only one possible construction to be put upon her presence
in Nevers' palace, and he hastens to dismiss her from his mind.
Immediately upon his decision comes a message from the Queen bidding him
hasten to her palace in Touraine upon important affairs of state. When
he arrives she unfolds her plan, and he, knowing Valentine only by
sight, not by name, gladly consents. When, in the presence of the
assembled nobles, he recognises in his destined bride the presumed
mistress of Nevers, he casts her from him, and vows to prefer death to
such intolerable disgrace.
The scene of the next act is in the Pre aux Clercs, in the outskirts of
Paris. Valentine, who is to be married that night to Nevers, obtains
leave to pass some hours in prayer in a chapel. While she is there she
overhears the details of a plot devised by Saint Bris for the
assassination of Raoul, in order to avenge the affront put upon himself
and his daughter. Valentine contrives to warn Marcel, Raoul's old
servant, of this, and he assembles his Huguenot comrades hard by, who
rush in at the first clash of steel and join the combat. The fight is
interrupted by the entrance of the Queen. When she finds out who are the
principal combatants, she reproves them sharply and tells Raoul the real
story of Valentine's visit to Nevers. The act ends with the marriage
festivities, while Raoul is torn by an agony of love and remorse.
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