Albert Savarus

In the elegant drawing‑room of the Baronne de Watteville, Besançon's aristocracy gathers beneath crystal chandeliers and over polished Dresden china. The Baronne, a fervently religious woman of sharp wit, presides over a household that blends the grandeur of two noble houses with the modest habits of her husband, a quiet turner who fills his days collecting shells and stones. Their daughter Rosalie, the sole heir of the Wattevilles and the Rupts, moves through a world of polished etiquette, sumptuous feasts, and an ever‑present clerical entourage that underscores the town’s pious atmosphere.

Amid the soirée, an unexpected announcement breaks the genteel chatter: the Vicar‑General triumphantly declares a favorable verdict in a long‑running lawsuit that had threatened the family's standing. The relief is palpable, yet the comment about a crucial, last‑minute counsel in Paris hints at deeper intrigues. Listeners are invited to follow the Wattevilles as hidden ambitions surface, alliances shift, and the delicate balance of honor and ambition begins to unravel.