Il faut marier Jean!

In the glittering world of post‑war Paris, the widowed Madame Dautheray feels a solemn duty to see her son, Jean, settled on the altar. He has inherited a sprawling metal empire, and with that fortune comes a steady stream of eager mothers presenting their daughters as the perfect match. From the polished halls of the Hôtel Dautheray to the sun‑lit gardens of Parc Monceau, the family’s legacy looms large, and the promise of a respectable union is painted as both a social necessity and a source of personal joy.

Madame Dautheray, ever the diligent matchmaker, sifts through eloquent letters and glittering proposals, her mind fixed on a young, well‑brought‑up Madeleine de Serves—a charming, modern girl who epitomises the virtues of the new generation. Yet Jean, with his aversion to family drama and a habit of slipping quietly away from expectations, offers only a polite smile and a reluctant acquiescence. As the mother’s persuasive efforts grow more elaborate, the stage is set for a