Many alterations in the historic background have been introduced, only a few of which are here mentioned. The Princesse de Bouillon, a woman of Polish descent, has been given the rôle of the Duchesse de Bouillon, a native Frenchwoman. It was the latter who was the rival of Adrienne for the love of Maurice de Saxe and who is thought to have attempted the poisoning. It was at a public presentation of _Phèdre_ at the Comédie-Française, not at the home of the Princesse de Bouillon, that Mlle. Lecouvreur denounced her rival. The attempted poisoning had occurred in 1729, not 1730, and thenceforth Mlle. Lecouvreur was not received at the homes of the Bouillons. She scrupulously avoided the members of the Bouillon family. Moreover, the love of Maurice de Saxe and Mlle. Lecouvreur was ended before 1730. After having accepted all her fortune to pursue his expeditions in Poland in 1725, he had cruelly abandoned the actress for her rival, the Duchesse de Bouillon (Michelet: _Louis XV_, pp. 91-94.) Nor did Mlle. Lecouvreur receive the Comte de Saxe during this later period. It is evident that Scribe has ameliorated the conduct of Maurice de Saxe toward Adrienne, in order that he may retain the interest of the spectator. For in the play he is always the principal hero and, though his loyalty is for a time in doubt, he regains at the last the confidence of the audience and the trust and love of Adrienne. CONTENTS PAGE INTRODUCTION v PERSONAGES 2 NOTES 181 ADRIENNE LECOUVREUR PERSONNAGES MAURICE, _comte de Saxe_ LE PRINCE DE BOUILLON L’ABBÉ DE CHAZEUIL MICHONNET, _régisseur de la Comédie-Française_ M. QUINAULT, _sociétaire de la Comédie-Française_ M. POISSON, _sociétaire de la Comédie-Française_ UN VALET L’AVERTISSEUR ADRIENNE LECOUVREUR, _de la Comédie-Française_ LA PRINCESSE DE BOUILLON ATHÉNAÏS, _duchesse d’Aumont_ LA MARQUISE LA BARONNE MADEMOISELLE JOUVENOT, _sociétaire de la Comédie-Française_ MADEMOISELLE DANGEVILLE, _sociétaire de la Comédie-Française_ UNE FEMME DE CHAMBRE SEIGNEURS ET DAMES DE LA COUR, ACTEURS ET ACTRICES DE LA COMÉDIE-FRANÇAISE A Paris--Mars, 1730 ADRIENNE LECOUVREUR ACTE PREMIER Un boudoir élégant chez la princesse de Bouillon. Une toilette à gauche, une table à droite, et une console, du même côté, au fond du théâtre. SCÈNE PREMIÈRE L’ABBÉ, _appuyé sur la toilette_, LA PRINCESSE, _assise en face de la toilette, sur un canapé_. LA PRINCESSE, _achevant de se coiffer_ Quoi, l’abbé! pas une historiette... pas le moindre petit scandale?... L’ABBÉ Hélas! non! LA PRINCESSE