Act 3, Scene 2 Summary

At dawn on the following morning, the ball is still in progress. Madame Desmortes wheels herself into the conservatory followed closely by Capulet, who is distressed because no one can locate Isabelle. Madame Desmortes indicates the window, saying that Isabelle has just jumped into the lake only to be rescued by Hugo.

As Hugo carries Isabelle back to the chateau, Madame Desmortes orders Capulet to get some towels and Joshua to make some hot punch. Hugo and Isabelle enter, and Madame capitalizes on her time alone with them to speak frankly. Madame Desmortes makes it clear that Frederic is a better match for Isabelle than the callous Hugo, who actually loves Diana if he will allow himself to think about it.

Frederic enters and laments his unhappiness over his broken engagement to Diana, and Madame Desmortes suggests that Frederic and Isabelle...