The command, equivalent to a sentence of death, is brought by Victor, a young captain, aide-de-camp of Bonaparte, cousin of Josephine, and a favourite at Malmaison. When he delivers it he is unconscious of the presence of a young girl, who stands behind, pale and shrinking. He hears her sob, turns, and is so moved by her grief as to forget duty and danger and burn the paper, thus giving Geneviève time to go to Josephine and implore her to save her father's life.
In the second act we are taken from the Vendéene cottage to the gardens at Malmaison, Victor has returned and confessed to Josephine that he has burnt Bonaparte's order, and that she must help him to save Thibaut's life.
Josephine is terrified. She reproaches her cousin for his imprudence, tells him it is a most unpropitious moment to endeavour to save a Vendéan, for a plot, hatched by them, to take the First Consul prisoner and send him to England, had just been discovered. As the young captain, crest-fallen and sad, turns to leave his cousin's presence, he is arrested by order of Bonaparte. Then comes the most touching scene, the one in which Rachel made her first theatrical success. Geneviève has arrived at Malmaison, weary and footsore. Hope and courage have failed her, and she sinks, half-fainting, in a corner of Josephine's drawing-room. When the Empress, proud and triumphant—for this is the first day of her imperial splendour—enters, she is startled by seeing the poorly clad, tearful peasant girl. In a moment Geneviève is at her feet; and so eloquently and well does she plead her cause, that Josephine induces the Emperor to pardon both Thibaut and Victor.
