Act I
The Operetta takes place in 'an imaginary Anglo-Swiss Republic,' and the actual scene is the courtyard of a house in which lives Paul Gervais, J.P., a village magistrate. Toinette passes as his daughter, and Gervais wants her to marry his nephew Carol Comay, a poet. Suzanne, Paul's housekeeper, has other hopes for Toinette, favouring Victor Bonheur, a mountaineer. Toinette has a love charm-half of a locket which came to her from her mother. This, after all, may bring forth a lover for her, if ever the person with the other half of it should turn up.
Victor and Carol compete in a contest of poesy before Paul, as judge. The J.P., of course, declares his nephew the winner; but Toinette protests.

Act II
Paul, to encourage his nephew, lets him into part of the secret of Toinette's parentage. She is really an heiress, and may prove to be a countess. Carol blunders along in his wooing.
Victor, for his hardihood at the poetry contest, is to be banished from the village for a while. Just in time he finds that he has the other half of Toinette's love charm; also, it is discovered that he is a duke. A little plotting brings about the exposure of Paul's designs, and the happy issue of the love of Toinette and Victor.