Act One

In the mansion of the wealthy New Orleans ship owner Monsieur Beaunoir, a seamstress is showing off a beautiful party gown of gossamer to some of the maids. Monsieur Beaunoir calls to one of them, named Julie, telling her to have everything in order for the arrival of their illustrious guest. It is a private detective from Paris, whom Monsieur Beaunoir wishes to hire to track down a fugitive from the French government. The detective is none other than the Vicomte Ribaud, the "secret eye" of the King of France. It is the eve of the French Revolution, and those with egalitarian sentiments are suspected and watched closely. Monsieur Beaunoir wishes to impress his royal guest with the lavishness of his hospitality. Monsieur Ribaud arrives accompanied by 12 courtiers, making a grand entrance. Monsieur Beaunoir asks him to spy on his bondservant Robert, in the hopes of discovering his true identity. Meanwhile, Robert is madly in love with Beaunoir's daughter Marianne. She has grown up on ships and is the darling of all the sailors. Duval, the Captain of the New Moon, also is in love with her, and while he tries to sing her a love song of his own composing, Robert interrupts repeatedly, awkwardly trying to interfere and get Marianne's attention.

The Vicomte Ribaud goes to the Chez Creole Tavern where he tries to gain information about Robert from Philippe. Dancing girls join in a song and chorus, and a bar fight breaks out. When Robert joins them, he rallies all those in the Tavern to join in defense of liberty and revolution.

The Beaunoirs' are having a cotillion at which Marianne plans to raffle off a kiss. Robert decides to go. He is now a runaway servant, and must disguise himself as a nobleman. Philippe worries that Robert may be caught and imprisoned. But Robert loves Marianne and longs to make a good impression on her. Dancing opens the evening's festivities. Then Robert wins the raffle with the help of Alexander, and he has just enough time alone with Marianne to declare his love for her. Vicomte Ribaud recognizes Robert as soon as he enters the room, and lays a trap for him. He will have his victory, too, he says to Beaunoir, before the evening is over. After Marianne and Robert have kissed, Ribaud enters and unmasks him. He declares before all present that it is Le Chevalier Robert Misson, wanted by King Louis XIV of France for treason, and that he is to be sent back to France to be tried and executed. Ribaud orders the sailors of the New Moon to take Robert all the way to France for his trial. Marianne pleads to be allowed to go along, for Robert now thinks that she helped with his capture.



Act Two

On the New Moon, the sailors are in preparation for the long voyage. None of them think that the trip is a good idea, and none of them feel any particular allegiance to the King of France. Robert is taken down to the brig, where Ribaud plans to cross examine him. Meanwhile, Marianne has come aboard and gives her maid a poem and a love letter to give to him.

A flag is spotted on the horizon, and all the sailors begin to watch with trepidation. It is Captain Ramsey's ship, a pirate known for marauding on the high seas. As the pirates begin bearing down on the New Moon, Captain Duval orders the prisoners released, so that they may join in the defense of the ship. But Robert immediately rallies the men to him and has Duval thrown in the brig. He seizes command of the New Moon and tells all to fight for their lives. But when the pirates board the ship, Robert discovers that they are led by his old friend Philippe, and have come to rescue him. Robert and Philippe have long dreamed of setting up a commune in a free land, full of people who believed in equality and liberty. Now they invite Marianne to join them. She is an aristocrat and at first thinks that they are just dreamers. But she is soon convinced that they will all be happy together. They sail off to form a republic, and Marianne and Robert agree to get married. After they are settled in their new home, news is brought of the beginning of the French Revolution.

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