It received nineteen performances, but was forgotten until a recording by Opera Rara was released in 2008.

The Countess, whose late husband was a philanderer, is determined to break her admirers' hearts.

Another suitor, a young Gascon called the Chevalier, whom the Countess met in Aix-en-Provence, is announced.

The Chevalier and the Commander start to argue, and they eventually challenge each other to a duel.

He enters, bandaged and dishevelled, and ashamed to have lost the duel for the Countess.

When the Chevalier returns, he is astonished to see the Commander on his knees in front of the Baroness.

The Countess finally admits that she had meant to offer her hand to the Commander.

Note: the above synopsis is a précis of the one by Richard Langham-Smith in the booklet for the Opera Rara recording Thomas: La cour de Célimène, Philharmonia Orchestra, Geoffrey Mitchell Choir