The French libretto by Adolphe d'Ennery and Eugène Cormon is based on Joseph François Souque's Le chevalier de Canolle.

A highpoint of the work is the 'song of the Djinns' for Djelma which became immediately popular, although it was only inserted by the composer at the last minute (possibly a rejected number from Le cheval de bronze of thirty years previously).

[2] Le premier jour de bonheur was at first a good financial success for the Salle Favart, achieving 175 performances before dropping out of the repertoire by the end of the century.

Madras; Dawn of the next day Littlepool suddenly appears: he has been released by the French, with the condition that Gaston be returned alive.

Littlepool, fearing French revenge, renounces his claims on Hélène, allowing her to marry Gaston, which results in Maillepré's "premier jour de bonheur".