Sylvia is distraught. What is she to do about a husband? She is doubtful about marriage; the marriages she can observe are not happy. The men do not show their true faces; they hide behind masks, and the masks they show to the world are deeply fraudulent: the civil, polite, polished gentleman abroad is a silent, bitter, harsh and unloving figure in the home. Her maid Lisette does not bother her head about all this; she simply dreams of a man-- any man! Orgon brings news that he has arranged a marriage, but he will not force anything on her. If she does not like the young man, it's over. He has invited the young man to visit. Sylvia asks her father to let her change places with her maid, so that she can observe the young man, Dorante, when his guard is down. Her father loves intrigue and he knows that Dorante asked the same thing: he will arrive disguised as his servant, Arlequin. Orgon tells his son, Mario, who is delighted to have the chance to wreak havoc in the whole affair.