A poor old man dreams of marrying Mademoiselle de Bilaingre, while lamenting his age, which prevents him from doing so. Satan appears and offers to grant him all his wishes: to replace his old shack with a castle, to marry the young girl, and to live in the ‘brilliant costume of Count Maurice de Maltinguène’, who died in a duel a year earlier. However, there is one condition: every year, the old man must marry a new young girl, stab her the day after the wedding, drink her blood, and send her body to Satan. After a moment's hesitation, the old man gives in and signs the pact. Jules, the nephew of the Count of Bilaingre, returns from his studies to claim his cousin's promised hand in marriage. But he discovers that she has now been promised to another. Jules asks for the name of his rival and learns that it is Count Maurice de Maltinguène, which he knows to be impossible: he himself witnessed the duel in which the count was killed. The Count of Bilaingre then suggests that he stay to meet this rival. At the chapel, Julia refuses the marriage proposal in front of everyone. Later, Jules and Guignol hide there. When Count Maurice de Maltinguène draws his sword to kill Julia, Jules and Guignol rush in to save her. While Guignol accompanies Julia, Jules challenges the count to a duel and kills him. However, the count is resurrected, but in order to survive, he must kill the young girl before two o'clock in the morning. Two devils bring Julia before the count, but he perishes, having exceeded the time allotted to him. The Count of Bilaingre thanks Jules and promises him his daughter's hand in marriage.

Glove-puppet

Not specified

France

Tuchan

Manuscript

Old age

Love

Devil

Eternal youth

Cemetery

Phantom

Curse

Blackmail

Vampire

Prophetic dream

Promise

Wedding prevented

Revenge

Duel

Death

Fantastic

Dramatic

Comical

French

Count

Undead

Satan

Cousin

Old man

Guignol

Daughter

Young woman

Chambermaid

Domestic servant

Angel

Ghost

Spectre

Demon

Monologue

Apparition of the Devil

Pact with the devil

Aside

Music

Change of age

Change of social status

Disguised character (false identity)

Avista

Apparition of a ghost

Apparition of an angel

Comedy of language

Chorus

Song

Hidden character

Death on stage

Le Vampire ou le buveur de sang

The Vampire or the Blood Drinker