In this short scene, we are introduced to a young man named Nemo, who has just returned from a trip to France. He is very angry at the way his wife has treated him, and he tells her to leave him alone. Nemo tells his friend that he has just received a letter from a wealthy French nobleman, the Duke of Saint Germain, asking him to identify a bottle of wine that the nobleman wishes to buy. Nemo explains that the duke is looking for a famous French designer to make a special dress for him, so he has contacted a famous dressmaker in France to make the dress. Nemo then asks the man at the fountain where the wine is being served if he will be able to identify the wine, and the man will be glad to help him.