The scene opens with a splash of water, followed by a black smoke billowing from the window. It's clear from the splash that Madame Bovary and her men are planning to kill some people in the upstairs room. The smoke is so strong that it's hard to see through the windowpanes. The young master tells his servant that the potion and the smoke were arranged by his mistress, who is afraid of disturbing him. She never intended for him to be left behind, he says. He tells her that she is always disobedient, and that she loves him so much that she doesn't even fear death at all. She tells him that once they get back, they will get married. She says that she has even planned what the baby's name will be and what the name of the child should be.