Le chasseur de chez Maxim's

One day the Marquis du Vélin goes to see his old friend Julien, "Le chasseur de chez Maxim's." Julien is considered the soul of the famous Parisian brasserie: he makes an estimated 300,000 francs a year by taking bets for the races and by directing women to rich, foreign clients. He has one weakness, however: his mistress, Totoche, of whom he is very jealous. Her favorite lover is Vélin, and Julien fears that he will lose her to him if he does not provide her with a ready supply of cash. Vélin, who has fallen on hard times, learns that he has been bequeathed a fortune upon the death of an uncle. He goes to stay in the country estate he has inherited and meets the young and marriageable Lady Geneviève Pauphilat, whose parents own the neighboring chateau. Hoping to marry Geneviève, Vélin vows to reform. Geneviève's father is none other than Julien, whose wife and daughter believe that he is a commercial businessman in Paris. When "Le Chanoine," the country priest, tells Mme. Pauphilat and Julien of the new neighbor who has taken an interest in their daughter, Julien, not knowing the identity of the neighbor, tells the servant to invite Vélin to the chateau. Totoche learns of the impending marriage, and she and her friend Cricri go to the country and pretend to be Vélin's cousins. Vélin arrives at the Pauphilat chateau, and he is surprised to see Totoche, who threatens to reveal all if he does not give her a handsome "rupture check." Julien arrives, recognizes Vélin and, averting his face so that he is not recognized, refuses to consent to the marriage. Le Chanoine recommends that Vélin elope to Paris with Geneviève, which he does. When Julien realizes his daughter has run away, he tells Le Chanoine of Vélin's exploits in Paris, and Le Chanoine puts Julien on the couple's trail. Julian chases them in his car, but he is arrested for speeding, and the couple eludes him. That night, Julien reports to Maxim's for work and finds his wife and Le Chanoine, who has donned civilian clothes and traced the couple to the restaurant. After dodging the couple, Julien is spied by his wife and forced to confess his double identity. When Vélin informs Julien that he has an annual income of 500,000 francs, Julien is persuaded that the match would be a convenient one, and he agrees to the marriage. It is revealed that Totoche has arranged everything so that the lovers could be united, and Julien throws a party at the restaurant and for the first time sits down at a table in Maxim's.