The princess, conspiring with her servant Corine, disguises herself as Phocion in order to infiltrate the guarded "men-only" palace compound occupied by Agis, who is plotting her assassination. Complications ensue when both Agis and Hermocrates separately guess her secret, and she tells the former she's Cécile, on the lam from an undesirable paramour, and to the latter claims to be Aspasie, who wishes to study philosophy with him. Adding to the convoluted plot are Hermocrates' valet Harlequin and gardener Dimas.
The princess, in league with her servant Corine, impersonates Phocion to secretly enter the guarded "men-only" palace compound where Agis is plotting her assassination. Issues arise when both Agis and Hermocrates deduce her secret; she reveals herself as Cécile, an exile from a disagreeable partner, to Agis, and as Aspasie, eager to study philosophy with him, to Hermocrates. The plot thickens further with the involvement of Harlequin, Hermocrates' valet, and Dimas, the gardener.