- When the opera is finished, Rousseau is worried it will be a flop. Remember the last one?
- In order to protect his name, he submits the opera under a false name and stays away from the rehearsals.
- On the day The Village Soothsayer opens, Rousseau hangs around a café and tries to hear what folks have to say about it.
- One guy has plenty to say about the plot of the opera, but there's not a word of truth in it. The guy's clearly a faker.
- Rousseau goes to see it himself. The acting is bad, but the singing and music is top-notch.
- The King has sent for Rousseau. Rousseau hears rumors that he's going to be offered a pension.
- Great, right? Rousseau is hesitant. He doesn't want to be indebted to the ruler, and he wants the freedom to do what he wants.
- So Rousseau takes off, directly disobeying the King's request to see him.