The play takes place in Brussels, where Suzanne Beulemans, daughter of a wealthy brewer, is promised in marriage to Séraphin Meulemeester, son of a rival brewer. Both the young man and his father appear to be particularly motivated by the young bride's dowry. But Séraphin has a rival in the form of Albert Delpierre, a young Parisian intern at the Beulemans brewery, who is secretly in love with the young woman. Albert receives a confession from Séraphin, who tells him that he is having an affair with a worker with whom he has had a child. He promises Séraphin not to reveal anything to Suzanne, but she is informed by Isabelle, the house servant.