Large parts of the country were occupied by Napoleon's troops at the beginning of the 19th century and were subject to their rude regiment. And so it happens that careless political statements are fatal for the harmless tailor Anton Wibbel: He is sentenced to four weeks' imprisonment. But Fine, Wibbel's bustling wife, knows what to do. For a small gratuity, journeyman Zimpel is made to take the four-week imprisonment and serve it instead of the master. Meanwhile, Wibbel is hiding in his house and leaving itdoing well. Things only get complicated when Zimpel falls ill with pneumonia in prison and blesses the temporal without further ado.