Durand, who is in search of his relative, Isidore Martin, in order to claim a life annuity that has been confusingly constituted on Martin's life. As Durand and his nephew Venceslas attempt to track down Martin, they encounter a series of comedic situations, including misunderstandings about other Martins staying at the hotel and miscommunications that lead to a planned duel over a slight. Throughout the play, the misunderstandings are revealed to stem from familial ties and a desire to secure future happiness, ultimately producing a mix of humor and resolution by the end of the act as Durand learns he can transfer the financial responsibility and avoid further complications. (This is an automatically generated summary.)