Karel is in love with Liza, the only daughter of Baas Ganzendonck. Ganzendonck is a snob who dreams of luxury and nobility. Although he is a farmer himself, he wants to separate himself from the simple country folk, unless they show him the admiration he believes he deserves. He sent Liza to a French boarding school, but she has always remained humble. Ganzendonck blunders again and again, and although he does not understand a word of French, he can listen for hours to the French-speaking son of the baron. The baron’s son finds Liza’s presence an amusing distraction. The jealous Karel gets into a fight with the baron’s son and injures him severely. The police throw Karel into prison, and Liza, whose health was not very strong, dies of grief shortly thereafter