Swiss province of the early XX century. A young man named Joseph Marty acts as an assistant in the technical office of engineer Karl Tobler. Before joining a new place, Joseph had to vegetate for several months without work, so he really appreciates his current situation and tries to be worthy of the hopes assigned to him by the owner. In Tobler’s house, a beautiful mansion in which the office is located, Joseph likes everything: his cozy room in the turret, a beautiful garden with a gazebo, how he is fed, and the beautiful cigars with which the cartridge treats him.
The owner of the house, engineer Tobler, gives the impression of a strict, sometimes even harsh, confident person, but subject to the tides of good nature and sincerely caring for his wards. He has a wife, a tall slender woman with a slightly mocking and indifferent look, as well as four children - two boys, Walter and Edie, and two girls, Dora and Sylvie. Previously, Mr. Tobler worked as an engineer at a factory; he lived with his family on a modest salary. Having received the inheritance, he decided to resign, acquire a house and open his own inventive office. That is why he settled with his family at Bransville some time ago.
In the arsenal, the engineer has several inventions for which he is looking for sponsors who can support his undertakings. Watches with wings for advertisements, which can be placed in places of special crowding, for example in a tram, are already ready. In addition to advertising watches, the engineer is armed with projects of an automatic machine issuing cartridges, chairs for patients and an underground drill. Mr. Tobler spends almost every day traveling and negotiating, looking for a customer for his technical projects.
From the very first week of staying with Toblers, Joseph has to show not only his engineering skills, but also perform the duties of a clerk and answer holders of bills requiring repayment of debts, asking them to wait a little longer. In his free time, Joseph bathes in a lake, walks through the forest, drinks coffee with Mrs. Tobler in the garden on the veranda.
On the first Sunday, guests come to the mansion - this is Joseph's predecessor in the service, Virzich, and his mother. Virzich fell in love with Toblers for his loyalty and zeal. However, he had one drawback that negated all his positive qualities: from time to time he went into binges, burst into abuse, shouted insults, but, sobering up, came back with a repentant look. Mr. Tobler, having read Virziha's notation, forgave him. But when this poor fellow went over all the permissible limits in his insults, the engineer finally fired him and invited a new assistant. Now Virzich again begs to take him back. This time, the engineer really can not do this, and Virzih together with his old mother have to leave the mansion with nothing.
On working days, Joseph writes the texts of announcements that the engineer is looking for contact with the owners of free capital for financing his patents, sends them to large companies, helps Mrs. Tobler around the house, watered the garden. Physical work attracts Joseph, perhaps even more mental, although in the latter he seeks to prove his worth. The Tobler family quite often communicates with their neighbors, receives guests, and Joseph finds himself involved in all their ventures: boating, maps, walks in Berensville, and everywhere he has the opportunity to make sure how touchy the villagers with its owners.
On the first of August, Tobler holds a celebration in his mansion on the occasion of the date of the official formation of Switzerland in 1291. Meanwhile, bills demanding repayment come to the office more and more often. Joseph sees his task in protecting the patron from negative emotions, and often answers such messages himself with a request to wait. Once, in the absence of Tobler, Johannes Fischer arrives at the office, who has responded to the announcement for “capital owners”. The assistant is not able to sufficiently show his courtesy and ingenuity to detain Fisher and his wife until the return of the cartridge, which leads Tobler into a rage. Fisher does not appear anymore, but the engineer does not lose hope of moving his business off the ground.
One Sunday, Toblers go for a walk, and Sylvie is left at home. As much as a mother loves her second daughter, Dora, so much does she neglect Sylvie. The girl always finds herself guilty of something, her mother freaks out of her whims, she cannot look at her daughter without irritation, since Sylvie is ugly and does not please her eye. She almost completely gave the child to the care of the maid Paulina, who treats Sylvie like a slave, forcing her to clean the dishes from the table and do other things that, strictly speaking, she should have done. Every night, screams are heard from Sylvie's room, because Paulina, when she comes to wake the girl in order to put her on the pot, and finding that the baby is already wet, beats her. Joseph repeatedly tries to point out Mrs. Tobler about the inadmissibility of such treatment of the child, but each time he does not dare to speak so as not to further upset this woman, whose soul is becoming harder and harder due to material difficulties.
She also has other disappointments: the former servant, dismissed because of a relationship with Virzih, spreads rumors that Mrs. Tobler herself had an intrigue with Virzich. Madame Tobler writes an angry letter to the mother of a rascal and, as it were, casually praises Joseph his predecessor. The assistant is offended and angrily defends his dignity. Madame Tobler considers it her duty to complain to Joseph about her husband. However, he is so immersed in his gloomy thoughts that he hardly responds to her words. Joseph allows himself to criticize even the engineer, which is what amazes him extremely. For all his audacity, Joseph loves and is even afraid of Tobler, because of financial difficulties he does not pay his salary. Unpaid bills do not interfere, however, Tobler build an underground grotto near his mansion for relaxation, and his wife use the services of a first-class capital dressmaker.
One Sunday, Joseph goes to the capital to have fun. Having a nice evening in one of the pubs, he goes outside and sees Virzikha sitting on a frosty night on a bench under the open sky. He takes him to the inn, admonishes him and forces him to write several letters to his employers. Then he offers Virzih to go from office to office and look for places. In one of them, Virzihu smiles at happiness and he finds work.
From Tobler, all of their Berensville acquaintances are gradually turning away. The engineer is forced to send his wife, who has not fully recovered from the illness, to her mother to ask for a part of the inheritance due to him. Madame Tobler manages to get only four thousand francs. This money is enough only to shut up the mouths of the most vociferous lenders.
Joseph takes the opportunity to speak with Mrs. Tobler about Sylvie. She frankly confesses that she does not like her daughter, but understands that she is not right, and promises to treat her more gently. Christmas this year is held in the mansion very sad. Ms. Tobler realizes that the family will soon have to sell the house, move to the city, rent a cheap apartment, and her husband - to look for work.
Joseph meets in the village of Virzikha, again dismissed due to drunkenness and wrinkling without work and money. He leads Virzikha to the mansion, where Mrs. Tobler permits the miserable to spend the night. In the morning, the anger of Tobler knows no bounds. He insults Joseph. He asks to pay him a salary. Tobler orders Joseph to get out, then his fury gives way to complaints. Joseph collects his things and together with Virzich leaves from Toblers ...
