1Le Rosier de Madame Husson
Madame Husson, a bigoted widow, respectable and rich, has decided to crown the "rosière": the most virtuous girl from Gisors. But she finds nobody to crown, except for Isidore, the son of the fruit seller, a simple and candid young man.
2L'ami Joseph
In their castle at Tourbeville, Mr. and Mrs. de Méroul receive Joseph Mouradour, a republican, a former friend of Mr Méroul. This friend moves into their home. Instead of kicking him out, Mr. and Mrs. Méroul claim to have to take a trip and leave the opportunist to occupy their home.
3Aux Champs
Two very poor peasant families, the Tuvache and Vallin families, live in neighbouring houses. A rich woman from the city who cannot have children, offers to buy the Tuvache family's youngest son. They refuse. She makes the same offer to the Vallin family, who agree.
4Le petit fût
Old mother Magloire stubbornly refuses to sell her farm to Master Chicot, the innkeeper from Epreville. But when he offers to pay her a monthly allowance until her death, she ends up agreeing. After three years she is in perfect health. Then Master Chicot gives her a little barrel.
5Ce Cochon de Morin
In a train compartment, Morin, a haberdasher from La Rochelle, takes a chance and kisses a young girl, Henriette. Morin is arrested immediately. To help his friend, the journalist Labarbe goes to see Henriette's uncle in the hopes of convincing him to withdraw his complaint.
6Une soirée
Master Saval goes to Paris to attend an opera. In a restaurant he meets the painter Romantin, who invites him to a party he is organising. At this party, Romantin leaves Saval alone to welcome the guests, who mistake him for a valet and ridicule him.
7La Chambre 11
Marguerite leads an apparently blameless life with her husband, a magistrate, who for a long time has no longer been attracted to her. Under the name of Ms. Clarisse, she takes soldiers as lovers, and hosts them at the Cheval d'Or inn. One night, she finds a corpse in her bed.
8Au bord du lit
The Count of Sallure has just ended his relationship with his mistress and has had a jealous scene with his wife. She accepts his advances but demands that he pay her a large sum of money, which she claims must remain in the household.