S1.E5 ∙ Women and Money

Brument, a poor pig breeder, and Cornu, an innkeeper, are charged by Brument’s wife with attempted murder. Mme. Brument tells how the two would-be assassins forced her to fill a barrel with water, dumper her in, and tried to hold her under until see drowned. Luckily, she explains, she escaped. Cornu and Brument confess that they were drunk and the maudlin Brument began crying about his financial distress. Brument proposes to sell his wife to Cornu. They agree and decide that Brument will be paid for his wares per cubic liter. Therefore, Mme. Brument was placed in the barrel to determine how much water she would displace and so determine her worth.