Jeronimus, a greedy and manipulative elderly gentleman, is about to secure permission for his son-in-law to marry Leonora, the young daughter of a wealthy family. He changes his mind, however, and proposes for himself. To neutralize his plan, an intrigue is set in motion whereby Leonora's maid Pernille must briefly pretend to stand in for her mistress. TV adaptation of Holberg's 1727 comedy.