A picture of the life of the Danish people from the late 1820s to the introduction of the free constitution in 1849. A fictional character, Rasmus Nielsen, travels around the country, first as a traveling teacher, later in other positions, and through his experiences we are introduced to the conditions of various population groups. The central figure in the portrayal of historical figures is the politician Orla Lehmann.
"Whoever cheats the state cheats his fellows" - the hunt for a tax cheater. Sir. Middelmand, a former tax cutter, is the protagonist of a moral drama that illustrates the consequences of evading his contribution to public spending. His wife is discharged from the hospital; his son is thrown out of school; as fire breaks out in his home, he discovers that the water has been closed, etc.
In a large fish export company, the general manager's talented son Hugo holds a trusted position. When one day 500 kroner is missing from the cash register, speculation begins about who the culprit might be. Greengrocer Olsen is a happy man, completely satisfied with the lot he has been allotted in life. When he is drawn as a juror in the case against the general manager of the fish export company, he is beside himself: he has no idea. But who is the culprit anyway?
