A Sale (or A Deal) is a short story written by Guy de Maupassant. Released in 1884, it tells of a trial.
Characters[]
- Césaire Isidore Brument - one of the two accused, described as a "skinny sleepy-looking peasant"
- Prosper "The Parson" Napoléon Cornu - one of the two accused, a pig breeder
- Mme. Brument - Brument's wife, who is nearly drowned by her husband
Plot[]
In the Assize Court of the Department of the Lower Seine, two peasant men (Brument and Cornu) are brought forth for the attemped murder of Brument's wife through drowning. First, the victim is allowed to tell how Brument and Cornu tried to drown her.
One day, while Mme. Brument was shelling broad beans, her husband and Cornu came to her while exceedingly drunk. They offered her "five bob" if she filled a barrel with water. They had her undress and then tossed her into the barrel. Before she could drown, Mme. Brument escapes the barrel and flags the police.
The accused are then allowed to tell their side. It is revealed that Brument had offered to sell Cornu his wife to pay off debts. As both of them were exceedingly drunk, they decided to weigh Mme. Brument by the gallon using a barrel of water. After learning of the accused's story, the jury decides to find them not guilty though they give a lengthy speech on the sanctity of marriage and commercial contracts.
Sources[]
- Wikipedia