The book is a sobering examination of how two families can be wrecked by a life of greed. It shows how giving can be done in the wrong way and for the wrong reasons. In an attempt to support the girl he genuinely loves, Thor, the older brother, who has inherited money, gives her money so that his younger brother Claude can marry her and provide for them both. However, Claude misunderstands Thor’s intentions and, as a result, everything goes horribly wrong. (Summary by Simon Evers)