Eduard von Bittermagen and his friend Professor Pfiff indulge in an amusing hobby They take every opportunity to bet on anything Their latest bet Bittermagen claims that his nephew Tommi a young rascal and the Professors young daughter Julia will become a couple although the two are actually not crazy about each other Of course Pfiff bets against it But then Bittermagen uses a macabre trick He acts as if his last hour had come and summons Tommi and Julia to his deathbed He offers his immense heritage to both of themif they solve a problem