M. Savalle, a small-town notary and amateur operatic singer with pretensions, travels to Paris to visit the opera and takes the opportunity to rub shoulders with famous artists in the cafés of Montmartre.

He is unexpectedly invited to a housewarming party by a notable painter...but things do not go at all as he expected. His host vanishes unexpectedly and M. Savalle is left in charge of the occasion.

When the guests arrive, they mistake him for the waiter...and from there things only get worse.