A drunkard and a brute, Patin's marriage to Désireé is an unhappy one. He leaves to go fishing one night during a terrible storm, and never returns. Désireé is convinced he has somehow managed to cheat death and lives in constant fear of his return. Some years later she buys a parrot, and her nightmare begins anew. Amusing and humorous, "The Parrot" is a short comedy in which Maupassant holds his cards close to his chest, keeping his readers guessing until the final page.