The head of the household, Pancracio, is about to leave for a four-day trip and his wife Leonarda appears to be deeply saddened by his departure.
Leonarda and her servant decide to put up the weary traveler, who identifies himself as a student from Salamanca who has fallen on hard times.
Then, when Pancracio unexpectedly returns home that evening due to transportation issues, the student's wit and stories save Leonarda, permitting her deception to remain unnoticed (at least for another night).
The two entreméses share key plot points: an adulterous wife caught by her husband while she is entertaining male house guests.
Based on information found in Jean Canavaggio, it is likely that Cervantes may have had to use his wit and people skills to get what he wanted or needed in life.
The entremés served to fill the time between acts of a much larger play and usually focused on light hearted things that would make the audience laugh.
Cervantes was not one to listen to conventions when it did not serve his artistic purposes, as seen by the murder filled ending of El retablo de maravillas.