One day, they stumble upon a large sum of money in a field and decide to use it to improve their lives. However, their newfound wealth quickly leads them down a path of greed and corruption. Morissot becomes obsessed with money and begins to lose his grip on reality. He becomes paranoid and suspicious, eventually accusing his friend of trying to steal from him.
The climax of the story occurs when Morissot finally confronts Sauvage about his suspicions. In a fit of rage, he attacks his friend and attempts to strangle him. At this moment, the narrator steps in and reveals that the entire story has been a product of Morissot's fevered imagination.
In reality, Morissot and Sauvage have never found any money and are still living in poverty. The climax of the story, therefore, comes when Morissot realizes that his dreams of wealth and happiness were nothing more than a delusion. This realization is a devastating blow to Morissot, and the story ends with him descending into madness.