PREHEAT OVEN TO 350F 15 minutes before baking, with the rack in the center of the oven. Butter a 6-cup souffle dish. Have a kettle of boiling water ready and a baking pan large enough to hold the souffle dish. Whisk the eggs, egg yolk and sugar until light. Mix in the butter, the half-and-half, brandy, vanilla, nutmeg and salt. Place the bread in the souffle dish and pour the custard over it. Press the bread into the custard so it gets well soaked. Let rest 20 minutes. Put the souffle dish in the baking pan and place on the oven rack. Pour boiling water into the baking pan so it comes halfway up the sides of the souffle dish. Bake until the custard is softly set in the center, about 1 hour. Remove fro