FRENCH—VERY

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1831, 10 April 1907, Page 61

FRENCH —VERY

(From Our Special Correspondent.) LONDON, January 20.

M. Claude Barbier is a French bookmaker. He lives in West Kensington and puts money on English horses on behalf of clients living on the Continent. Some time ago M. Barbier and his wife decided to let their furnished flat, and a gentleman living at Bailey’s Hotel called several times, and seemed to be attracted by the charms of Mme. Barbier. He wrote to her. She scribbled a reply, and then decided to tear it up. But she forgot to destroy the envelope, addressed to the gentleman staying at Biailey’s Hotel. M. Barbier finds the envelope .and fears the worst. Curtain on Scene I. of this comedie Fi’ancaise.

M. Barbier is as impetuous as he is jealous. He announces to his wife that he must go to Leicester for a day or two, and drives off with''his luggage to —Biailey’s Hotel! He spends the night there, and puts in the whole of the next day in watching the street in which his wife’siflat is situated. Nothing happens M. Barbier spends a second night at the hotel, and watches all next day outside the flat. Nothing happens. M. Barbier is out, and gees back to the’hotel and turns into bed. Suddenly (this is his version') the door of his room is pushed open. A hand apparently switches on the electric light. M. Barbier starts np in bed. He spies the apparition. “Qui est lab” he shouts. The apparition switches off the light, and disappears. M Barbier hastily rises. He puts on a gieat-coat. Exit M. Barbier in deshabille and pursuit. Scene 3 finds M. Barbier chasing the alleged apparition down the corridor. He lias the impression that the apparition lias entered room No. 160, and, exclaiming “That is where the villain has retreated,” he pushes the door open. A woman screams in terror — and goes on screaming. M. Biarbiea' sees he has made a mistake. “Do not be alarmed-, madame, it is all "right,” he says, and tries to beat a retreat. But the lady’s husband comes out of the bedroom, detains him, and arouses the servants. Alarums, excursions, and a charge of attempted burglary levelled against M. Barbier, who finds himself accused of having been in No. 160 for quite a while, in search of jewels on the dressing-table. Curtain. In the morning M. Barbier finds himself taken in custody by the police, and locked up on a charge of “being on premises with the purpose of committing a felony. He protests very excitedly, but without avail, until the case comes before the police Magistrate. It is explained to the Magistrate that M. Barbier bears an unblemished character, and that the charge against him is a mistake, caused by a mutual misunderstanding. M. Barbier tells his story, and is discharged. Eiid of Scene 4.

By way of epilogue to this little comedy M. Barbier this week brought a lawsuit against the gentleman in No. 160, and also against the proprietors of the hotel, claiming damages for false imprisonment. The defendants admitted* that the charge was a mistake, but pleaded they had acted without malice, and had reasonable grounds in the circumstances for taking the course they did. The jury apparently thought so too, for they returned a verdict for the defendants.