Weird Tales/Volume 4/Issue 2/Remarkable Accident

Remarkable Accident

A SINGULAR circumstance took place in the year 1820, at the Comedie Francaise.

Baptiste, who was playing the part of a bailiff, drew from his pocket a paper to represent the warrant by virtue of which he exercised his authority. What was his astonishment on reading the name of one of his female relations, who, through ignorance of a will which had been made in her favor at Dresden, was deprived of a considerable fortune bequeathed to her by her uncle. The paper was a true copy of this will.

Baptiste uttered several exclamations of surprise, accompanied by such comic gesticulations, that the theatre resounded with applause. The audience, however, were far from suspecting the real cause. Baptiste having carefully deposited the paper in his pocket, continued his part, and the next day communicated the discovery to his relation, whose claims were shortly after acknowledged.

This strange adventure is explained as follows: Some time before, a party of the performers of the Comedie Francaise proceeded to Dresden, to play in the presence of the sovereigns, who were assembled in that city. Among other scenic accessories, they found it necessary to procure a number of old parchments, and it is probable the document in question remained ever since in the pocket of the dress worn by Baptiste when he made the fortunate discovery.