BERNARD, Tristan (1866–1947).

A rare early comedy, written, according to a note by the author at the end, between half past eleven in the morning and half past midnight on 10 November 1891. The title page bears the handwritten note, added in 1946: ‘by Paul Bernard (who had been called Tristan for two months)’. This manuscript predates Bernard’s first play to be performed on stage (Les Pieds Nickelés, 15 March 1895) by three and a half years. It contains very few corrections. The story is set in Paris and revolves around Alix, her fiancé Pierre and Pierre’s close friend François, who is a chemist. Alix is fascinated by murderers and their crimes; she is lenient towards criminals of all kinds. However, before getting married, Pierre is keen to hear François’s opinion, and François—intelligent, skilful, and not blinded by sentiment—finds a radical way to cure the young woman of her perverse tastes…