1938-10-21 — Page 23

THE CHINA MAIL FRIDAY SUPPLEMENT, OCTOBER 21, 1988

M. Platapan's Roof

(Continued from Page 11 its youth, when its every slate was new and glossy, and its rafters were in their prime. It was a brave young roof in those days. Proudly it defied snow, hail and rain, nor could the most violent gale find a chink in its armour.

"M. Platapan's roof is old, but those over whom it has spread its protecting wing remember its charity, and rush gladly to its aid. Flambin, the film star; Godard, the tenor; Mlle. Gerard, who is singing her way to a lasting fame. These are a few of those who remember and would repay. On the 90th of the month at the Theatre Grandcourt they will give their valuable time in order to rush to the aid of their old and well-beloved friend, M. PLATA- PAN'S ROOF."

In a moment, it seemed, all Paris was chuckling over the af- fair. Surely never did a roof in all France receive' such attention. Pictures were published of M. Platapan's doorway with M. Platapan himself standing beside Mme. Platapan and Isabelle, their beautiful daughter.

There were pictures of Mlle. Gerardy with her arm through M. Go- dard's, both standing in M. Plata- pan's doorway. There were pic- tures of Hector's bronze and Odeon's landscape.

.

And there were pictures in- numerable of the roof itself. Photographers clambered up to points of vantage and took its por- trait from every conceivable angle.

Everywhere one looked one saw or read something of M. Platapan's roof, and although Georges dou- bled the prices and then doubled them again the entire theatre was booked out in a week. A careful check of the box office figures showed him that the affair should net a cool hundred thousand france at the least; it was astoun- Since the whole cost of ding. the repairs should not be more than twenty-five thousand it was apparent that Isabelle would have a substantial dot.

A week or so before the concert Lombard, the master plumber and

Platapan's brother-in-law, viewed Georges. '

"Congratulations"

warmly. "It was stroke of genius.”

a

inter-

he

said veritable

"It does well," said Georges modestly.

"Of course," proceeded Lom- bard nonchalantly, "it is only fitting that as your prospective father-in-law's brother-in-law I should have the job of repairing the roof. The price would be low."

"It will need to be very low indeed to beat a quotation I have had which

five thousand

france."

be

was

"Five thousand!

cheap enough."

Ten would

It

"But, think of the advertise- ment! The plumber who repairs the roof will have his name in the papers for weeks to come. will do you no harm with that big. contract which you hope to land in the South."

"Yes, that is so.". Lombard ruminated, and then came to a de- cision. "I shall do it for four thousand, and that is bedrock."" "Make it two, and the job - is YOUTB

“Absurd!” Lombard puffed himself up like a turkey cock.

"As you please." An indiffer- ent shrug. "If I hang out no doubt somebody will do it for

+

nothing.

It is only because you are Isabelle's uncle that I'consider you at all."-

Lombard writhed and protested -but gave in.

So, too, did Burgundy, the pain- ter, and Jour, the paperhanger and decorator. And on the whole three he impressed the necessity of doing a good job. since the result would undoubtedly

in appear many papers.

It need scarcely be said that the concert was a huge success.

Next day. Georges 'settled ac- counts with him.

It pleased him to bring the whole of the proceeds in cash. and he

laid on Platapan's parlour table a tidy heap of crisp thousand-franc notes.

"The net takings," he crowed, indicating the heap proudly.

"For the roof," he continued, abstracting two of the bills, and apparently reducing the heap not at all.

"No!" cried the amazed. Plata-

pan..

"For the roof," repeated George exultantly, and explained.

"Wonderful!" cried Madame, while Platapan patted him on the back, and Isabelle kissed him.

"And this,” cried Georges, taking two more bills, "is for the painting, while this"-taking one more "is

for the decorating. The rest are for you, my dear M. Platapan.

+

the "Not for me," exclaimed

generous

for little man, "but Isabelle." He handed them to her with flourish, and she jugged him tenderly so that what with joy and relief he was almost in tears.

Д

"How lucky I am to have such "Godard! friends, "he exulted. Flambin! Ah. the good fellows they are. How generous, how very generous of them to give of their valuable time and talents to help me. Never, never shall I cease to be grateful to them hope they did not surrender an engagement for last night just on my account," he concluded an- xiously.

I

"Not they," gcoffed Georges. "And if they did they would never miss the money."

"Do they, then, make so much?" asked Plantapan curiously.

"Make much? Georges chuckled. "Do you see this heap of notes? Godard makes as much in a week. and Flambin gets very little less." "A hundred thousand francs a week! Platapan's eyes bulged. You joke!"

"Not I. I know it for a fact." "A hundred thousand francs a week," repeated Platapan strange ly sitting down suddenly as if the chock was too much."

"Our friends have become famous people," said Madame proudly.

"A hundred thousand francs,” repeated Platapan wonderingly. He put his hand to his chin thoughtfully.

"A hundred thousand francs week," he safd again, “but nothing for poor Platapan whose roof leaks."

They stared at him as he rose slowly and went to the door.

There he turned and faced them

"A hundred thousand franes a week," he said plaintively "and yet they did not pay me.” He raised his eyebrows. "I see!"

He mumbled to himself as he trudged up the stairs, and at the first landing they heard him say,

"nothing for poor Platapan!" and at the top. "Although his roof leaks !"

He rapped on M. Boulanger's door and that young man came out briskly.

"Ah, M. Platapan!" he chuckl ed. "You are over the concert all right, then? What a success! What a furore:”

She smiled at him knowingly. "Your pockets are well filled now.”

"Not with your money," he re- - torted. "I have come for my rent.".

"I am

“Eh?” she stammered." desolate, my dear M. Platapan, but to-day I have nothing. Next week, perhaps, my uncle...

"From Fiji?" he asked shrewd-

"

"My rent," Platapan cut in ly. "Come now, my dear Mlle. harshly.

"Oh," said Boulanger stopping abruptly.

"Well, I must confess I am a little short at the moment, M.. Platapan."

"I must have my rent,”

"I have not a sou, not a single

sou.'

"Then get out-at once,” Plata- pan's eyes were hard.

"I see," snapped Boulanger angrily. "Very well then." He plunged his hand into his pocket and produced two twenty franc notes.

Take them, skinflint," he mut- tered.

"From now on, M. Boulanger," said his landlord, pocketing the notes and moving away, "you pay regularly or go.”

"Miser!" bawled Boulanger after him, and shaking his fist. "Robber! You will take the boots off my feet next."

But Platapan was too intent to heed.

Mlle. Carnot of the third floor, appeared promptly in response to his determined rap- ping.

"M. Platapan!" she cried hap-. pily. "How glad I was of the so great success of last evening!"

You've

got to

be fussy

over

horses.

Fussy about their training.

Carnot. I have heard that too often, the thing palls."

"You insult me!" she blazed. "All right, you old robber, you shall have your money but I leave."

.

"So long as you pay," he said coldly.

She disappeared, and returned in a few moments with a little wad of notes which she shoved in- to his waiting hand.

"I shall starve," she wailed, "but I would rather starve than owe such a pinchfist whose pockets are bulging with money Qh, what a money-grubbing thief you are!"

She worked herself into a fury. "Bandit?" she screamed. “Be- side you Shylock was a Christian.”

"Perhaps." he agreed placidly "But never again shall. I have to go cap in hand to those who owe me. A hundred thousand francs a week-but nothing for poor Platapan whose roof leaks. Never again, I assure you.”

That was ten years ago,. and to-day Platapan is reputed to be one of the hardest landlords in all Paris. But his roof,

and those of the two apartment houses he has acquired are in excellent repair and are likely to be.

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