How Spriggins Took Lodgers (1911)

Mr. Spriggins decides to rent lodgings to augment his income and also decides that the phrase, "Ici on parle Française" ("French spoken here"), will bring in additional custom from the visitors to the town. An English Major, traveling with his wife in the same compartment with a young Frenchman, becomes very jealous of the young man, and when he gets out at a wayside station to get some lunch for her is and left behind, he becomes jealous. Arriving at the end of the journey, the young Frenchman gallantly offers to aid the young wife in finding a lodging until her husband comes on the next train. The cabman directs them to Mr. Spriggins' attempts, with the aid of his book, to talk French with the young Frenchman are very disastrous, but they finally arrive at sufficient understanding so that the apartment is placed at the young wife's disposal. And then the Frenchman discovers that Mr. Spriggins has a very beautiful daughter and that it would be a good place for him to spend his time. He consequently engages a second room. Then the Major arrives in town and the cabman directs him to the same house. His brief interview with Spriggins leaves the latter very much disheveled and the Major dashes from the house to get his pistols. His wife is unable to calm his jealousy and he challenges the young Frenchman to a duel upon the spot, in the parlor, much to Mr. Spriggins' and his wife's dismay. Before any blood is shed matters are satisfactorily explained by the arrival of the young woman, with whom Victor has fallen in love, and the Major's realization that the Frenchman loves someone besides his wife.

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GenresComedy Short