Next Year's French Play.

The Cercle Francais will present next winter a three-act comedy by Noel be Breton, entitled "Crispin Medecin." Following is the story of the play:

Lisidor, an aged widower, wishes to marry Alcine, the young and pretty daughter of his friend Mirobolan, a physician. Wishing to get rid of his son, Geralde, he sends him to the law school at Bourges, in company with Crispin, a valet. Geralde, however, is passionately in love with Alcine, the girl his father hopes to marry; and he therefore remains in Paris, instead of going to Bourges, keeping in concealment as far as possible.

All seems to favor Lisidor's suit at first, for Mirobolan is quite willing to have his daughter marry so old a friend. Their plans are upset, however, by the refusal of Tehante, Alcine's mother, to listen to the preposition; and in spite of remonstrance she has her way and no definite agreement is reached. The two old men are somewhat encouraged by the hopeful spirit of Marin, Lisidor's valet.

Meanwhile Geralde has used up all his money, and writes to his father for more, pretending to be hard at work in Bourges. Through the clumsiness of Crispin, by whom the letter was to be delivered, Lisidor's suspicions are aroused; for Crispin lost the real letter and, being afraid to tell his master, prepared a poor imitation of it, giving some lame excuses for strange lapses in his recollections of Bourges.

After promising to return later for the money, he sets off for the lodgings where Geralde is concealed, but on the way meets him in the street. Geralde is waiting for an interview with Alcine, who soon appears and tells him that his father, Lisidor, wishes to marry her. She is in a great hurry and has to leave without further explanations; so Geralde writes a letter to her, asking for a longer interview, and gives it to Crispin to deliver.

The latter goes at once to Alcine's house. Mirobolan, her father, is about to hold a meeting with some physicians of his acquaintance for the purpose of dissecting the corpse of a man who has just been hanged. Crispin, with his letter, is received by Dorine, a maid servant. Shortly after, he is nearly discovered by Mirobolan, who is busily preparing for the dissection. The only possible way of escaping undetected is by pretending to be the corpse, which Crispin accordingly does. In spite of remonstrance from Dorine, Mirobolan prepares to operate on the body of Crispin, who is nearly dead with fright. The physician is fortunately called away at this point; the corpse arises, and makes a determined effort to escape. A new arrival prevents this, but Dorine seizes a physician's robe and gives it to Crispin, who immediately putsit on. The new arrival proves to be a servant who has come to avail herself of Mirobolan's reputed power as a clairvoyant. Crispin of course has to play the role of the physician, and many absurd complications follow. He finally makes his escape, and is sent at once by Geralde to get the promised money from Lisidor. The latter has meanwhile discovered Geralde's deception, and a stormy scene follows. Crispin returns empty-handed, and is sent, in spite of his terror, to Mirobolan's house, in the hope of meeting Alcine.

Lisidor and Marin have also gone there with the same hope in mind. Seeing Crispin dressed up as a doctor, they denounce him, but are in doubt as to his identity when he begins to declaim some Latin which he has picked up. He is finally recognized by all, however; and excuses his own and Geralde's conduct by the love of the latter for Alcine. Lisidor gives way to his son and the matter is quickly arranged to the satisfaction of everyone.