A Spy for a Day

Summary

A humble village priest, Michael Perrin—embodied with quivering humanity by the legendary Ermete Novelli—bows off the gaslit stage only to stumble into a labyrinth of espionage, coincidences, and conscience. His country church is torched by Republican dragoons; he flees to Paris where his widowed niece, Theresa, hawks her mother’s cross to keep starvation at bay. A chance reunion with Fouche, school-chum turned Minister of Police, lands the bewildered cleric a sinecure: twenty francs a day to “dine well and report nothing.” Yet every café napkin he pockets becomes parchment for conspiracy when a royalist pamphlet is accidentally flipped, its traitorous signatures copied onto his innocuous daily bulletin. Napoleon’s secret police swoop, arrests ignite across the city, and the guileless parson—believing he has merely scribbled sermon notes—finds himself hailed as savior of the Republic. In a finale steeped in grace rather than glory, Michael smuggles the captured plotters to freedom through a hidden stairway, trades the label of spy for shepherd, and watches the rebuilt steeple rise like a forgiving finger against the Parisian dawn.

Synopsis

The character of Michael Perrin is most wonderfully portrayed by Ermete Novelli, the greatest of great actors, the idol of the European stage. We see him loudly applauded by his ardent admirers before he retires to assume the disguise of his famous role. The first scene opens in the humble abode of the poor parish priest Michael Perrin, who is bidding farewell to his sister and her daughter, Theresa. He takes them to the stagecoach and after many tears and embraces, finally sees them off on their return to Paris, and then wends his way homeward. It is several months later, while Michael is in the schoolroom of the church, engaged in teaching the little children to master the first stroke of the pen, the villagers are aroused by the approaching Republican troops. In a short time they enter the schoolroom and, regardless of Father Perrin's pleadings, they turn him and the children out and set fire to the old church. Alone and homeless, Michael decides to take shelter with his sister in Paris. His joy at meeting Theresa is darkened when he learns that his sister is dead. While his niece is showing him the little cross left by her mother, Bernard, her betrothed, enters, and with jesting words of congratulation the old man blesses them. Unfortunately, Theresa is out of work, and in order to maintain her uncle and herself, she is obliged to part with her little cross. Bernard having sold it, is on his way home when he meets Grussac, an old comrade, who makes an appointment to visit him the next day. Unknown to her uncle, Theresa does some sewing at night. He discovers her little secret the next morning, when he finds her asleep over her work, the little lamp still burning on the table. Michael determines to seek employment, and by accident learns that the Minister of Police is Fouche, an old schoolmate of his. With great confidence he goes to the Police Department, where he is received with joy by Fouche. As the minister is summoned to Napoleon's office he commits his secretary to find employment for Michael, "You must wander around the city and dine in the best restaurants in Paris. Every morning at nine o'clock report to me, and for this you will receive Frs. 20 per day." This is Michael's position. In the meantime Grussac having kept his appointment, has succeeded in winning over Bernard to sign his name to a Royalist conspiracy, and quickly departs upon the entrance of Michael. Eagerly Theresa and Bernard listen to the old parson's excited snatches of talk between which he searches from pocket to pocket for the first Frs. 20 piece given him. That night, during a supper given by the conspirators, Perrin unexpectedly comes in. The conversation between Grussac and Bernard is overheard by a waiter, who immediately informs Napoleon of the plot against him. Michael, upon arriving home, sits down to prepare his report, which he hands in the next morning. The Police Department is in a state of great fear as the note of warning has safely reached Napoleon. At first no attention is paid to Michael. What, then, is the surprise and joy of Fouche and his secretary, when they read the names of the conspirators on the reverse side of Michael's report. "Citizen Perrin, you have saved the country," they tell him. Michael listens to their loud praises entirely mystified, for he is unaware that he has written his report on a compromising sheet of paper neglectfully left by Grussac. Unaware of these events, the conspirators are holding their last meeting. Bernard is appointed to execute the plot, but he refuses, and while he is struggling with his fellow conspirators, the police enter. Bernard escapes, and by Theresa immediately dispatches a letter to Fouche disclosing the plot. The two conspirators arrested are taken to the Police Department and Father Perrin is left alone to question them. "You wanted to kill Bonaparte? To become murderers? But did you think of your family, of your mother? Do you weep? Are you repentant? Then go and embrace your mother," and he lets them go free by means of a secret passage. Theresa has just delivered to Fouche Bernard's letter. When it is learned what Michael has done their dismay is boundless. All hope seems lost, when a message is given to the bewildered Michael from the conspirators. In appreciation of his leniency they have abandoned their plot and have taken advantage by leaving the country. They only express their regret that so generous a man should act the part of a spy. It is then the truth flashes upon the unsuspecting parson. His indignation is finally appeased by the diplomatic Fouche, who writes an authorization to have the old church rebuilt. Michael in his great joy forgets the incidents of his eventful day as a spy, and leaves with Theresa and Bernard, who has also been arrested, a contented man. We see him again in later years still pursuing his good and noble work as the first teacher to the little children.