ANECDOTES OF TRISTAN BERNARD.

To see a friend in Caen, Tristan Bernard took the train. He settled into an excellent first-class compartment. He lit a choice cigar, which he smoked with relish.
Opposite him sat an old gentleman coughing. The old gentleman leaned toward Tristan Bernard, explained that he was asthmatic, and asked him, in carefully chosen terms, to go smoke in the aisle. Tristan Bernard didn't flinch and continued to surround himself in a cloud of smoke.
The old gentleman, no doubt imagining that the smoker was deaf, raised his voice to repeat his request. A futile effort! The old gentleman became angry and declared that he would speak to a conductor to put an end to this scandal. Just then, the conductor passed by: the old gentleman began to vent his grievances... The employee turned toward the delinquent and issued him the usual warnings. Tristan Bernard replies, unmoved:
"First ask this gentleman who's complaining if he's within his rights: he's traveling first class with a second-class ticket!"
The gentleman blushes, becomes confused, stammers, and the conductor shamefully expels him, apologizing to Tristan Bernard for having bothered him.
When the incident is over, Tristan Bernard's neighbor asks him: "How did you know this traveler had a second-class ticket?"
"It's quite simple," the author of Triplepatte replies casually: "he was carrying his ticket in his vest pocket, and I noticed it was the same color as mine."

(Les Nouvelles Littéraires)