A drunkard who has crossed the Pont-Neuf suddenly begins to insult the statue of Henry IV. Seeing that he doesn't answer him, he takes off his shoes and throws his shoes at him. To the drunkard's great amazement, Henry IV got off his horse, gave him a solid beating, then hoisted him onto the pedestal and went to hide. The drunkard finds nothing better than to ride the horse instead of the primitive statue. An agent arrives who, stunned to see our drunkard in place of Henry IV, climbs on the pedestal to dislodge the intruder, but he is suffocated by a liter of wine that the drunkard pours on his head.
—Fondation Jérôme Seydoux-Pathé