Un priceless treasure buried for too many years. As reported by France Bleu, an old dictation book dating from the First World War was found in November by a retired couple living in Bassan, in Hérault. While searching their attic in search of Christmas decorations, Elisabeth and Patrick Gault came across this notebook which had belonged to a certain J. Ayrivié, buried under a thick layer of dust, and near which was a sheet detailing a crazy bet. between two friends, in the middle of the Great War.
“I, the undersigned Sieur Lucien Balp, declares to Sieur Léonce Ayrivié that the European war 14, 15, 16, 17 must end on March 17, 1917. On this occasion, Sieur Ayrivié undertakes to give the sum of 20 francs if this statement is verified, ”it is written on the manuscript, in India ink. “I won’t hide from you that we had a lot of emotions when we found the notebook and this note,” Élisabeth told France Bleu.
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A descendant found
The couple then decided to start research to find the descendants of the two protagonists of the bet, aged 16 at the time of the bet. After the publication of an article retracing its history in Free noon, the couple was able to meet Léonce Ayrivié’s granddaughter. The WWI armistice was signed on November 11, 1918, 22 months after Lien Balp’s prediction. History does not say if he finally honored his debt to Léonce Ayrivié.
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