"FRANK & EISNER & REGENSBURGER, "Attorneys for Plaintiff." _"State of California, City and County of San Francisco._ "LUIGI RAVELLI being duly sworn says that he is the Plaintiff in the above entitled action. That he has heard read the foregoing complaint and knows the contents thereof. That the same is true of his own knowledge except as to the matters therein stated on his information and belief and as to those matters he believes the same to be true. "LUIGI RAVELLI "Sworn to before me this 10th day of April 1886. "SAMUEL HERINGHIE, "Dep. Co. Clerk." In reply to the above my attorney and friend, the invincible General W. H. L. Barnes, put in the following "answer and cross complaint":-- "_In the Superior Court of the State of California in and for the City and County of San Francisco._ "LUIGI RAVELLI, Plaintiff, v. J. H. MAPLESON, Defendant. "Now comes J. H. Mapleson defendant in the above entitled action by W. H. L. Barnes his attorney and for answer to the complaint of Luigi Ravelli the plaintiff in the above entitled action respectfully shows to the Court and alleges as follows: "The defendant denies that between the 4th day of February A.D. 1886 and the 4th day of April 1886 or between any other dates plaintiff rendered services to the defendant at defendant's special instance or request or otherwise in the capacity of an opera singer or otherwise except as hereinafter stated. "Defendant denies that for said alleged services or otherwise or at all this defendant promised to pay plaintiff the salary of twenty-four hundred dollars per month or any sum except as is hereinafter stated. "Defendant admits that he has not paid the said plaintiff for his alleged services since the 4th day of February A.D. 1886; but he denies that the same or any part thereof is due to plaintiff from the defendant. "And further answering the defendant alleges and shows to the Court as follows: "That heretofore to wit on or about the 22nd day of July A.D. 1885 at the City of London, England, the plaintiff Luigi Ravelli and this defendant made and entered into a contract in writing in and by which it was agreed substantially as follows:--