How Long Is “Les bottines du colonel”?

Paul and Jeanne are devoted lovers and meet on the balcony of their homes, which are side by side. The affair does not meet with the approval of Jeanne's papa, a retired colonel, who drags his daughter from the balcony. Balked of a personal meeting with his divinity, the young man tries to convey a note to her, and drops it, as he imagines, in her shoe. Unluckily the note falls into the colonel's boot by mistake, and the latter is amazed by the sudden affection of his daughter, who tries to persuade him not to go out. He insists, and accompanied by the girl, ventures into the street. The lover's efforts are now all directed towards getting hold of the boot with its incriminating contents.