A Canadian tourist and his wife were confronted by a man wielding a nine-inch knife and demanding to know where their cash was hidden, a court was told yesterday.

Mr. Daniel Showalter, 42, who lives near Montreal, told the Supreme Court that a man emerged from behind patio door curtains with a knife raised above his shoulder. He warned the couple that an armed accomplice was waiting outside and told them to wait in the bathroom of the Paget apartment while he searched the flat, a jury heard.

Yesterday, Wayne E. Smith, 30, of no fixed abode, pleaded not guilty to armed robbery on September 6, last year. He pleaded guilty to one charge of burglary at a different address on the same day and another charge of burglary on September 8, 1994.

Giving evidence at the start of the trial, Mr. Showalter said he and his wife, Catherine, had just returned to their apartment after dinner and were getting ready for bed when they heard a loud banging noise.

Mr. Showalter went to investigate and as he stepped towards the patio windows the curtains began to bulge. "I stopped and a man emerged from under the curtain holding a knife. I realised we were being held up,'' said the Canadian engineer. "When I realised the man was armed I shouted at him and my wife began to scream. I was hoping that the noise would bring someone to help us.'' Mr. Showalter said the man twice demanded to know where the couple's money was and was told each time that everything was in the camera case, which had travellers cheques, a wallet with credit cards and some cash.

The couple were also told not to call the Police because the man "had a friend with a gun outside''.

They were told to go into the bathroom where they locked the door. As they waited Mr. Showalter said he could hear noises making him think the apartment was being searched.

While inside the bathroom, the man again demanded to know where the money was and was again told everything was in the camera bag.

"He told us to open the door and he turned the handle and began to push. My wife leant against the door to prevent it from opening. She was terrified that he would come in.

"I opened the door about two inches and repeated that everything was in the camera bag and that he should take it and leave us alone. I pushed the door closed and he apparently went away,'' added Mr. Showalter.

He said he could again hear noises as if the apartment was being searched.

Then it went quiet and Mr. Showalter came out of the bathroom to find the man had gone.

First he called the landlord and then the Police. He discovered that gold and diamond engagement and wedding rings, worth $4,800 Canadian dollars, and a college signet ring, worth $200 Canadian dollars were missing.

Mr. Showalter told Police that the man was about 5ft 10'' tall, fairly slim and with a medium build with "muscular calves''. He said the flat was lit by bedside lights and a small lamp in the kitchen.

Under cross-examination defence counsel. Mr, Archibald Warner, challenged Mr.

Showalter over the description he had given of the man to the Police.

Mr. Showalter admitted the light in the room was poor, but he added: "I would say I got a reasonable look at the man who came in.''