BRIDET. I saw them come out of the meadow in front of the house.

MOUZON. And then?

BRIDET. That's all.

MOUZON [_throwing himself back in his chair_] And you've come here to bother me for this, eh? Answer. For this?

BRIDET. But, your worship--I beg your pardon--I thought--I beg your pardon--

MOUZON. Listen. How many gipsies were there? Think well. Don't make a mistake.

BRIDET. Five.

MOUZON. Are you certain of that?

BRIDET. Yes, Monsieur.

MOUZON. Yes. Well, in the presence of the gendarmes you said there were five or six. So you are more certain of a fact at the end of a month than you were on the day on which you observed it. On the other hand, you no longer know whether the fact occurred on a Monday or a Friday, nor whether the gipsies were leaving the house or merely crossing the fields. [_Sternly_] Tell me, are you acquainted with the accused?

Etchepare--do you know him?

BRIDET. Yes, Monsieur.

MOUZON. You have business relations with him? You used to sell him sheep?

BRIDET. Yes, Monsieur.

MOUZON. That's enough for me. Get out!

BRIDET. Yes, Monsieur.

MOUZON. And think yourself lucky that I let you go like this.

BRIDET. Yes, Monsieur.

MOUZON. In future, before asking to be heard as a witness for the defence in a trial at law, I recommend you to think twice.

BRIDET. Rest your mind easy, Monsieur. I swear they'll never get me again!

MOUZON. Sign your interrogatory and be off. If there were not so many easy-going blunderers of your sort, there would be less occasion to complain of the law's delays and hesitations for which the law itself is not responsible.

BRIDET. Yes, Monsieur.

MOUZON [_to the recorder_] Send for Etchepare.

RECORDER [_returning immediately_] Your worship.

MOUZON. Well?

RECORDER. The advocate--Maitre Placat.

MOUZON. Is he there?

RECORDER. Yes, your honor. He would like to see you before the interrogatory.

MOUZON. Well, show him in, then! What are you waiting for? Be off--and come back when I send for the accused.

_The recorder goes out as Placat enters._

SCENE VI:--_Mouzon, Maitre Placat._

MOUZON. Good-day, my dear fellow--how are you?

PLAcAT. Fine. And you? I caught sight of you last night at the Grand Theatre; you were with an extremely charming woman.

MOUZON. Ah, yes--I--er--

PLAcAT. I beg your pardon. Tell me now--I wanted to have a word with you about the Etchepare case.

MOUZON. If you are free at the present moment, we are going to hold the examination at once.

PLAcAT. That's the trouble--I haven't a minute.

MOUZON. Would you like us to postpone it until to-morrow?

PLAcAT. No, no--I have just been speaking to the accused. An uninteresting story. He just keeps on denying--that's all. He agreed to be interrogated without me. [_Laughing_] I won't hide from you that I advised him to persist in his method. Well, then, au revoir. If he wants an advocate later on, let me know--I'll send you one of my secretaries.

MOUZON. Right. Good-bye for the present, then.

_He returns to his desk. The recorder enters, then Etchepare, between two gendarmes._

SCENE VII:--_Mouzon, Etchepare, the recorder._

RECORDER. Step forward.

MOUZON [_to the recorder_] Recorder, write. [_Very quickly, stuttering_]

In the year nineteen hundred and ninety-seven, etc. Before me, Mouzon, examining magistrate, in the presence of--and so on--the Sieur Etchepare Jean-Pierre was brought to our office, his first appearance being recorded in the report of--and so on. We may mention that the accused, having consented to interrogation in the absence of his advocate--[_To Etchepare_] You do consent, don't you?

ETCHEPARE. I am innocent. I don't need any advocate.

MOUZON [_resumes his stuttering_] We dispensed therewith. In consequence of which we have immediately proceeded as below to the interrogation of the said Sieur Etchepare Jean-Pierre. [_To Etchepare_] Etchepare, on the occasion of your first appearance you refused to reply, which wasn't perhaps very sensible of you, but you were within your rights. You lost your temper and I was even obliged to remind you of the respect due to the law. Are you going to speak to-day?

ETCHEPARE [_disturbed_] Yes, your worship.

MOUZON. Ah! Aha! my fine fellow, you are not so proud to-day!

ETCHEPARE. No. I've been thinking. I want to get out of this as quickly as possible.