am. She passes without hearing Satni's voice. The
crowd follows her._

MIERIS [_to Delethi who supports her_] Lead me to Satni--go--[_To
Satni_] Satni, your words have sunk deep in my heart--Yaouma, they tell
me, did not hear your voice. She is lost in the joy of sacrifice. The
need to make sacrifice is in us all. If the gods are not, to whom shall
we sacrifice ourselves?

SATNI. To those who suffer.

MIERIS. To those who suffer.

_During this Bitiou has come slowly down behind Satni._

BITIOU. Look! He too, he will fall down!

_He plunges a dagger in Satni's back. Delethi draws Mieris
away. Satni falls._

SATNI [_raising himself slightly_] It was you who struck me,
Bitiou--[_He looks long and sadly at him_] I pity you with all my
heart--with all my heart. [_He dies_]

_Bitiou looks at the blood on the dagger, and flings it away
in horror. Then he crouches down by Satni and begins to cry
softly._

DELETHI [_to Mieris_] Mistress, come and pray!

MIERIS. No, I do not believe in gods in whose name men kill.

_Outside are heard the trumpets and acclamations that
accompany Yaouma to the Nile._

CURTAIN

THE RED ROBE

CHARACTERS

MOUZON
VAGRET
ETCHEPARE
MONDOUBLEAU
LA BOUZOLE
BUNERAT
ATTORNEY-GENERAL
PRESIDENT OF ASSIZES
DELORME
ARDEUIL
BRIDET
POLICE SERGEANT
RECORDER
PLACAT
DOORKEEPER
YANETTA
ETCHEPARE'S MOTHER
MADAME VAGRET
MADAME BUNERAT
BERTHA
CATIALENA

_Time--The present._

ACT I

SCENE I:--_A small reception-room in an old house at
Mauleon._

_The curtain rises, revealing Madame Vagret in evening
dress; she is altering the position of the chairs to her own
satisfaction. Enter Bertha, also in evening dress, a
newspaper in her hand._

BERTHA. Here's the local paper, the _Journal_. I sent the _Official
Gazette_ to father; he has just come home from the Court. He's dressing.

MADAME VAGRET. Is the sitting over?

BERTHA. No, not yet.

MADAME VAGRET [_taking the newspaper_] Are they still discussing the
case?

BERTHA. As usual.

MADAME VAGRET. One doesn't need to search long. There's a big head-line
at the top of the page: "The Irissary Murder." They're attacking your
father now! [_She reads_] "Monsieur Vagret, our District Attorney."
[_She continues to read to herself_] And there are sub-heading