gentlemen of the jury!" Couldn't I
make an impressive indictment? "Gentlemen of the court, gentlemen of the
jury! In the name of society, of which I am the avenging voice--in the
name of the sacred interests of humanity--in the name of the eternal
principles of morality--fortified by the consciousness of my duty and my
right--I rise--[_He repeats his gesture_] I rise to demand the head of
the wretched man who stands before you!"

MADAME VAGRET. How well you speak!

_Vagret, with a shrug of the shoulders and a sigh, slowly
and silently removes the gown and hands it to his wife._

VAGRET. Here--put it away.

MADAME VAGRET. There's the bell.

BERTHA. Yes.

MADAME VAGRET [_to her daughter_] Take it.

BERTHA. Yes, mother. [_She makes a parcel of the gown and is about to
leave the room_]

MADAME VAGRET. Bertha!

BERTHA. Yes, mother!

MADAME VAGRET [_tearfully_] Put some more moth-balls in it--poor child!

_Bertha goes out. Catialena enters._

SCENE III:--_Vagret, Madame Vagret, Catialena._

CATIALENA [_holding out an envelope_] This has just come for you, sir.
[_She goes out again_]

VAGRET. What's this? The Basque paper--the _Eskual Herria_--an article
marked with blue pencil. [_He reads_] "Eskual herri guzia hamabartz egun
huntan--" How's one to make head or tail of such a barbarian language!

MADAME VAGRET [_reading over his shoulder_] It's about you--

VAGRET. No!

MADAME VAGRET. Yes. There! "Vagret procuradoreak galdegin--" Wait a
minute. [_Calling through the further doorway_] Catialena! Catialena!

VAGRET. What is it?

MADAME VAGRET. Catialena will translate it for us. [_To Catialena, who
has entered_] Here, Catialena, just read this bit for us, will you?

CATIALENA. _Why, yes, Madame._ [_She reads_] "Eta gaitzegilia ozda
oraino gakpoian Irrysaryko."

VAGRET. And what does that mean?

CATIALENA. That means--they haven't arrested the Irissary murderer yet.

VAGRET. We know that. And then?

CATIALENA. "Baginakien yadanik dona Mauleano tribunala yuye arin edo
tzarrenda berechiazela." That means there are no magistrates at Mauleon
except those they've got rid of from other places, and who don't know
their business--empty heads they've got.

VAGRET. Thanks--that's enough.

MADAME VAGRET. No, no! Go on, Catialena!

CATIALENA. "Yaun hoyen Biribi--"

MADAME VAGRET. Biribi?

CATIALENA. Yes, Madame.

MADAME VAGRET. Well, what does Biribi mean in Basque?

CATIALENA. I do