n't know.

MADAME VAGRET. What? You don't know? You mean you don't want to say? Is
it a bad word?

CATIALENA. Oh no, Madame, I should know it then.

VAGRET. Biribi--

BERTHA. Perhaps it's a nickname they give you.

MADAME VAGRET. Perhaps that's it. [_A pause_] Well?

CATIALENA. They're speaking of the master.

MADAME VAGRET [_to her husband_] I told you so. [_To Catialena_] Abusing
him?

VAGRET. I tell you that's enough! [_He snatches the paper from Catialena
and puts it in his pocket_] Go back to the kitchen. Hurry now--quicker
than that!

CATIALENA. Well, sir, I swear I won't tell you the rest of it.

VAGRET. No one's asking you to. Be off.

CATIALENA. I knew the master would be angry. [_She turns to go_]

MADAME VAGRET. Catialena!

CATIALENA. Yes, Madame?

MADAME VAGRET. Really now, you don't know what Biribi means?

CATIALENA. No, Madame, I swear I don't.

MADAME VAGRET. That's all right. There's the bell--go and see who it is.
[_Catialena goes_] I shall give that woman a week's notice, and no later
than to-morrow.

VAGRET. But really--

CATIALENA [_returning_] If you please, sir, it's Monsieur Delorme.

MADAME VAGRET. Your examining magistrate?

VAGRET. Yes. He's come to give me his reply. [_To Catialena_] Show him
in.

MADAME VAGRET. What reply?

VAGRET. He has come to return me his brief.

MADAME VAGRET. The brief?

VAGRET. Yes. I asked him to think it over until this evening.

MADAME VAGRET. He'll have to stay to dinner.

VAGRET. No. You know perfectly well his health--Here he is. Run away.

MADAME VAGRET [_amiably, as she goes out_] Good-evening, Monsieur
Delorme.

DELORME. Madame!

SCENE IV:--_Vagret, Delorme._

VAGRET. Well, my dear fellow, what is it?

DELORME. Well, it's no--positively no.

VAGRET. Why?

DELORME. I've told you. [_A pause_]

VAGRET. And the _alibi_ of your accused?

DELORME. I've verified it.

VAGRET. Does it hold water?

DELORME. Incontestably.

VAGRET [_dejectedly_] Then you've set your man at liberty?

DELORME [_regretfully_] I simply had to.

VAGRET [_the same_] Obviously. [_A pause_] There is not a chance?

DELORME. No.

VAGRET. Well, then?

DELORME. Well, I beg you to give the brief to someone else.

VAGRET. Is that final?

DELORME. Yes. You see, my dear fellow, I'm too old to adapt myself to
the customs of the day. I'm a magistrate of the old school, just as you
are. I inherited from my father certain scruples which are