. You were in form that day!
What a figure he cut--the prisoner. You know, the fellow who was so
badly dressed. Cock his name was.

BUNERAT. Ah, yes! When I said: "Cock, turn yourself on and let your
confession trickle out!"

MOUZON [_laughing_] That was it! That was it! And the witness for the
defence--that idiot. Didn't you make him look a fool? He couldn't finish
his evidence, they laughed so when you said: "If you wish to conduct the
case, only say so. Perhaps you'd like to take my place?"

BUNERAT. Ah, yes! Ladies, my good friend here reminds me of a rather
amusing anecdote. The other day--it was in the Correctional Court--

THE MANSERVANT [_announcing_] Monsieur Gabriel Ardeuil.

SCENE VI:--_The same, with Ardeuil._

ARDEUIL [_to Madame Vagret_] I hope you'll forgive me for coming so
late. I was detained until now.

MADAME VAGRET. I will forgive you all the more readily since I'm told
you have had such a success to-day as will make all the advocates of the
district jealous of you.

_Ardeuil is left to himself._

LA BOUZOLE [_touching him on the shoulder_] Young man--come, sit down by
me--as a favor. Do you realize that it won't take many trials like
to-day's to get you struck off the rolls?

ARDEUIL. I couldn't be struck off the rolls because--

LA BOUZOLE. Hang it all--a man does himself no good by appearing
singular.

ARDEUIL. Singular! But you yourself--Well, the deliberations are secret,
but for all that I know you stand for independence and goodness of heart
in this Court.

LA BOUZOLE. Yes, I've permitted myself that luxury--lately.

ARDEUIL. Lately?

LA BOUZOLE. Yes, yes, my young friend, for some little time. Because for
some little time I've been cured of the disease which turns so many
honest fellows into bad magistrates. That disease is the fever of
promotion. Look at those men there. If they weren't infected by this
microbe, they would be just, kindly gentlemen, instead of cruel and
servile magistrates.

ARDEUIL. You exaggerate, sir. The French magistracy is not--

LA BOUZOLE. It is not venal--that's the truth. Among our four thousand
magistrates you might perhaps not find one--you hear me, not one--even
among the poorest and most obscure--who would accept a money bribe in
order to modify his judgment. That is the glory of our country's
magistracy and its special virtue. But a great number of our magistrates
are ready to be complaisant--even to give way--when it is a questio