he preliminary
examination of the Irissary murder will be in your hands.

MOUZON. I have only to say that I accept. My duty is to obey. I withdraw
nothing of what I have said; within three days the murderer will be
arrested.

BUNERAT. Bravo!

VAGRET. I thank you for that promise in the name of all concerned. I
declare that you relieve us of a great anxiety. [_To his wife_] Listen,
my dear. Monsieur Mouzon is undertaking the preliminary examination, and
he promises us a result before three days are up.

MADAME VAGRET. We shall be grateful, Monsieur Mouzon.

MADAME BUNERAT. Oh, thank you!

VAGRET. Bertha! Tell them to serve dinner--and to send up that old
Irrouleguy wine! I will drink to your success, my dear fellow.

THE MANSERVANT. Dinner is served.

_The gentlemen offer their arms to the ladies preparatory to
going in to dinner._

CURTAIN.

ACT II

_In the office of Mouzon, the examining magistrate. A door
at the back and in the wall to the right. On the left are
two desks. Portfolios, armchairs, and one ordinary chair._

SCENE I:--_The recorder, then the doorkeeper, then Mouzon. When the
curtain rises the recorder, seated in the magistrate's armchair, is
drinking his coffee. The doorkeeper enters._

RECORDER. Ah! Here's our friend the doorkeeper of the courthouse! Well,
what's the news?

DOORKEEPER. Here's your boss.

RECORDER. Already!

DOORKEEPER. He got back from Bordeaux last night. Fagged out he looked.

RECORDER [_loftily_] A Mauleon magistrate is always fatigued when he
returns from Bordeaux!

DOORKEEPER. Why?

RECORDER [_after a pause_] I do not know.

DOORKEEPER. It's the Irissary murder that has brought him here so early.

RECORDER. Probably. [_While speaking he arranges his cup, saucer, sugar
basin, etc., in a drawer. He then goes to his own place, the desk at the
back. Mouzon enters. The doorkeeper pretends to have completed some
errand and leaves the room. The recorder rises, with a low bow_]
Good-morning, your worship.

MOUZON. Good-morning. You haven't made any engagements, have you, except
in the case of the Irissary murder?

RECORDER. I have cited the officer of the gendarmerie, the accused, and
the wife of the accused.

MOUZON. I am tired, my good fellow. I have a nervous headache! Any
letters for me?

RECORDER. No, your worship.

MOUZON. His Honor the State Attorney hasn't asked for me?

RECORDER. No, your worship. But all the