road.

MOUZON. Did they close the door behind them?

BRIDET. I don't know, Monsieur.

MOUZON. Then why do you say you saw them come out of the house?

BRIDET. I saw them come out of the meadow in front of the house.

MOUZON. And then?

BRIDET. That's all.

MOUZON [_throwing himself back in his chair_] And you've come here to
bother me for this, eh? Answer. For this?

BRIDET. But, your worship--I beg your pardon--I thought--I beg your
pardon--

MOUZON. Listen. How many gipsies were there? Think well. Don't make a
mistake.

BRIDET. Five.

MOUZON. Are you certain of that?

BRIDET. Yes, Monsieur.

MOUZON. Yes. Well, in the presence of the gendarmes you said there were
five or six. So you are more certain of a fact at the end of a month
than you were on the day on which you observed it. On the other hand,
you no longer know whether the fact occurred on a Monday or a Friday,
nor whether the gipsies were leaving the house or merely crossing the
fields. [_Sternly_] Tell me, are you acquainted with the accused?
Etchepare--do you know him?

BRIDET. Yes, Monsieur.

MOUZON. You have business relations with him? You used to sell him
sheep?

BRIDET. Yes, Monsieur.

MOUZON. That's enough for me. Get out!

BRIDET. Yes, Monsieur.

MOUZON. And think yourself lucky that I let you go like this.

BRIDET. Yes, Monsieur.

MOUZON. In future, before asking to be heard as a witness for the
defence in a trial at law, I recommend you to think twice.

BRIDET. Rest your mind easy, Monsieur. I swear they'll never get me
again!

MOUZON. Sign your interrogatory and be off. If there were not so many
easy-going blunderers of your sort, there would be less occasion to
complain of the law's delays and hesitations for which the law itself is
not responsible.

BRIDET. Yes, Monsieur.

MOUZON [_to the recorder_] Send for Etchepare.

RECORDER [_returning immediately_] Your worship.

MOUZON. Well?

RECORDER. The advocate--Maitre Placat.

MOUZON. Is he there?

RECORDER. Yes, your honor. He would like to see you before the
interrogatory.

MOUZON. Well, show him in, then! What are you waiting for? Be off--and
come back when I send for the accused.

_The recorder goes out as Placat enters._

SCENE VI:--_Mouzon, Maitre Placat._

MOUZON. Good-day, my dear fellow--how are you?

PLACAT. Fine. And you? I caught sight of you last night at the Grand
Theatre; you were with an extremely charming woman.

MOUZON. Ah,