yes--I--er--

PLACAT. I beg your pardon. Tell me now--I wanted to have a word with you
about the Etchepare case.

MOUZON. If you are free at the present moment, we are going to hold the
examination at once.

PLACAT. That's the trouble--I haven't a minute.

MOUZON. Would you like us to postpone it until to-morrow?

PLACAT. No, no--I have just been speaking to the accused. An
uninteresting story. He just keeps on denying--that's all. He agreed to
be interrogated without me. [_Laughing_] I won't hide from you that I
advised him to persist in his method. Well, then, au revoir. If he wants
an advocate later on, let me know--I'll send you one of my secretaries.

MOUZON. Right. Good-bye for the present, then.

_He returns to his desk. The recorder enters, then
Etchepare, between two gendarmes._

SCENE VII:--_Mouzon, Etchepare, the recorder._

RECORDER. Step forward.

MOUZON [_to the recorder_] Recorder, write. [_Very quickly, stuttering_]
In the year nineteen hundred and ninety-seven, etc. Before me, Mouzon,
examining magistrate, in the presence of--and so on--the Sieur Etchepare
Jean-Pierre was brought to our office, his first appearance being
recorded in the report of--and so on. We may mention that the accused,
having consented to interrogation in the absence of his advocate--[_To
Etchepare_] You do consent, don't you?

ETCHEPARE. I am innocent. I don't need any advocate.

MOUZON [_resumes his stuttering_] We dispensed therewith. In consequence
of which we have immediately proceeded as below to the interrogation of
the said Sieur Etchepare Jean-Pierre. [_To Etchepare_] Etchepare, on the
occasion of your first appearance you refused to reply, which wasn't
perhaps very sensible of you, but you were within your rights. You lost
your temper and I was even obliged to remind you of the respect due to
the law. Are you going to speak to-day?

ETCHEPARE [_disturbed_] Yes, your worship.

MOUZON. Ah! Aha! my fine fellow, you are not so proud to-day!

ETCHEPARE. No. I've been thinking. I want to get out of this as quickly
as possible.

MOUZON. Well, well, for my part, I ask nothing more than to be able to
set you at liberty. So far we understand each other excellently. Let us
hope it'll last. Sit down. And first of all I advise you to give up
trying to father the crime onto a band of gipsies. The witness Bridet,
who has business relations with you, has endeavored, no doubt at your
instigation, to induce