us to accept this fable. I warn you he has not
succeeded.

ETCHEPARE. I don't know what Bridet may have told you.

MOUZON. Oh! You deny it? So much the better! Come, you are cleverer than
I thought! Was it you who murdered Goyetche?

ETCHEPARE. No, Monsieur.

MOUZON. You had an interest in his death?

ETCHEPARE. No, Monsieur.

MOUZON. Oh, really! I thought you had to pay him a life annuity.

ETCHEPARE [_after a moment's hesitation_] Yes, Monsieur.

MOUZON. Then you had an interest in his death? [_Silence_] Eh! You don't
answer? Well, let us continue. You said to a witness, the young
woman--the young woman Gracieuse Mendione--"It is really too stupid to
be forced to pay money to that old swine."

ETCHEPARE [_without conviction_] That's not true.

MOUZON. It's not true! So the witness is a liar, eh?

ETCHEPARE. I don't know.

MOUZON. You don't know. [_A pause_] You thought that Goyetche had lived
too long?

ETCHEPARE. No, Monsieur.

MOUZON. No, Monsieur. Then why did you say to another witness, Piarrech
Artola, why did you say, in speaking of your creditor, "It's too much,
the Almighty has forgotten him"?

ETCHEPARE. I didn't say that.

MOUZON. You didn't say that. So this witness is a liar too! Answer me.
Is he a liar? [_Silence_] You don't answer. It's just as well. Come now,
Etchepare, why do you persist in these denials--eh? Isn't it all plain
enough? You are avaricious, interested, greedy for gain--

ETCHEPARE. It's so hard to make a living.

MOUZON. You are a man of violent temper--from time to time you get
drunk, and then you become dangerous. You have been four times convicted
for assault and wounding--you are over-ready with your knife. Is that
the truth or isn't it? You were tired of paying--for nothing--a biggish
annual sum to this old man. The time for payment was approaching; you
were pressed for money; you felt that Goyetche had lived too long, and
you killed him. It's so obvious--eh? Isn't it true?

ETCHEPARE [_gradually recovering himself_] I did not murder him.

MOUZON. We won't juggle with words. Did you pay anyone else to kill him?

ETCHEPARE. I had nothing to do with his death. You yourself say I was
pressed for money. So how could I have paid anyone to kill him?

MOUZON. Then you did it yourself.

ETCHEPARE. That's a lie.

MOUZON. Listen, Etchepare--you will confess sooner or later. Already you
are weakening in your defence.

ETCHEPARE. If I was to shout, you'd say I wa