the truth?

ETCHEPARE. Yes.

MOUZON [_rising, rather theatrically, pointing at Etchepare_] Now,
Etchepare, that condemns you. I know that you went out that night. When
you were arrested you said to your wife, "Don't for the world admit that
I went out last night." Come, I must tell you everything. Someone saw
you--a servant. She told the gendarmes that as she was saying good-night
to a young man from Iholdy, with whom she had been dancing, at ten
o'clock at night, she saw you a few hundred yards from your house. What
have you to say to that?

ETCHEPARE. It is true--I did go out.

MOUZON [_triumphantly_] Ah! Now, my good man, we've had some trouble in
getting you to say something. But I can read it in your face when you
are lying--I can read it in your face in letters as big as that. The
proof is that there was no witness who saw you go out--neither your
servant nor anyone else; and yet I would have sworn to it with my head
under the knife. Come, we have made a little progress now. [_To the
recorder_] Have you put down carefully his first admission? Good. [_To
Etchepare_] Now think for a moment. We will continue our little
conversation. [_He goes towards the fireplace, rubbing his hands, pours
himself a glass of spirits, swallows it, gives a sigh of gratification,
and returns to his chair_]

FIRST GENDARME [_to his comrade_] A cunning one, he is!

SECOND GENDARME. You're right!

MOUZON. Let us continue. Come, now that you've got so far, confess the
whole thing! Here are these good gendarmes who want to go to their grub.
[_The gendarmes, the recorder, and Mouzon laugh_] You confess? No? Then
tell me, why did you insist on saying that you remained at home that
night?

ETCHEPARE. Because I'd told the gendarmes so and I didn't want to make
myself out a liar.

MOUZON. And why did you tell the gendarmes that?

ETCHEPARE. Because I thought they'd arrest me on account of the
smuggling.

MOUZON. Good. Then you didn't go to Irissary that night?

ETCHEPARE. No.

MOUZON. Where did you go?

ETCHEPARE. Up the mountain, to look for a horse that had got away the
night before, one of a lot we were taking to Spain.

MOUZON. Good. Excellent. That isn't badly thought out--that can be
maintained. You went to look for a horse lost on the mountain, a horse
which escaped from a lot you were smuggling over the frontier on the
previous night. Excellent. If that is true, there is nothing for it but
to set you at liberty before