head to speak to me about my children. I don't know what you can
have told her, but you've almost convinced her that I'm a scoundrel, and
you hoped she'd succeed in sending me to the guillotine in the name of
my children, because you know I worship them and they are everything to
me. You are right; I dare say there isn't another father living who
loves his little ones more than I love mine. [_To Yanetta_] You know
that, Yanetta! You know that! And you know too that with all my faults
I'm a true Christian, that I believe in God, in an almighty God. Well,
then, listen! My two boys--my little Georges, my little Andre--I pray
God to kill them both if I'm a criminal!

YANETTA [_with the greatest exultation_] He is innocent! I tell you he's
innocent! I tell you he's innocent! [_A pause_] Ah, now you can bring
your proofs, ten witnesses, a hundred if you like, and you might tell me
you saw him do it--I should tell you: It's not true! It's not true! You
might prove to me that he had confessed to it himself, and I would tell
you it wasn't true! Oh, you must feel it, your worship. You have a
heart--you know what it is when one loves one's children--so you must be
certain, you too, that he's innocent. You are going to give him back to
me, aren't you? It's settled now and you will give him back to me?

MOUZON. If he is innocent, why did he lie just now?

ETCHEPARE. It was you who lied--you! You told me you had witnesses who
saw me leave my house that night--and you hadn't anyone!

MOUZON. If I had no one at that moment, I have someone now. Yes, there
is a witness who has declared that you were not at home on the night of
the crime, and that witness is your wife!

ETCHEPARE [_to Yanetta_] You!

MOUZON [_to the recorder_] Give me her interrogatory.

_While Mouzon looks through his papers Yanetta gazes for
some time at her husband, then at Mouzon. She is reflecting
deeply. Finally she seems to have made up her mind._

MOUZON. There. Your wife has just told us that you left the house at ten
o'clock and did not return until five in the morning.

YANETTA [_very plainly_] I did not say that. It is not true.

MOUZON. You went on to say that he returned alone.

YANETTA. I did not say that.

MOUZON. I will read your declaration. [_He reads_] Question: Then he
went out alone? Reply: Yes. Question: At ten o'clock? Reply: At ten
o'clock.

YANETTA. I did not say that.

MOUZON. Come, come! And I was careful to be p