think yourself a fine fellow, I haven't a
doubt, and you're a butcher--

MOUZON. Take her away, I tell you! What, the two of you can't rid me of
that madwoman?

_The gendarmes make a renewed effort._

YANETTA. Butcher! Coward! Judas! Pitiless beast! Yes, pitiless, and you
are all the more dishonest and brutal when you've got poor folk like us
to do with. [_She is at the door, holding to the frame_] Ah, the brutes,
they are breaking my fingers! Yes, the poorer one is the wickeder you
are! [_They carry her away. Her cries are still heard as the curtain
falls_] The poorer one is the more wicked you are--the poorer one is the
more wicked you are--

CURTAIN.

ACT III

_The office of the District Attorney. A door to the left, set in a
diagonal wall, gives on to a corridor. It opens inwardly, so that the
lettering on the outside can be read: "Parquet de Monsieur le Procureur
de la Republique." A desk, chairs, and a chest of drawers._

SCENE I:--_Benoit, La Bouzole. As the curtain rises the recorder is
removing various papers from the desk and placing them in a cardboard
portfolio. Enter La Bouzole._

LA BOUZOLE. Good-day, Benoit.

RECORDER [_hesitating to take the hand which La Bouzole extends to him_]
Your worship. It's too great an honor--

LA BOUZOLE. Come, come, Monsieur Benoit, shake hands with me. From
to-day I'm no longer a magistrate; my dignity no longer demands that I
shall be impolite to my inferiors. How far have they got with the
Etchepare trial?

RECORDER. So far the hearing has been devoted entirely to the indictment
and the counsel's address.

LA BOUZOLE. They will finish to-day?

RECORDER. Oh, surely. Even if Monsieur Vagret were to reply, because his
Honor the President of Assizes goes hunting to-morrow morning.

LA BOUZOLE. You think it will be an acquittal, Monsieur Benoit?

RECORDER. I do, your worship. [_He is about to go out_]

LA BOUZOLE. Who is the old lady waiting in the corridor?

RECORDER. That is Etchepare's mother, your worship.

LA BOUZOLE. Poor woman! She must be terribly anxious.

RECORDER. No. She is certain of the verdict. She hasn't the slightest
anxiety. She was there all yesterday afternoon and she came back to-day,
just as calm. Only to-day she wanted at any price to see the District
Attorney or one of his assistants. Monsieur Ardeuil is away and Monsieur
Vagret--

LA BOUZOLE. Is in Court.

RECORDER. She seemed very much put out at finding no one.