UNERAT. They hope so--

MADAME VAGRET [_entering_] Well, my dear Monsieur La Bouzole, you have
heard this famous advocate! What a ranter!

LA BOUZOLE. It seems he has touched the jury. That means an acquittal.

MADAME VAGRET. I'm very much afraid it does.

_Enter Bunerat in a black gown._

BUNERAT. Do you know what they tell me? The Attorney-General is here!

MADAME BUNERAT. Really!

MADAME VAGRET. Are you certain?

LA BOUZOLE. It is true enough. He brings Monsieur Mouzon his appointment
to the Court of Appeal at Pau.

BUNERAT. Mouzon!

MADAME VAGRET AND MADAME BUNERAT. And my husband! We had a definite
promise!

_The President of Assizes enters, wearing a red gown._

THE PRESIDENT. Good-day, gentlemen. You have not seen the
Attorney-General, have you?

LA BOUZOLE. No, your honor--but if you will wait--

THE PRESIDENT. No. Tell me, La Bouzole--you are an old stager--were you
in Court?

LA BOUZOLE. From the balloting for the jurymen to the plea for the
defence.

THE PRESIDENT. Did you notice if I let anything pass that would make an
appeal to the Court of Cassation possible?

LA BOUZOLE. I am sure you didn't.

THE PRESIDENT. It's my constant fear--I am thinking of nothing else all
the time counsel are speaking. I always have the Manual of the President
of Assizes wide open in front of me; I'm always afraid, nevertheless, of
forgetting some formality. You see the effect of being in the
Chancellery--I never have a quiet conscience until the time-limit has
expired. [_A pause_] They tell me there were journalists here from
Toulouse and Bordeaux.

LA BOUZOLE. And one from Paris.

THE PRESIDENT. One from Paris! Are you sure?

LA BOUZOLE. He was standing near the prisoner's bench.

THE PRESIDENT. He was left to stand! A journalist from Paris and he was
left to stand! [_Catching sight of the recorder_] You knew that,
Monsieur the recorder, and you didn't warn me? Is that how you perform
your duties? Go at once and express my regret and find him a good seat;
do you hear?

RECORDER. Yes, your honor. [_He turns to go_]

THE PRESIDENT [_running after him_] Here! [_Aside to the recorder_] Find
out if he's annoyed.

RECORDER. Yes, your honor.

THE PRESIDENT. And then--[_He encounters Madame Bunerat at the door.
Pardon, Madame. He goes out, running, lifting up his gown_]

LA BOUZOLE. When I was at Montpellier I knew an old tenor who was as
anxious as that at his third debut--

_Ente