and talk it over
with Rollet the senator--he is only a step from here.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL. I assure you--

MONDOUBLEAU. Come--come. You will put in a word as to your going to
Orleans at the same time. What have you to risk? I tell you my solution
is the best. You will come to it, I assure you! I'll take you along.
[_He takes his arm_]

ATTORNEY-GENERAL. Well, well, I had certainly something to say to
Rollet.

_The doorkeeper enters._

DOORKEEPER. Your honor--

ATTORNEY-GENERAL. Where are they? The verdict--?

DOORKEEPER. Not yet. Monsieur Vagret has been making a reply.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL. Is the jury in the withdrawing room?

DOORKEEPER. No, your honor. They were going out when Monsieur Vagret
asked for an adjournment.

MONDOUBLEAU. What an idea! Really! Well, my friend, let us go. I tell
you, you'll come round!

ATTORNEY-GENERAL [_weakly_] Never! Never!

SCENE VII:--_Recorder, then the doorkeeper, then Madame Vagret, the
President of Assizes, Bunerat, Madame Bunerat, and Vagret._

RECORDER [_much moved_] Admirable!

DOORKEEPER [_half opening the door at the back_] Monsieur Benoit! What's
the news?

RECORDER. Splendid! Our Prosecutor was admirable--and that Etchepare is
the lowest swine.

_Enter Madame Vagret, greatly moved. The recorder goes up to
her. The doorkeeper disappears._

MADAME VAGRET. Ah! My God!

RECORDER. Madame Vagret, I am only a simple clerk, but allow me to say
it was admirable! Wonderful!

MADAME VAGRET. Wonderful!

RECORDER. As for the counsel from Bordeaux, Monsieur Vagret had him
absolutely at his mercy!

MADAME VAGRET. Hadn't he?

RECORDER. He's certain enough, now, to be condemned to death!

MADAME VAGRET. Certain!

RECORDER. Madame, the jurymen were looking at that fellow Etchepare,
that thug, in a way that made my blood run cold. As Monsieur Vagret went
on with his speech you felt they would have liked to settle his hash
themselves--the wretch!

MADAME VAGRET. I saw that--

RECORDER. I beg your pardon, Madame--I am forgetting myself--but there
are moments when one is thankful, yes, so gratified, that social
differences don't count.

MADAME VAGRET. You are right, my dear man.

_Enter the President of Assizes and Bunerat._

THE PRESIDENT. Madame, I congratulate you! We've got it, the capital
sentence!

MADAME VAGRET. We have it safely this time, haven't we, Monsieur?

THE PRESIDENT. That is certain. But where is our hero? Magnificen