You are General Vicomte de
Verby, I presume?

De Verby
Simple General Verby--I do not take the title--my opinions of course.
--Doubtless you are acquainted with the evidence in this case?

Dupre
I have been in communication with the accused only for the last three
days.

De Verby
And what do you think of the affair?

All
Yes, tell us.

Dupre
According to my experience of the law courts, I believe it possible to
obtain important revelations by offering commutation of sentence to
the condemned.

De Verby
The accused are all men of honor.

Rousseau
But--

Dupre
Characters sometime change at the prospect of the scaffold, especially
when there is much at stake.

De Verby (aside)
A conspiracy ought not to be entered upon excepting with penniless
accomplices.

Dupre
I shall induce my client to tell everything.

Rousseau
Of course.

Mme. du Brocard
Certainly.

Mme. Rousseau
He ought to do so.

De Verby (anxiously)
I presume there is no other way of escape for him?

Dupre
None whatever; it can be proved that he was of the number of those who
had begun to put in execution the plot.

De Verby
I would rather lose my head than my honor.

Dupre
I should consider which of the two was worth more.

De Verby
You have your views in the matter.

Rousseau
Those are mine.

Dupre
And they are the opinions of the majority. I have seen many things
done by men to escape the scaffold. There are people who push others
to the front, who risk nothing, and yet reap all the fruits of
success. Have such men any honor? Can one feel any obligation towards
them?

De Verby
No, they are contemptible wretches.

Dupre (aside)
He has well said it. This is the fellow who has ruined poor Jules! I
must keep my eye on him.

SCENE FIFTH

The same persons, Antoine and Jules (the latter led in by police
agents.)

Antoine
Sir, a carriage stopped at the door. Several men got out. M. Jules is
with them; they are bringing him in.

M. and Mme. Rousseau
My son!

Mme. du Brocard
My nephew!

Dupre
Yes, I see what it is--doubtless a search-warrant. They wish to look
over his papers.

Antoine
Here he is.

(Jules appears in the centre, followed by the police and a magistrate;
he rushes up to his mother.)

Jules
O mother! My go