Act 3 — Scene IV:—The same and later Madame Vagret, Bunerat, the President of Assizes, and Mouzon, then the Attorney-General.

Madame Bunerat [in tears] Oh, my dear Monsieur La Bouzole!

La Bouzole. What has happened, Madame Bunerat?

Madame Bunerat. It's that advocate! What talent! What a heart! What feeling! What genius! I feel quite shaken—quite upset—

La Bouzole. It's an acquittal?

Madame Bunerat. 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 début—

Enter Mouzon. Frigid salutations.

Madame Bunerat [after a pause] Is it true, Monsieur Mouzon—

Madame Vagret. That the Attorney-General—

Bunerat. Has arrived?

Mouzon [haughtily] Quite true.

Bunerat. They say he brings a councillor's appointment.

Mouzon. They say so.

Madame Bunerat. And you don't know?

Madame Vagret. You don't know?

Mouzon. Nothing at all.

Bunerat. Does nothing lead you to suppose—

Mouzon. Nothing.

Recorder [entering] Here is his Honor the Attorney-General.

Madame Bunerat. Oh, Lord!

She arranges her hair. Enter the Attorney-General, a man with handsome, grave, austere features.

All [bowing and cringing, in a murmur] His Honor the Attorney-General—

Attorney-General. I think you can resume the hearing, gentlemen—I am only passing through Mauleon. I hope to return before long and make your better acquaintance.

All. Your honor—[They make ready to leave]

Attorney-General. Monsieur Mouzon, will you remain?

Mouzon bows.

Madame Vagret [as she goes out] My respects—the honor—Monsieur—

Attorney-General [bowing] Mr. President—Madame—Madame—

Bunerat [to his wife] You see, that's it!

They go out.

Mouzon [to the recorder, who is about to leave] Well, my dear fellow, I believe my appointment is settled.

Recorder. I am delighted, Monsieur the Councillor! [Exit]