Woman on Her Own, False Gods and The Red Robe Part 74

MOUZON. How many children?

OFFICER. Two--Georges and--I can't remember the name of the other now.

MOUZON. And the woman's moral character?

OFFICER. Irreproachable.

MOUZON. Good.

OFFICER. I was forgetting. One of my men, one of those who effected the arrest, informs me that when Etchepare saw him coming he said to his wife, "They've got me."

MOUZON. "They've got me." That is rather important.

OFFICER. And then he told his wife, in Basque, "Don't for the world let out that I left the house last night!"

MOUZON. He said this before the gendarme?

OFFICER. No, your wors.h.i.+p--the gendarme was outside--close to an open window. Etchepare didn't see him.

MOUZON. You will have him cited as witness.

OFFICER. Yes, your wors.h.i.+p. Then there's that witness for the defence too--Bridet.

MOUZON. Ah, yes--I have read the deposition he made in your presence.

It's of no importance. Still, if he's there I'll hear him. Thank you.

Well, draw up a report for me, in full detail, and make them give you the summonses for the witnesses.

OFFICER. Yes, your wors.h.i.+p. [_He salutes and goes out_]

SCENE IV:--_Mouzon and Mondoubleau._

MONDOUBLEAU. Monsieur Delorme is a fool.

MOUZON [_laughing_] Well, I don't say so, my dear deputy.

MONDOUBLEAU. It's wonderful, your faculty of divination.

MOUZON. Wonderful--no, no. I a.s.sure you--

MONDOUBLEAU. Now how did you come to suspect this Etchepare?

MOUZON. Well, you know, it is partly a matter of temperament. The searching for a criminal is an art. I may say that a good examining magistrate is guided less by the facts themselves than by a kind of inspiration.

MONDOUBLEAU. Wonderful. I repeat it's wonderful. And this witness for the defence?

MOUZON. He may be a false witness.

MONDOUBLEAU. What makes you think that?

MOUZON. Because he accuses the gipsies! Moreover, he had business dealings with Etchepare. The Basque, you know, still look on us rather as enemies, as conquerors, and they think it no crime to deceive us by means of a false oath.

MONDOUBLEAU. Then you were never inclined to accept the theory of your predecessor?

MOUZON. Tramps--the poor wretches! I know what an affection you have for the poor, and I feel with you that one should not confine oneself to suspecting the unfortunate--people without shelter, without bread even.

MONDOUBLEAU. Bravo! I am delighted to find that you are not only an able magistrate, but also that you think with me on political matters.

MOUZON. You are very good.

MONDOUBLEAU. I hope that from now on the Basque newspapers will cease its attacks upon you.

MOUZON. I am afraid not.

MONDOUBLEAU. Come, come!

MOUZON. What can you expect, my dear sir? The paper is hostile to you, and as I do not scruple openly to support your candidature they make the magistrate pay for the opinions of the citizen.

MONDOUBLEAU. I feel ashamed--and I thank you with all my heart, my dear fellow. Go on as you are doing--but be prudent--eh? The Keeper of the Seals was saying to me only a couple of days ago, "I look to you to see that there is no trouble in your const.i.tuency. No trouble--above all no scandal of any kind!" I ought to tell you that Eugene is the subject of many attacks at the present moment.

MOUZON. You are on very intimate terms with his Honor the Keeper of the Seals.

MONDOUBLEAU [_makes a gesture, then, simply_] We were in the Commune together.

MOUZON. I see.

MONDOUBLEAU. Tell me, by the way, what sort of a man is your State Attorney?

MOUZON. Monsieur Vagret?

MONDOUBLEAU. Yes.

MOUZON. Oh, well--he's a very painstaking magistrate, very exact--

MONDOUBLEAU. No, I mean as to his political opinions.

MOUZON. You mustn't blame him for being in the political camp of those who are diametrically opposed to us. At all events, don't run away with the idea that he is a mischievous person.

MONDOUBLEAU. Narrow-minded. [_He has for some little time been gazing at Mouzon's desk_] I see you've got the Labastide brief on your table.

There's nothing in it at all. I know Labastide well; he's one of my ablest electoral agents; and I a.s.sure you he's absolutely incapable of committing the actions of which he is accused. I told Monsieur Vagret as much, but I see he is prosecuting after all.

MOUZON. I can only a.s.sure you, my dear deputy, that I will give the Labastide affair my most particular attention.

MONDOUBLEAU. I have too much respect for you, my dear fellow, to ask more of you. Well, well, I mustn't waste your time. So for the present--

MOUZON. Au revoir. [_The deputy goes out. Mouzon is alone_] I don't think our deputy is getting such a bad idea of me. [_Smiling_] The fact is it was really clever of me to suspect Etchepare. Now the thing is to make him confess the whole business, and as quickly as possible--

_The doorkeeper enters, a telegram in his hand._