Chapter 34

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? Magnificent--he was magnificent--wasn't he, Bunerat?

BUNERAT. Oh, sir, but the manner in which you presided prepared the way so well--

THE PRESIDENT. Well, well, I don't say I count for nothing in the result, but we must do justice to Vagret. [_To Madame Vagret_] You ought to be greatly gratified--very proud and happy, my dear Madame--

MADAME VAGRET. Oh, I am, your honor--

THE PRESIDENT. But what a strange idea to demand an adjournment! Is he unwell?

MADAME VAGRET. Oh, dear!

THE PRESIDENT. No. Here he is.

_Enter Vagret. He is anxious._

MADAME VAGRET. Ah, my dear! [_She takes his hand in hers. She can say no more, being choked by tears of joy_]

THE PRESIDENT. It was wonderful!

BUNERAT. I can't restrain myself from congratulating you too.

VAGRET. Really, you confuse me. The whole merit is yours, Monsieur.

THE PRESIDENT. Not at all. Do you know what carried them all away? [_He lights a cigarette_]

VAGRET. No!

THE PRESIDENT. It was when you exclaimed, "Gentlemen of the jury, you own houses, farms, and property; you have beloved wives, and daughters whom you tenderly cherish. Beware--" You were splendid there! [_Resuming_] "Beware, if you leave such crimes unpunished; beware, if you allow yourselves to be led astray by the eloquent sentimentality of the defence; beware, I tell you, if you fail in your duty as the instrument of justice; beware, lest those above you snatch up the sword which has fallen from your feeble hands, when the blood that you have not avenged will be spilt upon you and yours!" That was fine! Very fine! And it produced a great effect.

BUNERAT. But you, my dear President, you moved them even more noticeably when you recalled the fact, very appropriately, that the accused loved the sight of blood.

THE PRESIDENT. Ah, yes, that told a little!

ALL. What? What was that?

BUNERAT. The President put this question: "On the morning of the crime did you not slaughter two sheep?" "Yes," replied the accused. And then, looking him straight in the eyes--

THE PRESIDENT. Yes, I asked him: "You were getting into practice, weren't you?" [_To Vagret_] But after all, if I have to a certain extent affected the result, the greater part of the honor of the day is yours.

VAGRET. You are too kind.

THE PRESIDENT. Not at all! And your peroration! [_With an artist's curiosity_] You were really, were you not, under the stress of a great emotion, a really great emotion?

VAGRET [_gravely_] Yes, I was under the stress of a great emotion, a really great emotion.

THE PRESIDENT. You turned quite pale when you faced the jury--when you added, in a clear voice, "Gentlemen, I demand the head of this man!"

VAGRET [_his eyes fixed_] Yes.

THE PRESIDENT. Then you made a sign to the advocate.

VAGRET. Yes. I thought he would have something else to say.

THE PRESIDENT. But why delay the verdict? You had won the victory.

VAGRET. Precisely.

THE PRESIDENT. What do you mean?

VAGRET. During my indictment a fact came to light that worried me.

THE PRESIDENT. A fact?

VAGRET. Not a fact--but--in short--[_A pause_] I beg your pardon--I am very tired--

THE PRESIDENT. I can very well understand your emotion, my dear Vagret. One always feels--on the occasion of one's first death sentence--but--you will see one gets used to it. [_Going out, to Bunerat_] Indeed, he does look very tired.

BUNERAT. I fancy he is feeling his position too keenly.

VAGRET. As I was leaving the Court I met the Attorney-General. I begged him urgently to give me a moment's conversation. I wanted to speak with him alone--and with you, Monsieur le President.

BUNERAT. As you wish.

MADAME VAGRET. I am afraid you are unwell, my dear. I shall wait there. I will come back directly these gentlemen have gone.

VAGRET. Very well.

MADAME BUNERAT [_going out, to her husband_] There's a man ready to do something stupid.

BUNERAT. That doesn't concern us.

_They go out._