PRESIDENT. Probably not. But you can try to make us believe. The defendant has the right to say whatever he thinks fit—always under the control of the court, of course. MME. THOMAS. It’s not worth while. PRESIDENT. Yes, yes; go on. The jury is listening to you. MME. THOMAS [_on a sign from her counsel_] A girl came to me one day. She was a servant. Her master had had her. I refused to do what she asked me: she went away and threw herself into the water. Another, whom I wouldn’t help, was tried here for infanticide. So, since then, when others have come to me, I have agreed; I have prevented more than one suicide and more than one crime. PRESIDENT. So it was from pity, out of charity that you acted. The prosecution will reply that you never forgot to exact heavy payment. MME. THOMAS. And you, aren’t you paid for condemning others? PRESIDENT. Those whom you condemned to death and executed yourself, were innocent. MME. THOMAS. You prosecute me; but the surgeons who guarantee sterility get decorated! PRESIDENT. You forget this young girl who died as the result of your action, Annette Jarras. She was eighteen, in the full enjoyment of health; now she is in the grave. [_Lucie breaks into sobs_] Look at her sister by your side; listen to her crying. Ask her now if she does not curse you. MME. THOMAS. She would bless me if I had succeeded. PRESIDENT [_to Lucie_] Defendant Lucie Jarras, stand up. M. DE FORGEAU [_to his neighbor_] Brignac must think himself lucky to have got his divorce. MME. D’AMERGUEUX. Speak lower; he’s behind us. I am against divorce, but in this case— PRESIDENT. You have heard the defendant Thomas. What have you to say? LUCIE [_through her sobs_] Nothing. Nothing. [_She sinks back upon her bench_]. PRESIDENT. Do you admit—? LUCIE. Yes, yes; I admit everything. I’ve told you so already. PRESIDENT. You did not want your child to come into the world? LUCIE. I didn’t want it to. PRESIDENT. Why? LUCIE. Out of pity for him. I knew what sort of a life he would have, and I risked my own to save him from it. I acted like a good mother. PRESIDENT. What you say is simply monstrous. [_Silence_]. You, now, have not the excuse of poverty. Your child would not have suffered from want. LUCIE. He would have suffered from disease, and that is as bad as want. PRESIDENT. No theories, please. Only facts. LUCIE. Yes; facts, nothing but facts. You can see the theory of it for yourself. I had two children, two little girls. One is a deaf mute, the other had convulsions. She is dead now. The doctors told me that that was due to the alcoholized condition of my husband, whose father had been in the same state. PRESIDENT. Most unfortunate. LUCIE. Be pleased to let me speak! PRESIDENT. Very good. I will answer you. LUCIE. One of the doctors is famous—Dr. Hourtin. PRESIDENT. A specialist who sees alcoholism everywhere!