COUN. No, M. le président. But my learned friends, with a confidence which honors me, and for which I thank them, have begged me to take over the conduct of the case as a whole, reserving to themselves the right to discuss important matters affecting their several clients. PRES. Then I give you permission just to read this document. But do not attempt to address the court. This is not the time. You can read the paper and that is all. Do you understand? COUN. I perfectly understand, M. le président. [_He reads_].[B] [Footnote B: A shorter version of this document, for the theatre, will be found in a note at the end.] DAILY EXPENSES. FOR THE MOTHER AND CHILDREN. _Breakfast._ f. c. Milk, 20c., bread, 10c 0 30 _Dinner._ Bread 0 70 Wine 0 20 Vegetables and dripping for soup 0 20 Meat 0 60 A relish for the children 0 25 SUPPER FOR ALL THE FAMILY. Stew 0 90 Potatoes, etc. 0 20 Wine 0 40 FOR THE HUSBAND. Tramway return fare 0 30 Tobacco 0 15 Dinner (out) 1 25 ————— TOTAL FOR THE DAY. 5 45 Comes to 1989f. 25c. per annum. YEARLY EXPENSES. Rent, 300f. Dress.—Three skirts at 5f.; three bodices at 3f.; sixteen pairs of boots for the children at 4f. 50c. the pair; four for the parents at 8f. Two hats at 2f. Underclothes for the mother, 5f.; for the father, 15f.; for the children, 30f. Bedding and linen, 10f. Clothes of the father, 120f. Total, 312f. The expenses are therefore 2,600f. a year. Tupin, who was a capable workman, earned 175f. a month, or 2,100f. a year. There was therefore an annual deficit of 500f. As I promised, I abstain from comment. [_He sits down_]. MME. CHEV [_to her neighbor_] There were three sous a day for tobacco that he might very well have saved. COUN. Perhaps this document might be formally put in evidence. PRES. It is quite useless. [_To Tupin_] I am not going to dispute your figures. I admit them, and I repeat there are charities. TUPIN. And I repeat that I’m not a beggar. PRES. You prefer to commit what is almost infanticide. A man who has a daughter on the streets and a son a thief may accept charity without degradation. MME. TUPIN [_outraged_] Oh! TUPIN [_indignant_] In those days they were not what they are now. If they fell so low it was because I had too many children and I couldn’t look after my boy; and because my girl was deserted and starving. But you must be made of stone to throw that in my teeth. PRES. And if you took to drinking it’s not your fault either, I suppose?