PRES [_from his notes_] Two others of your children are dead. The two youngest are out at nurse. MME. TUPIN. Yes. They were taken away as soon as they were born. All I know about them is the post-office order I send every month to the woman who’s bringing them up. Oh, it’s cruel! It’s cruel! It’s cruel! [_She sits down_]. PRES. We have now only to examine the case of Annette Jarras. Let the woman Thomas stand up. [_To Madame Thomas_] This was your victim. She was nineteen, quite young and in perfect health. Now she is in her grave. What have you to say? MME. THOMAS [_quietly_] Nothing. PRES. You don’t excite yourself. Oh, we know you are not easily moved. MME. THOMAS. If I told you that it was pity made me do it, you wouldn’t believe me. PRES. Probably not. But at any rate you might try. Every accused person has a right to say whatever he can in his own defence: of course under the control of the president of the court. MME. THOMAS. It isn’t worth while. PRES. Oh, yes. Let us hear. The gentlemen of the jury are listening. MME. THOMAS [_after a sign from her counsel_] A girl came to me one day; she was a servant. She had been seduced by her master. I refused to do what she asked me to do: she went and drowned herself. Another I refused to help was brought up before you here for infanticide. Then when the others came, I said Yes. I’ve prevented many a suicide and many a crime. PRES. So that’s your line of defence. It is in pity, in charity, that you have acted. The prosecution will answer that you have never failed to exact payment for your services, and a high payment. MME. THOMAS. And you? Don’t they pay you for condemning other people? PRES. Those you condemn to death and execute yourself are all innocent. MME. THOMAS. You prosecute _me_, but you decorate the surgeons who trade in sterility. PRES. Be silent. Sit down. Madame Lucie Brignac. [_Lucie comes forward, in great emotion_]. Calm yourself, madame, and tell us what you know. You are called for the defence. LUCIE. It was I, monsieur, who asked to be heard. PRES. Speak up, madame, I cannot hear what you say. LUCIE [_louder_] It was I, monsieur, who asked to be heard. I wanted to defend the memory of my little one. I fear now I shall not have the strength. [_She controls herself_]. Annette was seduced by a man who had promised to marry her. She lived with us. When my husband knew that my sister was in a certain condition, he wished to send her away. I was indignant, and I left his house with her and my children. We went to Bordeaux. We had a few hundred francs, and we thought we could work for our living. [_She stops_]. PRES. Well? LUCIE. Our money was soon spent. Annette was giving some music lessons; they guessed her condition and they sent her away. I did some sewing. PRES. And earned some money?