SCENE I:--_A small reception-room in an old house at Mauleon._ _The curtain rises, revealing Madame Vagret in evening dress; she is altering the position of the chairs to her own satisfaction. Enter Bertha, also in evening dress, a newspaper in her hand._ BERTHA. Here's the local paper, the _Journal_. I sent the _Official Gazette_ to father; he has just come home from the Court. He's dressing. MADAME VAGRET. Is the sitting over? BERTHA. No, not yet. MADAME VAGRET [_taking the newspaper_] Are they still discussing the case? BERTHA. As usual. MADAME VAGRET. One doesn't need to search long. There's a big head-line at the top of the page: "The Irissary Murder." They're attacking your father now! [_She reads_] "Monsieur Vagret, our District Attorney." [_She continues to read to herself_] And there are sub-headings too: "The murderer still at large." As if that was our fault! "Justice asleep!" Justice asleep indeed! How can they say such things when your father hasn't closed his eyes for a fortnight! Can they complain that he hasn't done his duty? Or that Monsieur Delorme, the examining magistrate, isn't doing his? He has made himself quite ill, poor man! Only the day before yesterday he had a tramp arrested because his movements were ever so little suspicious! So you see! No! I tell you these journalists are crazy! BERTHA. It seems they are going to have an article in the Basque paper too. MADAME VAGRET. The _Eskual Herria_! BERTHA. So the chemist told me. MADAME VAGRET. I don't care a sou for that. The Attorney-General doesn't read it. BERTHA. On the contrary, father was saying the other day that the Attorney-General has translations sent him of every article dealing with the magistracy. MADAME VAGRET. The Attorney-General has translations sent him! Oh well, never mind. Anyhow, let's change the subject! How many shall we be this evening? You've got the list? BERTHA [_She takes the list from the over-mantel_] The President of Assizes--the President of the Court-- MADAME VAGRET. Yes. Yes, that's all right; nine in all, isn't it? BERTHA. Nine. MADAME VAGRET. Nine! To have nine people coming to dinner, and not to know the exact hour at which they'll arrive! That's what's so trying about these dinners we have to give at the end of a session--in honor of the President of Assizes. One dines when the Court rises. When the Court rises! Well, we'll await the good pleasure of these gentlemen! [_She sighs_] Well, child! BERTHA. Mother? MADAME VAGRET. Are you still anxious to marry a magistrate? BERTHA [_with conviction_] I am not! MADAME VAGRET. But you were two years ago! BERTHA. I am not now!