MADAME VAGRET. It's easy for you to talk. You see the newspapers are beginning to grumble. They reproach us, they say we are slack. My dear child, you don't realize--there 's a question of sending a detective down from Paris! It would be such a disgrace! And everything promised so well! You can't imagine how excited your father was when they waked him up to tell him that an old man of eighty-seven had been murdered in his district! He dressed himself in less than five minutes. He was very quiet about it. But he gripped my hands. "I think," he said, "I think we can count on my nomination this time!" [_She sighs_] And now everything is spoilt, and all through this ruffian who won't let them arrest him! [_Another sigh_] What's the time? BERTHA. It has just struck six. MADAME VAGRET. Write out the _menus_. Don't forget. You must write only their titles--his Honor the President of Assizes, his Honor the President of the High Court of Mauleon, and so forth. It's the preamble to the _menu_. Don't forget. Here is your father. Go and take a look round the kitchen and appear as if you were busy. [_Bertha leaves the room. Vagret enters in evening dress_] SCENE II:--_Vagret, Madame Vagret._ MADAME VAGRET. Hasn't the Court risen yet? VAGRET. When I left my substitute was just getting up to ask for the adjournment. MADAME VAGRET. Nothing new? VAGRET. About the murder? Nothing. MADAME VAGRET. But your Monsieur Delorme--the examining magistrate--is he really looking for the murderer? VAGRET. He's doing what he can. MADAME VAGRET. Well, if I were in his place, it seems to me--Oh, they ought to have women for examining magistrates! [_Distractedly_] Is there nothing in the _Official Gazette_? VAGRET [_dispirited and anxious_] Yes. MADAME VAGRET. And you never told me. Anything that affects us? VAGRET. No. Nanteuil has been appointed Advocate-General. MADAME VAGRET. Nanteuil? VAGRET. Yes. MADAME VAGRET. Oh, that's too bad! Why, he was only an assistant at Luneville when you were substitute there! VAGRET. Yes. But he has a cousin who's a deputy. You can't compete with men like that. [_A pause. Madame Vagret sits down and begins to cry_] MADAME VAGRET. We haven't a chance. VAGRET. My dearest! Come, come, you are wrong there. MADAME VAGRET [_still tearful_] My poor darling! I know very well it isn't your fault; you do your best. Your only failing is that you are too scrupulous, and I am not the one to reproach you for that. But what can you expect? It's no use talking; everybody gets ahead of us. Soon you'll be the oldest District Attorney in France. VAGRET. Come, come! Where's the Year Book? MADAME VAGRET [_still in the same tone_] It's there--the dates, the length of service. See further on, dear. VAGRET [_throwing the Year Book aside_] Don't cry like that! Remember I'm chosen to succeed Lefevre. MADAME VAGRET. I know that. VAGRET. I'm on the list for promotion. MADAME VAGRET. So is everybody.