BRIDET. But one's always meeting them, these gipsies. The other day they robbed a tobacconist's shop. There were three of them. Two of them went inside. I must tell you they had looked the place over during the day-- MOUZON. Did you come here to laugh at the law? Eh? BRIDET. I?--But, Monsieur-- MOUZON. I ask if you came here to mock at the law? BRIDET. No, Monsieur. MOUZON. That's as well, for such a thing won't answer--you understand? Do you hear? BRIDET. Yes, Monsieur. MOUZON. Is that all you have to say? BRIDET. No, Monsieur. MOUZON. Well, then, go on! Confound it! Don't waste my time in this way! Do you think I've nothing to do but listen to your gossip? Come now, tell me. BRIDET. Well, the day after Ascension Day--that is, on the Monday--no, on the Friday-- MOUZON. Was it Monday or Friday? BRIDET. Friday--it was like a Monday, you see, because it was the day after the holiday. Well, the day they found old Goyetche murdered I saw a troop of gipsies leaving his house. MOUZON. Then you were quite close to the house? BRIDET. No, I was passing on the road. MOUZON. Did they close the door behind them? BRIDET. I don't know, Monsieur. MOUZON. Then why do you say you saw them come out of the house? BRIDET. I saw them come out of the meadow in front of the house. MOUZON. And then? BRIDET. That's all. MOUZON [_throwing himself back in his chair_] And you've come here to bother me for this, eh? Answer. For this? BRIDET. But, your worship--I beg your pardon--I thought--I beg your pardon-- MOUZON. Listen. How many gipsies were there? Think well. Don't make a mistake. BRIDET. Five. MOUZON. Are you certain of that? BRIDET. Yes, Monsieur. MOUZON. Yes. Well, in the presence of the gendarmes you said there were five or six. So you are more certain of a fact at the end of a month than you were on the day on which you observed it. On the other hand, you no longer know whether the fact occurred on a Monday or a Friday, nor whether the gipsies were leaving the house or merely crossing the fields. [_Sternly_] Tell me, are you acquainted with the accused? Etchepare--do you know him? BRIDET. Yes, Monsieur. MOUZON. You have business relations with him? You used to sell him sheep? BRIDET. Yes, Monsieur. MOUZON. That's enough for me. Get out! BRIDET. Yes, Monsieur. MOUZON. And think yourself lucky that I let you go like this. BRIDET. Yes, Monsieur. MOUZON. In future, before asking to be heard as a witness for the defence in a trial at law, I recommend you to think twice. BRIDET. Rest your mind easy, Monsieur. I swear they'll never get me again! MOUZON. Sign your interrogatory and be off. If there were not so many easy-going blunderers of your sort, there would be less occasion to complain of the law's delays and hesitations for which the law itself is not responsible. BRIDET. Yes, Monsieur. MOUZON [_to the recorder_] Send for Etchepare. RECORDER [_returning immediately_] Your worship. MOUZON. Well?