MOUZON. Well, well, for my part, I ask nothing more than to be able to set you at liberty. So far we understand each other excellently. Let us hope it'll last. Sit down. And first of all I advise you to give up trying to father the crime onto a band of gipsies. The witness Bridet, who has business relations with you, has endeavored, no doubt at your instigation, to induce us to accept this fable. I warn you he has not succeeded. ETCHEPARE. I don't know what Bridet may have told you. MOUZON. Oh! You deny it? So much the better! Come, you are cleverer than I thought! Was it you who murdered Goyetche? ETCHEPARE. No, Monsieur. MOUZON. You had an interest in his death? ETCHEPARE. No, Monsieur. MOUZON. Oh, really! I thought you had to pay him a life annuity. ETCHEPARE [_after a moment's hesitation_] Yes, Monsieur. MOUZON. Then you had an interest in his death? [_Silence_] Eh! You don't answer? Well, let us continue. You said to a witness, the young woman--the young woman Gracieuse Mendione--"It is really too stupid to be forced to pay money to that old swine." ETCHEPARE [_without conviction_] That's not true. MOUZON. It's not true! So the witness is a liar, eh? ETCHEPARE. I don't know. MOUZON. You don't know. [_A pause_] You thought that Goyetche had lived too long? ETCHEPARE. No, Monsieur. MOUZON. No, Monsieur. Then why did you say to another witness, Piarrech Artola, why did you say, in speaking of your creditor, "It's too much, the Almighty has forgotten him"? ETCHEPARE. I didn't say that. MOUZON. You didn't say that. So this witness is a liar too! Answer me. Is he a liar? [_Silence_] You don't answer. It's just as well. Come now, Etchepare, why do you persist in these denials--eh? Isn't it all plain enough? You are avaricious, interested, greedy for gain-- ETCHEPARE. It's so hard to make a living. MOUZON. You are a man of violent temper--from time to time you get drunk, and then you become dangerous. You have been four times convicted for assault and wounding--you are over-ready with your knife. Is that the truth or isn't it? You were tired of paying--for nothing--a biggish annual sum to this old man. The time for payment was approaching; you were pressed for money; you felt that Goyetche had lived too long, and you killed him. It's so obvious--eh? Isn't it true? ETCHEPARE [_gradually recovering himself_] I did not murder him. MOUZON. We won't juggle with words. Did you pay anyone else to kill him? ETCHEPARE. I had nothing to do with his death. You yourself say I was pressed for money. So how could I have paid anyone to kill him? MOUZON. Then you did it yourself. ETCHEPARE. That's a lie. MOUZON. Listen, Etchepare--you will confess sooner or later. Already you are weakening in your defence. ETCHEPARE. If I was to shout, you'd say I was play-acting. MOUZON. I tell you sooner or later you will change your tune. Already you admit facts which constitute a serious charge against you.