ATTORNEY-GENERAL. Cannot you guess? MOUZON. I am an examining magistrate. You will make me an ordinary magistrate. It means my income will be diminished by five hundred francs a year. I accept. ATTORNEY-GENERAL. It is unfortunately impossible for me to content myself with such a simple measure. To speak plainly, I must inform you that Monsieur Coire, the director of the newspaper which attacks us so persistently, is acquainted with the whole of the facts of the accusation brought against you and will not give his word not to publish them unless by the end of the month you have left the Mauleon Court. I therefore find myself in the unhappy necessity of demanding your resignation. MOUZON. I shall not resign. ATTORNEY-GENERAL. You will not resign? MOUZON. I am distressed to oppose any desire of yours, but I am quite decided. I shall not resign. ATTORNEY-GENERAL. But really--you cannot know-- MOUZON. I know everything. ATTORNEY-GENERAL. Very well, sir, we shall proceed against you. MOUZON. Proceed. [_He rises_] ATTORNEY-GENERAL. Are you not alarmed at the scandal which would result from your appearance in court and your probable conviction? MOUZON. Conviction is less probable than you think. I shall be able to defend myself and to select my advocate. As for the scandal, it wouldn't fall on me. I am a bachelor, with no family; I know no one or next to no one in Mauleon, where I am really in exile. My friends are all in Bordeaux; they belong to the _monde ou l'on s'amuse_, and I should not in the least lose caste in their eyes on account of such a prosecution. You think I ought to leave the magistracy? Fortunately I have sufficient to live on without the thirty-five hundred francs the Government of the Republic allows me annually. ATTORNEY-GENERAL. That is enough, Monsieur. Good-day. MOUZON. My respects. [_He goes out_] DOORKEEPER. Monsieur the deputy is here, your honor. Monsieur the deputy says that your honor is waiting for him. ATTORNEY-GENERAL. That is so. Ask him to come in. _Enter Mondoubleau. The Attorney-General advances towards him and shakes hands with him._ SCENE VI:--_Mondoubleau, Attorney-General._ MONDOUBLEAU. Good-day, my dear Attorney-General. ATTORNEY-GENERAL. Good-day, my dear deputy. MONDOUBLEAU. I'm delighted to see you. I've come from Paris. I had lunch yesterday with my friend the Keeper of the Seals. The Government is badly worried just at the moment. ATTORNEY-GENERAL. About what? MONDOUBLEAU. They're afraid of an interpellation. Just a chance--I'll tell you about it. Tell me--it seems you have a young assistant here who has been playing pranks. ATTORNEY-GENERAL. Monsieur Ardeuil? MONDOUBLEAU. Ardeuil, yes, that's the man. Eugene follows matters very closely. ATTORNEY-GENERAL. Eugene? MONDOUBLEAU. Eugene--my friend Eugene--the Keeper of the Seals. He said to me, "I expect your Attorney-General to understand how to do his duty."