RECORDER. Madame, the jurymen were looking at that fellow Etchepare, that thug, in a way that made my blood run cold. As Monsieur Vagret went on with his speech you felt they would have liked to settle his hash themselves--the wretch! MADAME VAGRET. I saw that-- RECORDER. I beg your pardon, Madame--I am forgetting myself--but there are moments when one is thankful, yes, so gratified, that social differences don't count. MADAME VAGRET. You are right, my dear man. _Enter the President of Assizes and Bunerat._ THE PRESIDENT. Madame, I congratulate you! We've got it, the capital sentence! MADAME VAGRET. We have it safely this time, haven't we, Monsieur? THE PRESIDENT. That is certain. But where is our hero? Magnificent--he was magnificent--wasn't he, Bunerat? BUNERAT. Oh, sir, but the manner in which you presided prepared the way so well-- THE PRESIDENT. Well, well, I don't say I count for nothing in the result, but we must do justice to Vagret. [_To Madame Vagret_] You ought to be greatly gratified--very proud and happy, my dear Madame-- MADAME VAGRET. Oh, I am, your honor-- THE PRESIDENT. But what a strange idea to demand an adjournment! Is he unwell? MADAME VAGRET. Oh, dear! THE PRESIDENT. No. Here he is. _Enter Vagret. He is anxious._ MADAME VAGRET. Ah, my dear! [_She takes his hand in hers. She can say no more, being choked by tears of joy_] THE PRESIDENT. It was wonderful! BUNERAT. I can't restrain myself from congratulating you too. VAGRET. Really, you confuse me. The whole merit is yours, Monsieur. THE PRESIDENT. Not at all. Do you know what carried them all away? [_He lights a cigarette_] VAGRET. No! THE PRESIDENT. It was when you exclaimed, "Gentlemen of the jury, you own houses, farms, and property; you have beloved wives, and daughters whom you tenderly cherish. Beware--" You were splendid there! [_Resuming_] "Beware, if you leave such crimes unpunished; beware, if you allow yourselves to be led astray by the eloquent sentimentality of the defence; beware, I tell you, if you fail in your duty as the instrument of justice; beware, lest those above you snatch up the sword which has fallen from your feeble hands, when the blood that you have not avenged will be spilt upon you and yours!" That was fine! Very fine! And it produced a great effect. BUNERAT. But you, my dear President, you moved them even more noticeably when you recalled the fact, very appropriately, that the accused loved the sight of blood. THE PRESIDENT. Ah, yes, that told a little! ALL. What? What was that? BUNERAT. The President put this question: "On the morning of the crime did you not slaughter two sheep?" "Yes," replied the accused. And then, looking him straight in the eyes-- THE PRESIDENT. Yes, I asked him: "You were getting into practice, weren't you?" [_To Vagret_] But after all, if I have to a certain extent affected the result, the greater part of the honor of the day is yours. VAGRET. You are too kind.