MONDOUBLEAU [_speaking with a strong provincial accent_] I was passing
the Law Courts, and I thought I'd look in and say how do. I am not
disturbing you, I hope?
MOUZON [_smiling and closing his brief_] My dear deputy, an examining
magistrate, as you know, is always busy. But it gives one a rest--it
does one good--to see a welcome caller once in a while. Sit down, I beg
you. Yes, please!
MONDOUBLEAU. I can stop only a minute.
MOUZON. But that's unkind of you!
MONDOUBLEAU. Well, what's the latest about the Irissary murder?
MOUZON. So far there's nothing new. I've questioned the accused--an
ugly-looking fellow and a poor defence. He simply denied everything and
flew into a temper. I had to send him back to the cells without getting
anything out of him.
MONDOUBLEAU. Are you perfectly sure you've got the right man?
MOUZON. Certain--no; but I should be greatly surprised if I were
mistaken.
MONDOUBLEAU. I saw Monsieur Delorme yesterday. He's a little better.
MOUZON. So I hear. He thinks the murderer was a tramp. Now there, my
dear sir, is one of the peculiarities to which we examining magistrates
are subject. We always find it the very devil to abandon the first idea
that pops into our minds. Personally I do my best to avoid what is
really a professional failing. I am just going to examine Etchepare, and
I am waiting for the results of a police inquiry. If all this gives me
no result, I shall set the man at liberty and look elsewhere for the
culprit--but I repeat, I firmly believe I am on the right scent.
MONDOUBLEAU. Monsieur Delorme is a magistrate of long experience and a
very shrewd one, and I will not deny that the reasons he has given me
are--
MOUZON. I know my colleague is extremely intelligent. And, once more, I
don't say that he's wrong. We shall see. At present I am only morally
certain. I shall be materially certain when I know the antecedents of
the accused and have established an obvious motive for his action. At
the moment of your arrival I was about to open my mail. Here is a letter
from the Court of Pau; it gives our man's judicial record. [_He takes a
paper-knife in order to open the envelope_]
MONDOUBLEAU. A curious paper-knife.
MOUZON. That? It's the blade of the knife that brought the pretty
Toulouse woman to the guillotine at Bordeaux. Pretty weapon, eh? I had
it made into a paper-knife. [_He opens the envelope_] There--there you
are! Four times sentenced for assaulting and wounding. You see--
MONDOUBLEAU. Really, really! Four times!
MOUZON. This is getting interesting. Besides this--I have neglected
nothing--I have learned that his wife, Yanetta Etchepare--
MONDOUBLEAU. Is that the young woman I saw in the corridor just now?
MOUZON. I have called her as witness. I shall be hearing her directly.
MONDOUBLEAU. She looks a very respectable woman.
MOUZON. Possibly. But, as I was about to tell you, I have learned that
she used to live in Paris--before her marriage--I have written asking
for information. Here we are. [_He opens the envelope and smiles_] Aha!
Well, this young woman who looks so respectable was sentenced to one
month's imprisonment for receiving stolen goods. Now we will hear the
police lieutenant who is coming, very obligingly, to give me an account
of the inquiry with which I intrusted him, and which he will put in
writing this evening. I shall soon see--
MONDOUBLEAU. Do you suppose he will have anything new for you?
MOUZON. Does this interest you? I will see him in your presence. [_He
goes to the door and makes a sign. He returns to his chair_] Understand,
I assert nothing. It is quite possible that my colleague's judgment has
been more correct than mine. [_The officer enters_]