Madame Luneau: I could, if I'd wanted them.
Hippolyte: I did my duty, so it doesn't change our agreement.
Madame Luneau (slapping her protuberant form with both hands): Then
prove that it's you that did it, prove it, you robber! I defy you to
prove it!
Hippolyte (calmly): Maybe I didn't do any more than anybody else. But
you promised me a hundred francs for it. What did you ask the others for,
afterwards? You had no right to. I could have done it alone.
Madame Luneau: It is not true, robber! Call my witnesses, your Honour;
they'll answer, for certain.
The Justice calls the witnesses in behalf of the defense. Six
individuals appeared blushing, awkward looking, with their arms swinging
at their sides.
The Justice: Lucas Chandelier, have you any reason to suppose that you
are the father of the child Madame Luneau is carrying.
Lucas Chandelier: Yes, sir.
The Justice: Célestin-Pierre Sidoine, have you any reason to suppose
that you are the father of the child Madame Luneau is carrying?
Celestin-Pierre Sidoine: Yes, sir.
The four other witnesses testified to the same effect.
The Justice, after having thought for a while pronounced judgment:
Whereas the plaintiff has reasons to believe himself the father of the
child which Madame Luneau desired, Lucas Chandelier, Celestin-Pierre
Sidoine, and others, have similar, if not conclusive reasons to lay
claim to the child.
But whereas Mme Luneau had previously asked the assistance of Hippolyte
Lacour for a duly stated consideration of one hundred francs:
And whereas one may not question the absolute good faith of Hippolyte
Lacour, though it is questionable whether he had a perfect right to enter
into such an agreement, seeing that the plaintiff is married, and
compelled by the law to remain faithful to his lawful spouse: Whereas,
farther, etc., etc.
Therefore the Court condemns Madame Luneau to pay an indemnity of
twenty-five francs to Hippolyte Lacour for loss of time and seduction.