TUPIN. And they say God blesses large families!
PRES [from his notes] Two others of your children are dead. The two youngest are out at nurse.
MME. TUPIN. Yes. They were taken away as soon as they were born. All I know about them is the post-office order I send every month to the woman who’s bringing them up. Oh, it’s cruel! It’s cruel! It’s cruel! [She sits down].
PRES. We have now only to examine the case of Annette Jarras. Let the woman Thomas stand up. [To Madame Thomas] This was your victim. She was nineteen, quite young and in perfect health. Now she is in her grave. What have you to say?
MME. THOMAS [quietly] Nothing.
PRES. You don’t excite yourself. Oh, we know you are not easily moved.
MME. THOMAS. If I told you that it was pity made me do it, you wouldn’t believe me.
PRES. Probably not. But at any rate you might try. Every accused person has a right to say whatever he can in his own defence: of course under the control of the president of the court.
MME. THOMAS. It isn’t worth while.