PRES. Kindly tell us about what concerns the woman Thomas.
LUCIE [with growing emotion] Yes, monsieur. Annette was always reproaching herself with having accepted what she called my sacrifice. She kept saying she was the cause of all my troubles. [A silence]. One day they came to fetch me and I found her dead at this woman’s house. [In a burst of sobs, which become hysterical, she cries out] My little sister, my poor little sister!
PRES [kindly, to the usher] Take her back to her place, or, if necessary, take her outside and do all you can for her. [To the defendants] Then none of you has any more to say in your defence!
TUPIN [excited] Oh, if we said all we’ve got to say we should be here until to-morrow morning!
MME. TUPIN [the same] That we should!
TUPIN [shouting] We should never stop!
PRES. I call upon the counsel for the prosecution for his speech.
SCH. But, monsieur, you are not going to condemn me? It’s not possible. I haven’t said everything.
TUPIN. We’re not the guilty ones.