COUN. DEF. The seducers are the guilty ones; and social hypocrisy.
During the proceedings, anger, which rapidly becomes fury, has taken possession of the defendants. They are all on their feet except the schoolmistress, who goes on sobbing and murmuring to herself unintelligibly. The president, also standing, strikes his desk with a paper-knife, trying to impose silence. He shouts, but cannot make himself heard. The tumult increases until the curtain falls. The voices of the counsel for the defence and the defendants drown those of the president and the counsel for the prosecution.
MME. THOMAS. The fine gentlemen that get hold of them and humbug them!
PRES. I will have you taken back to prison.
MME. THOMAS. And the rich young man, and the old satyrs—and the men! The men! All the men!
COUNSEL FOR THE PROSECUTION. Police, can’t you silence these lunatics?
COUN. DEF. You have no right to insult the defendants.
TUPIN. They’ve been doing nothing else the whole time.
COUN. PROS. Keep this rabble quiet! The defendants must respect the law.
COUN. DEF. And you, sir, must respect justice.