MME. D’AMERGUEUX [to her neighbor] Then it’s true what they say, that Brignac is to be Minister of Justice in the next Government?
PRESIDENT [to Lucie] Defendant Jarras, have you finished?
LUCIE. No, President.
PRESIDENT [with a gesture of weariness] Go on, then; I’m listening.
LUCIE. When I felt a child coming to life within me of a man who was nothing more to me, whose name even I no longer bore, and whom I hated with my whole soul, I prevented it from being born to a destiny of misery. I consider that I had the right to refuse the task of motherhood when it was forced on me against my will.
PRESIDENT. I shall not allow you to justify an act which is a crime by law.
LUCIE. I have nothing on my conscience to reproach myself with.
PRESIDENT. Then you have a singularly indulgent conscience. All this comes from your pride. If you had not entered into a struggle with your husband, you would still bear a respected name and you would not be there.
LUCIE. I knew that any child of his would be a degenerate. Had I not the right to refuse?
PRESIDENT. No.