Delorme. All the same—
Vagret. You let yourself be too easily discouraged. To-night or to-morrow something may turn up to put you on a new scent.
Delorme. Even then—Do you know what they are saying? They are saying that Maître Plaçat, the Bordeaux advocate, is coming to defend the prisoner.
Vagret. I don't see what he has to gain by that.
Delorme. He wants to come forward at the next election in our arrondissement—and he counts on attacking certain persons in his plea, so as to gain a little popularity.
Vagret. How can that affect you?
Delorme. Why, he can be present at all the interrogations of the accused. The law allows it—and as he is ravenous for publicity, he would tell the newspapers just what he pleased, and if my proceedings didn't suit him, I'd be vilified in the papers day after day.
Vagret. You are exaggerating.
Delorme. I'm not. Nowadays an examination takes place in the market-place or the editorial offices of the newspapers rather than in the magistrate's office.
Vagret. That is true where notorious criminals are concerned. In reality the new law benefits them and them only—you know as well as I do that for the general run of accused persons—