The President. Good-day, gentlemen. You have not seen the Attorney-General, have you?
La Bouzole. No, your honor—but if you will wait—
The President. No. Tell me, La Bouzole—you are an old stager—were you in Court?
La Bouzole. From the balloting for the jurymen to the plea for the defence.
The President. Did you notice if I let anything pass that would make an appeal to the Court of Cassation possible?
La Bouzole. I am sure you didn't.
The President. It's my constant fear—I am thinking of nothing else all the time counsel are speaking. I always have the Manual of the President of Assizes wide open in front of me; I'm always afraid, nevertheless, of forgetting some formality. You see the effect of being in the Chancellery—I never have a quiet conscience until the time-limit has expired. [A pause] They tell me there were journalists here from Toulouse and Bordeaux.
La Bouzole. And one from Paris.
The President. One from Paris! Are you sure?
La Bouzole. He was standing near the prisoner's bench.