Mondoubleau [after casting a glance over the document which the other has handed to him] Of course. But really—there's nothing in that. If you keep quiet about it, no one will know anything. No scandal. The magistracy is suffering from too many attacks already just now, without our providing our enemies with weapons.
Attorney-General. Unfortunately Coire knows of it, and he threatens to tell the whole story in his paper unless Monsieur Mouzon is sent away from Mauleon.
Mondoubleau. The devil! [He begins to laugh]
Attorney-General. What are you laughing at?
Mondoubleau. Nothing—an extravagant idea, a jest. [He laughs] Tell me—but you won't be annoyed?—it's only a joke—
Attorney-General. Well?
Mondoubleau. I was thinking—I tell you, it's a grotesque idea. But after all—after all, if you propose Mouzon for the Councillor's chair at Pau, you will be pleasing everyone!
Attorney-General. My dear deputy—
Mondoubleau. A joke—of course, merely a joke—but what's so amusing about it is that if you did so it would please Coire, it would please me, it would please Mouzon, and it would please Eugène, who doesn't want any scandal.
Attorney-General. But it would be a—