SCENE III:--Vagret, Madame Vagret, Catialéna.

CATIALÉNA [holding out an envelope] This has just come for you, sir. [She goes out again]

VAGRET. What's this? The Basque paper—the Eskual Herria—an article marked with blue pencil. [He reads] "Eskual herri guzia hamabartz egun huntan—" How's one to make head or tail of such a barbarian language!

MADAME VAGRET [reading over his shoulder] It's about you—

VAGRET. No!

MADAME VAGRET. Yes. There! "Vagret procuradoreak galdegin—" Wait a minute. [Calling through the further doorway] Catialéna! Catialéna!

VAGRET. What is it?

MADAME VAGRET. Catialéna will translate it for us. [To Catialéna, who has entered] Here, Catialéna, just read this bit for us, will you?

CATIALÉNA. Why, yes, Madame. [She reads] "Eta gaitzegilia ozda oraino gakpoian Irrysaryko."

VAGRET. And what does that mean?

CATIALÉNA. That means—they haven't arrested the Irissary murderer yet.

VAGRET. We know that. And then?

CATIALÉNA. "Baginakien yadanik dona Mauleano tribunala yuye arin edo tzarrenda berechiazela." That means there are no magistrates at Mauleon except those they've got rid of from other places, and who don't know their business—empty heads they've got.

VAGRET. Thanks—that's enough.

MADAME VAGRET. No, no! Go on, Catialéna!

CATIALÉNA. "Yaun hoyen Biribi—"

MADAME VAGRET. Biribi?

CATIALÉNA. Yes, Madame.

MADAME VAGRET. Well, what does Biribi mean in Basque?

CATIALÉNA. I don't know.

MADAME VAGRET. What? You don't know? You mean you don't want to say? Is it a bad word?

CATIALÉNA. Oh no, Madame, I should know it then.

VAGRET. Biribi—

BERTHA. Perhaps it's a nickname they give you.

MADAME VAGRET. Perhaps that's it. [A pause] Well?

CATIALÉNA. They're speaking of the master.

MADAME VAGRET [to her husband] I told you so. [To Catialéna] Abusing him?

VAGRET. I tell you that's enough! [He snatches the paper from Catialéna and puts it in his pocket] Go back to the kitchen. Hurry now—quicker than that!

CATIALÉNA. Well, sir, I swear I won't tell you the rest of it.

VAGRET. No one's asking you to. Be off.

CATIALÉNA. I knew the master would be angry. [She turns to go]

MADAME VAGRET. Catialéna!

CATIALÉNA. Yes, Madame?

MADAME VAGRET. Really now, you don't know what Biribi means?

CATIALÉNA. No, Madame, I swear I don't.

MADAME VAGRET. That's all right. There's the bell—go and see who it is. [Catialéna goes] I shall give that woman a week's notice, and no later than to-morrow.

VAGRET. But really—

CATIALÉNA [returning] If you please, sir, it's Monsieur Delorme.

MADAME VAGRET. Your examining magistrate?

VAGRET. Yes. He's come to give me his reply. [To Catialéna] Show him in.

MADAME VAGRET. What reply?

VAGRET. He has come to return me his brief.

MADAME VAGRET. The brief?

VAGRET. Yes. I asked him to think it over until this evening.

MADAME VAGRET. He'll have to stay to dinner.

VAGRET. No. You know perfectly well his health—Here he is. Run away.

MADAME VAGRET [amiably, as she goes out] Good-evening, Monsieur Delorme.

DELORME. Madame!