The General (who sees Ramel and Gertrude talking together)
Is my wife to be called to this investigation?

Ramel
Certainly, General.  I came here myself because the countess had not
been notified that we required her presence.

The General
My wife mixed up in such an affair?  It is an outrage!

Vernon
Keep cool, my friend.

Felix (announcing)
Monsieur, the investigating magistrate!

The General
Let him come in.

Scenethird

The same persons, the investigating magistrate, Champagne, Baudrillon and a gendarme who is guarding Champagne.

The Magistrate (bowing to the company)
Monsieur the state’s attorney, this is M. Baudrillon, the druggist.

Ramel
Has M. Baudrillon seen the accused?

The Magistrate
No, monsieur, the accused came in charge of a gendarme.

Ramel
We shall soon learn the truth in this case!  Let M. Baudrillon and the
accused approach.

The Magistrate
Come forward, M. Baudrillon; (to Champagne) and you also.

Ramel
M. Baudrillon, do you identify this man as the person who bought
arsenic from you two days ago?

Baudrillon
Yes, that is the very man.

Champagne
Didn’t I tell you, M. Baudrillon, that it was for the mice that were
eating up everything, even in the house, and that I wanted it for
Madame?

The Magistrate Do you hear him, madame?  This is his plea; he pretends that you yourself sent him to get this stuff, and that he handed the package to you just as he took it from M. Baudrillon.

Gertrude
It is true, sir.

Ramel
Did you make any use of the arsenic, madame?

Gertrude
No, sir.

The Magistrate You can then show us the package sent by M. Baudrillon; it should have his label, and if he acknowledges that it is entire and unbroken, the serious charges made against your foreman will in part be disproved.  We shall then have nothing more to do than to receive the report of the physician who held the autopsy.

Gertrude
The package, sir, has never been taken from the desk in my bedroom. 
(Exit.)

Champagne
Ah!  General, I am saved.

The General
Poor old Champagne!

Ramel General, we shall be very happy if we have to announce the innocence of your foreman; unlike you soldiers, we are always delighted to be beaten.

Gertrude (returning)
Here it is, gentlemen.

(The Magistrate, Baudrillon and Ramel examine the package.)

Baudrillon (putting on his glasses)
It is intact, gentlemen, perfectly intact.  Here is my seal on it
unbroken.

The Magistrate
Lock that up carefully, madame, for the assizes for sometime have had
to deal with nothing but poisoning cases.

Gertrude
You see, sir, I have kept it in my desk, in which none but the General
and myself have access.