Buttrebeurrousse related everything he had seen on that fateful evening at Le pony prançant, when Sacqueville-Danglars and Pippand de Touc drew up the act of accusation that sent Samouard to durance vile.
"O Frodia, Frodia, how deep are your insights into the abysm of evil of the human heart, more noisome than the fleur-de-Morgoule!" murmured the abbé.
"Monsieur?" inquired Buttrebeurrousse.
"Nothing, just a psalm of Gandault," said the priest. "But tell me: why did you not oppose this infamy?"
"Monsieur, I was so drunk I could barely distinguish Shirdonnay from Vieux Vignobles, and I was blundering about in a fog. Later, I did try to speak, but Sacqueville-Danglars prevented me."
"I see," said the abbé. "You simply practiced laissez-faire."
