were in a state of indigence. He showed that his father had an
income of 10,000 francs, while his two brothers were holding good
positions, one as an officer in the army, the other as a
government official. The mistress of Castaing he represented as
enjoying an income of 5,000 francs. He protested against the
quantity of hearsay evidence that had been admitted into the
case. "In England," he said, "when a witness is called, he is
asked `What have you seen?' If he can only testify to mere talk,
and hearsay, he is not heard." He quoted the concluding
paragraph of the will of Auguste Ballet as showing his friendly
feeling towards Castaing: "It is only after careful reflection
that I have made this final disposition of my property, in order
to mark the sincere friendship which I have never for one moment
ceased to feel for MM. Castaing, Briant and Leuchere, in order
to recognise the faithful loyalty of my servants, and deprive M.
and Mme. Martignon, my brother-in-law and sister, of all rights
to which they might be legally entitled on my death, fully
persuaded in soul and conscience that, in doing so, I am giving
to each their just and proper due." "Is this," asked M. Roussel,
"a document wrested by surprise from a weak man, extorted by
trickery? Is he not acting in the full exercise of his
faculties? He forgets no one, and justifies his conduct."

When M. Roussel came to the incident of the noisy cats and dogs
at Saint Cloud, he was as ingenious as the circumstances
permitted: "A serious charge engrosses public attention; men's
minds are concentrated on the large, broad aspects of the case;
they are in a state of unnatural excitement. They see only the
greatness, the solemnity of the accusation, and then,
suddenly, in the midst of all that is of such tragic and