On the fatal evening, Alphonse and Claudine had
been seen together in the neighborhood of the now dismantled brewery;
and as Jacques, betwixt poverty and democracy, was in bad odor with
the respectable part of society, it was not easy for him to bring
witnesses to character or to prove an unexceptionable _alibi_. As for
the Bellefonds and De Chaulieus, and the aristocracy in general, they
entertained no doubt of his guilt; and finally, the magistrates coming
to the same opinion, Jacques Rollet was committed for trial at the next
assizes, and as a testimony of good-will, Antoine de Chaulieu was
selected by the injured family to conduct the prosecution.
Here, at last, was the opportunity he had sighed for. So interesting
a case, too, furnishing such ample occasion for passion, pathos,
indignation! And how eminently fortunate that the speech which he set
himself with ardor to prepare would be delivered in the presence of
the father and brother of his mistress, and perhaps of the lady herself.
The evidence against Jacques, it is true, was altogether presumptive;
there was no proof whatever that he had committed the crime; and for
his own part, he stoutly denied it.
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