than the failure of
her attempt. Her own conscience and public contempt are a sufficient
sting to her. I know Menard is my personal enemy. He was once my
rival, and I foresee that by his artifices he will so confound and
dazzle the judges and people, that my infamous wife will extricate
herself triumphantly."

"That he shall not do!" I exclaimed with vehemence. "Pray Bertollon
entrust me with your case, though I am but a beginner, and have never
spoken in a court of law. Confide in me and the justness of your
cause. Indeed, it does not grieve me to appear before the tribunal
against a lady whom I once called my friend, and who loaded me with
treacherous favours. You are my brother and benefactor, your cause is
sacred."

Bertollon smiled, expressing at the same time his doubts as to my being
a match for my adversary's tact. At length, however, he agreed to my
wish of making his suit the first trial of my ability, but was
apparently apprehensive.

"Be easy, dear Bertollon," said I, "friendship will inspire and exalt
me if I should seem to sink under Menard's superior powers, and
notwithstanding all his subtlety he will not be able to get over the
facts which his client too hastily confessed."

From time immemorial no trial had excited greater interest than this,
which was rendered so conspicuous, both by the atrocity of its cause,
and the respectability of the parties concerned. And what a part I
undertook! No one knew the relation in which I had stood to Madame
Bertollon. No one imagined that I had once clasped the accused to my
heart in a moment of extatic rapture; no one knew that her illicit
affection for me had perhaps given her hand the first direction towards
mixing the poisonous draught.

All this was still a secret, and was to remain so until Menard's art
should threaten victory over me. Then only this last mine was to
explode against him.

When it was reported in Montpellier that I was Bertollon's advocate,
success was given to my opponent beforehand. After sufficient
investigation, and the examination of witnesses, Menard and I were
called to the bar. This powerful speaker seemed only to mock me. He
almost evinced contempt, at appearing against a young man who had
recently been his pupil, and was now going to make his _debut_. He
spoke with such power that he affected me most deeply, and almost
inspired me for the cause of the accused.

The trial had been prolonged by Menard's manoeuv