royed by Auguste, Hippolyte
Ballet had left him an income for life equivalent to a capital of
100,000 francs, and that Auguste had given him that sum out of respect
for his brother's wishes. If that explanation were true, it was
certainly strange that shortly after his brother's death Auguste Ballet
should have expressed surprise and suspicion to a friend on hearing that
Castaing had been buying stock to the value of 8,000 francs. If he had
given Castaing 100,000 francs for himself, there was no occasion for
surprise or suspicion at his investing 8,000. That Auguste had paid out
100,000 francs to some one in October the state of his finances at
his death clearly proved. According to the theory of the prosecution,
Auguste believed that he had paid that money to Lebret through the
intermediary of Castaing, and not to Castaing himself. Hence his
surprise at hearing that Castaing, whom he knew to be impecunious, was
investing such a sum as 8,000 francs.

No money had ever reached Lebret. His honesty and good faith were
demonstrated beyond any shadow of a doubt; no copy of any will of
Hippolyte Ballet had ever been in his possession. But Castaing had shown
Auguste Ballet a copy of his brother's will, the seals of which Auguste
had shown to his mistress. In all probability, and possibly at the
instigation of Castaing, Hippolyte Ballet had made a will, leaving the
greater part of his property to his sister. Somehow or other Castaing
had got possession of this will. On his death Castaing had invented the
story of Mme. Martignon's bribe to Lebret, and so persuaded Auguste
to outbid her. He had ingeniously kept Auguste and Lebret apart by
representing Lebret as refusing to deal direct with Auguste, and by
these means had secured to his own use the sum of 100,000 francs, which
Auguste believed was being paid to Lebret as the price of his
alleged destruction of his brother's will. The plot was ingenious and
successful. To Lebret and the Martignons Castaing said that Hippolyte
had made a will in Mme. Martignon's favour, but had destroyed it himself
some days before his death. The Martignons expressed themselves as glad
that Hippolyte had done so, for they feared lest such a will should
have provoked resentment against them on the part of Auguste. By keeping
Auguste and Lebret apart, Castaing prevented awkward explanations. The
only possible danger of discovery lay in Auguste's incautious admissions
to his mistress and friends; but e