It was difficult to continue a system of absolute denial in face of proofs like these. The marquise persisted, all the same, that she was in no way guilty; and Maitre Nivelle , one of the best lawyers of the period, consented to defend her cause.
He combated one charge after another, in a remarkably clever way, owning to the adulterous connection of the marquise with Sainte- Croix, but denying her participation in the murders of the d'Aubrays , father and sons: these he ascribed entirely to the vengeance desired by Sainte-Croix. As to the confession, the strongest and, he maintained, the only evidence against Madame de Brinvilliers , he attacked its validity by bringing forward certain similar cases, where the evidence supplied by the accused against themselves had not been admitted by re
