按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
e them for himself； and when； at the year's end； he left the Bastille； the pupil was almost as accomplished as his master。
Sainte…Croix returned into that society which had banished him； fortified by a fatal secret by whose aid he could repay all the evil he had received。 Soon afterwards Exili was set freehow it happened is not knownand sought out Sainte…Croix； who let him a room in the name of his steward； Martin de Breuille； a room situated in the blind； alley off the Place Maubert； owned by a woman called Brunet。
It is not known whether Sainte…Croix had an opportunity of seeing the Marquise de Brinvilliers during his sojourn in the Bastille； but it is certain that as soon as he was a free man the lovers were more attached than ever。 They had learned by experience； however； of what they had to fear； so they resolved that they would at once make trial of Sainte…Croix's newly acquired knowledge； and M。 d'Aubray was selected by his daughter for the first victim。 At one blow she would free herself from the inconvenience of his rigid censorship； and by inheriting his goods would repair her own fortune； which had been almost dissipated by her husband。 But in trying such a bold stroke one must be very sure of results； so the marquise decided to experiment beforehand on another person。 Accordingly； when one day after luncheon her maid； Francoise Roussel； came into her room； she gave her a slice of mutton and some preserved gooseberries for her own meal。 The girl unsuspiciously ate what her mistress gave her； but almost at once felt ill； saying she had severe pain in the stomach； and a sensation as though her heart were being pricked with pins。 But she did not die； and the marquise perceived that the poison needed to be made stronger； and returned it to Sainte…Croix； who brought her some more in a few days' time。
The moment had come for action。 M。 d'Aubray； tired with business； was to spend a holiday at his castle called Offemont。 The marquise offered to go with him。 M。 d'Aubray； who supposed her relations with Sainte…Croix to be quite broken off； joyfully accepted。 Offemont was exactly the place for a crime of this nature。 In the middle of the forest of Aigue； three or four miles from Compiegne； it would be impossible to get efficient help before the rapid action of the poison had made it useless。
M。 d'Aubray started with his daughter and one servant only。 Never had the marquise been so devoted to her father； so especially attentive； as she was during this journey。 And M。 d'Aubray； like Christwho though He had no children had a father's heartloved his repentant daughter more than if she had never strayed。 And then the marquise profited by the terrible calm look which we have already noticed in her face： always with her father； sleeping in a room adjoining his； eating with him； caring for his comfort in every way； thoughtful and affectionate； allowing no other person to do anything for him； she had to present a smiling face； in which the most suspicious eye could detect nothing but filial tenderness； though the vilest projects were in her heart。 With this mask she one evening offered him some soup that was poisoned。 He took it； with her eyes she saw him put it to his lips； watched him drink it down； and with a brazen countenance she gave no outward sign of that terrible anxiety that must have been pressing on her heart。 When he had drunk it all； and she had taken with steady hands the cup and its saucer； she went back to her own room； waited and listened。。。。
The effect was rapid。 The marquise heard her father moan； then she heard groans。 At last； unable to endure his sufferings； he called out to his daughter。 The marquise went to him。 But now her face showed signs of the liveliest anxiety； and it was for M。 d'Aubray to try to reassure her about himself！ He thought it was only a trifling indisposition； and was not willing that a doctor should be disturbed。 But then he was seized by a frightful vomiting； followed by such unendurable pain that he yielded to his daughter's entreaty that she should send for help。 A doctor arrived at about eight o'clock in the morning； but by that time all that could have helped a scientific inquiry had been disposed of： the doctor saw nothing； in M。d'Aubray's story but what might be accounted for by indigestion； so he dosed him； and went back to Compiegne。
All that day the marquise never left the sick man。 At night she had a bed made up in his room； declaring that no one else must sit up with him； thus she； was able to watch the progress of the malady and see with her own eyes the conflict between death and life in the body of her father。 The next day the doctor came again： M。 d'Aubray was worse； the nausea had ceased； but the pains in the stomach were now more acute； a strange fire seemed to burn his vitals； and a treatment was ordered which necessitated his return to Paris。 He was soon so weak that he thought it might be best to go only so far as Compiegne； but the marquise was so insistent as to the necessity for further and better advice than anything he could get away from home； that M。 d'Aubray decided to go。 He made the journey in his own carriage； leaning upon his daughter's shoulder； the behaviour of the marquise was always the same： at last M。 d'Aubray reached Paris。 All had taken place as the marquise desired； for the scene was now changed： the doctor who had witnessed the symptoms would not be present at the death； no one could discover the cause by studying the progress of the disorder； the thread of investigation was snapped in two； and the two ends were now too distant to be joined again。 In spite； of every possible attention； M。 d'Aubray grew continually worse； the marquise was faithful to her mission； and never left him for an hour。 At list； after four days of agony； he died in his daughter's arms； blessing the woman who was his murderess。 Her grief then broke forth uncontrolled。 Her sobs and tears were so vehement that her brothers' grief seemed cold beside hers。 Nobody suspected a crime； so no autopsy was held； the tomb was closed； and not the slightest suspicion had approached her。
But the marquise had only gained half her purpose。 She had now more freedom for her love affairs； but her father's dispositions were not so favourable as she expected： the greater part of his property； together with his business； passed to the elder brother and to the second brother； who was Parliamentary councillor； the position of； the marquise was very little improved in point of fortune。
Sainte…Croix was leading a fine and joyous life。 Although nobody supposed him to be wealthy； he had a steward called Martin； three lackeys called George； Lapierre； and Lachaussee； and besides his coach and other carriages he kept ordinary bearers for excursions at night。 As he was young and good…looking； nobody troubled about where all these luxuries came from。 It was quite the custom in those days that a well…set…up young gentleman should want for nothing； and Sainte…Croix was commonly said to have found the philosopher's stone。 In his life in the world he had formed friendships with various persons； some noble； some rich： among the latter was a man named Reich d