to kill two of the four horses by which she was conveyed； and to profit by the moment of confusion to seize the chest and throw it into the fire； otherwise； she declared； she was lost。 Though Theria received none of these letters； which were one by one handed over by Barbier to Desgrais； he all the same did go to Maestricht； where the marquise was to pass； of his own accord。 There he tried to bribe the archers； offering much as 10；000 livres； but they were incorruptible。 At Rocroy the cortege met M。 Palluau； the councillor； whom the Parliament had sent after the prisoner； that he might put questions to her at a time when she least expected them； and so would not have prepared her answers。 Desgrais told him all that had passed； and specially called his attention to the famous box； the object of so much anxiety and so many eager instructions。 M。 de Palluau opened it； and found among other things a paper headed 〃 My Confession。〃 This confession was a proof that the guilty feel great need of discovering their crimes either to mankind or to a merciful God。 Sainte…Croix； we know； had made a confession that was burnt； and here was the marquise equally imprudent。 The confession contained seven articles； and began thus； 〃I confess to God； and to you； my father；〃 and was a complete avowal； of all the crimes she had committed。
In the first article she accused herself of incendiarism ；
In the second； of having ceased to be a virgin at seven years of age；
In the third of having poisoned her father；
In the fourth； of having poisoned her two brothers；
In the fifth； that she had tried to poison her sister； a Carmelite nun。
The two other articles were concerned with the description of strange and unnatural sins。 In this woman there was something of Locusta and something of Messalina as well： antiquity could go no further。
M。 de Palluau； fortified by his knowledge of this important document； began his examination forthwith。 We give it verbatim； rejoicing that we may substitute an official report for our own narrative。
Asked why she fled to Liege； she replied that she left France on account of some business with her sister…in…law。
Asked if she had any knowledge of the papers found in the box； she replied that in the box there were several family papers； and among them a general confession which she desired to make； when she wrote it； however； her mind was disordered； she knew not what she had said or done； being distraught at the time； in a foreign country； deserted by her relatives； forced to borrow every penny。
Asked as to the first article； what house it was she had burnt； she replied that she had not burnt anything； but when she wrote that she was out of her senses。
Asked about the six other articles she replied that she had no recollection of them。
Asked if she had not poisoned her father and brothers； she replied that she knew nothing at all about it。
Asked if it were not Lachaussee who poisoned her brothers； she replied that she knew nothing about it。
Asked if she did not know that her sister could not live long； having been poisoned； she said that she expected her sister to die； because she suffered in the same way as her brothers； that she had lost all memory of the time when she wrote this confession； admitted that she left France by the advice of her relations。
Asked why her relations had advised her thus； she replied that it was in connection with her brothers' affairs； admitted seeing Sainte… Croix since his release from the Bastille。
Asked if Sainte…Croix had not persuaded her to get rid of her father； she replied that she could not remember； neither did she remember if Sainte…Croix had given her powders or other drugs； nor if Sainte… Croix had told her he knew how to make her rich。
Eight letters having been produced； asked to whom she had written them； she replied that she did not remember。
Asked why she had promised to pay 30；000 livres to Sainte…Croix； she replied that she intended to entrust this sum to his care； so that she might make use of it when she wanted it； believing him to be her friend； she had not wished this to be known； by reason of her creditors； that she had an acknowledgment from Sainte…Croix； but had lost it in her travels； that her husband knew nothing about it。
Asked if the promise was made before or after the death of her brothers； she replied that she could not remember； and it made no difference。
Asked if she knew an apothecary called Glazer； she replied that she had consulted him three times about inflammation。
Asked why she wrote to Theria to get hold of the box； she replied that she did not understand。
Asked why； in writing to Theria； she had said she was lost unless he got hold of the box； she replied that she could not remember。
Asked if she had seen during the journey with her father the first symptoms of his malady； she replied that she had not noticed that her father was ill on the journey； either going or coming back in 1666。
Asked if she had not done business with Penautier； she replied that Penautier owed her 30；000 livres。
Asked how this was； she replied that she and her husband had lent Penautier 10；000 crowns； that he had paid it back； and since then they had had no dealings with him。
The marquise took refuge； we see； in a complete system of denial： arrived in Paris； and confined in the Conciergerie； she did the same； but soon other terrible charges were added； which still further overwhelmed her。
The sergeant Cluet deposed： that； observing a lackey to M。 d'Aubray； the councillor； to be the man Lachaussee； whom he had seen in the service of Sainte…Croix； he said to the marquise that if her brother knew that Lachaussee had been with Sainte…Croix he would not like it； but that Madame de Brinvilliers exclaimed； 〃Dear me； don't tell my brothers； they would give him a thrashing； no doubt； and he may just as well get his wages as any body else。〃 He said nothing to the d'Aubrays； though he saw Lachaussee paying daily visits to Sainte… Croix and to the marquise； who was worrying Sainte…Croix to let her have her box； and wanted her bill for two or three thousand pistoles。 Other wise she would have had him assassinated。 She often said that she was very anxious that no one should see the contents of the box； that it was a very important matter； but only concerned herself。 After the box was opened； the witness added； he had told the marquise； that the commissary Picard said to Lachaussee that there were strange things in it； but the lady blushed； and changed the subject。 He asked her if she were not an accomplice。 She said； 〃What！ I？〃 but then muttered to herself： 〃 Lachaussee ought to be sent off to Picardy。〃 The witness repeated that she had been after Sainte…Croix along time about the box； and if she had got it she would have had his throat cut。 The witness further said that when he told Briancourt that Lachaussee was taken and would doubtless confess all； Briancourt； speaking of the marquise； remarked； 〃She is a lost woman。〃 That d'Aubray's daughter had called Briancourt a rogue； but Briancourt had replied that she little knew what obligations she was under to him； that they had wanted to poison both her and the lieutenant's widow； and he alone had hindered it。 He had heard from Briancourt that the marquise had often said that there are means to get rid of people one dislikes； and they can easily be put an end to in a bowl of soup。
The girl Edme Huet； a woman of Brescia； deposed that Sainte…Croix went to see the marquise every day； and that in a box belonging to that lady she had seen two little packets containing sublimate in powder and in paste： she recognised these； because she was an apothecary's daughter。 She added that one day Madame de Brinvilliers； after a dinner party； in a merry mood； said； showing her a little box； 〃Here is vengeance on one's enemies： this box is small； but holds plenty of successsions！〃 That she gave back the box into her hands； but soon changing from her sprightly mood； she cried； 〃Good heavens； what have I said？ Tell nobody。〃 That Lambert； clerk at the palace； told her he had brought the packets to Madame from Sainte…Croix； that Lachaussee often went to see her； and that she herself； not being paid ten pistoles which the marquise owed her； went to complain to Sainte…Croix； threatening to tell the lieutenant what she had seen； and accordingly the ten pistoles were paid； further； that the marquise and Sainte…Croix always kept poison about them； to make use of； in case of being arrested。
Laurent Perrette； living with Glazer； said that he had often seen a lady call on his mistress with Sainte…Croix； that the footman told him she was the Marquise de Brinvilliers； that he would wager his head on it that they came to Glazer's to make poison； that when they came they used to leave their carriage at the Foire Saint…Germain。
Marie de Villeray； maid to the marquise； deposed that after the death of M。 d'Aubray the councillor； Lachaussee came to see the lady and spoke with her in private； that Briancourt said she had caused the death of a worthy men； that Briancourt every day took some electuary for fear of being poisoned； and it was no doubt due to this precaution that he was still alive； but he feared he would be stabbed； because she had told him the secret about the poisoning； that d'Aubray's daughter had to be warned； and that there was a similar design against the tutor of M。 de Brinvillier's children。 Marie de Villeray added that two days after the death of the councillor； when Lachaussee was in Madame's bedroom； Couste； the late lieutenant's secretary； was announced； and Lachaussee had to be hidden in the alcove by the bed。 Lachaussee brought the marquise a letter from Sainte…Croix。
Francois Desgrais； officer； deposed that when he was given the king's orders he arrested the marquise at Liege； that he found under her bed a box which he sealed； that the lady had demanded a paper which was in it； containing her confession； but he refused it； that on the road to Paris the marquise had told him that she believed it was Glazer who made the poisons for Sainte…Croix； that Sainte…Croix； who had made a rendezvous with her one day at the cross Saint…Honore； there showed her four little bot