She was pronounced guilty of the death
of her husband, and sentenced first to be tortured and then beheaded
and her body burnt on the Place de Greve, a sentence which was
carried out to the letter. The ashes of the fairest and most wicked
dame of the Court of Lous XIV. were scattered to the four corners of
the city which had been the scene of her unparalleled crimes. The
arch-poisoner Exili was also tried, and condemned to be burnt. The
tumbril that bore him to execution was stopped on its way by the
furious rabble, and he was torn in pieces by them.
For a short time the kingdom breathed freely in fancied security;
but soon the epidemic of sudden as well as lingering deaths from
poison broke out again on all sides. The fatal tree of the
knowledge of evil, seemingly cut down with Exili and St. Croix, had
sprouted afresh, like a upas that could not be destroyed.
The poisoners became more numerous than ever. Following the track
of St. Croix and La Brinvilliers, they carried on the war against
humanity without relaxation. Chief of these was a reputed witch and
fortune-teller named La Voisin, who had studied the infernal secret
under Exili and borne a daughter to the false Italian.
Pages:
646
647
648
649
650
651
652
653
654
655
656
657
658
659
660
661
662
663
664
665
666
667
668
669
670