Whenthetwobrothersarrivedfromtheprovincestorenderthelastsaddutiestotheirsire，theyfoundtheirsisterasgrieved，toalloutwardappearance，asevenfilialaffectioncoulddesire:buttheyoungmenonlycametoperish。TheystoodbetweenSainteCroixandthealreadyhalf-clutchedgo]d，andtheirdoomwassealed。Aman，namedLaChaussee，washiredbySainteCroixtoaidinadministeringthepoisons；and，inlessthansixweeks’time，theyhadbothgonetotheirlonghome。
　　Suspicionwasnowexcited；butsocautiouslyhadallbeendone，thatitfoundnooneuponwhomtoattachitself。TheMarquisehadasister，andshewasentitled，bythedeathofherrelatives，tohalftheproperty。LessthanthewholewouldnotsatisfySainteCroix，andhedeterminedthatsheshoulddiethesamedeathasherfatherandbrothers。Shewastoodistrustful，however；and，byquittingParis，sheescapedthedestructionthatwaslurkingforher。
　　TheMarquisehadundertakenthesemurderstopleaseherlover。Shewasnowanxioustoperpetrateanotheronherownaccount。ShewishedtomarrySainteCroix；but，thoughseparatedfromherhusband，shewasnotdivorced。Shethoughtitwouldbeeasiertopoisonhimthantoapplytothetribunalsforadivorce，whichmight，perhaps，berefused。ButSaluteCroixhadnolongeranyloveforhisguiltyinstrument。Badmendonotadmireotherswhoareasbadasthemselves。
　　Thoughavillainhimself，hehadnodesiretomarryone，andwasnotatallanxiousforthedeathoftheMarquis。Heseemed，however，toenterintotheplot，andsuppliedherwithpoisonforherhusband:buthetookcaretoprovidearemedy。LaBrinvillierspoisonedhimoneday，andSainteCroixgavehimanantidotethenext。Inthismannerhewasbuffettedaboutbetweenthemforsometime，andfinallyescapedwitharuinedconstitutionandabrokenheart。
　　Butthedayofretributionwasathand，andaterriblemischancebroughtthemurderstolight。ThenatureofthepoisonscompoundedbySaluteCroixwassodeadly，that，whenworkinginhislaboratory，hewasobligedtowearamask，topreservehimselffromsuffocation。Oneday，themaskslippedoff，andthemiserablewretchperishedinhiscrimes。Hiscorpsewasfound，onthefollowingmorning，intheobscurelodgingwherehehadfitteduphislaboratory。Asheappearedtobewithoutfriendsorrelatives，thepolicetookpossessionofhiseffects。Amongotherthingswasfoundasmallbox，towhichwasaffixedthefollowingsingulardocument:——
　　“Ihumblybeg，thatthoseintowhosehandsthisboxmayfall，willdomethefavourtodeliveritintothehandsonlyoftheMarchionessdeBrinvilliers，whoresidesintheRueNeuveSt。Paul，aseverythingitcontainsconcernsher，andbelongstoheralone；andas，besides，thereisnothinginitthatcanbeofusetoanypersonbuther。Incasesheshallbedeadbeforeme，itismywishthatitbeburned，witheverythingitcontains，withoutopeningoralteringanything。Inorderthatnoonemaypleadignorance，IswearbytheGodthatI
　　adore，andbyallthatisheldmostsacred，thatIassertnothingbutthetruth:andifmyintentions，justandreasonableastheyare，bethwartedinthispointbyanypersons，Ichargetheirconscienceswithit，bothinthisworldandthatwhichistocome，inorderthatImayunloadmine。Iprotestthatthisismylastwill。DoneatParis，the25thofMay，1672。
　　“SignedSainteCroix。“
　　Thisearnestsolicitation，insteadofinsuringrespectaswasintended，excitedcuriosity。Theboxwasopened，andfoundtocontainsomepapers，andseveralvialsandpowders。Thelatterwerehandedtoachemistforanalysis，andthedocumentswereretainedbythepolice，andopened。AmongthemwasfoundapromissorynoteoftheMarchionessdeBrinvilliers，forthirtythousandfrancs，totheorderofSainteCroix。Theotherpaperswereofgreaterimportance，astheyimplicatedbothherandherservant，LaChaussee，intherecentmurders。AssoonasshewasinformedofthedeathofSainteCroix，shemadeanattempttogainpossessionofhispapersandthebox；but，beingrefused，shesawthattherewasnotimetobelost，andimmediatelyquitted。Nextmorningthepolicewereonhertrail；butshesucceededinescapingtoEngland。LaChausseewasnotsofortunate。Altogetherignorantofthefatalmischancewhichhadbroughthisvillaniestolight，hedidnotdreamofdanger。Hewasarrestedandbroughttotrial:beingputtothetorture，heconfessedthathehadadministeredpoisontotheMessieursd’Aubray，andthathehadreceivedahundredpistoles，andthepromiseofanannuityforlife，fromSainteCroixandMadamedeBrinvilliers，forthejob。Hewascondemnedtobebrokenaliveonthewheel，andtheMarchionesswas，bydefault，sentencedtobebeheaded。
　　Hewasexecutedaccordingly，inMarch1673，onthePlacedeGreve，inParis。
　　LaBrinvilliersappearstohaveresidedfornearlythreeyearsinEngland。Earlyin1676，thinkingthattherigourofpursuitwasover，andthatshemightventuretoreturntotheContinent，sheproceededsecretlytoLiege。Notwithstandinghercare，theFrenchauthoritiesweresoonapprisedofherreturn；andarrangementswerepromptlymadewiththemunicipalityofthatcity，topermittheagentsoftheFrenchpolicetoarrestherwithinthelimitsoftheirjurisdiction。
　　Desgrais，anofficerofthemarechaussee，accordinglyleftParisforthatpurpose。OnhisarrivalinLiege，hefoundthatshehadsoughtshelterwithinthewallsofaconvent。Herethearmofthelaw，longasitissaidtobe，couldnotreachher:butDesgraiswasnotamantobebaffled，andheresortedtostratagemtoaccomplishwhatforcecouldnot。Havingdisguisedhimselfasapriest，hesoughtadmissiontotheconvent，andobtainedaninterviewwithLaBrinvilliers。Hesaid，thatbeingaFrenchman，andpassingthroughLiege，hecouldnotleavethatcitywithoutpayingavisittoaladywhosebeautyandmisfortunesweresocelebrated。Hervanitywasflatteredbythecompliment。Desgraissaw，touseavulgarbutforcibleexpression，“thathehadgotontheblindsideofher；“andheadroitlycontinuedtopouroutthelanguageofloveandadmiration，tillthedeludedMarchionesswasthrowncompletelyoffherguard。Sheagreed，withoutmuchsolicitation，tomeethimoutsidethewallsoftheconvent，wheretheiramorousintriguemightbecarriedonmoreconvenientlythanwithin。Faithfultoherappointmentwithhersupposednewlover，shecame，andfoundherself，notintheembraceofagallant，butinthecustodyofapoliceman。
　　Hertrialwasnotlongdelayed。Theproofsagainstherwereabundant。ThedyingdeclarationofLaChausseewouldhavebeenaloneenoughtoconvicther；butbesidesthat，therewerethemysteriousdocumentattachedtotheboxofSt。Croix；herflightfromFrance；
　　and，strongerandmoredamningproofthanall，apaper，inherownhandwriting，foundamongtheeffectsofSt。Croix，inwhichshedetailedtohimthemisdeedsofherlife，andspokeofthemurderofherfatherandbrothers，intermsthatleftnodoubtofherguilt。
　　Duringthetrial，allPariswasincommotion。LaBrinvillierswastheonlysubjectofconversation。Allthedetailsofhercrimeswerepublished，andgreedilydevoured；andtheideaofsecretpoisoningwasfirstputintotheheadsofhundreds，whoafterwardsbecameguiltyofit。
　　Onthe16thofJuly1676，theSuperiorCriminalCourtofParispronouncedaverdictofguiltyagainsther，forthemurderofherfatherandbrothers，andtheattemptuponthelifeofhersister。Shewascondemnedtobedrawnonahurdle，withherfeetbare，aropeaboutherneck，andaburningtorchinherhand，tothegreatentranceofthecathedralofNotreDame；whereshewastomaketheamendehonorable，insightofallthepeople；tobetakenfromthencetothePlacedeGreve，andtheretobebeheaded。Herbodywasafterwardstobeburned，andherashesscatteredtothewinds。
　　Afterhersentence，shemadeafullconfessionofherguilt。Sheseemstohavelookedupondeathwithoutfear；butitwasrecklessness，notcourage，thatsupportedher。MadamedeSevignesays，thatwhenonthehurdle，onherwaytothescaffold，sheentreatedherconfessortoexerthisinfluencewiththeexecutionertoplacehimselfnexttoher，thathisbodymighthidefromherview“thatscoundrel，Desgrais，whohadentrappedher。“Shealsoaskedtheladies，whohadbeendrawntotheirwindowstowitnesstheprocession，whattheywerelookingat？
　　adding，“aprettysightyouhavecometosee，truly！“Shelaughedwhenonthescaffold，dyingasshehadlived，impenitentandheartless。Onthemorrow，thepopulacecameincrowdstocollectherashes，topreservethemasrelics。Shewasregardedasamartyredsaint，andherashesweresupposedtobeendowed，byDivinegrace，withthepowerofcuringalldiseases。Popularfollyhasoftencanonisedpersonswhosepretensionstosanctitywereextremelyequivocal；butthedisgustingfollyofthemultitude，inthisinstance，hasneverbeensurpassed。
　　Beforeherdeath，proceedingswereinstitutedagainstM。dePenautier，treasureroftheprovinceofLanguedoc，andReceiver-generalfortheclergy，whowasaccusedbyalady，namedSt。
　　Laurent，ofhavingpoisonedherhusband，thelateReceiver-general，inordertoobtainhisappointment。Thecircumstancesofthiscasewereneverdivulged，andthegreatestinfluencewasexertedtopreventitfromgoingtotrial。HewasknowntohavebeenintimatewithSainteCroixandMadamedeBrinvilliers，andwasthoughttohaveprocuredhispoisonsfromthem。Thelatter，however，refusedtosayanythingwhichmightimplicatehim。Theinquirywaseventuallystifled，afterPenautierhadbeenseveralmonthsintheBastille。
　　TheCardinaldeBonzywasaccusedbythegossipsofthedayofbeinganaccompliceofPenautier。TheCardinal’sestateswereburthenedwiththepaymentofseveralheavyannuities；but，aboutthetimethatpoisoningbecamesofashionable，alltheannuitantsdiedoff，oneaftertheother。TheCardinal，intalkingoftheseannuitants，afterwardsusedtosay，“Thankstomystar，Ihaveoutlivedthemall！“Awit，seeinghimandPenautierridinginthesamecarriage，criedout，inallusiontothisexpression，“TheregotheCardinaldeBonzyandhisstar！“
　　Itwasnowthatthemaniaforpoisoningbegantotakeholdofthepopularmind。Fromthistimeuntiltheyear1682，theprisonsofFranceteemedwithpersonsaccusedofthiscrime；anditisverysingular，thatotheroffencesdecreasedinasimilarproportion。WehavealreadyseentheextenttowhichitwascarriedinItaly。Itwas，ifpossible，surpassedinFrance。Thediabolicaleasewithwhichthesemurderscouldbeeffected，bymeansofthesescentlessandtastelesspoisons，enticedtheevil-minded。Jealousy，revenge，avarice，evenpettyspite，alikeresortedtothem。Thosewhowouldhavebeendeterred，byfearofdetection，fromusingthepistolorthedagger，orevenstrongdosesofpoison，whichkillatonce，employedslowpoisonswithoutdread。ThecorruptGovernmentoftheday，althoughitcouldwinkattheatrocitiesofawealthyandinfluentialcourtier，likePenautier，wasscandalisedtoseethecrimespreadingamongthepeople。Disgracewas，infact，entailed，intheeyesofEurope，uponthenameofFrenchman。LouisXIV，toputastoptotheevil，institutedwhatwascalledtheChambreArdente，orBurningChamber，withextensivepowers，forthetrialandpunishmentoftheprisoners。