Madame Voisin’s clients were generally in a hurry, and so were willing to take any little trouble or responsibility necessary to ensure success. They had two qualities which endear customers to those of La Voisin’s trade; they were grateful and they166 were silent. That they were of cheery and hopeful spirit was shown by the fact that as a rule they married again soon after the dark cloud of bereavement20 had fallen on them. When the funeral baked meats have coldly furnished forth21 the marriage tables, it is better to remain as inconspicuous as possible; friends and onlookers22 will take notice, and, when they notice, they will talk. Moreover the new partner is often suspicious and apt to be a little jealous of his predecessor23 in title. Thus, Madame Voisin being clever and discreet24, and her clients being—or at any rate appearing to be—happy in their new relations and silent to the world at large, all went prosperously with the kindly-hearted prophet. No trouble rose as to testamentary dispositions25. Men who are the subjects of prophecy have usually excellently-drawn wills. This is especially the case with husbands who are no longer young. Young husbands are as a rule not made the subjects of prophecy.
Madame Voisin’s great accuracy of prediction did not excite at the time so much public admiration26 as it might have done if she or her clients had taken the public more into their confidence; but it was noted27 afterwards that in most cases the male individual who retired early from the scene was the senior partner in that congeries of three which has come to be known as “the eternal triangle.” In later conversations, following in the wake of the167 completed prophecy, confidences were exchanged as to the studies in certain matters of science in which Madame Voisin seemed to have attained28 a rare proficiency29.
The late Mr. Charles Peace, an adventurous30 if acquisitive spirit, who gave up his life in the same manner as the deceased Mr. Haman, worked alone during the long period of his professional existence, and with misleading safety. The illustrious French lady-prophet unwisely did not value this form of security, and so multiplied opportunities of failure. She followed an entirely31 opposite policy, one which though it doubtless stood by her on many occasions had a fatal weakness. In some ways it may facilitate matters if one is one’s own Providence32; such a course avoids temporarily errors of miscalculation or deduction33 of probable results. And just as the roulette table has certain chances in favour of Zero, there is for the practical prophet a large hazard in that the dead are unable to speak or to renew effort on a more favourable34 basis. La Voisin, probably through some unfavourable or threatening experiences, saw the wisdom of associating the forces of prediction and accomplishment, and with the readiness of an active personality effected the junction35. For this she was already fairly well equipped with experiences. Both as a wife and a lover of warm and voluptuous36 nature she understood something of the passions of humanity, on both the female and the male side; and being a woman she168 knew perhaps better of the two the potency37 of feminine longing38. This did not act so strongly in the lesser39 and more directly commercial, if less uncertain, phases of her art, such as finding lost property, divining the result of hazards, effecting immunity40 from danger, or the preserving indefinitely the more pleasing qualities of youth. But in sterner matters, when the issue was of life or death, the masculine tendency towards recklessness kicked the beam. As a nurse in active touch with both medical and surgical41 wants, aims, and achievements, she was at ease in the larger risks of daily life. And after all, her own ambitions, aided by the compelling of her own natural demands for physical luxury, were quite independent, only seeking through exiguous42 means a way of achievement. In secret she studied the mystery of a toxicologist; and, probably by cautious experiment, satisfied herself of her proficiency in that little-known science. That she had other aims, more or less dependent on this or the feelings which its knowledge superinduced, can be satisfactorily guessed from some of her attendant labours which declared themselves later.
After a time La Voisin’s vogue43 as a sorceress brought her into certain high society where freedom of action was unhampered by moral restraints. The very rich, the leaders of society and fashion of the time, the unscrupulous whose ambitious efforts had been crowned with success of a kind,169 leaders of Court life, those in high military command, mistresses of royalty44 and high aristocracy—all became companions and clients in one or more of her mysterious arts. Amongst them were the Duchesse de Bouillon, the Comtesse de Soissons, Madame de Montespan, Olympe de Mancini, Marshal de Luxembourg, the Duc de Vend45?me, Prince de Clermont-Lodeve. It was not altogether fashionable not to be in touch with Madame Voisin. Undeterred by the lessons of history, La Voisin went on her way, forced as is usual in such cases by the circumstances which grow around the criminal and prove infinitely46 the stronger. She was at the height of her success when the public suspicion, followed by action, revealed the terrible crimes of the Marquise de Brinvilliers; and she was caught in the tail of the tempest thus created.
This case of Madame de Brinvilliers is a typical one of how a human being, goaded47 by passion and lured48 by opportunity, may fall swiftly from any estate. It is so closely in touch with that of Madame Voisin that the two have almost to be considered together. They began with the desire for dabbling49 in forbidden mysteries. Three men—two Italians and one German, all men of some ability—were violent searchers for the mythical50 “philosopher’s stone” which was to fulfil the dream of the medi?val alchemist by turning at will all things into gold. In the search they all gravitated to Paris. There the usual thing happened. Money170 ran short and foolish hoping had to be supplemented by crime. In the whirling world of the time there was always a ready sale for means to an end, however nefarious51 either might be. The easy morality of the time allowed opportunity for all means, with the result that there was an almost open dealing52 in poisons. The soubriquet which stole into existence—it dared not proclaim itself—is a self-explanatory historical lesson. The poudre de succession marks an epoch53 which, for sheer, regardless, remorseless, profligate54 wickedness is almost without peer in history, and this is said without forgetting the time of the Borgias. Not even natural affection or family life or individual relationship or friendliness55 was afforded any consideration. This phase of crime, which was one almost confined to the upper and wealthier classes, depended on wealth and laws of heredity and entail56. Those who benefited by it salved what remnants of conscience still remained to them with the thought that they were but helping57 the natural process of waste and recuperation. The old and feeble were removed, with as little coil as might be necessary, in order that the young and lusty might benefit. As the change was a form of plunder58, which had to be paid for in a degree in some way approximate to results, prices ran high. Poisoning on a successful scale requires skilful59 and daring agents, whose after secrecy60 as well as whose present aid has to be secured. Exili and Glasser—one of the Italians171 and the German—did a thriving trade. As usual in such illicit61 traffic, the possibility of purchase under effective conditions made a market. There is every reason to believe from after results that La Voisin was one such agent. The cause of La Brinvilliers entering the market was the purely62 personal one of an affair of sensual passion. Death is an informative63 circumstance. Suspicion began to leak out that the polyglot64 firm of needy65 foreigners had dark dealings. Two of them—the Italians—were arrested and sent to the Bastille where one of them died. By unhappy chance the other was given as cell-companion Captain Sainte-Croix, who was a lover of the Marquise de Brinvilliers. Sainte-Croix as a Captain in the regiment66 of the Marquis had become intimate in his house. Brinvilliers was a fatuous67 person and of imperfect moral vision. The Captain was handsome, and Madame la Marquise amorous68. Behold69 then all the usual personnel of a tragedy of three. After a while the intrigue70 became a matter of family concern. The lady’s father,—the Civil Lieutenant71 d’Aulroy, procured72 a lettre de cachet, and had the erring73 lover immured74 in the Bastille as the easiest and least public way out of the difficulty. “Evil communications corrupt75 good manners,” says the proverb. The proverbial philosopher understated the danger of such juxtaposition76. Evil manners added corruption77 even to their kind. In the Bastille the exasperated78 lover listened to the wiles79 of Exili; and another172 stage of misdoing began. The Marquise determined80 on revenge, and be sure that in such a case in such a period even the massive walls of the Bastille could not prevent the secret whisper of a means of effecting it. D’Aulroy, his two sons, and another sister perished. Brinvilliers himself was spared through some bizarre freak of his wife’s conscience. Then the secret began to be whispered—first, it was said, through the confessional; and the Chambre Ardente, analogous82 to the British Star Chamber83, instituted for such purposes, took the case in hand. The result might have been doubtful, for great social forces were at work to hush84 up such a scandal, but that, with a truly seventeenth century candour, the prisoner had written an elaborate confession81 of her guilt85, which if it did not directly assure condemnation86 at least put justice on the right track.
The trial was a celebrated87 one, and involved incidentally many illustrious persons as well as others of lesser note. In the end, in 1676, Madame la Marquise de Brinvilliers was burned—that is, what was left of her was burned after her head had been cut off, a matter of grace in consideration of her rank. It is soothing88 to the feelings of many relatives and friends—not to mention those of the principal—in such a case when “great command o’ersways the order” of purgation by fire.
Before the eddy89 of the Brinvilliers’ criminal scandal reached to the lower level of Madame173 Voisin, a good many scandals were aired; though again “great command” seems to have been operative, so far as human power availed, in minimising both scandals and punishments. Amongst those cited to the Chambre Ardente were two nieces of Cardinal90 Mazarin, the Duchesse de Bouillon, the Comtesse de Soissons, and Marshal de Luxembourg. In some of these cases that which in theatrical91 parlance92 is called “comic relief” was not wanting. It was a witty93 if impertinent answer of the Duchesse de Bouillon to one of her judges, La Reyne, an ill-favoured man, who asked, apropos94 of a statement made at the trial that she had taken part in an alleged95 invocation of Beelzebub, “and did you ever see the Devil?”—
“Yes, I am looking at him now. He is ugly, and is disguised as a Councillor of State!”
The King, Louis XIV, took much interest in the trial and even tried now and again to smooth matters. He even went so far as to advise the Comtesse de Soissons who was treated by the Court rather as a foolish than a guilty woman, to keep out of the way if she were really guilty. In answer she said with the haughtiness96 of her time that though she was innocent she did not care to appear in a Law Court. She withdrew to Brussels where she died some twenty years later. Marshal de Luxembourg—Fran?ois Henri de Montmorenci-Boutteville, duke, peer, Marshal of France to give his full titles—was shown to have engaged in an174 attempt to recover lost property by occult means. On which basis and for having once asked Madame Voisin to produce his Satanic Majesty97, he was alleged to have sold himself to the Devil. But his occult adventures did not stand in the way of his promotion98 as a soldier though he had to stand a trial of over a year long; he was made Captain of the Guard and finally given command of the Army.
La Voisin with her accomplices—a woman named Vigoureux and Le Sage99, a priest—were with a couple of score of others arrested in 1679, and were, after a spell of imprisonment100 in the Bastille, tried. As a result Voisin, Vigoureux and her brother, and Le Sage were burned early in 1680. In Voisin’s case the mercy of previous decapitation, which had been accorded to her guilty sister Brinvilliers, was not extended to her. Perhaps this was partly because of the attitude which she had taken up with regard to religious matters. Amongst other unforgivable acts she had repelled101 the Crucifix—a terrible thing to do according to the ideas of that superstitious102 age.
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1
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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flaunt
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| vt.夸耀，夸饰 | |
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unduly
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| adv.过度地，不适当地 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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seclusion
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| n.隐遁，隔离 | |
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retirement
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| n.退休，退职 | |
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cult
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| n.异教，邪教；时尚，狂热的崇拜 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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prophesy
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| v.预言；预示 | |
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yearn
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| v.想念；怀念；渴望 | |
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usurp
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| vt.篡夺，霸占；vi.篡位 | |
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almighty
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| adj.全能的，万能的；很大的，很强的 | |
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longevity
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| n.长命；长寿 | |
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accurately
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| adv.准确地，精确地 | |
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divination
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| n.占卜，预测 | |
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proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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accomplishment
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| n.完成，成就，（pl.）造诣，技能 | |
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dice
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| n.骰子；vt.把（食物）切成小方块，冒险 | |
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wager
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| n.赌注；vt.押注，打赌 | |
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bereavement
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| n.亲人丧亡，丧失亲人，丧亲之痛 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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onlookers
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| n.旁观者，观看者( onlooker的名词复数 ) | |
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predecessor
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| n.前辈，前任 | |
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discreet
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| adj.(言行)谨慎的；慎重的；有判断力的 | |
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dispositions
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| 安排( disposition的名词复数 )； 倾向； （财产、金钱的）处置； 气质 | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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attained
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| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的过去式和过去分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
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proficiency
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| n.精通，熟练，精练 | |
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adventurous
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| adj.爱冒险的；惊心动魄的，惊险的，刺激的 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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deduction
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| n.减除，扣除，减除额；推论，推理，演绎 | |
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favourable
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| adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的 | |
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junction
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| n.连接，接合；交叉点，接合处，枢纽站 | |
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voluptuous
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| adj.肉欲的，骄奢淫逸的 | |
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potency
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| n. 效力，潜能 | |
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longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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lesser
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| adj.次要的，较小的；adv.较小地，较少地 | |
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immunity
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| n.优惠；免除；豁免，豁免权 | |
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surgical
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| adj.外科的，外科医生的，手术上的 | |
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42
exiguous
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| adj.不足的，太少的 | |
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Vogue
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| n.时髦，时尚；adj.流行的 | |
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royalty
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| n.皇家，皇族 | |
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vend
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| v.公开表明观点，出售，贩卖 | |
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infinitely
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| adv.无限地，无穷地 | |
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goaded
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| v.刺激( goad的过去式和过去分词 )；激励；（用尖棒）驱赶；驱使（或怂恿、刺激）某人 | |
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lured
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| 吸引，引诱（lure的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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dabbling
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| v.涉猎( dabble的现在分词 )；涉足；浅尝；少量投资 | |
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50
mythical
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| adj.神话的；虚构的；想像的 | |
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51
nefarious
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| adj.恶毒的，极坏的 | |
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52
dealing
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| n.经商方法，待人态度 | |
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53
epoch
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| n.(新)时代；历元 | |
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54
profligate
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| adj.行为不检的；n.放荡的人，浪子，肆意挥霍者 | |
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55
friendliness
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| n.友谊，亲切，亲密 | |
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56
entail
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| vt.使承担，使成为必要，需要 | |
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57
helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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58
plunder
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| vt.劫掠财物，掠夺；n.劫掠物，赃物；劫掠 | |
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59
skilful
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| (=skillful)adj.灵巧的，熟练的 | |
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60
secrecy
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| n.秘密，保密，隐蔽 | |
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61
illicit
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| adj.非法的，禁止的，不正当的 | |
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62
purely
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| adv.纯粹地，完全地 | |
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63
informative
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| adj.提供资料的，增进知识的 | |
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polyglot
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| adj.通晓数种语言的；n.通晓多种语言的人 | |
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needy
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| adj.贫穷的，贫困的，生活艰苦的 | |
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regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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fatuous
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| adj.愚昧的；昏庸的 | |
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amorous
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| adj.多情的；有关爱情的 | |
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69
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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intrigue
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| vt.激起兴趣，迷住；vi.耍阴谋；n.阴谋，密谋 | |
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71
lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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72
procured
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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erring
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| 做错事的，错误的 | |
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74
immured
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| v.禁闭，监禁( immure的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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75
corrupt
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| v.贿赂，收买；adj.腐败的，贪污的 | |
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76
juxtaposition
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| n.毗邻，并置，并列 | |
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77
corruption
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| n.腐败，堕落，贪污 | |
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78
exasperated
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| adj.恼怒的 | |
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79
wiles
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| n.（旨在欺骗或吸引人的）诡计，花招；欺骗，欺诈( wile的名词复数 ) | |
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80
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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81
confession
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| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
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82
analogous
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| adj.相似的；类似的 | |
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83
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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84
hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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85
guilt
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| n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责 | |
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86
condemnation
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| n.谴责; 定罪 | |
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87
celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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88
soothing
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| adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的 | |
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89
eddy
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| n.漩涡，涡流 | |
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90
cardinal
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| n.(天主教的)红衣主教；adj.首要的，基本的 | |
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91
theatrical
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| adj.剧场的，演戏的；做戏似的，做作的 | |
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92
parlance
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| n.说法；语调 | |
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93
witty
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| adj.机智的，风趣的 | |
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94
apropos
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| adv.恰好地；adj.恰当的；关于 | |
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95
alleged
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| a.被指控的，嫌疑的 | |
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96
haughtiness
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| n.傲慢；傲气 | |
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97
majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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98
promotion
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| n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传 | |
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99
sage
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| n.圣人，哲人；adj.贤明的，明智的 | |
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100
imprisonment
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| n.关押，监禁，坐牢 | |
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101
repelled
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| v.击退( repel的过去式和过去分词 )；使厌恶；排斥；推开 | |
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102
superstitious
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| adj.迷信的 | |
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