ght the poison at the chemist's has
been imprisoned; Madame Bertollon is also a prisoner in her apartment."

"Madame Bertollon a prisoner!--For what reason? And who has put her
under arrest?"

"The magistrate."

"The magistrate! Is the police mad enough to fancy Madame Bertollon
capable of poisoning her husband?"

"He believes it, and every body----"

"Sir, you are shrugging your shoulders; 'And every body?--' Well,
continue: what were you going to say."

"That every body believes it. The fellow, Valentine I think is his
name----"

"What Valentine? Sure the old faithful servant, the most honest fellow
under the sun----"

"Well, he has deposed, that about a week ago, he fetched the poison by
order of Madame Bertollon."

"The infernal liar; the----"

"And Madame Bertollon, when interrogated about the servant's
deposition, has confessed it unconditionally. There, that is the whole
affair."

"Confessed? I am bewildered; for I do not understand you. What has
she confessed?"

"That she sent Valentine for the poison."

"Horrible! and also that it was she that murdered, poisoned, her own
husband?"

"Who would like to confess such things? but such unfortunately is the
case. Bertollon felt yesterday morning his usual indisposition; you
know he is sometimes subject to giddiness. He then requested his wife,
who keeps a medicine-chest, to give him the usual cordial, a very
expensive essence which she keeps in a gilt blue phial."

"I know it well and also the essence."

"She herself poured it into a spoon, added some sugar and administered
it to her husband. In a short time he felt the most violent spasms in
his bowels. The physician was sent for and recognised the symptoms as
the effect of poison; of which they found remains in the spoon. The
physician did his utmost to save him. He asked for the essence to
analyze it. At this Madame Bertollon was offended, and asked whether
they thought she was a poisoner; but at length being no longer able to
refuse the phial without causing suspicion, she gave it up. In the
meanwhile several physicians had been called, as well as an officer of
the police. The affair becoming known, the druggist, who recollected
that the poison had been bought by Valentine, had informed the police
of the circumstance. Valentine was immediately arrested, but referred
to his mistress and her orders. Madame Bertollon being interrogated by
the police, fainted; all her keys were