We shall let the report speak:  in such cases nothing is so effective or so terrible as the official statement.

“In the closet of Sainte-Croix was found a small box one foot square, on the top of which lay a half-sheet of paper entitled ‘My Will,’ written on one side and containing these words:  ’I humbly entreat any into whose hands this chest may fall to do me the kindness of putting it into the hands of Madame the Marquise de Brinvilliers, resident in the rue Neuve-Saint-Paul, seeing that all the contents concern and belong to her alone, and are of no use to any person in the world apart from herself:  in case of her being already dead before me, the box and all its contents should be burnt without opening or disturbing anything.  And lest anyone should plead ignorance of the contents, I swear by the God I worship and by all that is most sacred that no untruth is here asserted.  If anyone should contravene my wishes that are just and reasonable in this matter, I charge their conscience therewith in discharging my own in this world and the next, protesting that such is my last wish.

“’Given at Paris, the 25th of May after noon, 1672.  Signed by Sainte-Croix,’

“And below were written these words:  ’There is one packet only addressed to M. Penautier which should be delivered.’”

It may be easily understood that a disclosure of this kind only increased the interest of the scene; there was a murmur of curiosity, and when silence again reigned, the official continued in these words: 

“A packet has been found sealed in eight different places with eight different seals.  On this is written:  ’Papers to be burnt in case of my death, of no consequence to anyone.  I humbly beg those into whose hands they may fall to burn them.  I give this as a charge upon their conscience; all without opening the packet.’  In this packet we find two parcels of sublimate.

“Item, another packet sealed with six different seals, on which is a similar inscription, in which is found more sublimate, half a pound in weight.

“Item, another packet sealed with six different seals, on which is a similar inscription, in which are found three parcels, one containing half an ounce of sublimate, the second 2 1/4 ozs. of Roman vitriol, and the third some calcined prepared vitriol.  In the box was found a large square phial, one pint in capacity, full of a clear liquid, which was looked at by M. Moreau, the doctor; he, however, could not tell its nature until it was tested.

“Item, another phial, with half a pint of clear liquid with a white sediment, about which Moreau said the same thing as before.

“Item, a small earthenware pot containing two or three lumps of prepared opium.

“Item, a folded paper containing two drachms of corrosive sublimate powdered.

“Next, a little box containing a sort of stone known as infernal stone.

“Next, a paper containing one ounce of opium.