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chambermaid。 It was then that she brought Rosalie Sarrazin to him。
‘‘A very good girl；'' she said。 ‘‘ If her dress is poor it is because she
gives everything to her mother。''
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The words； M。 Bidard commented； were said by Helene with
remarkable sincerity。 It was said that Helene had no moral sense。 It
seemed to him； from her expressions regarding that poor girl； who； like
herself； devoted herself to her mother； that Helene was far from lacking in
that quality。
Engaging Rosalie； the witness said to his new domestic； ‘‘You will
find yourself dealing with a difficult companion。 Do not let her be
insolent to you。 You must assert yourself from the start。 I do not want
Helene to rule you as she ruled Francoise。'' At the same time he repeated
his order regarding the service of the kitchen meals。 Helene manifested a
sullen opposition。 ‘‘Who ever heard of tablecloths for the servants？'' she
said。 ‘‘It is ridiculous！''
In the first days the tenderness between Helene and the new girl was
quite touching。 But circumstance arose to end the harmony。 Rosalie
could write。 On the 23rd of May the witness told Helene that he would
like her to give him an account of expenses。 The request made Helene
angry； and increased her spite against the more educated Rosalie。 Helene
attempting to order Rosalie about； the latter laughingly told her； ‘‘M。
Bidard pays me to obey him。 If I have to obey you also you'll have to
pay me too。'' From that time Helene conceived an aversion from the girl。
About the time when Helene began to be sour to Rosalie she herself
was seized by vomitings。 She complained to Mlle Bidard； a cousin of the
witness； that Rosalie neglected her。 But when the latter went up to her
room Helene yelled at her； ‘‘ Get out； you ugly brute！ In you I've
brought into the house a stick for my own back！''
This sort of quarrelling went on without ceasing。 At the beginning of
June the witness said to Helene； ‘‘If this continues you'll have to look for
another place。'' ‘‘That's it！'' Helene yelled； in reply。 ‘‘Because of that
girl I'll have to go！''
On the 10th of June M。 Bidard gave Helene definite notice。 It was to
take effect on St John's Day。 At his evening meal he was served with a
roast and some green peas。 These last he did not touch。 In spite of his
prohibition against her serving at table； it was Helene who brought the
peas in。 ‘‘How's this？'' she said to him。 ‘‘You haven't eaten your green
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peasand them so good！'' Saying this； she snatched up the dish and
carried it to the kitchen。 Rosalie ate some of the peas。 No sooner had
she taken a few spoonfuls； however； than she grew sick； and presently was
seized by vomiting。 Helene took no supper。 She said she was out of
sorts and wanted none。
The witness did not hear of these facts until next day。 He wanted to
see the remainder of the peas； but they could not be found。 Rosalie still
kept being sick； and he bade her go and see his doctor； M。 Boudin。
Helene； on a sudden amiable to Rosalie where she had been sulky； offered
to go with her。 Dr Boudin prescribed an emetic； which produced good
effects。
On the 15th of June Rosalie seemed to have recovered。 In the
meantime a cook presented herself at his house to be engaged in place of
Helene。 The latter was acquainted with the new…comer。 A vegetable
soup had been prescribed for Rosalie； and this Helene prepared。 The
convalescent ate some； and at once fell prey to violent sickness。 That
same day Helene came in search of the witness。 ‘‘You're never going to
dismiss me for that young girl？'' she demanded angrily。 M。 Bidard
relented。 He said that if she would promise to keep the peace with
Rosalie he would let her stay on。 Helene seemed to be satisfied； and
behaved better to Rosalie； who began to mend again。
M。 Bidard went into the country on the 21st of June； taking Rosalie
with him。 They returned on the 22nd。 The witness himself went to the
pharmacy to get a final purgative of Epsom salts； which had been ordered
for Rosalie by the doctor。 This the witness himself divided into three
portions； each of which he dissolved in separate glasses of whey prepared
by Helene。 The witness administered the first dose。 Helene gave the
last。 The invalid vomited it。 She was extremely ill on the night of the
22nd…23rd； and Helene returned to misgivings about the skill of the
doctors。 She kept repeating； ‘‘Ah！ Rosalie will die！ I tell you she will
die！'' On the day of the 23rd she openly railed against them。 M。 Boudin
had prescribed leeches and blisters。 ‘‘Look at that now； monsieur；''
Helene said to the witness。 ‘‘To…morrow's Rosalie's name…day； and
they're going to put leeches on her！'' Rather disturbed； M。 Bidard wrote
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to Dr Pinault； who came next day and gave the treatment his approval。
Dr Boudin had said the invalid might have gooseberry syrup with
seltzer water。 Two glasses of the mixture given to Rosalie by her mother
seemed to do the girl good； but after the third glass she did not want any
more。 Helene had given her this third glass。 The invalid said to the
witness； ‘‘I don't know what Helene has put into my drink； but it burns me
like red…hot iron。''
‘‘Struck by those symptoms；'' added M。 Bidard； ‘‘I questioned Helene
at once。 It has not been given me more than twice in my life to see
Helene's eyes。 I saw at that moment the look she flung at Rosalie。 It
was the look of a wild beast； a tiger…cat。