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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。 At that moment my impulse was
to go to my work…room for a cord； and to tie her up and drag her to the
justiciary。 But one reflection stopped me。 What was this I was about to
dodisgrace a woman on a mere suspicion？ I hesitated。 I did not know
whether I had before me a poisoner or a woman of admirable devotion。''
The witness enlarged on the tortures of mind he experienced during
the night； but said he found reason to congratulate himself on not having
given way to his first impulse。 On the morning of the 24th Helene came
running to him； all happiness； to say that Rosalie was better。
Three days later Rosalie seemed to be nearly well； so much so that M。
Bidard felt he might safely go into the country。 Next day； however； he
was shocked by the news that Rosalie was as ill as ever。 He hastened to
return to Rennes。
On the night of the 28th…29th the sickness continued with intensity。
Every two hours the invalid was given calming medicine prescribed by Dr
Boudin。 Each time the sickness redoubled in violence。 Believing it was
a case of worms； the witness got out of bed； and substituted for the
medicine a strong infusion of garlic。 This stopped the sickness
temporarily。 At six in the morning it began again。
The witness then ran to Dr Pinault's； but met the doctor in the street
with his confrere； Dr Guyot。 To the two doctors M。 Bidard expressed the
opinion that there were either worms in the intestines or else the case was
one of poisoning。 ‘‘I have thought that；'' said Dr Pinault； ‘‘remembering
the case of the other girl。'' The doctors went back with M。 Bidard to his
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house。 Magnesia was administered in a strong dose。 The vomiting
stopped。 But it was too late。
Until that day the witness's orders that the ejected matter from the
invalid should be conserved had been ignored。 The moment a vessel was
dirty Helene took it away and cleaned it。 But now the witness took the
vessels himself； and locked them up in a cupboard for which he alone had
the key。 His action seemed to disturb Helene Jegado。 From this he
judged that she had intended destroying the poison she had administered。
From that time Rosalie was put into the care of her mother and a nurse。
Helene tried hard to be rid of the two women； accusing them of tippling to
the neglect of the invalid。 ‘‘I will sit up with her；'' she said to the witness。
The witness did not want her to do so； but he could not prevent her joining
the mother。
In the meantime Rosalie suffered the most dreadful agonies。 She
could neither sit up nor lie down； but threw herself about with great
violence。 During this time Helene was constantly coming and going
about her victim。 She had not the courage； however； to watch her victim
die。 At five in the morning she went out to market； leaving the mother
alone with her child。 The poor mother； worn out with her exertions； also
went out； to ask for help from friends。 Rosalie died in the presence of the
witness at seven o'clock in the morning of the 1st of July。 Helene
returned。 ‘‘It is all over；'' said the witness。 Helene's first move was to
look for the vessels containing the ejections of the invalid to throw them
out。 These were green in hue。 M。 Bidard stopped her； and locked the
vessels up。 That same day justice was invoked。
M。 Bidard's deposition had held his hearers spellbound for over an
hour and a half。 He had believed； he added finally； that； in spite of her
criminal conduct； Helene at least was a faithful servant。 He had been
wrong。 She had put his cellar to pillage； and in her chest they had found
many things belonging to him； besides a diamond belonging to his
daughter and her wedding…ring。
The President questioned Helene on the points of this important
deposition。 Helene simply denied everything。 It had not been she who
was jealous of Rosalie； but Rosalie who had been jealous of her。 She had
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given the two girls all the nursing she could； with no intention but that of
helping them to get better。 To the observation of the President； once
again； that arsenic had been administered； and to his question； what person
other than she had a motive for poisoning the girls； or had such
opportunity for doing so； Helene answered defiantly； ‘‘You won't redden
my face by talking of arsenic。 I defy anybody to say they saw me give
arsenic。''
The Procureur…General invited M。 Bidard to say what amount of
intelligence he had found in Helene。 M。 Bidard declared that he had
never seen in any of his servants an intelligence so acute or subtle。 He
held her to be a phenomenon in hypocrisy。 He put forward a fact which
he had neglected to mention in his deposition。 It might throw light on the
character of the accused。 Francoise had a dress hanging up to dry in the
mansard。 Helene went up to the garret above this； made a hole in the
ceiling； and dropped oil of vitriol on her companion's dress to burn it。
Dr Pinault gave an account of Rosalie's illness； and spoke of the
suspicions he and his colleagues had had of poisoning。 It was a crime；
however； for which there seemed to be no motive。 The poisoner could
hardly be M。 Bidard； and as far as suspicion might touch the cook； she
seemed to be lavish in her care of the patient。 It was not until the very
last that he； with his colleagues； became convinced of poison。
Rosalie dead； the justiciary went to M。 Bidard's。 The cupboards were
searched carefully。 The potion which Rosalie had thought to be mixed
with burning stuff was still there； just sampled。 It was put into a bottle
and capped。
An autopsy could n