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body only a grain of the supposed arsenic had been extracted； and that
with difficulty。 He had put the substance on glowing charcoal； but； in his
opinion； the experiment was VERY EQUIVOCAL。 It was at first
believed that there was a big amount of arsenic； but he felt impelled to say
that the substance noted was nothing other than small clusters of fat。 The
witness now refused to conclude； as he had concluded on the 1st of August；
that enough poison had been in the body to cause death。
It would almost seem that the medical evidence should have been
enough to destroy the case for the prosecution； but other witnesses were
called。
Bailli； at one time a clerk to Boursier； said he had helped his patron to
distribute arsenic and rat…poison in the shop cellars。 He was well aware
that the whole of the poison had not been used； but in the course of his
interrogation he had failed to remember where the residue of the poisons
had been put。 He now recollected。 The unused portion of the arsenic
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had been put in a niche of a bottle…rack。
In view of evidence given by a subsequent witness Bailli's rather
sudden recovery of memory might have been thought odd if a friend of his
had not been able to corroborate his statement。 The friend was one
Rousselot； another grocer。 He testified that he and Bailli had searched
together。 Bailli had then cudgelled that dull ass； his brain； to some effect；
for they had ultimately come upon the residue of the arsenic bought by
Boursier lying with the remainder of the mort aux rats。 Both the poisons
had been placed at the bottom of a bottle…rack； and a plank had been nailed
over them。
Rousselot； asked why he had not mentioned this fact before； answered
stupidly； ‘‘I thought you knew it！''
The subsequent witness above referred to was an employee in the
Ministere du Roi； a man named Donzelle。 In a stammering and rather
confused fashion he attempted to explain that the vacillations of the
witness Bailli had aroused his suspicions。 He said that Bailli； who at first
had been vociferous in his condemnation of the Widow Boursier； had later
been rather more vociferous in her defence。 The witness （Donzelle） had
it from a third party that Mme Boursier's sister…in…law had corrupted other
witnesses with gifts of money。 Bailli； for example； could have been seen
carrying bags of ecus under his arm； coming out of the house of the
advocate briefed to defend Mme Boursier。
Bailli； recalled； offered to prove that if he had been to Maitre Couture's
house he had come out of it in the same fashion as he had gone inthat
was； with a bag of bay salt under each arm。
Maitre Couture； highly indignant； rose to protest against the
insinuation of the witness Donzelle； but the President of the court and the
Avocat…General hastened to say that the eminent and honourable advocate
was at no need to justify himself。 The President sternly reprimanded
Donzelle and sent him back to his seat。
％ III
The Avocat…General； M。 de Broe； stated the case for the prosecution。
He made； as probably was his duty； as much as he could of the arsenic said
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to have been found in the body （that precipitated as yellow sulphur of
arsenic）； and of the adultery of Mme Boursier with Kostolo。 He dwelt on
the cleaning of the soup…dish； and pointed out that while the soup stood on
the desk Mme Boursier had been here and there near it； never out of arm's
reach。 In regard to Kostolo； the Greek was a low scallywag； but not
culpable。
The prosecution； you observe； rested on the poison's being
administered in the soup。
In his speech for the defence the eloquent Maitre Couture began by
condemning the gossip and the popular rumour on which the case had
been begun。 He denounced the action of the magistrates in instituting
proceedings as deplorably unconsidered and hasty。
Mme Boursier； he pointed out； had everything to lose through the loss
of her husband。 Why should she murder a fine merchant like Boursier
for a doubtful quantity like Kostolo？ He spoke of the happy relationship
that had existed between husband and wife； and； in proof of their kindness
for each other； told of a comedy interlude which had taken place on the
Sunday morning。
Boursier； he said； had to get up before his wife that morning； rising at
six o'clock。 His rising did not wake his wife； and； perhaps humorously
resenting her lazy torpor； he found a piece of charcoal and decorated her
countenance with a black moustache。 It was true that Mme Boursier
showed some petulance over her husband's prank when she got down at
eight o'clock； but her ill…humour did not last long。 Her husband caressed
and petted her； and before long the wife joined her merry…minded husband
in laughing over the joke against her。 That； said Maitre Couture； that
mutual laughter and kindness； seemed a strange preliminary to the
supposed poisoning episode of two hours or so later。
The truth of the matter was that Boursier carried the germ of death in
his own body。 What enemy had he made？ What vengeance had he
incurred？ Maitre Couture reminded the jury of Boursier's poor physical
condition； of his stoutness； of the shortness of his neck。 He brought
forward Toupie's evidence of Boursier's illness of the previous year； alike
in symptoms and in the sufferings of the invalid to that which proved fatal
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on Tuesday the 30th of June。 Then Maitre Couture proceeded to tear the
medical evidence to pieces； and returned to the point that Mme Boursier
had been sleeping so profoundly； so serenely； on the morning of her
supposed contemplated murder that the prank played on her by her
intended victim had not disturbed her。
The President's address then followed。