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process。
The President then returned to the question of her husband's attempts
to seduce the servants。 She denied that this was the cause of quarrels。
There had been no quarrels。 She did not know that her husband was
complaining outside about her。
She denied all knowledge of the arsenic found in Lacoste's body； but
suggested that it might have come from one or other of the medicines he
took。
Questioned with regard to her intimacy with Meilhan； she declared
that she knew nothing of his morals。 She had intervened in the Lescure
affair at the request of Mme Lescure； who came to deny the accusation
made by Lescure。 This woman had never acted as intermediary between
herself and Meilhan。 Meilhan had not been her confidant。 She looked
after her late husband's affairs herself。 She had handed over the Castera
note to Meilhan against his loan of 2000 francs； but she had never given
him money as a present。 Nor had she ever spoken to Meilhan of an
annuity。 But Meilhan； it was objected； had been showing a deed signed
‘‘Euphemie Lacoste。'' The accused quickly replied that she never signed
herself ‘‘Euphemie；'' but as ‘‘Veuve Lacoste。'' Upon this the President
called for several letters written by the accused。 It was found that they
were all signed ‘‘Veuve Lacoste。''
The evidence of the Fourcades regarding her conduct in their house at
Tarbes was biased； she said。 She had refused to take up some people
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SHE STANDS ACCUSED
recommended by her landlady。 The young man who had visited her
never remained longer than after ten o'clock or half…past； and she saw
nothing singular in that。
The examination…in…chief of Mme Lacoste ended with her firm
declaration that she knew nothing of the poisoning of her husband； and
that she had spoken the truth through all her interrogations。 Some
supplementary questions were answered by her to the effect that she knew；
during her marriage； that her husband had at one time suffered from
venereal disease； and that latterly there had been recrudescences of the
affection； together with the hernia already mentioned； for which her
husband took numerous medicaments。
Throughout this long examination Mme Lacoste showed complete
self…possession； save that at times she exhibited a Gascon impatience in
answering what she conceived to be stupid questions。
％ VI
The experts responsible for the analysis of Lacoste's remains were now
called。 All three of those gentlemen from Paris； MM。 Pelouze； Devergie；
and Flandin； agreed in their findings。 Two vessels were exhibited； on
which there glittered blobs of some metallic substance。 This substance；
the experts deposed； was arsenic obtained by the Marsh technique from
the entrails and the muscular tissue from Lacoste's body。 They could be
sure that the substances used as reagents in the experiments were pure； and
that the earth about the body was free from arsenic。
M。 Devergie said that science did not admit the presence of arsenic as
a normal thing in the human body。 What was not made clear by the
expert was whether the amount of arsenic found in the body of Lacoste
was consistent with the drug's having been taken in small doses； or
whether it had been given in one dose。 Devergie's confrere Flandin later
declared his conviction that the death of Lacoste was due to one dose of
the poison； but； from a verbatim report； it appears that he did not give any
reason for the opinion。
At this point Mme Lacoste was recalled； and repeated her statement
that she had seen her husband rubbing himself with an ointment and
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SHE STANDS ACCUSED
drinking some white liquid on the return of a syphilitic affection。
Dr Lasmolles testified that Lacoste； though very close…mouthed； had
told him of a skin affection that troubled him greatly。 The deceased
dosed himself； and did not obey the doctors' orders。 It was only from a
farmer that he understood Lacoste to have a hernia； and Lacoste himself
did not admit it。 The doctor did not believe the man poisoned。 He had
been impressed by the way Mme Lacoste looked after her husband； and
the latter did not complain about anyone。 M。 Lasmolles had heard no
mention from Lacoste of the glass of wine given him by Meilhan。
After M。 Devergie had said that he had heard of arsenical remedies
used externally for skin diseases； but never of any taken internally； M。
Plandin expressed his opinion as before quoted。
The next witness was one Dupouy； of whom some mention has already
been made。 Five days before his death Lacoste told him that； annoyed
with his wife； he definitely intended to disinherit her。 Dupouy admitted；
however； that shortly before this the deceased had spoken of taking a
pleasure trip with Mme Lacoste。
Lespere then repeated his story of the complaints made to him by
Lacoste of his wife's conduct； of his intention of altering his will； and of
his belief that Euphemie was capable of poisoning him in order to get a
younger man。 It was plain that this witness； a friend of Lacoste's for
forty…six years； was not ready to make any admissions in her favour。 He
swore that Lacoste had told him his wife did not know she was his sole
heir。 He was allowed to say that on the death of Lacoste he had
immediately assumed that the poisoning feared by Lacoste had been
brought about。 He had heard nothing from Lacoste of secret maladies or
secret remedies； but had been so deep in Lacoste's confidence that he felt
sure his old friend would have mentioned them。 He had heard of such
things only at the beginning of the case。
The Procureur du Roi remarked here that reliance on the secret
remedies was