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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。 The jury retired； and returned
with a verdict of ‘‘Not guilty。''
On this M。 Hardouin discharged the accused； improving the occasion
with a homily which； considering the ordeal that Mme Boursier had had to
endure through so many months； and that might have been considered
punishment enough； may be quoted merely as a fine specimen of salting
the wound：
‘‘Veuve Boursier；'' said he； ‘‘you are about to recover that liberty
which suspicions of the gravest nature have caused you to lose。 The jury
declares you not guilty of the crime imputed to you。 It is to be hoped that
you will find a like absolution in the court of your own conscience。 But
do not ever forget that the cause of your unhappiness and of the dishonour
which； it may be； covers your name was the disorder of your ways and the
violation of the most sacred obligations。 It is to be hoped that your
conduct to come may efface the shame of your conduct in the past； and
that repentance may restore the honour you have lost。''
％ IV
Now we come； as the gentleman with the crimson handkerchief coyly
showing between dress waistcoat and shirt might have said； waving his
pointer as the canvas of the diorama rumbled on its rollers； to Riguepeu！
Some twenty years have elapsed since the Veuve Boursier stumbled
from the stand of the accused in the Assize Court of the Seine； acquitted of
the poisoning of her grocer husband； but convicted of a moral flaw which
may （or may not） have rather diminished thereafter the turnover of the
epicerie in the Rue de la Paix。 One hopes that her punishment finished
with her acquittal； and that the mood of the mob； as apt as a flying straw to
veer for a zephyr as for a whirlwind； swung to her favour from mere
revulsion on her escape from the scaffold。 The one thing is as likely as
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the other。 Didn't the heavy man of the fit…up show； eighteen months after
his conviction for rape （the lapse of time being occupied in paying the
penalty）； return as an actor to the scene of his delinquency to find himself；
not； as he expected； pelted with dead cats and decaying vegetables； but
cheered to the echo？ So may it have been with the Veuve Boursier。
Though in 1844； the year in which the poison trial at Auch was opened；
four years had passed since the conviction of Mme Lafarge at Tulle；
controversy on the latter case still was rife throughout France。 The two
cases were linked； not only in the minds of the lay public； but through
close analogy in the idea of lawyers and experts in medical jurisprudence。
From her prison cell Marie Lafarge watched the progress of the trial in
Gascony。 And when its result was published one may be sure she shed a
tear or two。
But to Riguepeu 。 。 。
You will not find it on anything but the biggest…scale maps。 It is an
inconsiderable town a few miles from Vic…Fezensac； a town not much
bigger than itself and some twenty kilometres from Auch； which is the
capital of the department of Gers。 You may take it that Riguepeu lies in
the heart of the Armagnac district。
Some little distance from Riguepeu itself； on the top of a rise； stood
the Chateau Philibert； a one…floored house with red tiles and green shutters。
Not much of a chateau； it was also called locally La Maison de Madame。
It belonged in 1843 to Henri Lacoste； together with considerable land
about it。 It was reckoned that Lacoste； with the land and other
belongings； was worth anything between 600；000 and 700；000 francs。
Henri had become rich late in life。 The house and the domain had
been left him by his brother Philibert； and another brother's death had also
been of some benefit to him。 Becoming rich； Henri Lacoste thought it
his duty to marry； and in 1839； though already sixty…six years of age；
picked on a girl young enough to have been his granddaughter。
Euphemie Verges was； in fact； his grand…niece。 She lived with her
parents at Mazeyrolles； a small village in the foothills of the Pyrenees。
Compared with Lacoste； the Verges were said to be poor。 Lacoste took it
on himself to look after the girl's education； having her sent at his charges
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to。a convent at Tarbes。 In 1841； on the 2nd of May； the marriage took
place。
If this marriage of youth with crabbed age resulted in any unhappiness
the neighbours saw little of it。 Though it was rumoured that for her old
and rich husband Euphemie had given up a young man of her fancy in
Tarbes； her conduct during the two years she lived with Lacoste seemed to
be irreproachable。 Lacoste was rather a nasty old fellow from all
accounts。 He was niggardly； coarse； and a womanizer。 Euphemie's
position in the house was little better than that of head domestic servant；
but in this her lot was the common one for wives of her station in this part
of France。 She appeared to be contented enough with it。
About two years after the marriage； on the 16th of May； 1843； to be
exact； after a trip with his wife to the fair at Riguepeu； old Lacoste was
taken suddenly ill； ultimately becoming violently sick。 Eight days later
he died。
By a will which Henri had made two months after his marriage his
wife was his sole beneficiary； and this will was no sooner proved than the
widow betook herself to Tarbes； where she speedily began to make full use
of her fortune。 Milliners and dressmakers were called into service； and
the widow blossomed forth as a lady of fashion。 She next set up her own
carriage。 If these proceedings had not been enough to excite envy among
her female neighbours the frequent visits paid to her in her genteel
apartments by a young man did the trick。 The young man came on the
scene less than two months aft