Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1899-08-05
THE POISONERS.


for many days. Not even the ashes
were left to tell the tale OF the awful
end OF those two old hays whose pOisonl
walls had put to sleep so many scoresl
ofinconvenienth husbands, unloved wivesl
and Fostering mistresses. But II thel
stake was now cool and inert, waitingl
silently and patiently for new victimsI
to devour, Paris had not yet forgottenl
the sensational story of those poisonl
sellers. Had not their customers in
cluded some Of the greatest in the land q
Did not their trial bring TO light in all
its sickly terror the whole hideousnessl
Of this poisoning mania that was RAM
pant throughout the length and Dreadful
OF fair France?
And as though to keep the horror of
their names and their history still
fresher in the public mind, Mile. Mol
iere had caused them to be placed in al
play, La Devineresse," the joint work
Of Thomas Corneille and Devise.
Already for three nights the theatrel
in the Rue Mazarine had been crowded
to excess to see this play. The we'll
timed idea OF MOliere's widow was
merry Jingle that mace the Coined
lens du Roi belaud her enterprise and
wisdom in unmeasured terms. On the
third night Of the production the King
had come, with the president of the
Chambre Ardente in his train-thatl
same Chambre Ardente which His Ma
jesty had endowed with such extra or
binary powers for the detection and
punishment of those guilty OF the prac-
tice of slow poisoning.
CT like the play" Louis XIV grac-l
iously avowed to Mile. Moliere in the
course of the evening. And who
knows but what it may do something
to stay this ghoulish mania which,
seems to run riot among my people?"
cor it may wipe out the Troupe Roy
ale" murmured the Councillor of State
who hated the players and envied the
favors the King showered upon them.
''These poisoners, as 1 know full well,
are revengeful fienSs; and they will not
like your play, madame"
The King looked displeased at the,
remark. Louis was in mortal fear of
himself being a victim of the mania
At the English court it was favorite
Joke that the King of France would
not eat fish because it was poison.
Perhaps, then, we ourselves are in
danger OF their revenge for daring TO
punish them" he cried. you frighten
madame. monsieur, and do yourself no
credit by raising such fears"
M. lie President went a trifie pale,
and paIer still as Louis promptly turn
ed his back upon him.
But Mile. Moliere's nature was too
light and frivolous to be impressed by
the gloomy forebodings OF the Council
Tor, and she returned to her dressing
room so nightly pleased with the
Kings kindness that she speedily for
got all about them.
The next evening she walked from
her house to the theatre leisurely and
alone. The night was dark but fine,
and the air braced and frcshened her.
At the threshold of the theatre, as
she reached out to open the private
door leading TO the stage, a man sud
denly stepped out of the shadow and
thrust a note into her hand.
Mile. Moliere," ne said, and made to
hurry away, but the hilt OF his sword
caught In her cloak. and as some one
within flung open the door the light fell
for an instant full on his face. A pale,
repulsive face, with a deep scar on the
left cheek-that was how it struck her
as he hastily snatched himself free and
disappeared into the night
In her dressing room she opened the
letter and read:
IF La Devineresse' be played for two
more nights Lavoisin will be revenged.
There are those who will see that her
name is no longer reviled. The King
burnt her at the stake, and now you
place her on the stage to withstand
the fires of the mob's derision. Be
ware. This is no light warning. In
two nights you must have a new play.
Mile Moliere, or
The actress blanched a moment and
convulsively grasped the arm of her
chair; then she shrugged her shout
ders and laughed lightly and scorn-
fully.
'Freycinet," she said a little later,
after scribbling a note, and inclosing
with it the threatening missive, take
this at once, Freycinet, to the Chambre
Ardente."
ing messenger tiny sigh OF relief es-
capped her, and she proceeded to make
the toilet her part demanded.
II.
With that sigh her fears had van
ished. She slept as soundly and as
peaceably that night as she had ever
slept She trusted implicitly TO the
dark and tortuous machinery of the
Chambre Ardente to protect her, and
after she had dispatched the letter gave
the matter not moments further
thought.
Thus it was that she leaped to hel
the next afternoon when a servant an
nounced a gentleman from the Cham
bre Ardente- The new play OF Pra
don's which she had been reading wa
1 tossed aside.
Ills name?" she asked.
IN. Dupin." .3y-0gs
HE is without"
yes, madame"
II will see him at once, certainly"
A moment later a tall, lean man, at
tired neatly in the soberest of colors
stepped into the room. He bowed an,
waited until the servant had retired
Nile. Moliere spoke first.
You have come from the Chambre
monsieur, about the letter 1 sent?'
II have, madame"
Am being played with, think you
or is it grave matter, M. Dupin?"
He smiled somewhat sarcastically.
There is no hoax about it, can as
4 l.