so terrible as the official statement.

"In the closet of Sainte-Croix was found a small box one foot square, on
the top of which lay a half-sheet of paper entitled 'My Will,' written on
one side and containing these words: 'I humbly entreat any into whose
hands this chest may fall to do me the kindness of putting it into the
hands of Madame the Marquise de Brinvilliers, resident in the rue
Neuve-Saint-Paul, seeing that all the contents concern and belong to her
alone, and are of no use to any person in the world apart from herself:
in case of her being already dead before me, the box and all its contents
should be burnt without opening or disturbing anything. And lest anyone
should plead ignorance of the contents, I swear by the God I worship and
by all that is most sacred that no untruth is here asserted. If anyone
should contravene my wishes that are just and reasonable in this matter,
I charge their conscience therewith in discharging my own in this world
and the next, protesting that such is my last wish.

"'Given at Paris, the 25th of May after noon, 1672. Signed by
Sainte-Croix,'

"And below were written these words: 'There is one packet only addressed
to M. Penautier which should be delivered.'"

It may be easily understood that a disclosure of this kind only increased
the interest of the scene; there was a murmur of curiosity, and when
silence again reigned, the official continued in these words:

"A packet has been found sealed in eight different places with eight
different seals. On this is written: 'Papers to be burnt in case of my
death, of no consequence to anyone. I humbly beg those into whose hands