she stands accused(她是被告)-第34节
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prepared for her by Helene。
It was not； however； until 1833 that causing death is laid at her charge。
In that year she entered the service of a priest in Guern； one Le Drogo。
In the space of little more than three months； from the 28th of June to the
3rd of October； seven persons in the priest's household died。 All those
people died after painful vomitings； and all of them had eaten food
prepared by Helene； who nursed each of them to the last。 The victims of
this fatal outbreak of sickness included Helene's own sister Anna
（apparently on a visit to Guern from Bubry）； the rector's father and mother；
and Le Drogo himself。 This last； a strong and vigorous man； was dead
within thirty…two hours of the first onset of his illness。 Helene； it was
said； showed the liveliest sorrow over each of the deaths； but on the death
of the rector was heard to say； ‘‘This won't be the last！'' Nor was it。
Two deaths followed that of Le Drogo。
Such a fatal outbreak did not pass without suspicion。 The body of the
rector was examined by Dr Galzain； who found indications of grave
disorder in the digestive tracts； with inflammation of the intestines。 His
colleague； Dr Martel； had suspicions of poison； but the pious sorrow of
Helene lulled his mind as far as she was concerned。
We next find Helene returned to Bubry； replacing her sister Anna in
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the service of the cure there。 In three months three people died：
Helene's aunt Marie…Jeanne Liscouet and the cure's niece and sister。 This
last； a healthy girl of about sixteen； was dead within four days； and it is to
be noted that during her brief illness she drank nothing but milk from the
hands of Helene。 But here； as hitherto； Helene attended all the sufferers。
Her grief over their deaths impressed every one with whom she came in
contact。
From Bubry Helene went to Locmine。 Her family connexion as
servants with the clergy found her room for three days in the rectory； after
which she became apprentice to a needlewoman of the town； one Marie…
Jeanne Leboucher； with whom she lived。 The Widow Leboucher was
stricken ill； as also was one of her daughters。 Both died。 The son of the
house； Pierre； also fell ill。 But； not liking Helene； he refused her
ministrations； and recovered。 By this time Helene had become somewhat
sensitive。
‘‘I'm afraid；'' she said to a male relative of the deceased sempstress；
‘‘that people will accuse me of all those deaths。 Death follows me
wherever I go。'' She quitted the Leboucher establishment in distress。
A widow of the same town offered her house room。 The widow died；
having eaten soup of Helene's preparing。 On the day following the
Widow Lorey's death her niece； Veuve Cadic； arrived。 The grief…stricken
Helene threw herself into the niece's arms。
‘‘My poor girl！'' exclaimed the Veuve Cadic。
‘‘Aibut I'm so unhappy！'' Helene grieved。 ‘‘Where…ever I go
Seglien； Guern； Bubry； Veuve Laboucher'speople die！
She had cause for grief； sure enough。 In less than eighteen months
thirteen persons with whom she had been closely associated had died of
violent sickness。 But more were to follow。
In May of 1835 Helene was in service with the Dame Toussaint； of
Locmine。 Four more people died。 They were the Dame's confidential
maid； Anne Eveno； M。 Toussaint pere； a daughter of the house； Julie； and；
later； Mme Toussaint herself。 They had eaten vegetable soup prepared by
Helene Jegado。 Something tardily the son of the house； liking neither
Helene's face nor the deathly rumours that were rife about her； dismissed
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her。
To one as burdened with sorrow as Helene Jegado appeared to be the
life conventual was bound to hold appeal。 She betook herself to the
pleasant little town of Auray； which sits on a sea arm behind the nose of
Quiberon； and sought shelter in the convent of the Eternal Father there。
She was admitted as a pensionnaire。 Her sojourn in the convent did not
last long； for queer disorders marked her stay。 Linen in the convent
cupboards and the garments of the pupils were maliciously slashed。
Helene was suspect and was packed off。
Once again Helene became apprentice to a sempstress； this time an old
maid called Anne Lecouvrec； proprietress of the Bonnes…oeuvres in Auray。
The ancient lady； seventy…seven years of age； tried Helene's soup。 She
died two days later。 To a niece of the deceased Helene made moan：
‘‘Ah！ I carry sorrow。 My masters die wherever I go！''
The realization； however； did not prevent Helene from seeking further
employment。 She next got a job with a lady named Lefur in Ploermel；
and stayed for a month。 During that time Helene's longing for the life
religious found frequent expression； and she ultimately departed to pay a
visit； so she said； to the good sisters of the Auray community。 Some time
before her departure； however； she persuaded Anne Lefur to accept a drink
of her preparing； and Anne； hitherto a healthy woman； became very ill
indeed。 In this case Helene did not show her usual solicitude。 She
rather heartlessly abandoned the invalidwhich would appear to have
been a good thing for the invalid； for； lacking Helene's ministrations； she
got better。
Helene meantime had found a place in Auray with a lady named Hetel。
The job lasted only a few days。 Mme Hetel's son…in…law； M。 Le Dore；
having heard why Helene was at need to leave the convent of the Eternal
Father； showed her the door of the house。 That was hasty； but not hasty
enough。 His mother…in…law； having already eaten meats cooked by
Helene； was in the throes of the usual violent sickness； and died the day
after Helene's departure。
Failing to secure another place in Auray； Helene went to Pontivy； and
got a position as cook in the household of the Sieur Jouanno。 She had
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been there some few months when the son of the house； a boy of fourteen；
died after a sickness of five days that was marked by vomiting and
convulsions。 In this case an autopsy was immediately held。 It revealed
an inflamed condition of the stomach and some corrosion of the intestines。
But the boy had been known to be a vinegar…drinker； and the pathological
conditions discovered by the doctor were attributed by him to the habit。
Helene's next place was with a M。 Kerallic in Hennebont。 M。
Kerallic was recovering from a fever。 After drinking a tisane prepared by
Helene he had a relapse； followed by repeated and fierce vomiting that
destroyed him in five days。 This was in 1836。 After that the trail of
death which had followed Helene's itineracy about the lower section of the
Brittany peninsula was broken for three years。
In 1839 we hear of her again； in the house of the Dame Veron； where
another death occurred； again with violent sickness。
Two years elapse。 In 1841 Helene was in Lorient； domestic servant
to a middle…aged couple named Dupuyde…Lome； with whom lived their
daughter and her husband； a M。 Breger。 First the little daughter of the
young couple died； then all the members of the family were seized by
illness； its onset being on the day following the death of the child。 No
more of the family died； but M。 Dupuy and his daughter suffered from
bodily numbness for years afterwards； with partial paralys
