she stands accused(她是被告)-第41节
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prohibition against her serving at table； it was Helene who brought the
peas in。 ‘‘How's this？'' she said to him。 ‘‘You haven't eaten your green
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peasand them so good！'' Saying this； she snatched up the dish and
carried it to the kitchen。 Rosalie ate some of the peas。 No sooner had
she taken a few spoonfuls； however； than she grew sick； and presently was
seized by vomiting。 Helene took no supper。 She said she was out of
sorts and wanted none。
The witness did not hear of these facts until next day。 He wanted to
see the remainder of the peas； but they could not be found。 Rosalie still
kept being sick； and he bade her go and see his doctor； M。 Boudin。
Helene； on a sudden amiable to Rosalie where she had been sulky； offered
to go with her。 Dr Boudin prescribed an emetic； which produced good
effects。
On the 15th of June Rosalie seemed to have recovered。 In the
meantime a cook presented herself at his house to be engaged in place of
Helene。 The latter was acquainted with the new…comer。 A vegetable
soup had been prescribed for Rosalie； and this Helene prepared。 The
convalescent ate some； and at once fell prey to violent sickness。 That
same day Helene came in search of the witness。 ‘‘You're never going to
dismiss me for that young girl？'' she demanded angrily。 M。 Bidard
relented。 He said that if she would promise to keep the peace with
Rosalie he would let her stay on。 Helene seemed to be satisfied； and
behaved better to Rosalie； who began to mend again。
M。 Bidard went into the country on the 21st of June； taking Rosalie
with him。 They returned on the 22nd。 The witness himself went to the
pharmacy to get a final purgative of Epsom salts； which had been ordered
for Rosalie by the doctor。 This the witness himself divided into three
portions； each of which he dissolved in separate glasses of whey prepared
by Helene。 The witness administered the first dose。 Helene gave the
last。 The invalid vomited it。 She was extremely ill on the night of the
22nd…23rd； and Helene returned to misgivings about the skill of the
doctors。 She kept repeating； ‘‘Ah！ Rosalie will die！ I tell you she will
die！'' On the day of the 23rd she openly railed against them。 M。 Boudin
had prescribed leeches and blisters。 ‘‘Look at that now； monsieur；''
Helene said to the witness。 ‘‘To…morrow's Rosalie's name…day； and
they're going to put leeches on her！'' Rather disturbed； M。 Bidard wrote
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to Dr Pinault； who came next day and gave the treatment his approval。
Dr Boudin had said the invalid might have gooseberry syrup with
seltzer water。 Two glasses of the mixture given to Rosalie by her mother
seemed to do the girl good； but after the third glass she did not want any
more。 Helene had given her this third glass。 The invalid said to the
witness； ‘‘I don't know what Helene has put into my drink； but it burns me
like red…hot iron。''
‘‘Struck by those symptoms；'' added M。 Bidard； ‘‘I questioned Helene
at once。 It has not been given me more than twice in my life to see
Helene's eyes。 I saw at that moment the look she flung at Rosalie。 It
was the look of a wild beast； a tiger…cat。 At that moment my impulse was
to go to my work…room for a cord； and to tie her up and drag her to the
justiciary。 But one reflection stopped me。 What was this I was about to
dodisgrace a woman on a mere suspicion？ I hesitated。 I did not know
whether I had before me a poisoner or a woman of admirable devotion。''
The witness enlarged on the tortures of mind he experienced during
the night； but said he found reason to congratulate himself on not having
given way to his first impulse。 On the morning of the 24th Helene came
running to him； all happiness； to say that Rosalie was better。
Three days later Rosalie seemed to be nearly well； so much so that M。
Bidard felt he might safely go into the country。 Next day； however； he
was shocked by the news that Rosalie was as ill as ever。 He hastened to
return to Rennes。
On the night of the 28th…29th the sickness continued with intensity。
Every two hours the invalid was given calming medicine prescribed by Dr
Boudin。 Each time the sickness redoubled in violence。 Believing it was
a case of worms； the witness got out of bed； and substituted for the
medicine a strong infusion of garlic。 This stopped the sickness
temporarily。 At six in the morning it began again。
The witness then ran to Dr Pinault's； but met the doctor in the street
with his confrere； Dr Guyot。 To the two doctors M。 Bidard expressed the
opinion that there were either worms in the intestines or else the case was
one of poisoning。 ‘‘I have thought that；'' said Dr Pinault； ‘‘remembering
the case of the other girl。'' The doctors went back with M。 Bidard to his
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house。 Magnesia was administered in a strong dose。 The vomiting
stopped。 But it was too late。
Until that day the witness's orders that the ejected matter from the
invalid should be conserved had been ignored。 The moment a vessel was
dirty Helene took it away and cleaned it。 But now the witness took the
vessels himself； and locked them up in a cupboard for which he alone had
the key。 His action seemed to disturb Helene Jegado。 From this he
judged that she had intended destroying the poison she had administered。
From that time Rosalie was put into the care of her mother and a nurse。
Helene tried hard to be rid of the two women； accusing them of tippling to
the neglect of the invalid。 ‘‘I will sit up with her；'' she said to the witness。
The witness did not want her to do so； but he could not prevent her joining
the mother。
In the meantime Rosalie suffered the most dreadful agonies。 She
could neither sit up nor lie down； but threw herself about with great
violence。 During this time Helene was constantly coming and going
about her victim。 She had not the courage； however； to watch her victim
die。 At five in the morning she went out to market； leaving the mother
alone with her child。 The poor mother； worn out with her exertions； also
went out； to ask for help from friends。 Rosalie died in the presence of the
witness at seven o'clock in the morning of the 1st of July。 Helene
returned。 ‘‘It is all over；'' said the witness。 Helene's first move was to
look for the vessels containing the ejections of the invalid to throw them
out。 These were green in hue。 M。 Bidard stopped her； and locked the
vessels up。 That same day justice was invoked。
M。 Bidard's deposition had held his hearers spellbound for over an
hour and a half。 He had believed； he added finally； that； in spite of her
criminal conduct； Helene at least was a faithful servant。 He had been
wrong。 She had put his cellar to pillage； and in her chest they had found
many things belonging to him； besides a diamond belonging to his
daughter and her wedding…ring。
The President questioned Helene on the points of this important
deposition。 Helene simply denied everything。 It had not been she who
was jealous of Rosalie； but Rosalie who had been jealous of her。 She had
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given the two girls all the nursing she could； with no intention but that of
helping them to
