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Mme Lacoste then appeared on the arm of her advocate。 She was
dressed in full widow's weeds。 A little creature； slender but not rounded
of figure； she is described as more agreeable…looking than actually pretty。
After the accused had answered with their names and descriptions the
acte d'accusation was read。 It was a long document。 It recalled the
circumstances of the Lacoste marriage and of the death of the old man；
with the autopsy and the finding of traces of arsenic。 It spoke of the
lowly household tasks that Mme Lacoste had performed with such
goodwill from the beginning； and of the reward for her diligence which
came to her by the making of a holograph will in which her husband made
her his sole heir。
But the understanding between husband and wife did not last long； the
acte went on。 Lacoste ardently desired a son and heir； and his wife
appeared to be barren。 He confided his grief to an old friend； one
Lespere。 Lespere pointed out that Euphemie was not only Lacoste's wife；
but his kinswoman as well。 To this Lacoste replied that the fact did not
content him。 ‘‘I tell you on the quiet；'' he said to his friend； ‘‘I've made
my arrangements。 If SHE knewshe's capable of poisoning me to get
herself a younger man。'' Lespere told him not to talk rubbish； in effect；
but Lacoste was stubborn on his notion。
This was but a year after the marriage。 It seemed that Lacoste had a
melancholy presentiment of the fate which was to be his。
It was made out that Euphemie suffered from the avarice and jealousy
of her old husband。 She was given no money； was hardly allowed out of
the house； and was not permitted even to go to Vespers alone。 And then；
said the accusation； she discovered that her husband wanted an heir。 She
had reason to fear that he would go about getting one by an illicit
association。
In the middle of 1842 she overheard her husband bargaining with one
of the domestics。 The girl was asking for 100 pistoles （say； L85）； while
her husband did not want to give more than 600 francs （say； L24）。
‘‘Euphemie Verges had no doubt；'' ran the accusation； ‘‘that this was the
price of an adulterous contract； and she insisted on Marie Dupuys' being
sent from the house。 This was the cause of disagreement between the
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married pair； which did not conclude with the departure of the servant。''
Later another servant； named Jacquette Larrieux； told Mme Lacoste in
confidence that the master was trying to seduce her by the offer of a
pension of 2000 francs or a lump sum of 20；000。
Euphemie Verges； said the accusation； thus thought herself exposed
daily； by the infidelity of her husband； to the loss of all her hopes。 Also；
talking to a Mme Bordes about the two servants some days after Lacoste's
death； she said； ‘‘I had a bad time with those two girls！ If my husband
had lived longer I might have had nothing； because he wanted a child that
he could leave everything to。''
The acte d'accusation enlarged on the situation； then went on to bring
in Joseph Meilhan as Euphemie's accomplice。 It made him out to be a
bad old man indeed。 He had seduced； it was said； a young girl named
Lescure； who became enceinte； afterwards dying from an abortion which
Meilhan was accused of having procured。 It might be thought that the
society of such a bad old man would have disgusted a young woman； but
Euphemie Verges admitted him to intimacy。 He was； it was said； the
confidant for her domestic troubles； and it was further rumoured that he
acted as intermediary in a secret correspondence that she kept up with a
young man of Tarbes who had been courting her before her marriage。
The counsels of such a man were not calculated to help Mme Lacoste in
her quarrels with her unfaithful and unlovable husband。
Meanwhile M。 Lacoste was letting new complaints be heard regarding
his wife。 Again Lespere was his confidant。 His wife was bad and sulky。
He was very inclined to undo what he had done for her。 This was in
March of 1843。
Towards the end of April he made a like complaint to another old
friend； one Dupouy； who accused him of neglecting old friends through
uxoriousness。 Lacoste said he found little pleasure in his young wife。
He was； on the contrary； a martyr。 He was on the point of disinheriting
her。
And so； with the usual amount of on dit and disait…on； the acte
d'accusation came to the point of Lacoste at the Riguepeu fair。 He set out
in his usual health； but； several hours later； said to one Laffon； ‘‘I have the
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shivers； cramps in the stomach。 After being made to drink by that …
Meilhan I felt ill。''
Departing from the fair alone； he met up with Jean Durieux； to whom
he said； ‘‘That …of a Meilhan asked me to have a drink； and afterwards I
had colic； and wanted to vomit。''
Arrived home； Lacoste said to Pierre Cournet that he had been seized
by a colic which made him ill all over； plaguing him； giving him a desire
to vomit which he could not satisfy。 Cournet noticed that Lacoste was as
white as a sheet。 He advised going to bed and taking hot water。
Lacoste took the advice。 During the night he was copiously sick。 The
old man was in bed in an alcove near the kitchen； but next night he was
put into a room out of the way of noise。
Euphemie looked after her husband alone； preparing his drinks and
admitting nobody to see him。 She let three days pass without calling a
doctor。 Lacoste； it was true； had said he did not want a doctor； but； said
the accusation； ‘‘there is no proof that he persisted in that wish。''
On the fourth day she sent a summary of the illness to Dr Boubee；
asking for written advice。 On the fifth day a surgeon was called； M。
Lasmolles； who was told that Lacoste had eaten a meal of onions； garlic
stems； and beans。 But the story of this meal was a lie； a premeditated lie。
On the eve of the fair Mme Lacoste was already speaking of such a meal；
saying that that sort of thing always made her husband ill。
According to the accusation； the considerable amount of poison found
in the body established that the arsenic had been administered on several
occasions； on the first by Meilhan and on the others by Mme Lacoste。
When Henri Lacoste had drawn his last breath his wife shed a few
tears。 But presently her grief gave place to other preoccupations。 She
herself looked out the sheet for wrapping the corpse； and thereafter she
began to search in the desk for the will which made her her husband's sole
heir。
Next day Meilhan； who had not once looked in on Lacoste during his
illness； hastened to visit the widow。 The widow invited him to dinne