on as before.  Meanwhile Sainte-Croix had made the acquaintance of the Sieur de Saint Laurent, the same man from whom Penautier had asked for a post without success, and had made friends with him.  Penautier had meanwhile become the heir of his father-in-law, the Sieur Lesecq, whose death had most unexpectedly occurred; he had thereby gained a second post in Languedoc and an immense property:  still, he coveted the place of receiver of the clergy.  Chance now once more helped him:  a few days after taking over from Sainte-Croix a man-servant named George, M. de Saint-Laurent fell sick, and his illness showed symptoms similar to those observed in the case of the d’Aubrays, father and sons; but it was more rapid, lasting only twenty-four hours.  Like them, M. de Saint-Laurent died a prey to frightful tortures.  The same day an officer from the sovereign’s court came to see him, heard every detail connected with his friend’s death, and when told of the symptoms said before the servants to Sainfray the notary that it would be necessary to examine the body.  An hour later George disappeared, saying nothing to anybody, and not even asking for his wages.  Suspicions were excited; but again they remained vague.  The autopsy showed a state of things not precisely to be called peculiar to poisoning cases the intestines, which the fatal poison had not had time to burn as in the case of the d’Aubrays, were marked with reddish spots like flea-bites.  In June Penautier obtained the post that had been held by the Sieur de Saint-Laurent.

But the widow had certain suspicions which were changed into something like certainty by George’s flight.  A particular circumstance aided and almost confirmed her doubts.  An abbe who was a friend of her husband, and knew all about the disappearance of George, met him some days afterwards in the rue des Masons, near the Sorbonne.  They were both on the same side, and a hay-cart coming along the street was causing a block.  George raised his head and saw the abbe, knew him as a friend of his late master, stooped under the cart and crawled to the other side, thus at the risk of being crushed escaping from the eyes of a man whose appearance recalled his crime and inspired him with fear of punishment.  Madame de Saint-Laurent preferred a charge against George, but though he was sought for everywhere, he could never be found.  Still the report of these strange deaths, so sudden and so incomprehensible, was bruited about Paris, and people began to feel frightened.  Sainte-Croix, always in the gay world, encountered the talk in drawing-rooms, and began to feel a little uneasy.  True, no suspicion pointed as yet in his direction; but it was as well to take precautions, and Sainte-Croix began to consider how he could be freed from anxiety.  There was a post in the king’s service soon to be vacant, which would cost 100,000 crowns; and although Sainte-Croix had no apparent means, it was rumoured that he was about to purchase it.  He first addressed himself to Belleguise to treat about this affair with Penautier.  There was some difficulty, however, to be encountered in this quarter.  The sum was a large one, and Penautier no longer required help; he had already come into all the inheritance he looked for, and so he tried to throw cold water on the project.