SEVENTEEN

The meeting of the King’s Council had just broken up, and His Majesty had left by an inner door, to avoid the cluster of petitioners at the public entrance of the council chamber. As the dignified procession of ministers of state, in full wigs and wide plumed hats, entered the corridor, there was a murmur of disappointment among the waiting crowd. A delicate jockeying at the door resulted in Colbert’s exit being delayed in favor of the Marquis de Louvois—Louvois the merciless, who controlled the King’s army and the King’s police, whose gaucheries of dress elicited titters from the court, and whose heavy-featured face had the unfortunate look of a coachman.

“Monsieur de Louvois…” La Reynie stepped forward as if he had just arrived, rather than having been kept waiting at his superior’s request.

“Ah, excellent. You are here,” said Louvois in the brusque, commanding tone he habitually used. “I have taken the matter up with His Majesty personally. He commends you and your police for your swiftness in locating her. And His Majesty wants you to know that he takes a profound personal interest in the case. Madame de Brinvilliers must not be allowed to flout the King’s justice. She has already been condemned in absentia, so it is appropriate that you use all necessary means to bring her back to France for execution.”

“That is understood, Your Excellency.” The two had drifted away from the crowd, Louvois, with his overdecorated walking stick and ever so slightly vulgar high-heeled shoes, and La Reynie in the sober garb of the chief of police on an official visit to Versailles. In one of the great official antechambers, apart from all listeners, they paused.

“There is something else,” Louvois said quietly. “There are persistent rumors that some of the first names in France are involved with an underground traffic in poisons. His Majesty is concerned that such tales may undermine the glory of his reign. So far, the marquise is the only woman of quality who has been connected with such crimes. His Majesty wishes you to conduct an extensive investigation concerning her possible confederates. Only when we have proved to our satisfaction that she is an isolated monster can we put these rumors to rest at last.”

“I agree completely, Monsieur de Louvois,” responded La Reynie. “But what if she is not?” Louvois turned away, silent.

Even though his carriage did not reach Paris until after nightfall, La Reynie sent a messenger immediately to Desgrez’s house.