Tales of Terror and Mystery
The Leather Funnel
"’TheprisonerwasbroughtbeforetheGrandChambersandTournellesofParliament,sittingasacourtofjustice,chargedwiththemurderofMasterDreuxd’Aubray,herfather,andofhertwobrothers,MM.d’Aubray,onebeingcivillieutenant,andtheotheracounsellorofParliament.Inpersonitseemedhardtobelievethatshehadreallydonesuchwickeddeeds,forshewasofamildappearance,andofshortstature,withafairskinandblueeyes.YettheCourt,havingfoundherguilty,condemnedhertotheordinaryandtotheextraordinaryquestioninorderthatshemightbeforcedtonameheraccomplices,afterwhichsheshouldbecarriedinacarttothePlacedeGreve,theretohaveherheadcutoff,herbodybeingafterwardsburnedandherashesscatteredtothewinds.’
"ThedateofthisentryisJuly16,1676."
"Itisinteresting,"saidI,"butnotconvincing.Howdoyouprovethetwowomentobethesame?"
"Iamcomingtothat.Thenarrativegoesontotellofthewoman’sbehaviourwhenquestioned.’Whentheexecutionerapproachedhersherecognizedhimbythecordswhichheheldinhishands,andsheatonceheldoutherownhandstohim,lookingathimfromheadtofootwithoututteringaword.’How’sthat?"
"Yes,itwasso."
"’Shegazedwithoutwincinguponthewoodenhorseandringswhichhadtwistedsomanylimbsandcausedsomanyshrieksofagony.Whenhereyesfelluponthethreepailsofwater,whichwereallreadyforher,shesaidwithasmile,"Allthatwatermusthavebeenbroughthereforthepurposeofdrowningme,Monsieur.
