Madame Midas looked with some astonishment on
Vandeloup as his name was called out, and he moved gracefully to the
witness-box, while Kitty's face grew paler even than it was before.
She did not know what Vandeloup was going to say, but a great dread
seized her, and with dry lips and clenched hands she sat staring at
him as if paralysed. Kilsip stole a look at her and then rubbed his
hands together, while Calton sat absolutely still, scribbling
figures on his notepaper.
M. Gaston Vandeloup, being sworn, deposed: He was a native of
France, of Flemish descent, as could be seen from his name; he had
known Braulard intimately; he also knew Prevol; he had been eighteen
months in Australia, and for some time had been clerk to Mrs
Villiers at Ballarat; he was fond of chemistry--yes; and had made
several experiments with poisons while up at Ballarat with Dr
Gollipeck, who was a great toxicologist; he had seen the hemlock in
the garden of an hotel-keeper at Ballarat, called Twexby, and had
made an extract therefrom; he only did it by way of experiment, and
had put the bottle containing the poison in his desk, forgetting all
about it; the next time he saw that bottle was in the possession of
Miss Kitty Marchurst (sensation in Court); she had threatened to
poison herself; he again saw the bottle in her possession on the
night of the murder; this was at the house of M.
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