ven had the fact of the destruction
of the will come to the ears of the Martignons, it is unlikely that they
would have taken any steps involving the disgrace of Auguste.

Castaing had enriched himself considerably by the opportune death of his
friend Hippolyte. It might be made a matter of unfriendly comment that,
on the first day of May preceding that sad event, Castaing had purchased
ten grains of acetate of morphia from a chemist in Paris, and on
September 18, less than a month before Hippolyte's death, he had
purchased another ten grains of acetate of morphia from the same
chemist. The subject of poisons had always been a favourite branch of
Castaing's medical studies, especially vegetable poisons; morphia is a
vegetable poison.

Castaing's position relative to Auguste Ballet was now a strong one.
They were accomplices in the unlawful destruction of Hippolyte's will.
Auguste believed it to be in his friend's power to ruin him at any time
by revealing his dealings with Lebret. But, more than that, to Auguste,
who believed that his 100,000 francs had gone into Lebret's pocket,
Castaing could represent himself as so far unrewarded for his share in
the business; Lebret had taken all the money, while he had received no
recompense of any kind for the trouble he had taken and the risk he was
encountering on his friend's behalf. Whatever the motive, from fear or
gratitude, Auguste Ballet was persuaded to make a will leaving Dr. Edme
Samuel Castaing the whole of his fortune, subject to a few trifling
legacies. But Auguste's feelings towards his sole legatee were no longer
cordial. To one or two of his friends he expressed his growing distaste
for Castaing's society.

Dr. Castaing can hardly have failed to observe this change. He knew
Auguste to be reckless and extravagant with his money; he learnt that he
had realised another 100,000 francs out of his securities, and that he
kept the money locked up in a drawer in his desk. If Auguste's fortune
were dissipated by extravagance, or he revoked his will, Castaing stood
to lose heavily. As time went on Castaing felt less and less sure that
he could place much reliance on the favourable disposition or thrift of
Auguste. The latter had fallen in love with a new mistress; he began to
entertain expensively; even if he should not change his mind and leave
his money away from Castaing, there might very soon be no money to
leave. At the end of May, 1823, Castaing consulted a cousin o