Small, graceful, and pretty, Marquise de Brinvilliers was also corrupt, ruthless, and cold-blooded. Her beautiful blue eyes charmed those around her, making them easy prey for her poison. Early in her marriage to Antoine Gobelin de Brinvilliers, she became enamored with a certain cavalry officer who went by the name of Sainte-Croix. So blatant were they in their affair, that her father, in attempt to save the dignity of the family name, had Sainte-Croix imprisoned. Furious at this turn of events, the Madame de Brinvilliers began plotting the murder of her own father. [Celebrated Crimes is an 8-volume collection of 18 essays by Alexandre Dumas. Each essay is based upon historical facts.]