In this final volume of Dumas' Celebrated Crimes, Dumas tells the tales of the Marquise de Brinvilliers, Vaninka, and the Marquise de Ganges. The beautiful poisoner, Marquise de Brinvilliers, must have suggested to Dumas his later portrait of Miladi, in the Three Musketeers, the most celebrated of his woman characters. Vaninka's mother claimed descent from one of the chieftains of the Tartar race, who had invaded Russia, under the leadership of D'Gengis, in the thirteenth century. Like all the women of distinction in her nation, Vaninka was a good musician, and spoke French, Italian, German, and English equally well. Her crime cost her a life of privilidge...
