De La Reynie had reestablished the special court, the Chambre Ardente ("burning court") to judge cases of poisoning and witchcraft.

It has investigated a number of cases, including many connected to nobles and courtiers in the King's court.

Over the years the court has sentenced thirty-four people to death for poisoning or witchcraft.

Two had died under torture and several courtiers had been exiled.

The court is abolished in 1682, because the King cannot risk publicity of such scandal.

To this, Police Chief Reynie says, "the enormity of their crimes proved their safeguard."

Perhaps the most important effect of the scandal, and subsequent persecutions, is the expulsion from France of the aforementioned Comtesse de Soissons.

Her son had remained in France only to find that his mother's high-profile disgrace has prevented him from realizing his personal ambitions, as he is effectively barred from pursuing a military career.

He will eventually leave France nurturing a profound grudge against Louis XIV and enter the service of France's sworn enemies the Habsburgs.

Prince Eugene of Savoy, or Prinz Eugen, will, in time, come to be known as one of the greatest generals of the age and one of the factors behind the failure of Louis' bid for hegemony in Europe.