While as a special subject in the Crimes, Dumas indulges his curiosity, and that of his reader, to the full.
Hugo's unfinished tragedy,'Les Jumeaux', is on the same subject; as also are others by Fournier, in French, and Zschokke, in German.
Other stories can be given only passing mention.

The beautiful poisoner, Marquise de Brinvilliers, must have suggested to Dumas his later portrait of Miladi, in the Three Musketeers, the mast celebrated of his woman characters.

The incredible cruelties of Ali Pacha, the Turkish despot, should not be charged entirely to Dumas, as he is said to have been largely aided in this by one of his "ghosts," Mallefille.
"Not a mere artist"-- writes M.de Villemessant, founder of the Figaro,--"he has nevertheless been able to seize on those dramatic effects which have so much distinguished his theatrical career, and to give those sharp and distinct reproductions of character which alone can present to the reader the mind and spirit of an age.

Not a mere historian, he has nevertheless carefully consulted the original sources of information, has weighed testimonies, elicited theories, and...
has interpolated the poetry of history with its most thorough prose." THE BORGIAS.