Thehithertouselesseffortsoftheprosecutionwerenowmadepublic,alsotheprecautionstakenbythecriminaltoensurethesuccessofhiscrime。ItwasshownthatJean—FrancoisTascheronhadobtainedapassportforNorthAmericasomemonthsbeforethecrimewascommitted。
ThustheplanofleavingFrancewasfullyformed;theobjectofhispassionmustthereforebeamarriedwoman;forhewouldhavenoreasontofleethecountrywithayounggirl。Possiblythecrimehadthisoneobjectinview,namely,toobtainsufficientmeanstosupportthisunknownwomanincomfort。
TheprosecutionhadfoundnopassportissuedtoawomanforNorthAmerica。IncaseshehadobtainedoneinParis,theregistersofthatcityweresearched,alsothoseofthetownscontingenttoLimoges,butwithoutresult。Alltheshrewdestmindsinthecommunityfollowedthecasewithdeepattention。Whilethemorevirtuousdamesofthedepartmentattributedthewearingofpumpsonamuddyroad(aninexplicablecircumstanceintheordinarylivesofsuchshoes)tothenecessityofnoiselesslywatchingoldPingret,themenpointedoutthatpumpswereveryusefulinsilentlypassingthroughahouse——upstairwaysandalongcorridors——withoutdiscovery。
SoJean—FrancoisTascheronandhismistress(bythistimeshewasyoung,beautiful,romantic,foreveryonemadeaportraitofher)hadevidentlyintendedtoescapewithonlyonepassport,towhichtheywouldforgetheadditionalwords,\"andwife。\"Thecardtablesweredesertedatnightinthevarioussocialsalons,andmalicioustonguesdiscussedwhatwomenwereknowninMarch,1829,tohavegonetoParis,andwhatotherscouldbemaking,openlyorsecretly,preparationsforajourney。LimogesmightbesaidtobeenjoyingitsFualdestrial,withanunknownandmysteriousMadameMansonforanadditionalexcitement。NeverwasanyprovincialtownsostirredtoitsdepthsasLimogesaftereachday’ssession。Nothingwastalkedofbutthetrial,alltheincidentsofwhichincreasedtheinterestfeltfortheaccused,whoseableanswers,learnedlytakenup,turnedandtwistedandcommentedupon,gaverisetoamplediscussions。WhenoneofthejurorsaskedTascheronwhyhehadtakenapassportforAmerica,themanrepliedthathehadintendedtoestablishaporcelainmanufactoryinthatcountry。Thus,withoutcommittinghimselftoanylineofdefence,hecoveredhisaccomplice,leavingittobesupposedthatthecrimewascommitted,ifatall,toobtainfundsforthisbusinessventure。
InthemidstofsuchexcitementitwasimpossibleforVeronique’sfriendstorefrainfromdiscussinginherpresencetheprogressofthecaseandthereticenceofthecriminal。Herhealthwasextremelyfeeble;butthedoctorhavingadvisedhergoingoutintothefreshair,shehadononeoccasiontakenhermother’sarmandwalkedasfarasMadameSauviat’shouseinthecountry,wheresherested。Onherreturnsheendeavoredtokeepaboutuntilherhusbandcametohisdinner,whichshealwaysservedhimherself。OnthisoccasionGraslin,beingdetainedinthecourt—room,didnotcomeintilleighto’clock。
Shewentintothedining—roomasusual,andwaspresentatadiscussionwhichtookplaceamonganumberofherfriendswhohadassembledthere。
\"Ifmypoorfatherwerestillliving,\"sheremarkedtothem,\"weshouldknowmoreaboutthematter;possiblythismanmightneverhavebecomeacriminal。Ithinkyouhavealltakenasingularideaaboutthematter。Youinsistthatloveisatthebottomofthecrime,andI
agreewithyouthere;butwhydoyouthinkthisunknownpersonisamarriedwoman?Hemayhavelovedsomeyounggirlwhosefatherandmotherwouldnotlethermarryhim。\"
\"Ayounggirlcould,soonerorlater,havemarriedhimlegitimately,\"
repliedMonsieurdeGrandville。\"Tascheronhasnolackofpatience;hehadtimetomakesufficientmeanstosupportherwhileawaitingthetimewhenallgirlsareatlibertytomarryagainstthewishesoftheirparents;heneednothavecommittedacrimetoobtainher。\"
\"Ididnotknowthatagirlcouldmarryinthatway,\"saidMadameGraslin;\"buthowisitthatinatownlikethis,whereallthingsareknown,andwhereeverybodyseeseverythingthathappenstohisneighbor,nottheslightestcluetothiswomanhasbeenobtained?Inordertolove,personsmustseeeachotherandconsequentlybeseen。
Whatdoyoureallythink,youmagistrates?\"sheadded,plungingafixedlookintotheeyesofthe/procureur—general/。
\"Wethinkthatthewomanbelongstothebourgeoisorthecommercialclass。\"
\"Idon’tagreewithyou,\"saidMadameGraslin。\"Awomanofthatclassdoesnothaveelevatedsentiments。\"
ThisreplydrewalleyesonVeronique,andthewholecompanywaitedforanexplanationofsoparadoxicalaspeech。
\"DuringthehoursIlieawakeatnightIhavenotbeenabletokeepmymindfromdwellingonthismysteriousaffair,\"shesaidslowly,\"andI
thinkIhavefathomedTascheron’smotive。Ibelievethepersonhelovesisayounggirl,becauseamarriedwomanhasinterests,ifnotfeelings,whichpartlyfillherheartandpreventherfromyieldingsocompletelytoagreatpassionastoleaveherhome。Thereissuchathingasaloveproceedingfrompassionwhichishalfmaternal,andtomeitisevidentthatthismanwaslovedbyawomanwhowishedtobehisprop,hisProvidence。Shemusthaveputintoherpassionsomethingofthegeniusthatinspirestheworkofartistsandpoets,thecreativeforcewhichexistsinwomanunderanotherform;foritishermissiontocreatemen,notthings。Ourworksareourchildren;ourchildrenarethepictures,books,andstatuesofourlives。Arewenotartistsintheirearliesteducation?Isaythatthisunknownwoman,ifsheisnotayounggirl,hasneverbeenamotherbutisfilledwiththematernalinstinct;shehaslovedthismantoformhim,todevelophim。Itneedsafeminineelementinyoumenoflawtodetecttheseshadesofmotive,whichtoooftenescapeyou。IfIhadbeenyourdeputy,\"shesaid,lookingstraightatthe/procureur—general/,\"I
shouldhavefoundtheguiltywoman,ifindeedthereisanyguiltaboutit。IagreewiththeAbbeDutheilthattheseloversmeanttoflytoAmericawiththemoneyofoldPingret。Thetheftledtothemurderbythefatallogicwhichthepunishmentofdeathinspires。Andso,\"sheaddedwithanappealinglookatMonsieurdeGrandville,\"Ithinkitwouldbemercifulinyoutoabandonthetheoryofpremeditation,forinsodoingyouwouldsavetheman’slife。Heisevidentlyafinemaninspiteofhiscrime;hemight,perhaps,repairthatcrimebyagreatrepentanceifyougavehimtime。Theworksofrepentanceoughttocountforsomethinginthejudgmentofthelaw。Inthesedaysistherenothingbetterforahumanbeingtodothantogivehislife,orbuild,asinformertimes,acathedralofMilan,toexpiatehiscrimes?\"
\"Yourideasarenoble,madame,\"saidMonsieurdeGrandville,\"but,premeditationapart,Tascheronwouldstillbeliabletothepenaltyofdeathonaccountoftheotherseriousandprovedcircumstancesattendingthecrime,——suchasforcibleentranceandburglaryatnight。\"
\"Thenyouthinkthathewillcertainlybefoundguilty?\"shesaid,loweringhereyelids。
\"Iamcertainofit,\"hesaid;\"theprosecutionhasastrongcase。\"
AslighttremorrustledMadameGraslin’sdress。
\"Ifeelcold,\"shesaid。Takinghermother’sarmshewenttobed。
\"Sheseemedquiteherselfthisevening,\"saidherfriends。
ThenextdayVeroniquewasmuchworseandkeptherbed。Whenherphysicianexpressedsurpriseatherconditionshesaid,smiling:——
\"Itoldyouthatthatwalkwoulddomenogood。\"
EversincetheopeningofthetrialTascheron’sdemeanorhadbeenequallydevoidofhypocrisyorbravado。Veronique’sphysician,intendingtodiverthispatient’smind,triedtoexplainthisdemeanor,whichtheman’sdefendersweremakingthemostof。Theprisonerwasmisled,saidthedoctor,bythetalentsofhislawyer,andwassureofacquittal;attimeshisfaceexpressedahopethatwasgreaterthanthatofmerelyescapingdeath。Theantecedentsoftheman(whowasonlytwenty—threeyearsold)weresoatvariancewiththecrimenowchargedtohimthathislegaldefendersclaimedhispresentbearingtobeaproofofinnocence;besides,theoverwhelmingcircumstantialproofsofthetheoryoftheprosecutionweremadetoappearsoweakbyhisadvocatethatthemanwasbuoyedupbythelawyer’sarguments。Tosavehisclient’slifethelawyermadethemostoftheevidentwantofpremeditation;hypotheticallyheadmittedthepremeditationoftherobberybutnotofthemurders,whichwereevidently(nomatterwhowastheguiltyparty)theresultoftwounexpectedstruggles。Success,thedoctorsaid,wasreallyasdoubtfulforonesideasfortheother。
AfterthisvisitofherphysicianVeroniquereceivedthatofthe/procureur—general/,whowasinthehabitofcomingineverymorningonhiswaytothecourt—room。
\"Ihavereadtheargumentsofyesterday,\"shesaidtohim,\"andto—day,asIsuppose,theevidenceforthedefencebegins。IamsointerestedinthatmanthatIshouldliketohavehimsaved。Couldn’tyouforonceinyourlifeforegoatriumph?Lethislawyerbeatyou。
Come,makemeapresentoftheman’slife,andperhapsyoushallhaveminesomeday。TheablepresentationofthedefencebyTascheron’slawyerreallyraisesastrongdoubt,and——\"
\"Why,youarequiteagitated,\"saidtheviscountsomewhatsurprised。
\"Doyouknowwhy?\"sheanswered。\"Myhusbandhasjustremarkedamosthorriblecoincidence,whichisreallyenoughinthepresentstateofmynerves,tocausemydeath。IfyoucondemnthismantodeathitwillbeontheverydaywhenIshallgivebirthtomychild。\"
\"ButIcan’tchangethelaws,\"saidthelawyer。
\"Ah!youdon’tknowhowtolove,\"sheretorted,closinghereyes;thensheturnedherheadonthepillowandmadehimanimperativesigntoleavetheroom。
MonsieurGraslinpleadedstronglybutinvainwithhisfellow—jurymenforacquittal,givingareasonwhichsomeofthemadopted;areasonsuggestedbyhiswife:——
\"Ifwedonotcondemnthismantodeath,butallowhimtolive,thedesVanneaulxwillintheendrecovertheirproperty。\"
Thisweightyargumentmadeadivisionofthejury,intofiveforcondemnationagainstsevenforacquittal,whichnecessitatedanappealtothecourt;butthejudgesidedwiththeminority。Accordingtothelegalsystemofthatdaythisactionledtoaverdictofguilty。WhensentencewaspasseduponhimTascheronflewintoafurywhichwasnaturalenoughinamanfulloflifeandstrength,butwhichthecourtandjuryandlawyersandspectatorshadrarelywitnessedinpersonswhowerethoughttobeunjustlycondemned。
VI
DISCUSSIONSANDCHRISTIANSOLICITUDES
Inspiteoftheverdict,thedramaofthiscrimedidnotseemoversofarasthecommunitywasconcerned。Socomplicatedacasegaverise,asusuallyhappensundersuchcircumstances,totwosetsofdiametricallyoppositeopinionsastotheguiltofthehero,whomsomedeclaredtobeaninnocentandill—usedvictim,andotherstheworstofcriminals。
TheliberalsheldforTascheron’sinnocence,lessfromconvictionthanforthesatisfactionofopposingthegovernment。
\"Whatanoutrage,\"theysaid,\"tocondemnamanbecausehisfootprintisthesizeofanotherman’sfootprint;orbecausehewillnottellyouwherehespentthenight,asifallyoungmenwouldnotratherdiethancompromiseawoman。Theyproveheborrowedtoolsandboughtiron,buthavetheyprovedhemadethatkey?Theyfindabitofbluelinenhangingtothebranchofatree,possiblyputtherebyoldPingrethimselftoscarethecrows,thoughithappenstomatchatearinTascheron’sblouse。Isaman’slifetodependonsuchthingsasthese?
Jean—Francoisdenieseverything,andtheprosecutionhasnotproducedasinglewitnesswhosawthecrimeoranythingrelatingtoit。\"
Theytalkedover,enlargedupon,andparaphrasedtheargumentsofthedefence。\"OldPingret!whatwashe?——acrackedmoneybox!\"saidthestrong—minded。Afewofthemoredeterminedprogressists,denyingthesacredlawsofproperty,whichtheSaint—Simonianswerealreadyattackingundertheirabstracttheoriesofpoliticaleconomy,wentfurther。
\"PerePingret,\"theysaid,\"wastherealauthorofthecrime。Byhoardinghisgoldthatmanrobbedthenation。Whatenterprisesmighthavebeenmadefruitfulbyhisuselessmoney!Hehadbarredthewayofindustry,andwasjustlypunished。\"
Theypitiedthepoormurderedservant—woman,butDenise,Tascheron’ssister,whoresistedthewilesoflawyersanddidnotgiveasingleansweratthetrialwithoutlongconsiderationofwhatsheoughttosay,excitedthedeepestinterest。Shebecameintheirmindsafiguretobecompared(thoughinanothersense)withJeannieDeans,whosepiety,grace,modestyandbeautyshepossessed。
FrancoisTascheroncontinued,therefore,toexcitethecuriosityofnotonlyallthetownbutallthedepartment,andafewromanticwomenopenlytestifiedtheiradmirationforhim。
\"Ifthereisreallyinallthisaloveforsomewomanhighabovehim,\"
theysaid,\"thenheissurelynoordinaryman,andyouwillseethathewilldiewell。\"
Thequestion,\"Willhespeakout,——willhenotspeak?\"gaverisetomanyabet。
SincetheburstofragewithwhichTascheronreceivedhissentence,andwhichwassoviolentthatitmighthavebeenfataltopersonsabouthiminthecourt—roomifthegendarmeshadnotbeentheretomasterhim,thecondemnedmanthreatenedallwhocamenearhimwiththefuryofawildbeast;sothatthejailerswereobligedtoputhimintoastraight—jacket,asmuchtoprotecthislifeastheirownfromtheeffectsofhisanger。Preventedbythatcontrollingpowerfromdoingviolence,Tascherongaveventtohisdespairbyconvulsivejerkswhichhorrifiedhisguardians,andbywordsandlookswhichthemiddle—ageswouldhaveattributedtodemoniacalpossession。Hewassoyoungthatmanywomenthoughtpitifullyofalifesofullofpassionabouttobecutoffforever。\"TheLastDayofaCondemnedMan,\"thatmournfulelegy,thatuselesspleaagainstthepenaltyofdeath(themainstayofsociety!),whichhadlatelybeenpublished,asifexpresslytomeetthiscase,wasthetopicofallconversations。
But,aboveall,inthemindofeveryone,stoodthatinvisibleunknownwoman,herfeetinblood,raisedaloftbythetrialasitwereonapedestal,——torn,nodoubt,byhorribleinwardanguishandcondemnedtoabsolutesilencewithinherhome。WhowasthisMedeawhomthepublicwell—nighadmired,——thewomanwiththatimpenetrablebrow,thatwhitebreastcoveringaheartofsteel?Perhapsshewasthesisterorthecousinorthedaughterorthewifeofthisoneorofthatoneamongthem!Alarmseemedtocreepintothebosomoffamilies。AsNapoleonfinelysaid,itisespeciallyinthedomainoftheimaginationthatthepoweroftheUnknownisimmeasurable。
AsforthehundredthousandfrancsstolenfromMonsieurandMadamedesVanneaulxnoeffortsofthepolicecouldfindthem;andtheobstinatesilenceofthecriminalgavenoclue。MonsieurdeGrandvilletriedthecommonmeansofholdingouthopesofcommutationofthesentenceincaseofconfession;butwhenhewenttoseetheprisonerandsuggestitthelatterreceivedhimwithsuchfuriouscriesandepilepticcontortions,suchrageatbeingpowerlesstotakehimbythethroat,thathecoulddonothing。
ThelawcouldonlylooktotheinfluenceoftheChurchatthelastmoment。ThedesVanneaulxhadfrequentlyconsultedwiththeAbbePascal,chaplainoftheprison。Thispriestwasnotwithoutthefacultyofmakingprisonerslistentohim,andhereligiouslybravedTascheron’sviolence,tryingtogetinafewwordsamidthestormsofthatpowerfulnatureinconvulsion。Butthisstruggleofspiritualfatherhoodagainstthehurricaneofunchainedpassions,overcamethepoorabbecompletely。
\"Themanhashadhisparadiseherebelow,\"saidtheoldman,inhisgentlevoice。
LittleMadamedesVanneaulxconsultedherfriendsastowhethersheoughttotryavisitherselftothecriminal。MonsieurdesVanneaulxtalkedofofferingterms。InhisanxietytorecoverthemoneyheactuallywenttoMonsieurdeGrandvilleandaskedforthepardonofhisuncle’smurdererifthelatterwouldmakerestitutionofthehundredthousandfrancs。The/procureur—general/repliedthatthemajestyofthecrowndidnotstooptosuchcompromises。
ThedesVanneaulxthenhadrecoursetothelawyerwhohaddefendedTascheron,andtohimtheyofferedtenpercentofwhateversumhecouldrecover。ThislawyerwastheonlypersonbeforewhomTascheronwasnotviolent。Theheirsauthorizedhimtooffertheprisoneranadditionaltenpercenttobepaidtohisfamily。Inspiteofalltheseinducementsandhisowneloquence,thelawyercouldobtainnothingwhateverfromhisclient。ThedesVanneaulxwerefurious;theyanathematizedtheunhappyman。
\"Heisnotonlyamurderer,buthehasnosenseofdecency,\"criedMadamedesVanneaulx(ignorantofFualdes’famouscomplaint),whenshereceivedwordofthefailureoftheAbbePascal’sefforts,andwastoldtherewasnohopeofareversalofthesentencebythecourtofappeals。
\"Whatgoodwillourmoneydohimintheplaceheisgoingto?\"saidherhusband。\"Murdercanbeconceivedof,butuselesstheftisinconceivable。Whatdayswelivein,tobesure!Tothinkthatpeopleingoodsocietyactuallytakeaninterestinsuchawretch!\"
\"Hehasnohonor,\"saidMadamedesVanneaulx。
\"Butperhapstherestitutionwouldcompromisethewomanheloves,\"
saidanoldmaid。
\"Wewouldkeephissecret,\"returnedMonsieurdesVanneaulx。
\"Thenyouwouldbecompoundingafelony,\"remarkedalawyer。
\"Oh,thevillain!\"wasMonsieurdesVanneaulx’susualconclusion。
OneofMadameGraslin’sfemalefriendsrelatedtoherwithmuchamusementthesediscussionsofthedesVanneaulx。Thislady,whowasveryintelligent,andoneofthosepersonswhoformidealsanddesirethatallthingsshouldattainperfection,regrettedtheviolenceandsavagetemperofthecondemned;shewouldratherhehadbeencoldandcalmanddignified,shesaid。
\"Doyounotsee,\"repliedVeronique,\"thatheisthusavoidingtheirtemptationsandfoilingtheirefforts?Heismakinghimselfawildbeastforapurpose。\"
\"Atanyrate,\"saidthelady,\"heisnotawell—bredman;heisonlyaworkman。\"
\"Ifhehadbeenawell—bredman,\"saidMadameGraslin,\"hewouldsoonhavesacrificedthatunknownwoman。\"
Theseevents,discussedandturnedandtwistedineverysalon,everyhousehold,commentedoninascoreofways,strippedbarebythecleveresttonguesinthecommunity,gave,ofcourse,acruelinteresttotheexecutionofthecriminal,whoseappealwasrejectedaftertwomonths’delaybytheuppercourt。Whatwouldprobablybehisdemeanorinhislastmoments?Wouldhespeakout?Wouldhecontradicthimself?
Howwouldthebetsbedecided?Whowouldgotoseehimexecuted,andwhowouldnotgo,andhowcoulditbedone?Thepositionofthelocalities,whichinLimogessparesacriminaltheanguishofalongdistancetothescaffold,lessensthenumberofspectators。ThelawcourtswhichadjointheprisonstandatthecorneroftherueduPalaisandtherueduPont—Herisson。TherueduPalaisiscontinuedinastraightlinebytheshortruedeMonte—a—Regret,whichleadstotheplacedesArenes,wheretheexecutionstakeplace,andwhichprobablyowesitsnametothatcircumstances。Thereisthereforebutlittledistancetogo,fewhousestopass,andfewwindowstolookfrom。Nopersoningoodsocietywouldbewillingtomingleinthecrowdwhichwouldfillthestreets。
Buttheexpectedexecutionwas,tothegreatastonishmentofthewholetown,putofffromdaytodayforthefollowingreason:——
TherepentanceandresignationofgreatcriminalsontheirwaytodeathisoneofthetriumphswhichtheChurchreservesforitself,——atriumphwhichseldommissesitseffectonthepopularmind。Repentanceissostrongaproofofthepowerofreligiousideas——takenapartfromallChristianinterest,thoughthat,ofcourse,isthechiefobjectoftheChurch——thattheclergyarealwaysdistressedbyafailureonsuchoccasions。InJuly,1829,suchafailurewasaggravatedbythespiritofpartywhichenvenomedeverydetailinthelifeofthebodypolitic。
Theliberalpartyrejoicedintheexpectationthatthepriest—party(aterminventedbyMontlosier,aroyalistwhowentovertotheconstitutionals,andwasdraggedbythemfarbeyondhiswishes),——thatthepriestswouldfailonsopublicanoccasionbeforetheeyesofthepeople。Parties/enmasse/commitinfamousactionswhichwouldcoverasinglemanwithshameandopprobrium;thereforewhenonemanalonestandsinhisguiltbeforetheeyesofthemasses,hebecomesaRobespierre,aJeffries,aLaubardemont,aspeciesofexpiatoryaltaronwhichallsecretguiltshangtheir/ex—votos/。
Theauthorities,sympathizingwiththeChurch,delayedtheexecution,partlyinthehopeofgainingsomeconclusiveinformationforthemselves,andpartlytoallowreligionanopportunitytoprevail。
Nevertheless,theirpowerwasnotunlimited,andthesentencemustsoonerorlaterbecarriedout。Thesameliberalswho,outofmereopposition,haddeclaredTascheroninnocent,andwhohaddonetheirbesttobreakdowntheverdict,nowclamoredbecausethesentencewasnotexecuted。Whentheoppositionisconsistentitinvariablyfallsintosuchunreasonableness,becauseitsobjectisnottohaverightonitsownside,buttoharasstheauthoritiesandputtheminthewrong。
Accordingly,aboutthebeginningofAugust,thegovernmentofficialsfelttheirhandforcedbythatclamor,sooftenstupid,called\"publicopinion。\"Thedayfortheexecutionwasnamed。InthisextremitytheAbbeDutheiltookuponhimselftoproposetothebishopalastresource,theadoptionofwhichcausedtheintroductionintothisjudicialdramaofaremarkablepersonage,whoservesasabondbetweenallthefiguresbroughtuponthesceneofit,andwho,bywaysfamiliartoProvidence,wasdestinedtoleadMadameGraslinalongapathwherehervirtuesweretoshinewithgreaterbrilliancyasanoblebenefactressandanangelicChristianwoman。
TheepiscopalpalaceatLimogesstandsonahillwhichslopestothebanksoftheVienne;anditsgardens,supportedbystrongwallstoppedwithabalustrade,descendtotheriverbyterraceafterterrace,accordingtothenaturallayoftheland。TheriseofthishillissuchthatthesuburbofSaint—Etienneontheoppositebankseemstolieatthefootofthelowerterrace。Fromthere,accordingtothedirectioninwhichapersonwalks,theViennecanbeseeneitherinalongstretchordirectlyacrossit,inthemidstofafertilepanorama。Onthewest,aftertheriverleavestheembankmentoftheepiscopalgardens,itturnstowardthetowninagracefulcurvewhichwindsaroundthesuburbofSaint—Martial。AtashortdistancebeyondthatsuburbisaprettycountryhousecalledLeCluseau,thewallsofwhichcanbeseenfromthelowerterraceofthebishop’spalace,appearing,byaneffectofdistance,toblendwiththesteeplesofthesuburb。OppositetoLeCluseauistheslopingisland,coveredwithpoplarandothertrees,whichVeroniqueinhergirlishyouthhadnamedtheIledeFrance。Totheeastthedistanceisclosedbyanampitheatreofhills。
Themagiccharmofthesiteandtherichsimplicityofthebuildingmakethisepiscopalpalaceoneofthemostinterestingobjectsinatownwheretheotheredificesdonotshine,eitherthroughchoiceofmaterialorarchitecture。
Longfamiliarizedwiththeaspectswhichcommendthesegardenstoallloversofthepicturesque,theAbbeDutheil,whohadinducedtheAbbedeGrancourtoaccompanyhim,descendedfromterracetoterrace,payingnoattentiontotheruddycolors,theorangetones,theviolettints,whichthesettingsunwascastingontheoldwallsandbalustradesofthegardens,ontheriverbeneaththem,and,inthedistance,onthehousesofthetown。Hewasinsearchofthebishop,whowassittingonthelowerterraceunderagrape—vinearbor,whereheoftencametotakehisdessertandenjoythecharmofatranquilevening。Thepoplarsontheislandseemedatthismomenttodividethewaterswiththelengtheningshadowoftheiryellowingheads,towhichthesunwaslendingtheappearanceofagoldenfoliage。Thesettingrays,diverselyreflectedonmassesofdifferentgreens,producedamagnificentharmonyofmelancholytones。AtthefartherendofthevalleyasheetofsparklingwaterruffledbythebreezebroughtoutthebrownstretchofroofsinthesuburbofSaint—Etienne。ThesteeplesandroofsofSaint—Martial,bathedinlight,showedthroughthetraceryofthegrape—vinearbor。Thesoftmurmuroftheprovincialtown,halfhiddenbythebendoftheriver,thesweetnessofthebalmyair,allcontributedtoplungetheprelateintotheconditionofquietudeprescribedbymedicalwritersondigestion;seeminglyhiseyeswererestingmechanicallyontherightbankoftheriver,justwherethelongshadowsoftheislandpoplarstoucheditonthesidetowardSaint—Etienne,nearthefieldwherethetwofoldmurderofoldPingretandhisservanthadbeencommitted。Butwhenhismomentaryfelicitywasinterruptedbythearrivalofthetwograndvicars,andthedifficultiestheybroughttohimtosolve,itwasseenhiseyeswerefilledwithimpenetrablethoughts。Thetwopriestsattributedthisabstractiontothefactofbeingbored,whereas,onthecontrary,theprelatewasabsorbedinseeinginthesandsoftheViennethesolutionoftheenigmathensoanxiouslysoughtforbytheofficersofjustice,thedesVanneaulx,andthecommunityatlarge。
\"Monsieur,\"saidtheAbbedeGrancour,approachingthebishop,\"itisalluseless;weshallcertainlyhavethedistressofseeingthatunhappyTascherondieanunbeliever。Hevociferatesthemosthorribleimprecationsagainstreligion;heinsultsthatpoorAbbePascal;hespitsuponthecrucifix;andmeanstodiedenyingall,evenhell。\"
\"Hewillshockthepopulaceonthescaffold,\"saidtheAbbeDutheil。
\"Thegreatscandalandhorrorhisconductwillexcitemayhideourdefeatandpowerlessness。Infact,asIhavejustbeensayingtoMonsieurdeGrancour,thisveryspectaclemaydriveothersinnersintothearmsoftheChurch。\"
Troubledbythesewords,thebishoplaiddownuponarusticwoodentablethebunchofgrapesatwhichhewaspicking,andwipedhisfingersashemadeasigntothetwograndvicarstobeseated。
\"TheAbbePascaldidnottakeawisecourse,\"hesaid。
\"Heisactuallyillinhisbedfromtheeffectsofhislastscenewiththeman,\"saidtheAbbedeGrancour。\"Ifitwerenotforthatwemightgethimtoexplainmoreclearlythedifficultiesthathavedefeatedallthevariouseffortsmonseigneurorderedhimtomake。\"
\"Thecondemnedmansingsobscenesongsatthehighestpitchofhisvoiceassoonasheseesanyoneofus,soastodrownouteverywordwetrytosaytohim,\"saidayoungpriestwhowassittingbesidethebishop。
Thisyoungman,whowasgiftedwithacharmingpersonality,hadhisrightarmrestingonthetable,whilehiswhitehanddroppednegligentlyonthebunchesofgrapes,seekingtheripest,withtheeaseandassuranceofanhabitualguestorfavorite。Hewasbothtotheprelate,beingtheyoungerbrotherofBaronEugenedeRastignac,towhomtiesoffamilyandalsoofaffectionhadlongboundtheBishopofLimoges。AwareofthewantoffortunewhichdevotedthisyoungmantotheChurch,thebishoptookhimashisprivatesecretarytogivehimtimetowaitforeventualpreferment。TheAbbeGabrielboreanamewhichwouldleadhimsoonerorlatertothehighestdignitiesoftheChurch。
\"Didyougotoseehim,myson?\"askedthebishop。
\"Yes,Monseigneur。AssoonasIenteredhiscellthewretchedmanhurledthemostdisgustingepithetsatyouandatme。Hebehavedinsuchamannerthatitwasimpossibleforanypriesttoremaininhispresence。MightIgiveMonseigneurawordofadvice?\"
\"LetuslistentothewordsofwisdomwhichGodAlmightysometimesputsintothemouthsofchildren,\"saidthebishop,smiling。
\"Well,youknowhemadeBalaam’sassspeakout,\"saidtheyoungabbequickly。
\"Butaccordingtosomecommentatorsshedidnotknowwhatshewassaying,\"repliedthebishop,laughing。
Thetwograndvicarssmiled。Inthefirstplace,thejokecamefromMonseigneur;next,itboregentlyontheyoungabbe,ofwhomthedignitariesandotherambitiouspriestsgroupedaroundthebishopweresomewhatjealous。
\"Myadvicewouldbe,\"resumedtheyoungman,\"toaskMonsieurdeGrandvilletoreprievethemanforthepresent。WhenTascheronknowsthatheowesanextensionofhislifetoourintercession,hemaypretendtolistentous,andifhelistens——\"
\"Hewillpersistinhispresentconduct,findingthatithaswonhimthatadvantage,\"saidthebishop,interruptinghisfavorite。
\"Messieurs,\"hesaid,afteramoment’ssilence,\"doesthewholetownknowofthesedetails?\"
\"Thereisnotahouseholdinwhichtheyarenottalkedover,\"saidtheAbbedeGrancour。\"ThestateinwhichourgoodAbbePascalwasputbyhislasteffortsisthepresenttopicofconversationthroughoutthetown。\"
\"WhenisTascherontobeexecuted?\"askedthebishop。
\"To—morrow,whichismarket—day\";repliedMonsieurdeGrancour。