\"Lifeisherereduced,yousee,toitssimplestexpression,\"saidtherector,smiling,thoughhisfacedidnotlosethelookwhichthesadnessofhisheartconveyedtoit。\"Ifwehadknownofyourarrival(butwhocouldhaveforeseenyourerrand?)Ursulewouldhavehadsomemountaintroutforyou;there’sabrookintheforestwheretheyareexcellent。Iforget,however,thatthisisAugustandtheGabouisdry。Myheadisconfusedwithallthesetroubles。\"
\"Thenyoulikeyourlifehere?\"saidtheyoungabbe。
\"Yes,monsieur;ifGodwills,IshalldierectorofMontegnac。Icouldhavewishedthatmyexamplewerefollowedbycertaindistinguishedmenwhohavethoughttheydidbetterthingsinbecomingphilanthropists。
Butmodernphilanthropyisaneviltosociety;theprinciplesoftheCatholicreligioncanalonecurethediseaseswhichpermeatesocialbodies。Insteadofdescribingthosediseasesandextendingtheirravagesbycomplainingelegies,theyshouldputtheirhandtotheworkandentertheLord’svineyardassimplelaborers。Mytaskisfarfrombeingaccomplishedhere,monsieur。Itisnotenoughtoreformthepeople,whomIfoundinafrightfulconditionofimpietyandwickedness;Iwishtodieinthemidstofagenerationoftruebelievers。\"
\"Youhaveonlydoneyourduty,monsieur,\"saidtheyoungman,stillcoldly,forhisheartwasstirredwithenvy。
\"Yes,monsieur,\"repliedtherector,modestly,givinghiscompanionaglancewhichseemedtosay:Isthisafurthertest?\"Ipraythatallmaydotheirdutythroughoutthekingdom。\"
Thisremark,fullofdeepmeaning,wasstillfurtheremphasizedbyatoneofutterance,whichprovedthatin1829thispriest,asgrandinthoughtashewasnobleinhumilityofconduct,andwhosubordinatedhisthoughtstothoseofhissuperiors,sawclearlyintothedestiniesofbothchurchandmonarchy。
Whenthetwoafflictedwomencametheyoungabbe,veryimpatienttogetbacktoLimoges,lefttheparsonagetoseeifthehorseswereharnessed。Afewmomentslaterhereturnedtosaythatallwasready。
AllfourthenstartedundertheeyesofthewholepopulationofMontegnac,whichwasgatheredintheroadwaybeforethepost—house。
Themotherandsisterkeptsilence。Thetwopriests,seeingrocksaheadinmanysubjects,couldneithertalkindifferentlynorallowthemselvestobecheerful。Whileseekingforsomeneutralsubjectthecarriagecrossedtheplain,theaspectofwhichdrearyregionseemedtoinfluencethedurationoftheirmelancholysilence。
\"Howcameyoutoadopttheecclesiasticalprofession?\"askedtheAbbeGabriel,suddenly,withanimpulsivecuriositywhichseizedhimassoonasthecarriageturnedintothehigh—road。
\"Ididnotlookuponthepriesthoodasaprofession,\"repliedtherector,simply。\"Icannotunderstandhowamancanbecomeapriestforanyotherreasonthantheundefinablepowerofvocation。IknowthatmanymenhaveservedintheLord’svineyardwhohavepreviouslywornouttheirheartsintheserviceofpassion;somehavelovedhopelessly,othershavehadtheirlovebetrayed;menhavelostthefloweroftheirlivesinburyingapreciouswifeoranadoredmistress;somehavebeendisgustedwithsociallifeataperiodwhenuncertaintyhoversovereverything,evenoverfeelings,anddoubtmockstendercertaintiesbycallingthembeliefs;othersabandonpoliticsataperiodwhenpowerseemstobeanexpiationandwhenthegovernedregardobedienceasfatality。Manyleaveasocietywithoutbanners;whereopposingforcesonlyunitetooverthrowgood。IdonotthinkthatanymanwouldgivehimselftoGodfromacovetousmotive。
Somemenhavelookeduponthepriesthoodasameansofregeneratingourcountry;but,accordingtomypoorlights,apriest—patriotisameaninglessthing。ThepriestcanonlybelongtoGod。IdidnotwishtoofferourFather——whoneverthelessacceptsall——thewreckofmyheartandthefragmentsofmywill;Igavemyselftohimwhole。Inoneofthosetouchingtheoriesofpaganreligion,thevictimsacrificedtothefalsegodsgoestothealtardeckedwithflowers。Thesignificanceofthatcustomhasalwaysdeeplytouchedme。Asacrificeisnothingwithoutgrace。Mylifeissimpleandwithouttheveryslightestromance。Myfather,whohasmadehisownwayintheworld,isastern,inflexibleman;hetreatshiswifeandhischildrenashetreatshimself。Ihaveneverseenasmileuponhislips。Hisironhand,hissternface,hisgloomy,roughactivity,oppressedusall——wife,children,clerksandservants——underanalmostsavagedespotism。I
could——Ispeakformyselfonly——Icouldhaveaccommodatedmyselftothislifeifthepowerthusexercisedhadhadanequalrepression;
but,captiousandvacillating,hetreatedusallwithintolerablealternations。Wewerealwaysignorantwhetherweweredoingrightorwhetherheconsideredustoblame;andthehorribleexpectancywhichresultsfromthatistortureindomesticlife。Astreetlifeseemsbetterthanahomeundersuchcircumstances。HadIbeenaloneinthehouseIwouldhaveborneallfrommyfatherwithoutmurmuring;butmyheartwastornbythebitter,unceasinganguishofmydearmother,whomIardentlylovedandwhosetearsputmesometimesintoafuryinwhichInearlylostmyreason。Myschooldays,whenboysareusuallysofullofmiseryandhardwork,weretomeagoldenperiod。Idreadedholidays。Mymotherherselfpreferredtocomeandseeme。WhenIhadfinishedmyphilosophicalcourseandwasforcedtoreturnhomeandbecomemyfather’sclerk,Icouldnotendureitmorethanafewmonths;mymind,bewilderedbythefeverofadolescence,threatenedtogiveway。OnasadautumneveningasIwaswalkingalonewithmymotheralongtheBoulevardBourdon,thenoneofthemostmelancholypartsofParis,Ipouredmyheartintohers,andItoldherthatIsawnopossiblelifebeforemeexceptintheChurch。Mytastes,myideas,allthatImostlovedwouldbecontinuallythwartedsolongasmyfatherlived。Underthecassockofapriesthewouldbeforcedtorespectme,andImightthusoncertainoccasionsbecometheprotectorofmyfamily。Mymotherweptmuch。Justatthisperiodmyeldestbrother(sinceageneralandkilledatLeipzig)hadenteredthearmyasaprivatesoldier,drivenfromhishomeforthesamereasonsthatmademewishtobeapriest。Ishowedmymotherthatherbestmeansofprotectionwouldbetomarrymysister,assoonasshewasoldenough,tosomemanofstrongcharacter,andtolookforhelptothisnewfamily。Underpretenceofavoidingtheconscriptionwithoutcostingmyfatherapennytobuymeoff,IenteredtheseminaryofSaint—Sulpiceattheageofnineteen。WithinthosecelebratedoldbuildingsIfoundapeaceandhappinessthatweretroubledonlybythethoughtofmymotherandmysister’ssufferings。Theirdomesticmisery,nodoubt,wentonincreasing;forwhenevertheysawmetheysoughttostrengthenmyresolution。PerhapsIhadbeeninitiatedintothesecretsofcharity,suchasourgreatSaintPauldefinesit,bymyowntrials。Atanyrate,Ilongedtostanchthewoundsofthepoorinsomeforgottencorneroftheearth,andtoprovebymyexample,ifGodwoulddeigntoblessmyefforts,thattheCatholicreligion,judgedbyitsactionsforhumanity,istheonlytrue,theonlybeneficentandnoblecivilizingforce。Duringthelastdaysofmydiaconate,grace,nodoubt,enlightenedme。Ihavefullyforgivenmyfather,regardinghimastheinstrumentofmydestiny。Mymother,thoughIwroteheralongandtenderletter,explainingallthingsandprovingtoherthatthefingerofGodwasguidingme,mypoormotherweptmanytearsasshesawmyhaircutoffbythescissorsoftheChurch。SheknewherselfhowmanypleasuresIrenounced,butshedidnotknowthesecretgloriestowhichIaspired。Womenaresotender!AfterIoncebelongedtoGodIfeltaboundlesspeace;Ifeltnoneeds,novanities,noneofthosecareswhichtroublemensomuch。IknewthatProvidencewouldtakecareofmeasathingofitsown。Ienteredaworldfromwhichallfearisbanished;wherethefutureiscertain;whereallthingsaredivine,eventhesilence。Thisquietudeisoneofthebenefactionsofgrace。Mymothercouldnotconceivethatamancouldespouseachurch。Nevertheless,seeingmehappy,withacloudlessbrow,shegrewhappierherself。AfterIwasordainedIcametotheLimousintovisitoneofmypaternalrelations,whochancedtospeaktomeofthethenconditionofMontegnac。Athoughtdartedintomymindwiththevividnessoflightning,andIsaidtomyselfinwardly:’Hereisthyvineyard!’Icamehere,andyousee,monsieur,thatmyhistoryisverysimpleanduneventful。\"
AtthisinstantLimogescameintosight,bathedinthelastraysofthesettingsun。Whenthewomensawittheycouldnotrestraintheirtears;theyweptaloud。
IX
DENISE
Theyoungmanwhomthesetwodifferentloveswerenowontheirwaytocomfort,whoexcitedsomuchartlesscuriosity,somuchspurioussympathyandtruesolicitude,waslyingonhisprisonpalletinoneofthecondemnedcells。Aspywatchedbesidethedoortocatch,ifpossible,anywordsthatmightescapehim,eitherinsleeporinoneofhisviolentfuries;soanxiousweretheofficersofjusticetoexhaustallhumanmeansofdiscoveringJean—FrancoisTascheron’saccompliceandrecoverthesumsstolen。
ThedesVanneaulxhadpromisedarewardtothepolice,andthepolicekeptconstantwatchontheobstinatesilenceoftheprisoner。Whenthemanondutylookedthroughaloopholemadeforthepurposehesawtheconvictalwaysinthesameposition,boundinthestraight—jacket,hisheadsecuredbyaleatherthongeversincehehadattemptedtotearthestuffofthejacketwithhisteeth。
Jean—Francoisgazedsteadilyattheceilingwithafixedanddespairingeye,aburningeye,asifreddenedbytheterriblethoughtsbehindit。HewasalivingimageoftheantiquePrometheus;thememoryofsomelosthappinessgnawedathisheart。Whenthesolicitor—generalhimselfwenttoseehimthatmagistratecouldnothelptestifyinghissurpriseatacharactersoobstinatelypersistent。NosoonerdidanyoneenterhiscellthanJean—Francoisflewintoafrenzywhichexceededthelimitsknowntophysiciansforsuchattacks。Themomentheheardthekeyturninthelockortheboltsofthebarreddoorslide,alightfoamwhitenedhislips。
Jean—FrancoisTascheron,thentwenty—fiveyearsofage,wassmallbutwell—made。Hiswiry,crinkledhair,growinglowonhisforehead,indicatedenergy。Hiseyes,ofaclearandluminousyellow,weretooneartherootofthenose,——adefectwhichgavehimsomeresemblancetobirdsofprey。Thefacewasround,ofthewarmbrowncoloringwhichmarkstheinhabitantsofmiddleFrance。OnefeatureofhisphysiognomyconfirmedanassertionofLavaterastopersonswhoaredestinedtocommitmurder;hisfrontteethlappedeachother。Neverthelesshisfaceboreallthecharacteristicsofintegrityandasweetandartlessmoralnature;therewasnothingsurprisinginthefactthatawomanhadlovedhimpassionately。Hisfreshmouthwithitsdazzlingteethwascharming,butthevermilionofthelipswasofthered—leadtintwhichindicatesrepressedferocity,and,inmanyhumanbeings,afreeabandonmenttopleasure。Hisdemeanorshowednoneofthelowhabitsofaworkman。Intheeyesofthewomenwhowerepresentatthetrialitseemedevidentthatoneoftheirsexhadsoftenedthosemusclesusedtotoil,hadennobledthecountenanceoftherustic,andgivengracetohisperson。Womencanalwaysdetectthetracesofloveinaman,justasmencanseeinawomanwhether,asthesayingis,lovehaspassedthatway。
TowardeveningofthedaywearenowrelatingJean—Francoisheardtheslidingofboltsandthenoiseofthekeyinthelock。Heturnedhisheadviolentlyandgaveventtothehorriblegrowlwithwhichhisfrenziesbegan;buthetrembledalloverwhenthebelovedheadsofhissisterandhismotherstoodoutagainstthefadinglight,andbehindthemthefaceoftherectorofMontegnac。
\"Thewretches!isthiswhytheykeepmealive?\"hesaid,closinghiseyes。
Denise,whohadlatelybeenconfinedinaprison,wasdistrustfulofeverything;thespyhadnodoubthiddenhimselfmerelytoreturninafewmoments。Thegirlflungherselfonherbrother,benthertearfulfacetohisandwhispered:——
\"Theymaybelisteningtous。\"
\"Otherwisetheywouldnothaveletyoucomehere,\"herepliedinaloudvoice。\"Ihavelongaskedthefavorthatnoneofmyfamilyshouldbeadmittedhere。\"
\"Oh!howtheyhaveboundhim!\"criedthemother。\"Mypoorchild!mypoorboy!\"andshefellonherkneesbesidethepallet,hidingherheadinthecassockofthepriest,whowasstandingbyher。
\"IfJeanwillpromisemetobequiet,\"saidtherector,\"andnotattempttoinjurehimself,andtobehaveproperlywhilewearewithhim,Iwillasktohavehimunbound;buttheleastviolationofhispromisewillreflectonme。\"
\"IdosowanttomoveasIplease,dearMonsieurBonnet,\"saidthecriminal,hiseyesmoisteningwithtears,\"thatIgiveyoumywordtodoasyouwish。\"
Therectorwentout,andreturnedwiththejailer,andthejacketwastakenoff。
\"Youwon’tkillmeto—night,willyou?\"saidtheturnkey。
Jeanmadenoanswer。
\"Poorbrother!\"saidDenise,openingabasketwhichhadjustpassedthrougharigorousexamination。\"Herearesomeofthethingsyoulike;
Idaresaytheydon’tfeedyoufortheloveofGod。\"
Sheshowedhimsomefruit,gatheredassoonastherectorhadtoldhershecouldgotothejail,anda/galette/hismotherhadimmediatelybakedforhim。Thisattention,whichremindedhimofhisboyhood,thevoiceandgesturesofhissister,thepresenceofhismotherandtherector,broughtonareactionandheburstintotears。
\"Ah!Denise,\"hesaid,\"Ihavenothadagoodmealforsixmonths。I
eatonlywhendriventoitbyhunger。\"
Themotherandsisterwentoutandthenreturned;withthenaturalhousekeepingspiritofsuchwomen,whowanttogivetheirmenmaterialcomfort,theysoonhadasupperfortheirpoorchild。Inthistheofficialshelpedthem;foranorderhadbeengiventodoallthatcouldwithsafetybedoneforthecondemnedman。ThedesVanneaulxhadcontributed,withmelancholyhope,towardthecomfortofthemanfromwhomtheystillexpectedtorecovertheirinheritance。ThuspoorJean—
Francoishadalastglimpseoffamilyjoys,ifjoystheycouldbecalledundersuchcircumstances。
\"Ismyappealrejected?\"hesaidtoMonsieurBonnet。
\"Yes,mychild;nothingisleftforyoutodobuttomakeaChristianend。Thislifeisnothingincomparisontothatwhichawaitsyou;youmustthinknowofyoureternalhappiness。Youcanpayyourdebttomanwithyourlife,butGodisnotcontentwithsuchalittlethingasthat。\"
\"Giveupmylife!Ah!youdonotknowallthatIamleaving。\"
Deniselookedatherbrotherasiftowarnhimthateveninmattersofreligionhemustbecautious。
\"Letussaynomoreaboutit,\"heresumed,eatingthefruitwithanaviditywhichtoldofhisinwardfire。\"WhenamI——\"
\"No,no!saynothingofthatbeforeme!\"saidthemother。
\"ButIshouldbeeasierinmindifIknew,\"hesaid,inalowvoicetotherector。
\"Alwaysthesamenature,\"exclaimedMonsieurBonnet。Thenhebentdowntotheprisoner’searandwhispered,\"IfyouwillreconcileyourselfthisnightwithGodsothatyourrepentancewillenablemetoabsolveyou,itwillbeto—morrow。Wehavealreadygainedmuchincalmingyou,\"hesaid,aloud。
Hearingtheselastwords,Jean’slipsturnedpale,hiseyesrolledupinaviolentspasm,andanangryshudderpassedthroughhisframe。
\"AmIcalm?\"heaskedhimself。HappilyhiseyesencounteredthetearfulfaceofDenise,andherecoveredhisself—control。\"Sobeit,\"
hesaidtotherector;\"thereisnoonebutyoutowhomIwouldlisten;theyhaveknownhowtoconquerme。\"
Andheflunghimselfonhismother’sbreast。
\"Myson,\"saidthemother,weeping,\"listentoMonsieurBonnet;heriskshislife,thedearrector,ingoingtoyouto——\"shehesitated,andthensaid,\"tothegateofeternallife。\"
ThenshekissedJean’sheadandheldittoherbreastforsomemoments。
\"Willhe,indeed,gowithme?\"askedJean,lookingattherector,whobowedhisheadinassent。\"Well,yes,Iwilllistentohim;Iwilldoallheasksofme。\"
\"Youpromiseit?\"saidDenise。\"Thesavingofyoursouliswhatweseek。Besides,youwouldnothaveallLimogesandthevillagesaythataTascheronknowsnothowtodieanobledeath?Andthen,too,thinkthatallyoulosehereyouwillregaininheaven,wherepardonedsoulswillmeetagain。\"
Thissuperhumaneffortparchedthethroatoftheheroicgirl。Shewassilentafterthis,likehermother,butshehadtriumphed。Thecriminal,furiousatseeinghishappinesstornfromhimbythelaw,nowquiveredatthesublimeCatholictruthsosimplyexpressedbyhissister。Allwomen,evenyoungpeasant—womenlikeDenise,knowhowtotouchthesedelicatechords;fordoesnoteverywomanseektomakeloveeternal?Denisehadtouchedtwochords,eachmostsensitive。
Awakenedpridecalledontheothervirtueschilledbymiseryandhardenedbydespair。Jeantookhissister’shandandkissedit,andlaiditonhisheartinadeeplysignificantmanner;heapplieditbothgentlyandforcibly。
\"Yes,\"hesaid,\"Imustrenounceall;thisisthelastbeatingofmyheart,itslastthought。Keepthem,Denise。\"
Andhegaveheroneofthoseglancesbywhichamanincrucialmomentstriestoputhissoulintothesoulofanotherhumanbeing。
Thisthought,thisword,was,intruth,alasttestament,anunspokenlegacy,tobeasfaithfullytransmittedasitwastrustfullygiven。Itwassofullyunderstoodbymother,sister,andpriest,thattheyallwithoneaccordturnedtheirfacesfromeachother,tohidetheirtearsandkeepthesecretoftheirthoughtsintheirownbreasts。
Thosefewwordswerethedyingagonyofapassion,thefarewellofasoultothegloriousthingsofearth,inaccordancewithtrueCatholicrenunciation。Therector,comprehendingthemajestyofallgreathumanthings,evencriminalthings,judgedofthismysteriouspassionbytheenormityofthesin。HeraisedhiseyestoheavenasiftoinvokethemercyofGod。Thencecometheconsolations,theinfinitetendernessesoftheCatholicreligion,——sohumane,sogentlewiththehandthatdescendstoman,showinghimthelawofhigherspheres;soawful,sodivine,withthatotherhandheldouttoleadhimintoheaven。
Denisehadnowsignificantlyshowntherectorthespotbywhichtostrikethatrockandmakethewatersofrepentanceflow。Butsuddenly,asthoughthememoriesevokedweredragginghimbackwards,Jean—
Francoisgavetheharrowingcryofthehyenawhenthehuntersovertakeit。
\"No,no!\"hecried,fallingonhisknees,\"Iwilllive!Mother,givemeyourclothes;Icanescape!Mercy,mercy!Goseetheking;tellhim——\"
Hestopped,gaveahorribleroar,andclungconvulsivelytotherector’scassock。
\"Go,\"saidMonsieurBonnet,inalowvoice,totheagitatedwomen。
Jeanheardthewords;heraisedhishead,gazedathismotherandsister,thenhestoppedandkissedtheirfeet。
\"Letussayfarewellnow;donotcomeback;leavemealonewithMonsieurBonnet。Youneednotbeuneasyaboutmeanylonger,\"hesaid,pressinghismotherandhissistertohimwithastrengthinwhichheseemedtoputallhislife。
\"Howisitwedonotdieofthis?\"saidDenisetohermotherastheypassedthroughthewicket。
Itwasnearlyeighto’clockwhenthispartingtookplace。AtthegateoftheprisonthetwowomenmettheAbbedeRastignac,whoaskedthemnewsoftheprisoner。
\"HewillnodoubtbereconciledwithGod,\"saidDenise。\"Ifrepentancehasnotyetbegun,heisverynearit。\"
Thebishopwassoonafterinformedthattheclergywouldtriumphonthisoccasion,andthatthecriminalwouldgotothescaffoldwiththemostedifyingreligioussentiments。Theprelate,withwhomwastheattorney—general,expressedawishtoseetherector。MonsieurBonnetdidnotreachthepalacebeforemidnight。TheAbbeGabriel,whomademanytripsbetweenthepalaceandthejail,judgeditnecessarytofetchtherectorintheepiscopalcoach;forthepoorpriestwasinastateofexhaustionwhichalmostdeprivedhimoftheuseofhislegs。
Theeffectofhisday,theprospectofthemorrow,thesightofthesecretstrugglehehadwitnessed,andthefullrepentancewhichhadatlastovertakenhisstubbornlambwhenthegreatreckoningofeternitywasbroughthometohim,——allthesethingshadcombinedtobreakdownMonsieurBonnet,whosenervous,electricalnatureenteredintothesufferingsofothersasthoughtheywerehisown。Soulsthatresemblethatnoblesoulespousesoardentlytheimpressions,miseries,passions,sufferingsofthoseinwhomtheyareinterested,thattheyactuallyfeelthem,andinahorriblemanner,too;fortheyareabletomeasuretheirextent,——aknowledgewhichescapesotherswhoareblindedbyselfishnessofheartortheparoxysmofgrief。ItisherethatapriestlikeMonsieurBonnetbecomesanartistwhofeels,ratherthananartistwhojudges。
Whentherectorenteredthebishop’ssalonandfoundtherethetwogrand—vicars,theAbbedeRastignac,MonsieurdeGrandville,andthe/procureur—general/,hefeltconvincedthatsomethingmorewasexpectedofhim。
\"Monsieur,\"saidthebishop,\"haveyouobtainedanyfactswhichyoucan,withoutviolatingyourduty,confidetotheofficersofthelawfortheirguidance?\"
\"Monseigneur,inordertogiveabsolutiontothatpoor,wanderingchild,IwaitednotonlytillhisrepentancewasassincereandascompleteastheChurchcouldwish,butIhavealsoexactedfromhimtherestitutionofthemoney。\"
\"Thisrestitution,\"saidthe/procureur—general/,\"bringsmehereto—night;itwill,ofcourse,bemadeinsuchawayastothrowlightonthemysteriouspartsofthisaffair。Thecriminalcertainlyhadaccomplices。\"
\"Theinterestsofhumanjustice,\"saidtherector,\"arenotthoseforwhichIact。Iamignorantofhowtherestitutionwillbemade,butI
knowitwilltakeplace。Insendingformetoministertomyparishioner,MonseigneurplacedmeundertheconditionswhichgivetorectorsintheirparishesthesamepowerswhichMonseigneurexercisesinhisdiocese,——barring,ofcourse,allquestionsofdisciplineandecclesiasticalobedience。\"
\"Thatistrue,\"saidthebishop。\"Butthequestionhereishowtoobtainfromthecondemnedmanvoluntaryinformationwhichmayenlightenjustice。\"
\"MymissionistowinsoulstoGod,\"saidMonsieurBonnet。
MonsieurdeGrancourshruggedhisshouldersslightly,buthiscolleague,theAbbeDutheilnoddedhisheadinsignofapproval。
\"Tascheronisnodoubtendeavoringtoshieldsomeone,whomtherestitutionwillnodoubtbringtolight,\"saidthe/procureur—
general/。
\"Monsieur,\"repliedtherector,\"Iknowabsolutelynothingwhichwouldeitherconfuteorjustifyyoursuspicion。Besides,thesecretsofconfessionareinviolable。\"
\"Willtherestitutionreallytakeplace?\"askedthemanoflaw。
\"Yes,monsieur,\"repliedthemanofGod。
\"Thatisenoughforme,\"saidthe/procureur—general/,whoreliedonthepolicetoobtaintherequiredinformation;asifpassionsandpersonalinterestswerenottenfoldmoreastutethanthepolice。
Thenextday,thisbeingmarket—day,Jean—FrancoisTascheronwasledtoexecutioninamannertosatisfyboththepiousandthepoliticalspiritsofthetown。Exemplaryinbehavior,piousandhumble,hekissedthecrucifix,whichMonsieurBonnetheldtohislipswithatremblinghand。Theunhappymanwaswatchedandexamined;hisglancewasparticularlyspiedupon;wouldhiseyesroveinsearchofsomeoneinthecrowdorinahouse?Hisdiscretiondid,asamatteroffact,holdfirmtothelast。HediedasaChristianshould,repentantandabsolved。
Thepoorrectorwascarriedawayunconsciousfromthefootofthescaffold,thoughhedidnotevenseethefatalknife。
Duringthefollowingnight,onthehigh—roadfifteenmilesfromLimoges,Denise,thoughnearlyexhaustedbyfatigueandgrief,beggedherfathertolethergoagaintoLimogesandtakewithherLouis—
MarieTascheron,oneofherbrothers。
\"Whatmorehaveyoutodointhattown?\"askedherfather,frowning。
\"Father,\"shesaid,\"notonlymustwepaythelawyerwhodefendedhim,butwemustalsorestorethemoneywhichhehashidden。\"
\"Youareright,\"saidthehonestman,pullingoutaleathernpouchhecarriedwithhim。
\"No,no,\"saidDenise,\"heisnolongeryourson。Itisnotforthosewhocursedhim,butforthosewholovedhim,torewardthelawyer。\"
\"WewillwaitforyouatHavre,\"saidthefather。
DeniseandherbrotherreturnedtoLimogesbeforedaylight。Whenthepoliceheard,later,ofthisreturntheywereneverabletodiscoverwherethebrotherandsisterhadhiddenthemselves。
DeniseandLouiswenttotheuppertowncautiously,aboutfouro’clockthatafternoon,glidingalongintheshadowofthehouses。Thepoorgirldarednotraisehereyes,fearingtomeettheglancesofthosewhohadseenherbrother’sexecution。AftercallingonMonsieurBonnet,whoinspiteofhisweakness,consentedtoserveasfatherandguardiantoDeniseinthematter,theyallwenttothelawyer’shouseintheruedelaComedie。
\"Good—morning,mypoorchildren,\"saidthelawyer,bowingtoMonsieurBonnet;\"howcanIbeofservicetoyou?Perhapsyouwouldlikemetoclaimyourbrother’sbodyandsendittoyou?\"
\"No,monsieur,\"repliedDenise,weepingatanideawhichhadneveryetoccurredtoher。\"Icometopayhisdebttoyou——sofar,atleast,asmoneycanpayaneternaldebt。\"
\"Praysitdown,\"saidthelawyer;noticingthatDeniseandtherectorwerestillstanding。
Deniseturnedawaytotakefromhercorsettwonotesoffivehundredfrancseach,whichwerefastenedbyapintoherchemise;thenshesatdownandofferedthemtoherbrother’sdefender。Therectorgavethelawyeraflashinglookwhichwasinstantlymoistenedbyatear。
\"Keepthemoneyforyourself,mypoorgirl,\"saidthelawyer。\"Therichdonotpaysogenerouslyforalostcause。\"
\"Monsieur,\"saidDenise,\"Icannotobeyyou。\"
\"Thenthemoneyisnotyours?\"saidthelawyer。
\"Youaremistaken,\"shereplied,lookingatMonsieurBonnetasiftoknowwhetherGodwouldbeangryatthelie。
Therectorkepthiseyeslowered。
\"Well,then,\"saidthelawyer,takingonenoteoffivehundredfrancsandofferingtheothertotherector,\"Iwillshareitwiththepoor。
Now,Denise,changethisone,whichisreallymine,\"hewenton,givingherthenote,\"foryourvelvetribbonandyourgoldcross。I
willhangthecrossabovemymanteltoremindmeofthebestandpurestyounggirl’sheartIhaveeverknowninmywholeexperienceasalawyer。\"
\"Iwillgiveittoyouwithoutsellingit,\"criedDenise,takingoffher/jeannette/andofferingittohim。
\"Monsieur,\"saidtherector,\"Iacceptthefivehundredfrancstopayfortheexhumationofthepoorlad’sbodyanditstransportationtoMontegnac。Godhasnodoubtpardonedhim,andJeanwillrisewithmyflockonthatlastdaywhentherighteousandtherepentantwillbecalledtogethertotherighthandoftheFather。\"
\"Sobeit,\"repliedthelawyer。