HetookDenisebythehandanddrewhertowardhimtokissherforehead;buttheactionhadanothermotive。
\"Mychild,\"hewhispered,\"nooneinMontegnachasfive—hundred—francnotes;theyarerareevenatLimoges,wheretheyareonlytakenatadiscount。Thismoneyhasbeengiventoyou;youwillnottellmebywhom,andIdon’taskyou;butlistentome:ifyouhaveanythingmoretodointhistownrelatingtoyourpoorbrother,takecare!YouandMonsieurBonnetandyourbrotherLouiswillbefollowedbypolice—
spies。YourfamilyisknowntohaveleftMontegnac,andassoonasyouareseenhereyouwillbewatchedandsurroundedbeforeyouareawareofit。\"
\"Alas!\"shesaid。\"Ihavenothingmoretodohere。\"
\"Sheiscautious,\"thoughtthelawyer,ashepartedfromher。
\"However,sheiswarned;andIhopeshewillgetsafelyoff。\"
*****
DuringthislastweekinSeptember,whentheweatherwasaswarmasinsummer,thebishopgaveadinnertotheauthoritiesoftheplace。
Amongtheguestswerethe/procureur—du—roi/andtheattorney—general。
Somelivelydiscussionsprolongedthepartytillalatehour。Thecompanyplayedwhistandbackgammon,afavoritegamewiththeclergy。
Towardeleveno’clockthe/procureur—du—roi/walkedoutupontheupperterrace。Fromthespotwherehestoodhesawalightonthatislandtowhich,onacertainevening,theattentionofthebishopandtheAbbeGabrielhadbeendrawn,——Veronique’s\"IledeFrance,\"——andthegleamrecalledtothe/procureur’s/mindtheunexplainedmysteriesoftheTascheroncrime。Then,reflectingthattherecouldbenolegitimatereasonforafireonthatlonelyislandintheriveratthattimeofnight,anidea,whichhadalreadystruckthebishopandthesecretary,dartedintohismindwiththesuddennessandbrilliancyoftheflameitselfwhichwasshininginthedistance。
\"Wehaveallbeenfools!\"hecried;\"butthiswillgiveustheaccomplices。\"
Hereturnedtothesalon,soughtoutMonsieurdeGrandville,saidafewwordsinhisear,afterwhichtheybothtookleave。ButtheAbbedeRastignacaccompaniedthempolitelytothedoor;hewatchedthemastheydeparted,sawthemgototheterrace,noticedthefireontheisland,andthoughttohimself,\"Sheislost!\"
Theemissariesofthelawgottheretoolate。DeniseandLouis,whomJeanhadtaughttodive,wereactuallyonthebankoftheriverataspotnamedtothembyJean,butLouisTascheronhadalreadydivedfourtimes,bringingupeachtimeabundlecontainingtwentythousandfrancs’worthofgold。Thefirstsumwaswrappedinafoulardhandkerchiefknottedbythefourcorners。Thishandkerchief,fromwhichthewaterwasinstantlywrung,wasthrownintoagreatfireofdriftwoodalreadylighted。Denisedidnotleavethefireuntilshesaweveryparticleofthehandkerchiefconsumed。Thesecondsumwaswrappedinashawl,thethirdinacambrichandkerchief;thesewrappingswereinstantlyburnedlikethefoulard。
JustasDenisewasthrowingthewrappingofthefourthandlastpackageintothefirethegendarmes,accompaniedbythecommissaryofpolice,seizedthatincriminatingarticle,whichDeniseletthemtakewithoutmanifestingtheleastemotion。Itwasahandkerchief,onwhich,inspiteofitssoakingintheriver,tracesofbloodcouldstillbeseen。Whenquestionedastowhatshewasdoingthere,Denisesaidshewastakingthestolengoldfromtheriveraccordingtoherbrother’sinstructions。Thecommissaryaskedherwhyshewasburningcertainarticles;shesaidshewasobeyingherbrother’slastdirections。Whenaskedwhatthosearticlesweresheboldlyanswered,withoutattemptingtodeceive:\"Afoulard,ashawl,acambrichandkerchief,andthehandkerchiefnowcaptured。\"Thelatterhadbelongedtoherbrother。
ThisdiscoveryanditsattendantcircumstancesmadeagreatstirinLimoges。Theshawl,moreespecially,confirmedthebeliefthatTascheronhadcommittedthiscrimeintheinterestsofsomeloveaffair。
\"Heprotectsthatwomanafterhisdeath,\"saidonelady,hearingoftheselastdiscoveries,renderedharmlessbythecriminal’sprecautions。
\"TheremaybesomehusbandinLimogeswhowillmisshisfoulard,\"saidthe/procureur—du—roi/,withalaugh,\"buthewillnotdarespeakofit。\"
\"Thesemattersofdressarereallysocompromising,\"saidoldMadamePerret,\"thatIshallmakeasearchthroughmywardrobethisveryevening。\"
\"Whoseprettylittlefootmarkscouldhehavetakensuchpainstoeffacewhilehelefthisown?\"saidMonsieurdeGrandville。
\"Pooh!Idaresayshewasanuglywoman,\"saidthe/procureur—du—roi/。
\"Shehaspaiddearlyforhersin,\"observedtheAbbedeGrancour。
\"Doyouknowwhatthisaffairshows?\"criedMonsieurdeGrandville。
\"ItshowswhatwomenhavelostbytheRevolution,whichhaslevelledallsocialranks。Passionsofthiskindarenolongermetwithexceptinmenwhostillfeelanenormousdistancebetweenthemselvesandtheirmistresses。\"
\"Yousaddlelovewithmanyvanities,\"remarkedtheAbbeDutheil。
\"WhatdoesMadameGraslinthink?\"askedtheprefect。
\"Whatdoyouexpecthertothink?\"saidMonsieurdeGrandville。\"Herchildwasborn,asshepredictedtome,onthemorningoftheexecution;shehasnotseenanyonesincethen,forsheisdangerouslyill。\"
AscenetookplaceinanothersaloninLimogeswhichwasalmostcomical。ThefriendsofthedesVanneaulxcametocongratulatethemontherecoveryoftheirproperty。
\"Yes,buttheyoughttohavepardonedthatpoorman,\"saidMadamedesVanneaulx。\"Love,andnotgreed,madehimstealthemoney;hewasneitherviciousnorwicked。\"
\"Hewasfullofconsiderationforus,\"saidMonsieurdesVanneaulx;
\"andifIknewwherehisfamilyhadgoneIwoulddosomethingforthem。Theyareveryworthypeople,thoseTascherons。\"
X
THIRDPHASEOFVERONIQUE’SLIFE
WhenMadameGraslinrecoveredfromthelongillnessthatfollowedthebirthofherchild,whichwasnottillthecloseof1829,anillnesswhichforcedhertokeepherbedandremaininabsoluteretirement,sheheardherhusbandtalkingofanimportantpieceofbusinesshewasanxioustoconcede。TheducalhouseofNavarreinshadofferedforsaletheforestofMontegnacandtheuncultivatedlandsaroundit。
Graslinhadneveryetexecutedtheclauseinhismarriagecontractwithhiswifewhichobligedhimtoinvesthiswife’sfortuneinlands;
uptothistimehehadpreferredtoemploythemoneyinhisbank,wherehehadfullydoubledit。Henowbegantospeakofthisinvestment。HearinghimdiscussitVeroniqueappearedtorememberthenameofMontegnac,andaskedherhusbandtofulfilhisengagementaboutherpropertybypurchasingtheselands。MonsieurGraslinthenproposedtoseetherector,MonsieurBonnet,andinquireofhimabouttheestate,whichtheDucdeNavarreinswasdesirousofsellingbecauseheforesawthestrugglewhichthePrincedePolignacwasforcingonbetweenliberalismandthehouseofBourbon,andheauguredillofit;infact,thedukewasoneoftheboldestopposersofthe/coup—d’Etat/。
ThedukehadsenthisagenttoLimogestonegotiatethematter;
tellinghimtoacceptanygoodsumofmoney,forherememberedtheRevolutionof1789toowellnottoprofitbythelessonsithadtaughtthearistocracy。ThisagenthadnowbeenamonthlayingsiegetoGraslin,theshrewdestandwariestbusinessheadintheLimousin,——theonlyman,hewastoldbypracticalpersons,whowasabletopurchasesolargeapropertyandpayforitonthespot。TheAbbeDutheilwrotealinetoMonsieurBonnet,whocametoLimogesatonce,andwastakentothehotelGraslin。
Veroniquedeterminedtoasktherectortodinner;butthebankerwouldnotlethimgouptohiswife’sapartmentuntilhehadtalkedtohiminhisofficeforoveranhourandobtainedsuchinformationasfullysatisfiedhim,andmadehimresolvetobuytheforestanddomainsofMontegnacatonceforthesumoffivehundredthousandfrancs。Heacquiescedreadilyinhiswife’swishthatthispurchaseandallothersconnectedwithitshouldbeinfulfilmentoftheclauseofthemarriagecontractrelativetotheinvestmentofherdowry。Graslinwasallthemorereadytodosobecausethisactofjusticecosthimnothing,hehavingdoubledtheoriginalsum。
Atthistime,whenGraslinwasnegotiatingthepurchase,theNavarreinsdomainscomprisedtheforestofMontegnacwhichcontainedaboutthirtythousandacresofunusedland,theruinsofthecastle,thegardens,park,andaboutfivethousandacresofuncultivatedlandontheplainbeyondMontegnac。GraslinimmediatelyboughtotherlandsinordertomakehimselfmasterofthefirstpeakinthechainoftheCorrezanmountainsonwhichthevastforestofMontegnacended。SincetheimpositionoftaxestheDucdeNavarreinshadneverreceivedmorethanfifteenthousandfrancsperannumfromthismanor,onceamongtherichesttenuresofthekingdom,thelandsofwhichhadescapedthesaleof\"publicdomain\"orderedbytheConvention,onaccountprobablyoftheirbarrennessandtheknowndifficultyofreclaimingthem。
WhentherectorwentatlasttoMadameGraslin’sapartment,andsawthewomannotedforherpietyandforherintellectofwhomhehadheardspeak,hecouldnotrestrainagestureofamazement。Veroniquehadnowreachedthethirdphaseofherlife,thatinwhichshewastoriseintograndeurbytheexerciseofthehighestvirtues,——aphaseinwhichshebecameanotherwoman。TotheLittleVirginofTitian,hiddenatelevenyearsofagebeneathaspottedmantleofsmall—pox,hadsucceededabeautifulwoman,nobleandpassionate;andfromthatwoman,nowwrungbyinwardsorrows,cameforthasaint。
Herskinboretheyellowtingewhichcolorstheausterefacesofabbesseswhohavebeenfamousfortheirmacerations。Theattenuatedtempleswerealmostgolden。Thelipshadpaled,theredofanopenedpomegranatewasnolongeronthem,theircolorhadchangedtothepalepinkofaBengalrose。Atthecornersoftheeyes,closetothenose,sorrowshadmadetwoshiningtrackslikemother—of—pearl,wheretearshadflowed;tearswhicheffacedthemarksofsmall—poxandglazedtheskin。Curiositywasinvinciblyattractedtothatpearlyspot,wherethebluethreadsofthelittleveinsthrobbedprecipitately,asthoughtheywereswelledbyaninfluxofbloodbroughtthere,asitwere,tofeedthetears。Thecircleroundtheeyeswasnowadark—brownthatwasalmostblackabovetheeyelids,whichwerehorriblywrinkled。Thecheekswerehollow;intheirfoldslaythesignofsolemnthoughts。
Thechin,whichinyouthwasfullandround,thefleshcoveringthemuscles,wasnowshrunken,totheinjuryofitsexpression,whichtoldofanimplacablereligiousseverityexercisedbythiswomanuponherself。
Attwenty—nineyearsofageVeronique’shairwasscantyandalreadywhitening。Herthinnesswasalarming。Inspiteofherdoctor’sadvicesheinsistedonsucklingherson。Thedoctortriumphedintheresult;
andashewatchedthechangeshehadforetoldinVeronique’sappearance,heoftensaid:——
\"Seetheeffectsofchildbirthonawoman!Sheadoresthatchild;I
haveoftennoticedthatmothersarefondestofthechildrenwhocostthemmost。\"
Veronique’sfadedeyeswereallthatretainedevenamemoryofheryouth。Thedarkblueoftheirisstillcastitspassionatefires,towhichthewoman’slifeseemedtohaveretreated,desertingthecold,impassibleface,andglowingwithanexpressionofdevotionwhenthewelfareofafellow—beingwasconcerned。
Thusthesurprise,thedreadoftherectorceasedbydegreesashewentonexplainingtoMadameGraslinallthegoodthatalargeownerofpropertycoulddoatMontegnacprovidedhelivedthere。Veronique’sbeautycamebacktoherforamomentashereyesglowedwiththelightofanunhoped—forfuture。
\"Iwilllivethere,\"shesaid。\"Itshallbemywork。IwillaskMonsieurGraslinformoney,andIwillgladlyshareinyourreligiousenterprise。Montegnacshallbefertilized;wewillfindsomemeanstowaterthosearidplains。LikeMoses,youhavestruckarockfromwhichthewaterswillgush。\"
TherectorofMontegnac,whenquestionedbyhisfriendsinLimogesaboutMadameGraslin,spokeofherasasaint。
ThedayafterthepurchasewasconcludedMonsieurGraslinsentanarchitecttoMontegnac。Thebankerintendedtorestorethechateau,gardens,terrace,andpark,andalsotoconnectthecastlegroundswiththeforestbyaplantation。Hesethimselftomaketheseimprovementswithvaingloriousactivity。
AfewmonthslaterMadameGraslinmetwithagreatmisfortune。InAugust,1830,Graslin,overtakenbythecommercialandbankingdisastersofthatperiod,becameinvolvedbynofaultofhisown。Hecouldnotendurethethoughtofbankruptcy,northatoflosingafortuneofthreemillionsacquiredbyfortyyearsofincessanttoil。
Themoralmaladywhichresultedfromthisanguishofmindaggravatedtheinflammatorydiseasealwaysreadytobreakforthinhisblood。Hetooktohisbed。SinceherconfinementVeronique’sregardforherhusbandhaddeveloped,andhadoverthrownallthehopesofheradmirer,MonsieurdeGrandville。Shestrovetosaveherhusband’slifebyunremittingcare,withnoresultbutthatofprolongingforafewmonthsthepoorman’stortures;buttherespitewasveryusefultoGrossetete,who,foreseeingtheendofhisformerclerkandpartner,obtainedfromhimalltheinformationnecessaryforthepromptliquidationoftheassets。
GraslindiedinApril,1831,andthewidow’sgriefyieldedonlytoChristianresignation。Veronique’sfirstwords,whentheconditionofMonsieurGraslin’saffairsweremadeknowntoher,werethatsheabandonedherownfortunetopaythecreditors;butitwasfoundthatGraslin’sownpropertywasmorethansufficient。Twomonthslater,theliquidation,ofwhichGrossetetetookcharge,lefttoMadameGraslintheestateofMontegnacandsixhundredthousandfrancs,herwholepersonalfortune。Theson’snameremaineduntainted,forGraslinhadinjurednoone’sproperty,noteventhatofhiswife。FrancisGraslin,theson,receivedaboutonehundredthousandfrancs。
MonsieurdeGrandville,towhomVeronique’sgrandeurofsoulandnoblequalitieswerewellknown,madeheranofferofmarriage;but,tothesurpriseofallLimoges,MadameGraslindeclined,underpretextthattheChurchdiscouragedsecondmarriages。Grossetete,amanofstrongcommon—senseandsuregraspofasituation,advisedVeroniquetoinvestherpropertyandwhatremainedofMonsieurGraslin’sintheFunds;andhemadetheinvestmenthimselfinoneofthegovernmentsecuritieswhichofferedspecialadvantagesatthattime,namely,theThree—per—cents,whichwerethenquotedatfifty。ThechildFrancisreceived,therefore,sixthousandfrancsayear,andhismotherfortythousand。Veronique’sfortunewasstillthelargestinthedepartment。
Whentheseaffairswereallsettled,MadameGraslinannouncedherintentionofleavingLimogesandtakingupherresidenceatMontegnac,tobenearMonsieurBonnet。ShesentfortherectortoconsultabouttheenterprisehewassoanxioustocarryonatMontegnac,inwhichshedesiredtotakepart。Butheendeavoredunselfishlytodissuadeher,tellingherthatherplacewasintheworldandinsociety。
\"IwasbornofthepeopleandIwishtoreturntothepeople,\"shereplied。Onwhichtherector,fullofloveforhisvillage,saidnomoreagainstMadameGraslin’sapparentvocation;andthelessbecauseshehadactuallyputitoutofherpowertocontinueinLimoges,havingsoldthehotelGraslintoGrossetete,who,tocoverasumthatwasduetohim,tookitatitspropervaluation。
Thedayofherdeparture,towardtheendofAugust,1831,MadameGraslin’snumerousfriendsaccompaniedhersomedistanceoutofthetown。Afewwentasfarasthefirstrelay。Veroniquewasinanopencarriagewithhermother。TheAbbeDutheil(justappointedtoabishopric)occupiedthefrontseatofthecarriagewitholdGrossetete。Astheypassedthroughtheplaced’Aine,Veroniqueshowedsignsofasuddenshock;herfacecontractedsothattheplayofthemusclescouldbeseen;sheclaspedherinfanttoherbreastwithaconvulsivemotion,whicholdMadameSauviatconcealedbyinstantlytakingthechild,forsheseemedtobeonthewatchforherdaughter’sagitation。ChancewilledthatMadameGraslinshouldpassthroughthesquareinwhichstoodthehouseshehadformerlyoccupiedwithherfatherandmotherinhergirlishdays;shegraspedhermother’shandwhilegreattearsfellfromhereyesandrolleddownhercheeks。
AfterleavingLimogessheturnedandlookedback,seemingtofeelanemotionofhappinesswhichwasnoticedbyallherfriends。WhenMonsieurdeGrandville,thenayoungmanoftwenty—five,whomshedeclinedtotakeasahusband,kissedherhandwithanearnestexpressionofregret,thenewbishopnoticedthestrangemannerinwhichtheblackpupilofVeronique’seyessuddenlyspreadovertheblueoftheiris,reducingittoanarrowcircle。Theeyebetrayedunmistakablysomeviolentinwardemotion。
\"Ishallneverseehimagain,\"shewhisperedtohermother,whoreceivedthisconfidencewithoutbetrayingtheslightestfeelinginheroldface。
MadameGraslinwasatthatinstantundertheobservationofGrossetete,whowasdirectlyinfrontofher;but,inspiteofhisshrewdness,theoldbankerdidnotdetectthehatredwhichVeroniquefeltforthemagistrate,whomsheneverthelessreceivedatherhouse。
Butchurchmenhavefarmoreperceptionthanothermen,andMonsieurDutheilsuddenlystartledVeroniquewithapriestlyglance。
\"DoyouregretnothinginLimoges?\"heaskedher。
\"Nothing,nowthatyouareleavingit;andmonsieur,\"sheadded,smilingatGrossetete,whowasbiddingheradieu,\"willseldombethere。\"
ThebishopaccompaniedMadameGraslinasfarasMontegnac。
\"Ioughttowalkthisroadinsackclothandashes,\"shesaidinhermother’searastheywentonfootupthesteepslopeofSaint—Leonard。
Theoldwomanputherfingeronherlipsandglancedatthebishop,whowaslookingatthechildwithterribleattention。Thisgesture,andtheluminouslookintheprelate’seyes,sentashudderthroughVeronique’sbody。AttheaspectofthevastplainsstretchingtheirgrayexpansebeforeMontegnacthefirediedoutofhereyes,andaninfinitesadnessovercameher。Presentlyshesawthevillagerectorcomingtomeether,andtogethertheyreturnedtothecarriage。
\"Thereisyourdomain,madame,\"saidMonsieurBonnet,extendinghishandtowardthebarrenplain。
Afewmomentsmore,andthevillageofMontegnac,withitshill,onwhichthenewlyerectedbuildingsstrucktheeye,cameinsight,gildedbythesettingsun,andfullofthepoesybornofthecontrastbetweenthebeautifulspotandthesurroundingbarrenness,inwhichitlaylikeanoasisinthedesert。MadameGraslin’seyesfilledsuddenlywithtears。Therectorcalledherattentiontoabroadwhitelinelikeagashonthemountainside。
\"Seewhatmyparishionershavedonetotestifytheirgratitudetotheladyofthemanor,\"hesaid,pointingtotheline,whichwasreallyaroad;\"wecannowdriveuptothechateau。Thispieceofroadhasbeenmadebythemwithoutcostingyouapenny,andtwomonthshenceweshallplantitwithtrees。Monseigneurwillunderstandwhattroubleandcareanddevotionwereneededtoaccomplishsuchachange。\"
\"Isitpossibletheyhavedonethat?\"saidthebishop。
\"Withoutacceptinganypaymentfortheirwork,Monseigneur。Thepoorestputtheirhandsintoit,knowingthatitwouldbringamotheramongthem。\"
Atthefootofthehillthetravellerssawthewholepopulationoftheneighborhood,whowerelightingfire—boxesanddischargingafewguns;
thentwooftheprettiestofthevillagegirls,dressedinwhite,cameforwardtoofferMadameGraslinflowersandfruit。
\"Tobethusreceivedinthisvillage!\"sheexclaimed,graspingtherector’shandasifshestoodonthebrinkofaprecipice。
Thecrowdaccompaniedthecarriagetotheirongatesoftheavenue。
FromthereMadameGraslincouldseeherchateau,ofwhichasyetshehadonlycaughtglimpses,andshewasthunderstruckatthemagnificenceofthebuilding。Stoneisrareinthoseparts,thegraniteofthemountainsbeingdifficulttoquarry。ThearchitectemployedbyGraslintorestorethehousehadusedbrickasthechiefsubstanceofthisvastconstruction。ThiswasrenderedlesscostlybythefactthattheforestofMontegnacfurnishedallthenecessarywoodandclayforitsfabrication。Theframeworkofwoodandthestoneforthefoundationsalsocamefromtheforest;otherwisethecostoftherestorationswouldhavebeenruinous。Thechiefexpenseshadbeenthoseoftransportation,labor,andsalaries。Thusthemoneylaidoutwaskeptinthevillage,andgreatlybenefitedit。
Atfirstsight,andfromadistance,thechateaupresentsanenormousredmass,threadedbyblacklinesproducedbythepointing,andedgedwithgray;forthewindowanddoorcasings,theentablatures,cornerstones,andcoursesbetweenthestories,areofgranite,cutinfacetslikeadiamond。Thecourtyard,whichformsaslopingovallikethatoftheChateaudeVersailles,issurroundedbybrickwallsdividedintopanelsbyprojectingbuttresses。Atthefootofthesewallsaregroupsofrareshrubs,remarkableforthevariedcoloroftheirgreens。TwofineirongatesplacedoppositetoeachotherleadononesidetoaterracewhichoverlooksMontegnac,ontheothertotheofficesandafarm—house。
Thegrandentrance—gate,towhichtheroadjustconstructedled,isflankedbytwoprettylodgesinthestyleofthesixteenthcentury。
Thefacadeonthecourtyardlookingeasthasthreetowers,——oneinthecentre,separatedfromthetwoothersbythemainbuildingofthehouse。Thefacadeonthegardens,whichisabsolutelythesameastheothers,lookswestward。Thetowershavebutonewindowonthefacade;
themainbuildinghasthreeoneithersideofthemiddletower。Thelatter,whichissquarelikea/campanile/,thecornersbeingvermiculated,isnoticeablefortheeleganceofafewcarvingssparselydistributed。Artistimidintheprovinces,andthough,since1829,ornamentationhasmadesomeprogressattheinstigationofcertainwriters,landownerswereatthatperiodafraidofexpenseswhichthelackofcompetitionandskilledworkmenrenderedserious。
Thecornertowers,whichhavethreestorieswithasinglewindowineach,lookingtotheside,arecoveredwithveryhigh—pitchedroofssurroundedbygranitebalustrades,andoneachpyramidalslopeoftheseroofscrownedatthetopwiththesharpridgeofaplatformsurroundedwithawroughtironrailing,isanotherwindowcarvedliketherest。OneachfloorthecorbelsofthedoorsandwindowsareadornedwithcarvingscopiedfromthoseoftheGenoesemansions。ThecornertowerwiththreewindowstothesouthlooksdownonMontegnac;
theother,tothenorth,facestheforest。FromthegardenfronttheeyetakesinthatpartofMontegnacwhichisstillcalledLesTascherons,andfollowsthehigh—roadleadingthroughthevillagetothechieftownofthedepartment。ThefacadeonthecourtyardhasaviewofthevastplainssemicircledbythemountainsoftheCorreze,onthesidetowardMontegnac,butendinginthefardistanceonalowhorizon。Themainbuildinghasonlyonefloorabovetheground—floor,coveredwithamansarderoofintheoldenstyle。Thetowersateachendarethreestoriesinheight。ThemiddletowerhasastunteddomesomethinglikethatonthePavillondel’HorlogeofthepalaceoftheTuileries,andinitisasingleroomformingabelvedereandcontainingtheclock。Asamatterofeconomytheroofshadallbeenmadeofgutter—tiles,theenormousweightofwhichwaseasilysupportedbythestoutbeamsanduprightsoftheframeworkcutintheforest。
BeforehisdeathGraslinhadlaidouttheroadwhichthepeasantryhadjustbuiltoutofgratitude;fortheserestorations(whichGraslincalledhisfolly)haddistributedseveralhundredthousandfrancsamongthepeople;inconsequenceofwhichMontegnachadconsiderablyincreased。Graslinhadalsobegun,beforehisdeath,behindtheofficesontheslopeofthehillleadingdowntotheplain,anumberoffarmbuildings,provinghisintentiontodrawsomeprofitfromthehithertouncultivatedsoiloftheplains。Sixjourneyman—gardeners,whowerelodgedintheoffices,werenowatworkunderordersofaheadgardener,plantingandcompletingcertainworkswhichMonsieurBonnethadconsideredindispensable。
Theground—floorapartmentsofthechateau,intendedonlyforreception—rooms,hadbeensumptuouslyfurnished;theupperfloorwasratherbare,MonsieurGraslinhavingstoppedforatimetheworkoffurnishingit。
\"Ah,Monseigneur!\"saidMadameGraslintothebishop,aftergoingtheroundsofthehouse,\"Iwhoexpectedtoliveinacottage!PoorMonsieurGraslinwasextravagantindeed!\"
\"Andyou,\"saidthebishop,addingafterapause,ashenoticedtheshudderthanranthroughherframeathisfirstwords,\"youwillbeextravagantincharity?\"
Shetookthearmofhermother,whowasleadingFrancisbythehand,andwenttothelongterraceatthefootofwhicharethechurchandtheparsonage,andfromwhichthehousesofthevillagecanbeseenintiers。TherectorcarriedoffMonseigneurDutheiltoshowhimthedifferentsidesofthelandscape。Beforelongthetwopriestscameroundtothefartherendoftheterrace,wheretheyfoundMadameGraslinandhermothermotionlessasstatues。Theoldwomanwaswipinghereyeswithahandkerchief,andherdaughterstoodwithbothhandsstretchedbeyondthebalustradeasthoughshewerepointingtothechurchbelow。
\"Whatisthematter,madame?\"saidtherectortoMadameSauviat。
\"Nothing,\"repliedMadameGraslin,turningroundandadvancingafewstepstomeetthepriests;\"IdidnotknowthatIshouldhavethecemeteryundermyeyes。\"
\"Youcanputitelsewhere;thelawgivesyouthatright。\"
\"Thelaw!\"sheexclaimedwithalmostacry。
AgainthebishoplookedfixedlyatVeronique。Disturbedbythedarkglancewithwhichthepriesthadpenetratedtheveiloffleshthatcoveredhersoul,draggingthenceasecrethiddeninthegraveofthatcemetery,shesaidtohimsuddenly:——
\"Well,/yes/!\"
Thepriestlaidhishandoverhiseyesandwassilentforamomentasifstunned。
\"Helpmydaughter,\"criedtheoldmother;\"sheisfainting。\"
\"Theairissokeen,itovercomesme,\"saidMadameGraslin,asshefellunconsciousintothearmsofthetwopriests,whocarriedherintooneofthelowerroomsofthechateau。
Whensherecoveredconsciousnessshesawthepriestsontheirkneesprayingforher。
\"Maytheangelyouvisitedyouneverleaveyou!\"saidthebishop,blessingher。\"Farewell,mydaughter。\"
OvercomebythosewordsMadameGraslinburstintotears。
\"Tearswillsaveher!\"criedhermother。
\"Inthisworldandinthenext,\"saidthebishop,turningroundashelefttheroom。
TheroomtowhichtheyhadcarriedMadameGraslinwasonthefirstfloorabovetheground—floorofthecornertower,fromwhichthechurchandcemeteryandsouthernsideofMontegnaccouldbeseen。Shedeterminedtoremainthere,anddidso,moreorlessuncomfortably,withAlinehermaidandlittleFrancis。MadameSauviat,naturally,tookanotherroomnearhers。
ItwasseveraldaysbeforeMadameGraslinrecoveredfromtheviolentemotionwhichovercameheronthatfirstevening,andhermotherinducedhertostayinbedatleastduringthemornings。Atnight,Veroniquewouldcomeoutandsitonabenchoftheterracefromwhichhereyescouldrestonthechurchandcemetery。InspiteofMadameSauviat’smutebutpersistentopposition,MadameGraslinformedanalmostmonomaniacalhabitofsittinginthesameplace,wheresheseemedtogivewaytotheblackestmelancholy。
\"Madamewilldie,\"saidAlinetotheoldmother。
AppealedtobyMadameSauviat,therector,whohadwishednottoseemintrusive,camehenceforthveryfrequentlytovisitMadameGraslin;heneededonlytobewarnedthathersoulwassick。ThistruepastortookcaretopayhisvisitsatthehourwhenVeroniquecameouttositatthecorneroftheterracewithherchild,bothindeepmourning。
XI
THERECTORATWORK
ItwasnowthebeginningofOctober,andNaturewasgrowingdullandsad。MonsieurBonnet,perceivinginVeroniquefromthemomentofherarrivalatMontegnactheexistenceofaninwardwound,thoughtitwisesttowaitforthevoluntaryandcompleteconfidenceofawomanwhowouldsoonerorlaterbecomehispenitent。