\"MonsieurBonnet,\"saidthearchbishop,lookingattherector,\"youhaveaccomplishedamiracle。\"
\"NotI,butGod,Monseigneur,\"hereplied。
\"Theysaidshewasdying,\"saidMonsieurGrossetete,\"butsheisdead;
thereisnothingleftofherbutspirit。\"
\"Asoul,\"saidGerard。
\"Andyetsheisstillthesame,\"criedthe/procureur—general/。
\"AstoicafterthemannerofthePorchphilosophers,\"saidthetutor。
Theywalkedinsilencethewholelengthofthebalustrade,lookingatthelandscapestillredwiththedeclininglight。
\"Tomewhosawthisscenethirteenyearsago,\"saidthearchbishop,pointingtothefertileplain,thevalley,andthemountainsofMontegnac,\"thismiracleisasextraordinaryasthatwehavejustwitnessed。ButhowcomesitthatyouallowMadameGraslintowalkabout?Sheoughttobeinherbed。\"
\"Shewasthere,\"saidMadameSauviat;\"fortendaysshedidnotleaveit;butto—daysheinsistedongettinguptotakealastlookatthelandscape。\"
\"Icanunderstandthatshewantedtobidfarewelltohergreatcreation,\"saidMonsieurdeGrandville;\"butsheriskedexpiringonthisterrace。\"
\"MonsieurRoubaudtoldusnottothwarther,\"saidMadameSauviat。
\"Whatastupendouswork!whatamiraclehasbeenaccomplished!\"saidthearchbishop,whoseeyeswererovingoverthescenebeforehim。\"Shehasliterallysownthedesert!Butweknow,monsieur,\"headded,turningtoGerard,\"thatyourscientificknowledgeandyourlaborshavealargeshareinit。\"
\"Theyhavebeenonlytheworkmen,\"repliedthemayor。\"Yes,thehandsonly;shehasbeenthethought。\"
MadameSauviathereleftthegroup,tohear,ifpossible,thedecisionofthedoctors。
\"Weneedsomeheroismourselves,\"saidMonsieurdeGrandvilletotherectorandthearchbishop,\"toenableustowitnessthisdeath。\"
\"Yes,\"saidMonsieurGrossetete,whooverheardhim,\"butweoughttodomuchforsuchafriend。\"
Afterseveralturnsupanddowntheterrace,thesepersons,fullofsolemnthoughts,sawtwofarmersapproachingthem,sentasadeputationfromthevillage,wheretheinhabitantswereinastateofpainfulanxietytoknowthesentencepronouncedbythephysicianfromParis。
\"Theyarestillconsulting,andasyetweknownothing,myfriends,\"
saidthearchbishop。
Ashespoke,MonsieurRoubaudappearedcomingtowardthem,andtheyallhurriedtomeethim。
\"Well?\"saidthemayor。
\"Shecannotliveforty—eighthourslonger,\"repliedMonsieurRoubaud。
\"Duringmyabsencethediseasehasfullydeveloped;MonsieurBianchondoesnotunderstandhowitwaspossibleforhertohavewalked。Suchphenomenalexhibitionsofstrengtharealwayscausedbygreatmentalexaltation。So,gentlemen,\"saidthedoctortothepriests,\"shebelongstoyounow;scienceisuseless,andmyillustriousfellow—
physicianthinksyouhavebarelytimeenoughforyourlastoffices。\"
\"Letusgonowandsaytheprayersforthefortyhours,\"saidtherectortohisparishioners,turningtoleavetheterrace。\"HisGracewilldoubtlessadministerthelastsacraments。\"
Thearchbishopbowedhishead;hecouldnotspeak;hiseyeswerefulloftears。Everyonesatdown,orleanedagainstthebalustrade,absorbedinhisownthought。Thechurchbellspresentlysentforthafewsadcalls,andthenthewholepopulationwereseenhurryingtowardtheporch。ThegleamofthelightedtapersshonethroughthetreesinMonsieurBonnet’sgarden;thechantsresounded。Nocolorwasleftinthelandscapebutthedullredhueofthedusk;eventhebirdshadhushedtheirsongs;thetree—frogalonesentforthitslong,clear,melancholynote。
\"Iwillgoanddomyduty,\"saidthearchbishop,turningawaywithaslowsteplikeamanovercomewithemotion。
Theconsultationhadtakenplaceinthegreatsalonofthechateau。
Thisvastroomcommunicatedwithastatebedchamber,furnishedinreddamask,inwhichGraslinhaddisplayedacertainopulentmagnificence。
Veroniquehadnotentereditsixtimesinfourteenyears;thegrandapartmentswerequiteuselesstoher,andsheneverreceivedherfriendsthere。Butnowtheeffortshehadmadetoaccomplishherlastobligation,andtoovercomeherlastrepugnancehadexhaustedherstrength,andshewaswhollyunabletomountthestairstoherownrooms。
Whentheillustriousphysicianhadtakenthepatient’shandandfeltherpulsehelookedatMonsieurRoubaudandmadehimasign;thentogethertheyliftedherandcarriedherintothechamber。Alinehastilyopenedthedoors。Likeallstatebedstheoneinthisroomhadnosheets,andthetwodoctorslaidMadameGraslinonthedamaskcoverlet。Roubaudopenedthewindows,pushedbacktheouterblinds,andcalled。TheservantsandMadameSauviatwentin。Thetapersinthecandelabrawerelighted。
\"Itisordained,\"saidthedyingwoman,smiling,\"thatmydeathshallbewhatthatofaChristianshouldbe——afestival!\"
Duringtheconsultationshesaid:——
\"The/procureur—general/hasdonehisprofessionalduty;Iwasgoing,andhehaspushedmeon。\"
Theoldmotherlookedatherandlaidafingeronherlips。
\"Mother,Ishallspeak,\"repliedVeronique。\"See!thehandofGodisinallthis;Iamdyinginaredroom——\"
MadameSauviatwentout,unabletobearthosewords。
\"Aline,\"shesaid,\"shewillspeak!shewillspeak!\"
\"Ah!madameisoutofhermind,\"criedthefaithfulmaid,whowasbringingsheets。\"Fetchtherector,madame。\"
\"Yourmistressmustbeundressed,\"saidBianchontothemaid。
\"Itwillbeverydifficulttodoit,monsieur;madameiswrappedinahair—clothgarment。\"
\"What!inthenineteenth—centurycansuchhorrorsberevived?\"saidthegreatdoctor。
\"MadameGraslinhasneverallowedmetotouchherstomach,\"saidRoubaud。\"Ihavebeenabletojudgeoftheprogressofthediseaseonlyfromherfaceandherpulse,andthelittleinformationIcouldgetfromhermotherandthemaid。\"
Veroniquewasnowplacedonasofawhilethebedwasbeingmade。Thedoctorsspoketogetherinalowvoice。MadameSauviatandAlinemadethebed。Thefacesofthetwowomenwerefullofanguish;theirheartswerewrungbythethought,\"Wearemakingherbedforthelasttime——
shewilldiehere!\"
Theconsultationwasnotlong。ButBianchonexactedattheoutsetthatAlineshould,inspiteofthepatient’sresistance,cutoffthehairshirtandputonanight—dress。Thedoctorsreturnedtothesalonwhilethiswasbeingdone。WhenAlinepassedthemcarryingtheinstrumentoftorturewrappedinanapkin,shesaid:——
\"Madame’sbodyisonegreatwound。\"
Thedoctorsreturnedtothebedroom。
\"YourwillisstrongerthanthatofNapoleon,madame,\"saidBianchon,afteraskingafewquestions,towhichVeroniquerepliedveryclearly。
\"YoukeepyourmindandyourfacultiesinthelaststagesofadiseasewhichrobbedtheEmperorofhisbrilliantintellect。FromwhatIknowofyouIthinkIoughttotellyouthetruth。\"
\"Iimploreyoutodoso,\"shesaid。\"Youareabletoestimatewhatstrengthremainstome;andIhaveneedofallmyvigorforafewhours。\"
\"Thinkonlyofyoursalvation,\"repliedBianchon。
\"IfGodhasgivenmegracetodieinpossessionofallmyfaculties,\"
shesaidwithacelestialsmile,\"besurethatthisfavorwillbeusedtothegloryofhisChurch。ThepossessionofmymindandsensesisnecessarytofulfilacommandofGod,whereasNapoleonhadaccomplishedallhisdestiny。\"
Thedoctorslookedateachotherinastonishmentathearingthesewords,saidwithasmucheaseasthoughMadameGraslinwerestillpresidinginhersalon。
\"Ah!hereisthedoctorwhoistocureme,\"shesaidpresently,whenthearchbishop,summonedbyRoubaud,enteredtheroom。
Shecollectedallherstrengthandrosetoasittingposture,inordertobowgraciouslytoMonsieurBianchon,andbeghimtoacceptsomethingelsethanmoneyforthegoodnewshegaveher。Shesaidafewwordsinhermother’sear,andMadameSauviatimmediatelyledawaythedoctors;thenVeroniquerequestedthearchbishoptopostponetheirinterviewtilltherectorcouldcometoher,expressingawishtorestforawhile。Alinewatchedbesideher。
AtmidnightMadameGraslinawoke,andaskedforthearchbishopandrector,whomAlinesilentlyshowedhercloseathand,prayingforher。
Shemadeasigndismissinghermotherandthemaid,and,atanothersign,thetwopriestscametothebedside。
\"Monseigneur,andyou,mydearrector,\"shesaid,\"willhearnothingyoudonotalreadyknow。Youwerethefirst,Monseigneur,tocastyoureyesintomyinnerself;youreadtherenearlyallmypast;andwhatyoureadsufficedyou。Myconfessor,thatguardianangelwhomheavenplacednearme,knowsmore;Ihavetoldhimall。You,whosemindsareenlightenedbythespiritoftheChurch,IwishtoconsultyouastothemannerinwhichIoughtasatrueChristiantoleavethislife。
You,austereandsaintlyspirits,thinkyouthatifGoddeignstopardononewhoserepentanceisthedeepest,themostabsolute,thatevershookahumansoul,thinkyouthateventhenIhavemademyfullexpiationherebelow?\"
\"Yes,\"saidthearchbishop;\"yes,mydaughter。\"
\"No,myfather,no!\"shesaidrisinginherbed,thelightningflashingfromhereyes。\"Notfarfromherethereisagrave,whereanunhappymanislyingbeneaththeweightofadreadfulcrime;hereinthissumptuoushomeisawoman,crownedwiththefameofbenevolenceandvirtue。Thiswomanisblessed;thatpooryoungmaniscursed。Thecriminaliscoveredwithobloquy;Ireceivetherespectofall。Ihadthelargestshareinthesin;hehasashare,alargeshareinthegoodwhichhaswonformesuchgloryandsuchgratitude。FraudthatI
am,Ihavethehonor;he,themartyrtohisloyalty,hastheshame。I
shalldieinafewhours,andthecantonwillmournme;thewholedepartmentwillringwithmygooddeeds,mypiety,myvirtue;buthediedcoveredwithinsults,insightofawholepopulationrushing,withhatredtoamurderer,toseehimdie。You,myjudges,youareindulgenttome;yetIhearwithinmyselfanimperiousvoicewhichwillnotletmerest。Ah!thehandofGod,lesstenderthanyours,strikesmefromdaytoday,asiftowarnmethatallisnotexpiated。
Mysinscannotberedeemedexceptbyapublicconfession。Heishappy!
criminal,hegavehislifewithignominyinfaceofearthandheaven;
andI,IcheattheworldasIcheatedhumanjustice。ThehomageI
receivehumiliatesme;praisesearsmyheart。Doyounotsee,intheverycomingofthe/procureur—general/,acommandfromheavenechoingthevoiceinmyownsoulwhichcriestome:Confess!\"
Thetwopriests,theprinceoftheChurchaswellasthehumblerector,thesetwogreatlights,eachinhisownway,stoodwiththeireyesloweredandweresilent。Deeplymovedbythegrandeurandtheresignationoftheguiltywoman,thejudgescouldnotpronouncehersentence。
\"Mychild,\"saidthearchbishopatlast,raisinghisnoblehead,maceratedbythecustomsofhisausterelife,\"youaregoingbeyondthecommandmentsoftheChurch。ThegloryoftheChurchistomakeherdogmaconformtothehabitsandmannersofeachage;fortheChurchgoesonfromagetoageincompanywithhumanity。Accordingtoherpresentdecisionsecretconfessionhastakentheplaceofpublicconfession。Thissubstitutionhasmadethenewlaw。Thesufferingsyouhaveenduredsuffice。Dieinpeace:Godhasheardyou。\"
\"ButisnotthisdesireofaguiltywomaninconformitywiththelawofthefirstChurch,whichhasenrichedheavenwithasmanysaintsandmartyrsandconfessingsoulsastherearestarsinthefirmament?\"
persistedVeronique,vehemently。\"Whosaid:/Confessyourselvestooneanother/?Wasitnotthedisciples,wholivedwiththeSaviour?Letmeconfessmyshamepubliclyonmyknees。Itwillredeemmysintotheworld,tothatfamilyexiledandalmostextinctthroughme。Theworldoughttoknowthatmybenefactionsarenotanoffering,butthepaymentofadebt。Supposethatlater,aftermydeath,somethingtorefrommymemorythelyingveilwhichcoversme。Ah!thatideaismorethanIcanbear,itisdeathindeed!\"
\"Iseeinthistoomuchofcalculation,mychild,\"saidthearchbishop,gravely。\"Passionsarestilltoostronginyou;theoneI
thoughtextinctis——\"
\"Oh!Isweartoyou,Monseigneur,\"shesaid,interruptingtheprelateandfixinghereyes,fullofhorror,uponhim,\"myheartisaspurifiedasthatofaguiltyandrepentantwomancanbe;thereisnothingnowwithinmebutthethoughtofGod。\"
\"Monseigneur,\"saidtherectorinatendervoice,\"letusleavecelestialjusticetotakeitscourse。ItisnowfouryearssinceI
havestronglyopposedthiswish;itistheonlydifferencethathasevercomebetweenmypenitentandmyself。Ihaveseentothedepthsofthatsoul,andIknowthisearthhasnolongeranyholdthere。Thoughthetears,theremorse,thecontritionoffifteenyearsrelatetothemutualsinofthosetwopersons,believemetherearenoremainsofearthlypassioninthislongandterriblebewailing。Memorynolongerminglesitsflameswiththoseofanardentpenitence。Yes,tearshaveatlastextinguishedthatgreatfire。Iguarantee,\"hesaid,stretchinghishandoverMadameGraslin’shead,andlettinghismoistenedeyesbeseen,\"Iguaranteethepurityofthatangelicsoul。
AndalsoIseeinthisdesirethethoughtofreparationtoanabsentfamily,amemberofwhichGodhasbroughtbackherebyoneofthoseeventswhichrevealHisprovidence。\"
Veroniquetookthetremblinghandoftherectorandkissedit。
\"Youhaveoftenbeenverysterntome,dearpastor,butatthismomentIseewhereyoukeepyourapostolicgentleness。You,\"shesaid,lookingatthearchbishop,\"you,thesupremeheadofthiscornerofGod’skingdom,betome,inthismomentofignominy,asupport。Imustbowdownasthelowestofwomen,butyouwillliftmeuppardonedand——possibly——theequalofthosewhoneversinned。\"
Thearchbishopwassilent,weighingnodoubtalltheconsiderationshispractisedeyeperceived。
\"Monseigneur,\"saidtherector,\"religionhashadsomeheavyblows。
Thisreturntoancientcustoms,broughtaboutbythegreatnessofthesinanditsrepentance,mayitnotbeatriumphwehavenorighttorefuse?\"
\"Buttheywillsaywearefanatics!Theywilldeclarewehaveexactedthiscruelscene!\"
Andagainthearchbishopwassilentandthoughtful。
AtthismomentHoraceBianchonandRoubaudenteredtheroom,afterknocking。AsthedooropenedVeroniquesawhermother,herson,andalltheservantsofthehouseholdontheirkneespraying。TherectorsofthetwoadjacentparisheshadcometoassistMonsieurBonnet,andalso,perhaps,topaytheirrespectstothegreatprelate,forwhomtheFrenchclergynowdesiredthehonorsofthecardinalate,hopingthattheclearnessofhisintellect,whichwasthoroughlyGallican,wouldenlightentheSacredCollege。
HoraceBianchonreturnedtoParis;beforedeparting,hecametobidfarewelltothedyingwomanandthankherforhermunificence。Slowlyheapproached,perceivingfromthefacesoftheprieststhatthewoundsofthesoulhadbeenthedeterminingcauseofthoseofthebody。HetookMadameGraslin’shand,laiditonthebedandfeltthepulse。Thedeepsilence,thatofasummernightinacountrysolitude,gaveadditionalsolemnitytothescene。Thegreatsalon,seenthroughthedoubledoors,waslightedupforthelittlecompanyofpersonswhowereprayingthere;allwereontheirkneesexceptthetwopriestswhowereseatedandreadingtheirbrevaries。Oneithersideofthegrandstatebedweretheprelateinhisvioletrobes,therector,andthetwophysicians。
\"Sheisagitatedalmostuntodeath,\"saidHoraceBianchon,who,likeallmenofgreattalent,sometimesusedspeechasgrandastheoccasionthatcalleditforth。
Thearchbishoproseasifsomeinwardimpulsedrovehim;hecalledtoMonsieurBonnet,andtogethertheycrossedtheroom,passedthroughthesalon,andwentoutupontheterrace,wheretheywalkedupanddownforsomemoments。Whentheyreturned,afterdiscussingthiscaseofecclesiasticaldiscipline,Roubaudmetthem。
XXI
CONFESSIONATTHEGATESOFTHETOMB
Atteno’clockinthemorningthearchbishop,wearinghispontificalrobes,cameintoMadameGraslin’schamber。Theprelate,aswellastherector,hadsuchconfidenceinthiswomanthattheygavehernoadviceorinstructionsastothelimitswithinwhichsheoughttomakeherconfession。
Veroniquenowsawanassemblageofclergyfromalltheneighboringdistricts。Monseigneurwasassistedbyfourvicars。Themagnificentvesselsshehadbestoweduponherdearparishchurchwerebroughttothehouseandgavesplendortotheceremony。Eightchoristersintheirwhiteandredsurplicesstoodintworowsfromthebedtothedoorofthesalon,eachholdingoneofthelargebronze—giltcandelabrawhichVeroniquehadorderedfromParis。Thecrossandthechurchbannerwereheldoneithersideofthebedbywhite—hairedsacristans。Thankstothedevotionofherservants,awoodenaltarbroughtfromthesacristyhadbeenerectedclosetothedoorofthesalon,andsopreparedanddecoratedthatMonseigneurcouldsaymassuponit。
MadameGraslinwasdeeplytouchedbytheseattentions,whichtheChurch,asageneralthing,grantsonlytoroyalpersonages。Thefoldingdoorsbetweenthesalonandthedining—roomwereopen,andshecouldseeavistaoftheground—floorroomsfilledwiththevillagepopulation。Herfriendshadthoughtofeverything;thesalonwasoccupiedexclusivelybythemselvesandtheservantsofthehousehold。
Inthefrontrankandgroupedbeforethedoorofthebedroomwerehernearestfriends,thoseonwhosediscretionreliancecouldbeplaced。
MM。Grossetete,deGrandville,Roubaud,Gerard,Clousier,Ruffin,tookthefirstplaces。Theyhadarrangedamongthemselvesthattheyshouldriseandstandinagroup,thuspreventingthewordsoftherepentantwomanfrombeingheardinthefartherrooms;buttheirtearsandsobswould,inanycase,havedrownedhervoice。
Atthismomentandbeforeallelseinthataudience,twopersonspresented,toanobserver,apowerfullyaffectingsight。OnewasDeniseTascheron。Herforeigngarments,ofQuakersimplicity,madeherunrecognizablebyherformervillageacquaintance。Theotherwasquiteanotherpersonage,anacquaintancenottobeforgotten,andhisapparitiontherewaslikeastreakofluridlight。The/procureur—
general/camesuddenlytoaperceptionofthetruth;thepartthathehadplayedtoMadameGraslinunrolleditselfbeforehim;hedivinedittoitsfullestextent。Lessinfluenced,asasonofthenineteenthcentury,bythereligiousaspectofthematter,MonsieurdeGrandville’sheartwasfilledwithanawfuldread;forhesawbeforehim,hecontemplatedthedramaofthatwoman’shiddenselfatthehotelGraslinduringthetrialofJean—FrancoisTascheron。Thattragicperiodcamebackdistinctlytohismemory,——lightedevennowbythemother’seyes,shiningwithhatred,whichfelluponhimwherehestood,likedropsofmoltenlead。Thatoldwoman,standingtenfeetfromhim,forgavenothing。Thatman,representinghumanjustice,trembled。Pale,strucktotheheart,hedarednotcasthiseyesuponthebedwherelaythewomanhehadlovedsowell,nowlividbeneaththehandofdeath,gatheringstrengthtoconqueragonyfromthegreatnessofhersinanditsrepentance。ThemeresightofVeronique’sthinprofile,sharplydefinedinwhiteuponthecrimsondamask,causedhimavertigo。
Ateleveno’clockthemassbegan。AftertheepistlehadbeenreadbytherectorofVizaythearchbishopremovedhisdalmaticandadvancedtothethresholdofthebedroomdoor。
\"Christians,gatherheretoassistintheceremonyofextremeunctionwhichweareabouttoadministertothemistressofthishouse,\"hesaid,\"youwhojoinyourprayerstothoseoftheChurchandintercedewithGodtoobtainfromHimhereternalsalvation,youarenowtolearnthatshedoesnotfeelherselfworthy,inthis,herlasthour,toreceivetheholyviaticumwithouthavingmade,fortheedificationofherfellows,apublicconfessionofthegreatestofhersins。Wehaveresistedherpiouswish,althoughthisactofcontritionwaslonginuseduringtheearlyagesofChristianity。But,asthispoorwomantellsusthatherconfessionmayservetorehabilitateanunfortunatesonofthisparish,weleaveherfreetofollowtheinspirationsofherrepentance。\"
Afterthesewords,saidwithpastoralunctionanddignity,thearchbishopturnedasidetogiveplacetoVeronique。Thedyingwomancameforward,supportedbyheroldmotherandtherector,——themotherfromwhomshederivedherbody,theChurch,thespiritualmotherofhersoul。Shekneltdownonacushion,claspedherhands,andseemedtocollectherselfforafewmoments,asiftogatherfromsomesourcedescendingfromheaventhepowertospeak。Atthismomentthesilencewasalmostterrifying。Nonedaredlookattheirneighbor。Alleyeswerelowered。AndyettheeyesofVeronique,whensheraisedthem,encounteredthoseofthe/procureur—general/,andtheexpressiononthatblanchedfacebroughtthecolortohers。
\"Icouldnotdieinpeace,\"saidVeronique,inavoiceofdeepemotion,\"ifIsufferedthefalseimpressionyouallhaveofmetoremain。Youseeinmeaguiltywoman,whoasksyourprayers,andwhoseekstomakeherselfworthyofpardonbythispublicconfessionofhersin。Thatsinwassogreat,itsconsequencesweresofatal,thatperhapsnopenancecanatoneforit。ButthemorehumiliationIsubmittohereonearth,thelessImayhavetodreadthewrathofGodintheheavenlykingdomtowhichIamgoing。Myfather,whohadgreatconfidenceinme,commendedtomycare(nowtwentyyearsago)asonofthisparish,inwhomhehadseenagreatdesiretoimprovehimself,anaptitudeforstudy,andfinecharacteristics。ImeantheunfortunateJean—FrancoisTascheron,whothenceforthattachedhimselftomeashisbenefactress。HowdidtheaffectionIfeltforhimbecomeaguiltyone?Ithinkmyselfexcusedfromexplainingthis。Perhapsitcouldbeshownthatthepurestsentimentsbywhichweactinthisworldwereinsensiblydivertedfromtheircoursebyuntoldsacrifices,byreasonsarisingfromourhumanfrailty,bymanycauseswhichmightappeartodismisstheevilofmysin。Butevenifthenoblestaffectionsmovedme,wasIlessguilty?RatherletmeconfessthatI,whobyeducation,bypositionintheworld,mightconsidermyselfsuperiortotheyouthmyfatherconfidedtome,andfromwhomIwasseparatedbythenaturaldelicacyofoursex,——Ilistened,fatally,tothepromptingsofthedevil。Isoonfoundmyselftoomuchthemotherofthatyoungmantobeinsensibletohismuteanddelicateadmiration。Healone,hefirst,recognizedmytruevalue。Butperhapsahorriblecalculationenteredmymind。Ithoughthowdiscreetayouthwouldbewhoowedhisalltome,andwhomthechancesoflifehadputsofarawayfromme,thoughwewerebornequals。Imadeevenmyreputationforbenevolence,mypiousoccupations,acloaktoscreenmyconduct。Alas!——andthisisdoubtlessoneofmygreatestsins——Ihidmypassionundercoverofthealtar。Themostvirtuousofmyactions——theloveIboremymother,theactsofdevotionwhichweresincereandtrueinthemidstofmywrong—
doing——all,allweremadetoservetheendsofadesperatepassion,andwerelinksinthechainthatheldme。Mypoorbelovedmother,whohearsmenow,wasforalongtime,ignorantly,anaccompliceinmysin。Whenhereyeswereopened,toomanydangerousfactsexistednottogivehermother’sheartthestrengthtobesilent。Silencewithherhasbeenthehighestvirtue。HerloveforherdaughterhasgonebeyondherlovetoGod。Ah!Iheredischargehersolemnlyfromtheheavyburdenofsecrecywhichshehasborne。Sheshallendherdayswithoutcompellingeithereyesorbrowtolie。Lethermotherhoodstandclearofblame;letthatnoble,sacredoldage,crownedwithvirtue,shinewithitsnaturallustre,freedofthatlinkwhichboundherindirectlytoinfamy!\"
Tearscheckedthedyingwoman’svoiceforaninstant;Alinegavehersaltstoinhale。
\"ThereisnoonewhohasnotbeenbettertomethanIdeserve,\"shewenton,——\"eventhedevotedservantwhodoesthislastservice;shehasfeignedignoranceofwhatsheknew,butatleastshewasinthesecretofthepenancesbywhichIhavedestroyedthefleshthatsinned。IherebegpardonoftheworldforthelongdeceptiontowhichIhavebeenledbytheterriblelogicofsociety。Jean—FrancoisTascheronwasnotasguiltyasheseemed。Ah!youwhohearme,I
imploreyoutorememberhisyouth,andthemadnessexcitedinhimpartlybytheremorsethatseizeduponme,partlybyinvoluntaryseductions。Morethanthat!itwasasenseofhonor,thoughamistakenhonor,whichcausedthemostawfuloftheseevils。Neitherofuscouldendureourperpetualdeceit。Heappealed,unhappyman,tomyownrightfeeling;hesoughttomakeourfatalloveaslittlewoundingtoothersasitcouldbe。Wemeanttohideourselvesawayforever。ThusIwasthecause,thesolecause,ofhiscrime。Drivenbynecessity,theunhappyman,guiltyoftoomuchdevotiontoanidol,chosefromallevilactstheonewhichmightbehereafterreparable。Iknewnothingofittillthemomentofexecution。AtthatmomentthehandofGodthrewdownthatscaffoldingoffalsecontrivances——Iheardthecries;
theyechoinmyears!Idivinedthestruggle,whichIcouldnotstop,——I,thecauseofit!Tascheronwasmaddened;Iswearit。\"
HereVeroniqueturnedhereyesuponMonsieurdeGrandville,andasobwasheardtoissuefromDeniseTascheron’sbreast。
\"Helosthismindwhenhesawwhathethoughthishappinessdestroyedbyunforeseencircumstances。Theunhappyman,misledbyhislove,wentheadlongfromadelinquentacttocrime——fromrobberytoadoublemurder。Heleftmymother’shouseaninnocentman,hereturnedaguiltyone。Ialoneknewthattherewasneitherpremeditationnoranyoftheaggravatingcircumstancesonwhichhewassentencedtodeath。A
hundredtimesIthoughtofbetrayingmyselftosavehim;ahundredtimesahorribleandnecessaryrestraintstoppedthewordsuponmylips。Undoubtedly,mypresencenearthescenehadcontributedtogivehimtheodious,infamous,ignoblecourageofamurderer。Wereitnotforme,hewouldhavefled。Ihadformedthatsoul,trainedthatmind,enlargedthatheart;Iknewit;hewasincapableofcowardiceormeanness。Dojusticetothatinvoluntarilyguiltyarm,dojusticetohim,whomGod,inhismercy,hasallowedtosleepinhisquietgrave,whereyouhaveweptforhim,suspecting,itmaybe,theextenuatingtruth。Punish,cursetheguiltycreaturebeforeyou!Horrifiedbythecrimewhenoncecommitted,Ididmybesttohidemyshareinit。
Trustedbymyfather——I,whowaschildless——toleadachildtoGod,I
ledhimtothescaffold!Ah!punishme,curseme,thehourhascome!\"
Sayingthesewords,hereyesshonewiththestoicprideofasavage。
Thearchbishop,standingbehindher,andasifprotectingherwiththepastoralcross,abandonedhisimpassibledemeanorandcoveredhiseyeswithhisrighthand。Amuffledcrywasheard,asthoughsomeoneweredying。Twopersons,GerardandRoubaud,receivedandcarriedawayintheirarms,DeniseTascheron,unconscious。ThatsightseemedforaninstanttoquenchthefireinVeronique’seyes;shewasevidentlyuneasy;butsoonherself—controlandserenityofmartyrdomresumedtheirsway。
\"Younowknow,\"shecontinued,\"thatIdeserveneitherpraiseorblessingformyconducthere。IhaveledinsightofHeaven,asecretlifeofbitterpenancewhichHeavenwillestimate。MylifebeforemenhasbeenanimmensereparationfortheevilsIhavecaused;Ihavemarkedmyrepentanceineffaceablyontheearth;itwilllastalmosteternallyherebelow。Itiswrittenonthosefertilefields,intheprosperousvillage,intherivuletsbroughtfromthemountainstowatertheplainoncebarrenandfruitless,nowgreenandfertile。Notatreewillbecutforahundredyearstocomebutthepeopleofthisregionwillknowoftheremorsethatmadeitgrow。Myrepentantsoulwillstilllivehereamongyou。Whatyouwillowetoitsefforts,toafortunehonorablyacquired,istheheritageofitsrepentance,——therepentanceofherwhocausedthecrime。Allhasbeenrepairedsofarassocietyisconcerned;butIamstillresponsibleforthatlife,crushedinitsbud,——alifeconfidedtomeandforwhichIamnowrequiredtorenderanaccount。\"
Theflameofhereyeswasveiledintears。
\"Thereishere,beforeme,aman,\"shecontinued,\"who,becausehedidhisdutystrictly,hasbeentomeanobjectofhatredwhichIthoughteternal。Hewasthefirstinflictorofmypunishment。Myfeetwerestilltoodeepinblood,Iwastoonearthedeed,nottohatejustice。
Solongasthatrootofangerlayinmyheart,Iknewtherewasstillalingeringremnantofcondemnablepassion。Ihadnothingtoforgivethatman,IhaveonlyhadtopurifythatcornerofmyheartwhereEvillurked。Howeverharditmayhavebeentowinthatvictory,itiswon。\"
MonsieurdeGrandvilleturnedafacetoVeroniquethatwasbathedintears。Humanjusticeseemedatthatmomenttofeelremorse。Whentheconfessingwomanraisedherheadasiftocontinue,shemettheagonizinglookofoldmanGrossetete,whostretchedhissupplicatinghandstoherasiftosay,\"Enough,enough!\"Atthesameinstantasoundoftearsandsobswasheard。Movedbysuchsympathy,unabletobearthebalmofthisgeneralpardon,shewasseizedwithfaintness。
Seeingthatherdaughter’svitalforcewasgoneatlast,theoldmothersummonedthevigorofheryouthtocarryheraway。
\"Christians,\"saidthearchbishop,\"youhaveheardtheconfessionofthatpenitentwoman;itconfirmsthesentenceofhumanjustice。YououghttoseeinthisfreshreasontojoinyourprayerstothoseoftheChurchwhichofferstoGodtheholysacrificeofthemass,toimplorehismercyinfavorofsodeeparepentance。\"
Theserviceswenton。Veronique,lyingonthebed,followedthemwithalookofsuchinwardcontentmentthatsheseemed,toeveryeye,nolongerthesamewoman。Onherfacewasthecandidandvirtuousexpressionofthepureyounggirlsuchasshehadbeeninherparents’
home。Thedawnofeternallifewasalreadywhiteningherbrowandglorifyingherfacewithitscelestialtints。Doubtlesssheheardthemysticharmonies,andgatheredstrengthtolivefromherdesiretouniteherselfoncemorewithGodinthelastcommunion。Therectorcamebesidethebedandgaveherabsolution。Thearchbishopadministeredthesacredoilswithafatherlytendernessthatshowedtoalltherepresenthowdearthelostbutnowrecoveredlambhadbeentohim。Then,withthesacredanointing,heclosedtothethingsofearththoseeyeswhichhaddonesuchevil,andlaidthesealoftheChurchuponthelipsthatwereoncetooeloquent。Theears,bywhichsomanyevilinspirationshadpenetratedhermind,wereclosedforever。Allthesenses,deadenedbyrepentance,werethussanctified,andthespiritofevilcouldhavenofurtherpowerwithinhersoul。
NeverdidassistantsofthisceremonymorefullyunderstandthegrandeurandprofundityofthesacramentthanthosewhonowsawtheactsoftheChurchjustlyfollowingtheconfessionofthatdyingwoman。
Thusprepared,VeroniquereceivedthebodyofJesusChristwithanexpressionofhopeandjoywhichmeltedtheiceofunbeliefagainstwhichtherectorhadsooftenbruisedhimself。Roubaud,confoundedinallhisopinions,becameaCatholiconthespot。Thescenewastouchingandyetawesome;thesolemnityofitseveryfeaturewassogreatthatpaintersmighthavefoundtherethesubjectofamasterpiece。
Whenthisfuneralpartwasover,andthedyingwomanheardthepriestsbeginthereadingofthegospelofSaintJohn,shesignedtohermothertobringherson,whohadbeentakenfromtheroombyhistutor。WhenshesawFranciskneelingbythebedsidethepardonedmotherfeltshehadtherighttolayherhanduponhisheadandblesshim。Doingso,shedied。
OldMadameSauviatwasthere,atherpost,erectasshehadbeenfortwentyyears。Thiswoman,heroicafterherfashion,closedherdaughter’seyes——thoseeyesthathadweptsomuch——andkissedthem。
Allthepriests,followedbythechoristers,surroundedthebed。Bytheflaminglightofthetorchestheychantedtheterrible/DeProfundis/,theechoesofwhichtoldthepopulationkneelingbeforethechateau,thefriendsprayinginthesalon,theservantsintheadjoiningrooms,thatthemotherofthecantonwasdead。Thehymnwasaccompaniedwithmoansandtears。Theconfessionofthatgrandwomanhadnotbeenaudiblebeyondthethresholdofthesalon,andnonebutlovingearshadheardit。
Whenthepeasantsoftheneighborhood,joiningwiththoseofMontegnac,came,onebyone,tolayupontheirbenefactressthecustomarypalm,togetherwiththeirlastfarewellmingledwithprayersandtears,theysawthemanofjustice,crushedbygrief,holdingthehandofthewomanwhom,withoutintendingit,hehadsocruellybutsojustlystricken。
Twodayslaterthe/procureur—general/,Grossetete,thearchbishop,andthemayor,holdingthecornersoftheblackpall,conductedthebodyofMadameGraslintoitslastresting—place。Itwaslaidinthegraveindeepsilence;notawordwassaid;noonehadstrengthtospeak;alleyeswerefulloftears。\"Sheisnowasaint!\"wassaidbythepeasantsastheywentawayalongtheroadsofthecantontowhichshehadgivenprosperity,——sayingthewordstohercreationsasthoughtheywereanimatebeings。
NoonethoughtitstrangethatMadameGraslinwasburiedbesidethebodyofJean—FrancoisTascheron。Shehadnotaskedit;buttheoldmother,asthelastactofhertenderpity,hadrequestedthesextontomakethegravethere,——puttingtogetherthosewhomearthhadsoviolentlyparted,andwhosesoulswerenowreunitedthroughrepentanceinpurgatory。
MadameGraslin’swillwasfoundtobeallthatwasexpectedofit。ShefoundedscholarshipsandhospitalbedsatLimogessolelyforworking—
men;sheassignedaconsiderablesum——threehundredthousandfrancsinsixyears——forthepurchaseofthatpartofthevillagecalledLesTascherons,whereshedirectedthatahospitalshouldbebuilt。Thishospital,intendedfortheindigentoldpersonsofthecanton,forthesick,forlying—inwomenifpaupers,andforfoundlings,wastobecalledtheTascheronHospital。VeroniqueorderedittobeplacedinchargeoftheGraySisters,andfixedthesalariesofthesurgeonandthephysicianatfourthousandfrancsforeach。SherequestedRoubaudtobethefirstphysicianofthishospital,placinguponhimthechoiceofthesurgeon,andrequestinghimtosuperintendtheerectionofthebuildingwithreferencetosanitaryarrangements,conjointlywithGerard,whowastobethearchitect。ShealsogavetothevillageofMontegnacanextentofpasturelandsufficienttopayallitstaxes。Thechurch,sheendowedwithafundtobeusedforaspecialpurpose,namely:watchwastobekeptoveryoungworkmen,andcasesdiscoveredinwhichsomevillageyouthmightshowadispositionforart,orscience,ormanufactures;theinterestofthefundwasthentobeusedinfosteringit。Theintelligentbenevolenceofthetestatrixnamedthesumthatshouldbetakenforeachoftheseencouragements。
ThenewsofMadameGraslin’sdeath,receivedthroughoutthedepartmentasacalamity,wasnotaccompaniedbyanyrumorinjurioustothememoryofthiswoman。Thisdiscretionwasahomagerenderedtosomanyvirtuesbythehard—workingCatholicpopulation,whichrenewedinthislittlecornerofFrancethemiraclesofthe\"LettresEdifiantes。\"
Gerard,appointedguardianofFrancisGraslin,andobliged,bytermsofthewill,toresideatthechateau,movedthere。ButhedidnotmarryDeniseTascheronuntilthreemonthsafterVeronique’sdeath。Inher,Francisfoundasecondmother。