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。
