\"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。
