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。