Thisdeclaration，whichwascausedbyobservingthephenomenonthatformerlymadeVeroniquesobeautifulonherreturnfromtheholytable，madeagreatnoiseinLimoges，whereforatimetheyoungdeputy，towhomtheplaceofthe/procureur—general/wassaidtobepromised，playedaleadingpart。Inallprovincialtownsamanwhorisesatrifleaboveothersbecomes，foraperiodmoreorlessprotracted，theobjectofalikingwhichresemblesenthusiasm，andwhichusuallydeceivestheobjectofthisephemeralworship。Itistothissocialcapricethatweowesomanylocalgeniuses，soonignoredandtheirfalsereputationsmortified。Themenwhomwomenmakethefashioninthiswayareoftenerstrangersthancompatriots。
InthisparticularcasetheadmirersoftheVicomtedeGrandvillewerenotmistaken;hewasintruthasuperiorman。MadameGraslinwastheonlywomanhefoundinLimogeswithwhomhecouldexchangeideasandkeepupavariedconversation。Afewmonthsafterhisarrival，attractedbytheincreasingcharmofVeronique’smannersandconversation，heproposedtotheAbbeDutheil，andafewotheroftheremarkablemeninLimoges，tomeetintheeveningsatMadameGraslin’shouseandplaywhist。AtthistimeMadameGraslinwasathomefiveeveningsintheweektovisitors，reservingtwofreedays，asshesaid，forherself。
WhenMadameGraslinhadthusgatheredaboutherthedistinguishedmenwehavementioned，otherswerenotsorrytogivethemselvesthereputationofclevernessbyseekingtojointhesamesociety。
Veroniquealsoreceivedthreeorfourofthedistinguishedofficersofthegarrisonandstaff;butthefreedomofminddisplayedbyherguests，andthetacitdiscretionenjoinedbythemannersofthebestsociety，madeherextremelycautiousastotheadmissionofthosewhonowviedwitheachothertoobtainherinvitations。
TheotherwomeninthisprovincialsocietywerenotwithoutjealousyinseeingMadameGraslinsurroundedbythemostagreeableanddistinguishedmeninthetown;butbythistimeVeronique’ssocialpowerwasallthestrongerbecauseitwasexclusive;sheacceptedtheintimacyoffourorfivewomenonly，andthesewerestrangersinLimogeswhohadcomefromPariswiththeirhusbands，andwhoheldinhorrorthepettygossipofprovinciallife。Ifanyoneoutsideofthislittlecliqueofsuperiorpersonscameintomakeavisit，theconversationimmediatelychanged，andthehabituesofthehousetalkedcommonplace。
ThehotelGraslinthusbecameanoasiswhereintelligentmindsfoundrelaxationandrelieffromthedulnessofprovinciallife;wherepersonsconnectedwiththegovernmentcouldexpressthemselvesfreelyonpoliticswithoutfearofhavingtheirwordstakendownandrepeated;whereallcouldsatirizethatwhichprovokedsatire，andwhereeachindividualabandonedhisprofessionaltrammelsandyieldedhimselfuptohisnaturalself。
So，afterbeingthemostobscureyounggirlinallLimoges，consideredugly，dull，andvacant，MadameGraslin，atthebeginningoftheyear1828，wasregardedasoneoftheleadingpersonagesinthetown，andthemostnotedwomaninsociety。Noonewenttoseeherinthemornings，forallknewherhabitsofbenevolenceandtheregularityofherreligiousobservances。Shealwayswenttoearlymasssoasnottodelayherhusband’sbreakfast，forwhich，however，therewasnofixedhour，thoughsheneverfailedtobepresentandtoserveitherself。
Graslinhadtrainedhiswifetothislittleceremony。Hecontinuedtopraiseheronalloccasions;hethoughtherperfect;sheneveraskedhimforanything;hecouldpileuplouisuponlouis，andspreadhisinvestmentsoverawidefieldofenterprisethroughhisrelationswiththeBrezacs;hesailedwithafairwindandwellfreightedovertheoceanofcommerce，——hisintensebusinessinterestkeepinghiminthestill，thoughhalf—intoxicated，frenzyofgamblerswatchingeventsonthegreentableofspeculation。
Duringthishappyperiod，anduntilthebeginningoftheyear1829，MadameGraslinattained，intheeyesofherfriends，toadegreeofbeautythatwasreallyextraordinary，thereasonsofwhichtheywereunabletoexplain。Theblueoftheirisexpandedlikeaflower，diminishingthedarkcircleofthepupil，andseemingtofloatinaliquidandlanguishinglightthatwasfulloflove。Herforehead，illuminedbythoughtsandmemoriesofhappiness，wasseentowhitenlikethezenithbeforethedawn，anditslineswerepurifiedbyaninwardfire。Herfacelostthoseheatedbrowntoneswhichbetokenadisturbanceoftheliver，——thatmaladyofvigorousconstitutions，orofpersonswhosesoulisdistressedandwhoseaffectionsarethwarted。
Hertemplesbecameadorablyfreshandpure;gleamsofthecelestialfaceofaRaffaelleshowedthemselvesnowandtheninhers，——afacehithertoobscuredbythemaladyofgrief，asthecanvasofthegreatmasterisencrustedbytime。Herhandsseemedwhiter;hershoulderstookonanexquisitefulness;hergraceful，animatedmovementsgavetohersupplefigureitsutmostcharm。
TheLimogeswomenaccusedherofbeinginlovewithMonsieurdeGrandville，whocertainlypaidherassiduousattention，towhichVeroniqueopposedallthebarriersofaconscientiousresistance。Theviscountprofessedforheroneofthoserespectfulattachmentswhichdidnotblindthehabitualvisitorsofhersalon。Thepriestsandmenofsensesawplainlythatthisaffection，whichwasloveonthepartoftheyoungman，didnotgobeyondthepermissiblelineinMadameGraslin。Wearyatlastofaresistancebasedonreligiousprinciple，theVicomtedeGrandvilleconsoledhimself（totheknowledgeofhisintimates）withotherandeasierfriendships;whichdidnot，however，lessenhisconstantadmirationandworshipofthebeautifulMadameGraslin，——suchwasthetermbywhichshewasdesignatedin1829。
Themostclear—sightedamongthosewhosurroundedherattributedthechangewhichrenderedVeroniqueincreasinglycharmingtoherfriendstothesecretdelightwhichallwomen，eventhemostreligious，feelwhentheyseethemselvescourted;andtothesatisfactionoflivingatlastinacirclecongenialtohermind，wherethepleasureofexchangingideasandthehappinessofbeingsurroundedbyintelligentandwell—informedmenandtruefriends，whoseattachmentdeepeneddaybyday，haddispersedforeverthewearydulnessofherlife。
Perhaps，however，closer，moreperceptiveorscepticalobserverswereneededthanthosewhofrequentedthehotelGraslin，todetectthebarbaricgrandeur，theplebeianforceofthePeoplewhichlaydeep—
hiddeninhersoul。Ifsometimesherfriendssurprisedherinatorporofmeditationeithergloomyormerelypensive，theyknewsheboreuponherheartthemiseriesofothers，andhaddoubtlessthatmorningbeeninitiatedinsomefreshsorrow，orhadpenetratedtosomehauntwherevicesterrifythesoulwiththeircandor。
Theviscount，nowpromotedtobe/procureur—general/，wouldoccasionallyblameherforcertainunintelligentactsofcharitybywhich，asheknewfromhissecretpolice—reports，shehadgivenencouragementtocriminalschemes。
"Ifyoueverwantmoneyforanyofyourpaupers，letmebeasharerinyourgooddeeds，"saidoldGrossetete，takingVeronique’shand。
"Ah！"sherepliedwithasigh，"itisimpossibletomakeeverybodyrich。"
Atthebeginningofthisyearaneventoccurredwhichwasdestinedtochangethewholeinteriorlifeofthiswomanandtotransformthesplendidexpressionofhercountenanceintosomethingfarmoreinterestingintheeyesofpainters。
Becominguneasyabouthishealth，Graslin，tohiswife’sdespair，nolongerdesiredtoliveontheground—floor。Hereturnedtotheconjugalchamberandallowedhimselftobenursed。ThenewssoonspreadthroughoutLimogesthatMadameGraslinwaspregnant。Hersadness，mingledwithjoy，struckthemindsofherfriends，whothenforthefirsttimeperceivedthatinspiteofhervirtuesshehadbeenhappyinthefactoflivingseparatefromherhusband。Perhapsshehadhopedforsomebetterfateeversincethetimewhen，asitwasknown，theattorney—generalhaddeclinedtomarrytherichestheiressintheplace，inordertokeephisloyaltytoher。
FromthissuggestiontheregrewupinthemindsoftheprofoundpoliticianswhoplayedtheirwhistatthehotelGraslinabeliefthattheviscountandtheyoungwifehadbasedcertainhopesontheill—
healthofthebankerwhichwerenowfrustrated。ThegreatagitationswhichmarkedthisperiodofVeronique’slife，theanxietieswhichafirstchildbirthcausesineverywoman，andwhich，itissaid，threatensspecialdangerwhensheispastherfirstyouth，madeherfriendsmoreattentivethanevertoher;theyviedwitheachotherinshowingherthoselittlekindnesseswhichprovedhowwarmandsolidtheiraffectionreallywas。
V
TASCHERON
ItwasinthisyearthatLimogeswitnessedaterribleeventandthesingulardramaoftheTascherontrial，inwhichtheyoungVicomtedeGrandvilledisplayedthetalentswhichafterwardsmadehim/procureur—
general/。
AnoldmanlivinginalonelyhouseinthesuburbofSaint—Etiennewasmurdered。Alargefruit—gardenlaybetweentheroadandthehouse，whichwasalsoseparatedfromtheadjoiningfieldsbyapleasure—
garden，atthefartherendofwhichwereseveraloldanddisusedgreenhouses。InfrontofthehousearapidslopetotheriverbankgaveaviewoftheVienne。Thecourtyard，whichalsoslopeddownward，endedatalittlewall，fromwhichsmallcolumnsroseatequaldistancesunitedbyarailing，more，however，forornamentthanprotection，forthebarsoftherailingwereofpaintedwood。
Theoldman，namedPingret，notedforhisavarice，livedwithasinglewoman—servant，acountry—girlwhodidalltheworkofthehouse。Hehimselftookcareofhisespaliers，trimmedhistrees，gatheredhisfruit，andsentittoLimogesforsale，togetherwithearlyvegetables，intheraisingofwhichheexcelled。
Thenieceofthisoldman，andhissoleheiress，marriedtoagentlemanofsmallmeanslivinginLimoges，aMadamedesVanneaulx，hadagainandagainurgedheruncletohireamantoprotectthehouse，pointingouttohimthathewouldthusobtaintheprofitsofcertainuncultivatedgroundwherehenowgrewnothingbutclover。Buttheoldmansteadilyrefused。Morethanonceadiscussiononthesubjecthadcutintothewhist—playingofLimoges。Afewshrewdheadsdeclaredthattheoldmiserburiedhisgoldinthatclover—field。
"IfIwereMadamedesVanneaulx，"saidawit，"Ishouldn’ttormentmyuncleaboutit;ifsomebodymurdershim，why，lethimbemurdered！I
shouldinheritthemoney。"
MadamedesVanneaulx，however，wantedtokeepheruncle，afterthemannerofthemanagersoftheItalianOpera，whoentreattheirpopulartenortowrapuphisthroat，andgivehimtheircloakifhehappenstohaveforgottenhisown。ShehadsentoldPingretafineEnglishmastiff，whichJeanneMalassis，theservant—womanbroughtbackthenextdaysaying:——
"Youruncledoesn’twantanothermouthtofeed。"
Theresultprovedhowwell—foundedweretheniece’sfears。Pingretwasmurderedonadarknight，inthemiddleofhisclover—field，wherehemayhavebeenaddingafewcoinstoaburiedpotofgold。Theservant—
woman，awakenedbythestruggle，hadthecouragetogototheassistanceoftheoldmiser，andthemurdererwasunderthenecessityofkillinghertosuppresshertestimony。Thisnecessity，whichfrequentlycausesmurdererstoincreasethenumberoftheirvictims，isanevilproducedbythefearofthedeathpenalty。
Thisdoublemurderwasattendedbycuriouscircumstanceswhichtoldasmuchfortheprosecutionasforthedefence。AftertheneighborshadmissedseeingthelittleoldPingretandhismaidforawholemorningandhadgazedathishousethroughthewoodenrailingsastheypassedit，andseenthat，contrarytocustom，thedoorsandwindowswerestillclosed，anexcitementbeganintheFaubourgSaint—EtiennewhichpresentlyreachedtheruedelaCloche，whereMadamedesVanneaulxresided。
Theniecewasalwaysinexpectationofsomesuchcatastrophe，andsheatoncenotifiedtheofficersofthelaw，whowenttothehouseandbrokeinthegate。Theysoondiscoveredinacloverpatchfourholes，andneartwooftheseholeslaythefragmentsofearthenwarepots，whichhaddoubtlessbeenfullofgoldthenightbefore。Intheothertwoholes，scarcelycoveredup，werethebodiesofoldPingretandJeanneMalassis，whohadbeenburiedwiththeirclotheson。Thepoorgirlhadruntohermaster’sassistanceinhernight—gown，withbarefeet。
Whilethe/procureur—du—roi/，thecommissaryofpolice，andtheexaminingmagistrateweregatheringallparticularsforthebasisoftheiraction，thelucklessdesVanneaulxpickedupthebrokenpotsandcalculatedfromtheircapacitythesumlost。Themagistratesadmittedthecorrectnessoftheircalculationsandenteredthesumstolenontheirrecordsas，inallprobability，athousandgoldcoinstoeachpot。Butwerethesecoinsforty—eightorforty，twenty—fourortwentyfrancsinvalue？AllexpectantheirsinLimogessympathizedwiththedesVanneaulx。TheLimousinimaginationwasgreatlystirredbythespectacleofthebrokenpots。AsforoldPingret，whooftensoldvegetableshimselfinthemarket，livedonbreadandonions，neverspentmorethanthreehundredfrancsayear，obligedanddisobligednoone，andhadneverdoneoneatomofgoodinthesuburbofSaint—
Etiennewherehelived，hisdeathdidnotexcitetheslightestregret。
PoorJeanneMalassis’heroism，whichtheoldmiser，hadshesavedhim，wouldcertainlynothaverewarded，wasthoughtrash;thenumberofsoulswhoadmireditwassmallincomparisonwiththosewhosaid:"Formypart，Ishouldhavestayedinmybed。"
Thepolicefoundneitherpennorinkwherewithtowritetheirreportinthebare，dilapidated，cold，anddismalhouse。Observingpersonsandtheheirmightthenhavenoticedacuriousinconsistencywhichmaybeseenincertainmisers。Thedreadthelittleoldmanhadoftheslightestoutlayshoweditselfinthenon—repairedroofwhichopeneditssidestothelightandtherainandsnow;inthecracksofthewalls;intherottendoorsreadytofallattheslightestshock;inthewindows，wherethebrokenglasswasreplacedbypapernotevenoiled。Allthewindowswerewithoutcurtains，thefireplaceswithoutmirrorsorandirons;thehearthwasgarnishedwithonelogofwoodandafewlittlesticksalmostcakedwiththesootwhichhadfallendownthechimney。Thereweretworicketychairs，twothincouches，afewcrackedpotsandmendedplates，aone—armedarmchair，adilapidatedbed，thecurtainsofwhichtimehadembroideredwithaboldhand，aworm—eatensecretarywherethemiserkepthisseeds，apileoflinenthickenedbymanydarns，andaheapofraggedgarments，whichexistedonlybythewilloftheirmaster;hebeingdeadtheydroppedintoshreds，powder，chemicaldissolution，infactIknownotintowhatformofutterruin，assoonastheheirortheofficersofthelawlaidroughhandsuponthem;theydisappearedasifafraidofbeingpubliclysold。
ThepopulationatLimogeswasmuchconcernedfortheseworthydesVanneaulx，whohadtwochildren;andyet，nosoonerdidthelawlayhandsuponthereputeddoerofthecrimethantheguiltypersonageabsorbedattention，becameahero，andthedesVanneaulxwererelegatedintoacornerofthepicture。
TowardtheendofMarchMadameGraslinbegantofeelsomeofthosepainswhichprecedeafirstconfinementandcannotbeconcealed。Theinquiryastothemurderwasthengoingon，butthemurdererhadnotasyetbeenarrested。
Veroniquenowreceivedherfriendsinherbedroom，wheretheyplayedwhist。ForseveraldayspastMadameGraslinhadnotleftthehouse，andsheseemedtobetormentedbyseveralofthosecapricesattributedtowomeninhercondition。Hermothercametoseeheralmosteveryday，andthetwowomenremainedforhoursinconsultation。
Itwasnineo’clock，andthecardtableswerestillwithoutplayers，foreveryonewastalkingofthemurder。MonsieurdeGrandvilleenteredtheroom。
"WehavearrestedthemurdererofoldPingret，"hesaid，joyfully。
"Whoisit？"wasaskedonallsides。
"Aporcelainworkman;amanwhosecharacterhasalwaysbeenexcellent，andwhowasinafairwaytomakehisfortune。Heworkedinyourhusband’soldfactory，"addedMonsieurdeGrandville，turningtoMadameGraslin。
"Whatishisname？"askedVeronique，inaweakvoice。
"Jean—FrancoisTascheron。"
"Unhappyman！"sheanswered。"Yes，Ihaveoftenseenhim;mypoorfatherrecommendedhimtomycareassomeonetobelookedafter。"
"HeleftthefactorybeforeSauviat’sdeath，"saidhermother，"andwenttothatofMessrs。Philippart，whoofferedhimhigherwages——Butmydaughterisscarcelywellenoughforthisexcitingconversation，"
sheadded，callingattentiontoMadameGraslin，whosefacewasaswhiteashersheets。
AfterthateveningMereSauviatgaveupherownhome，andcame，inspiteofhersixty—sixyears，tostaywithherdaughterandnurseherthroughherconfinement。Sheneverlefttheroom;MadameGraslin’sfriendsfoundtheoldwomanalwaysatthebed’sheadbusywithhereternalknitting，——broodingoverVeroniqueasshedidwhenthegirlhadthesmall—pox，answeringquestionsforherandoftenrefusingtoadmitvisitors。ThematernalandfilialloveofmotheranddaughterwassowellknowninLimogesthattheseactionsofMadameSauviatcausednocomment。
Afewdayslater，whentheviscount，thinkingtoamusetheinvalid，begantorelatedetailswhichthewholetownwereeagerlydemandingaboutJean—FrancoisTascheron，MadameSauviatagainstoppedhimhastily，declaringthathewouldgiveherdaughterbaddreams。
Veronique，however，lookingfixedlyatMonsieurdeGrandville，askedhimtofinishwhathewassaying。Thusherfriends，andsheherself，werethefirsttoknowtheresultsofthepreliminaryinquiry，whichwouldsoonbemadepublic。Thefollowingisabriefepitomeofthefactsonwhichtheindictmentfoundagainsttheprisonerwasbased。
Jean—FrancoisTascheronwasthesonofasmallfarmerburdenedwithafamily，wholivedinthevillageofMontegnac。
Twentyyearsbeforethiscrime，whichwasfamousthroughouttheLimousin，thecantonofMontegnacwasknownforitsevilways。ThesayingwasproverbialinLimogesthatoutofonehundredcriminalsinthedepartmentfiftybelongedtothearrondissementofMontegnac。
Since1816，however，twoyearsafterapriestnamedBonnetwassentthereasrector，ithadlostitsbadreputation，andtheinhabitantsnolongersenttheirheavycontingenttotheassizes。Thischangewaswidelyattributedtotheinfluenceacquiredbytherector，MonsieurBonnet，overacommunitywhichhadlatelybeenahotbedforevil—
mindedpersonswhoseactionsdishonoredthewholeregion。ThecrimeofJean—FrancoisTascheronbroughtbackuponMontegnacitsformerill—
savor。
Byacurioustrickofchance，theTascheronswerealmosttheonlyfamilyinthisvillagecommunitywhohadretainedthroughitsevilperiodtheoldrigidmoralsandreligioushabitswhicharenoticedbytheobserversofto—daytoberapidlydisappearingthroughoutthecountrydistricts。Thisfamilyhadthereforeformedapointofreliancetotherector，whonaturallyboreitonhisheart。TheTascherons，remarkablefortheiruprightness，theirunion，theirloveofwork，hadnevergivenotherthangoodexamplestoJean—Francois。
Inducedbythepraiseworthyambitionofearninghislivingbyatrade，theladhadlefthisnativevillage，totheregretofhisparentsandfriends，whogreatlylovedhim，andhadcometoLimoges。Duringhistwoyears’apprenticeshipinaporcelainfactory，hisconductwasworthyofallpraise;noapparentill—conducthadleduptothehorriblecrimewhichwasnowtoendhislife。Onthecontrary，Jean—
FrancoisTascheronhadgiventhetimewhichotherworkmenwereinthehabitofspendinginwine—shopsanddebaucherytostudyandself—
improvement。
Themostsearchingandminuteinquiryonthepartoftheprovincialauthorities（whohaveplentyoftimeontheirhands）failedtothrowanylightonthesecretsoftheyoungman’slife。Whenthemistressofthehumblelodging—houseinwhichhelivedwasquestionedshesaidshehadneverhadalodgerwhosemoralconductwasasblameless。Hewasnaturallyamiableandgentle，andsometimesgay。Aboutayearbeforethecommissionofthecrime，hishabitschanged:hesleptawayfromhomeseveraltimesamonthandoftenforconsecutivenights;butwhereshedidnotknow，thoughshethought，fromthestateofhisshoeswhenhereturned，thathemusthavebeenintothecountry。Shenoticedthatalthoughheappearedtohaveleftthetown，heneverworehisheavyboots，butalwaysapairoflightshoes。Heshavedbeforestarting，andputoncleanlinen。Hearingthis，thepoliceturnedtheirattentiontohousesofill—fameandquestionableresorts;butJean—
FrancoisTascheronwasfoundtobewhollyunknownamongthem。Theauthoritiesthenmadeasearchthroughtheworking—girland/grisette/
class;butnoneofthesewomenhadhadrelationswiththeaccused。
Acrimewithoutamotiveisunheardof，especiallyinayoungmanwhosedesireforeducationandwhoselaudableambitiongavehimhigherideasandasuperiorjudgmenttothatofotherworkmen。Thepoliceandtheexaminingjustice，findingthemselvesbalkedintheabovedirections，attributedthemurdertoapassionforgambling;butafterthemostsearchinginquiriesitwasprovedthatTascheronneverplayedcards。
AtfirstJean—Francoisentrenchedhimselfinasystemofflatdenials，which，ofcourse，inpresenceofajury，wouldfallbeforeproof;theyseemedtoshowthecollusionofsomepersoneitherwellversedinlaworgiftedwithanintelligentmind。Thefollowingarethechiefproofstheprosecutionwerepreparedtopresent，andtheyare，asisfrequentlythecaseintrialsformurder，bothimportantandtrifling;
towit:——
TheabsenceofTascheronduringthenightofthecrime，andhisrefusaltosaywherehewas，fortheaccuseddidnotoffertosetupanalibi;afragmentofhisblouse，tornoffbytheservant—womaninthestruggle，foundclosebyonatreetowhichthewindhadcarriedit;hispresencethateveningnearPingret’shouse，whichwasnoticedbypassersandbypersonslivingintheneighborhood，thoughitmightnothavebeenrememberedunlessforthecrime;afalsekeymadebyTascheronwhichfittedthedooropeningtothefields;thiskeywasfoundcarefullyburiedtwofeetbelowoneofthemiser’sholes，whereMonsieurdesVanneaulx，diggingdeeptomakesuretherewasnotanotherlayeroftreasure—pots，chancedtofindit;thepolice，aftermanyresearches，foundthedifferentpersonswhohadfurnishedTascheronwiththeiron，loanedhimthevice，andgivenhimthefile，withwhichthekeywaspresumablymade。
Thekeywasthefirstrealclue。ItputthepoliceonthetrackofTascheron，whomtheyarrestedonthefrontiersofthedepartment，inawoodwherehewasawaitingthepassageofadiligence。AnhourlaterhewouldhavestartedforAmerica。
Besidesallthis，andinspiteofthecarewithwhichcertainfootmarksintheploughedfieldandonthemudoftheroadhadbeeneffacedandcoveredup，thesearchershadfoundinseveralplacestheimprintofshoes，whichtheycarefullymeasuredanddescribed，andwhichwereafterwardsfoundtocorrespondwiththesolesofTascheron’sshoestakenfromhislodgings。Thisfatalproofconfirmedthestatementofthelandlady。Theauthoritiesnowattributedthecrimetosomeforeigninfluence，andnottotheman’spersonalintention;theybelievedhehadaccomplices，basingthisideaontheimpossibilityofonemancarryingawaytheburiedmoney;forhoweverstronghemightbe，nomancouldcarrytwenty—fivethousandfrancsingoldtoanydistance。Ifeachpotcontained，asitwassupposedtohavedone，aboutthatsum，thiswouldhaverequiredfourtripstoandfromtheclover—patch。Now，asingularcircumstancewentfartoprovethehouratwhichthecrimewascommitted。IntheterrorJeanneMalassismusthavefeltonhearinghermaster’scries，sheknockedover，assherose，thetableatherbedside，onwhichlayherwatch，theonlypresentthemiserhadgivenherinfiveyears。Themainspringwasbrokenbytheshock，andthehandshadstoppedattwointhemorning。BythemiddleofMarch（thedateofthemurder）daylightdawnsbetweenfiveandsixo’clock。Towhateverdistancethegoldhadbeencarried，Tascheroncouldnotpossibly，underanyapparenthypothesis，havetransporteditalone。
Thecarewithwhichsomeofthefootstepswereeffaced，whileothers，towhichTascheron’sshoesfitted，remained，certainlypointedtosomemysteriousassistant。Forcedintohypotheses，theauthoritiesoncemoreattributedthecrimetoadesperatepassion;notfindinganytraceoftheobjectofsuchapassioninthelowerclasses，theybegantolookhigher。Perhapssomebourgeoise，sureofthediscretionofamanwhohadthefaceandbearingofahero，hadbeendrawnintoaromancetheoutcomeofwhichwascrime。
Thissuppositionwastosomeextentjustifiedbythefactsofthemurder。Theoldmanhadbeenkilledbyblowswithaspade;evidently，therefore，themurderwassudden，unpremeditated，fortuitous。Theloversmighthaveplannedtherobbery，butnotthemurder。Theloverandthemiser，TascheronandPingret，eachundertheinfluenceofhismasterpassion，musthavemetbytheburiedhoards，bothdrawnthitherbythegleamingofgoldontheutterdarknessofthatfatalnight。
Inordertoobtain，ifpossible，somelightonthislattersupposition，theauthoritiesarrestedandkeptinsolitaryconfinementasisterofJean—Francois，towhomhewasmuchattached，hopingtoobtainthroughhersomecluetothemysteryofherbrother’sprivatelife。DeniseTascherontookrefugeintotaldenialofanyknowledgewhatever，whichgaverisetoasuspicionthatshedidknowsomethingofthecausesofthecrime，althoughinfactsheknewnothing。
Theaccusedhimselfshowedpointsofcharacterthatwererareamongstthepeasantry。Hebaffledthecleverestpolice—spiesemployedagainsthim，withoutknowingtheirrealcharacter。Totheleadingmindsofthemagistracyhisguiltseemedcausedbytheinfluenceofpassion，andnotbynecessityorgreed，asinthecaseofordinarymurderers，whousuallypassthroughstagesofcrimeandpunishmentbeforetheycommitthesupremedeed。Activeandcarefulsearchwasmadeinfollowingupthisidea;buttheuniformdiscretionoftheprisonergavenocluewhatevertohisprosecutors。Theplausibletheoryofhisattachmenttoawomanoftheupperclasseshavingoncebeenadmitted，Jean—Francoiswassubjectedtothemostinsidiousexaminationuponit;buthiscautiontriumphedoverallthemoraltorturestheexaminingjudgeappliedtohim。When，makingafinaleffort，thatofficialtoldhimthatthepersonforwhomhehadcommittedthecrimewasdiscoveredandarrested，hisfacedidnotchange，andherepliedironically:——
"Ishouldverymuchliketoseehim。"
Whenthepublicwereinformedofthesecircumstances，manypersonsadoptedthesuspicionsofthemagistrates，whichseemedtobeconfirmedbyTascheron’ssavageobstinacyingivingnoaccountofhimself。Increasedinterestwasfeltinayoungmanwhowasnowaproblem。Itiseasytoseehowtheseelementskeptpubliccuriosityonthe/quivive/，andwithwhateagerinterestthetrialwouldbefollowed。Butinspiteofeveryeffortonthepartofthepolice，theprosecutionstoppedshortonthethresholdofhypothesis;itdidnotventuretogofartherintothemysterywhereallwasobscurityanddanger。Incertainjudicialcaseshalf—certaintiesarenotsufficientforthejudgestoproceedupon。Neverthelessthecasewasorderedfortrial，inhopesthatthetruthwouldcometothesurfacewhenthecasewasbroughtintocourt，anordealunderwhichmanycriminalscontradictthemselves。
MonsieurGraslinwasoneofthejury;sothateitherthroughherhusbandorthroughMonsieurdeGrandville，thepublicprosecutor，Veroniqueknewallthedetailsofthecriminaltrialwhich，forafortnight，keptthedepartment，andwemaysayallFrance，inastateofexcitement。Theattitudemaintainedbytheaccusedseemedtojustifythetheoryoftheprosecution。Morethanoncewhenthecourtopened，hiseyesturneduponthebrilliantassemblageofwomenwhocametofindemotionsinarealdrama，asthoughhesoughtforsomeone。Eachtimethattheman’sglance，clear，butimpenetrable，sweptalongthoseelegantranks，amovementwasperceptible，asortofshock，asthougheachwomanfearedshemightappearhisaccompliceundertheinquisitorialeyesofjudgeandprosecutor。