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。