HetookDenisebythehandanddrewhertowardhimtokissherforehead;buttheactionhadanothermotive。
"Mychild，"hewhispered，"nooneinMontegnachasfive—hundred—francnotes;theyarerareevenatLimoges，wheretheyareonlytakenatadiscount。Thismoneyhasbeengiventoyou;youwillnottellmebywhom，andIdon’taskyou;butlistentome:ifyouhaveanythingmoretodointhistownrelatingtoyourpoorbrother，takecare！YouandMonsieurBonnetandyourbrotherLouiswillbefollowedbypolice—
spies。YourfamilyisknowntohaveleftMontegnac，andassoonasyouareseenhereyouwillbewatchedandsurroundedbeforeyouareawareofit。"
"Alas！"shesaid。"Ihavenothingmoretodohere。"
"Sheiscautious，"thoughtthelawyer，ashepartedfromher。
"However，sheiswarned;andIhopeshewillgetsafelyoff。"
*****
DuringthislastweekinSeptember，whentheweatherwasaswarmasinsummer，thebishopgaveadinnertotheauthoritiesoftheplace。
Amongtheguestswerethe/procureur—du—roi/andtheattorney—general。
Somelivelydiscussionsprolongedthepartytillalatehour。Thecompanyplayedwhistandbackgammon，afavoritegamewiththeclergy。
Towardeleveno’clockthe/procureur—du—roi/walkedoutupontheupperterrace。Fromthespotwherehestoodhesawalightonthatislandtowhich，onacertainevening，theattentionofthebishopandtheAbbeGabrielhadbeendrawn，——Veronique’s"IledeFrance，"——andthegleamrecalledtothe/procureur’s/mindtheunexplainedmysteriesoftheTascheroncrime。Then，reflectingthattherecouldbenolegitimatereasonforafireonthatlonelyislandintheriveratthattimeofnight，anidea，whichhadalreadystruckthebishopandthesecretary，dartedintohismindwiththesuddennessandbrilliancyoftheflameitselfwhichwasshininginthedistance。
"Wehaveallbeenfools！"hecried;"butthiswillgiveustheaccomplices。"
Hereturnedtothesalon，soughtoutMonsieurdeGrandville，saidafewwordsinhisear，afterwhichtheybothtookleave。ButtheAbbedeRastignacaccompaniedthempolitelytothedoor;hewatchedthemastheydeparted，sawthemgototheterrace，noticedthefireontheisland，andthoughttohimself，"Sheislost！"
Theemissariesofthelawgottheretoolate。DeniseandLouis，whomJeanhadtaughttodive，wereactuallyonthebankoftheriverataspotnamedtothembyJean，butLouisTascheronhadalreadydivedfourtimes，bringingupeachtimeabundlecontainingtwentythousandfrancs’worthofgold。Thefirstsumwaswrappedinafoulardhandkerchiefknottedbythefourcorners。Thishandkerchief，fromwhichthewaterwasinstantlywrung，wasthrownintoagreatfireofdriftwoodalreadylighted。Denisedidnotleavethefireuntilshesaweveryparticleofthehandkerchiefconsumed。Thesecondsumwaswrappedinashawl，thethirdinacambrichandkerchief;thesewrappingswereinstantlyburnedlikethefoulard。
JustasDenisewasthrowingthewrappingofthefourthandlastpackageintothefirethegendarmes，accompaniedbythecommissaryofpolice，seizedthatincriminatingarticle，whichDeniseletthemtakewithoutmanifestingtheleastemotion。Itwasahandkerchief，onwhich，inspiteofitssoakingintheriver，tracesofbloodcouldstillbeseen。Whenquestionedastowhatshewasdoingthere，Denisesaidshewastakingthestolengoldfromtheriveraccordingtoherbrother’sinstructions。Thecommissaryaskedherwhyshewasburningcertainarticles;shesaidshewasobeyingherbrother’slastdirections。Whenaskedwhatthosearticlesweresheboldlyanswered，withoutattemptingtodeceive:"Afoulard，ashawl，acambrichandkerchief，andthehandkerchiefnowcaptured。"Thelatterhadbelongedtoherbrother。
ThisdiscoveryanditsattendantcircumstancesmadeagreatstirinLimoges。Theshawl，moreespecially，confirmedthebeliefthatTascheronhadcommittedthiscrimeintheinterestsofsomeloveaffair。
"Heprotectsthatwomanafterhisdeath，"saidonelady，hearingoftheselastdiscoveries，renderedharmlessbythecriminal’sprecautions。
"TheremaybesomehusbandinLimogeswhowillmisshisfoulard，"saidthe/procureur—du—roi/，withalaugh，"buthewillnotdarespeakofit。"
"Thesemattersofdressarereallysocompromising，"saidoldMadamePerret，"thatIshallmakeasearchthroughmywardrobethisveryevening。"
"Whoseprettylittlefootmarkscouldhehavetakensuchpainstoeffacewhilehelefthisown？"saidMonsieurdeGrandville。
"Pooh！Idaresayshewasanuglywoman，"saidthe/procureur—du—roi/。
"Shehaspaiddearlyforhersin，"observedtheAbbedeGrancour。
"Doyouknowwhatthisaffairshows？"criedMonsieurdeGrandville。
"ItshowswhatwomenhavelostbytheRevolution，whichhaslevelledallsocialranks。Passionsofthiskindarenolongermetwithexceptinmenwhostillfeelanenormousdistancebetweenthemselvesandtheirmistresses。"
"Yousaddlelovewithmanyvanities，"remarkedtheAbbeDutheil。
"WhatdoesMadameGraslinthink？"askedtheprefect。
"Whatdoyouexpecthertothink？"saidMonsieurdeGrandville。"Herchildwasborn，asshepredictedtome，onthemorningoftheexecution;shehasnotseenanyonesincethen，forsheisdangerouslyill。"
AscenetookplaceinanothersaloninLimogeswhichwasalmostcomical。ThefriendsofthedesVanneaulxcametocongratulatethemontherecoveryoftheirproperty。
"Yes，buttheyoughttohavepardonedthatpoorman，"saidMadamedesVanneaulx。"Love，andnotgreed，madehimstealthemoney;hewasneitherviciousnorwicked。"
"Hewasfullofconsiderationforus，"saidMonsieurdesVanneaulx;
"andifIknewwherehisfamilyhadgoneIwoulddosomethingforthem。Theyareveryworthypeople，thoseTascherons。"
X
THIRDPHASEOFVERONIQUE’SLIFE
WhenMadameGraslinrecoveredfromthelongillnessthatfollowedthebirthofherchild，whichwasnottillthecloseof1829，anillnesswhichforcedhertokeepherbedandremaininabsoluteretirement，sheheardherhusbandtalkingofanimportantpieceofbusinesshewasanxioustoconcede。TheducalhouseofNavarreinshadofferedforsaletheforestofMontegnacandtheuncultivatedlandsaroundit。
Graslinhadneveryetexecutedtheclauseinhismarriagecontractwithhiswifewhichobligedhimtoinvesthiswife’sfortuneinlands;
uptothistimehehadpreferredtoemploythemoneyinhisbank，wherehehadfullydoubledit。Henowbegantospeakofthisinvestment。HearinghimdiscussitVeroniqueappearedtorememberthenameofMontegnac，andaskedherhusbandtofulfilhisengagementaboutherpropertybypurchasingtheselands。MonsieurGraslinthenproposedtoseetherector，MonsieurBonnet，andinquireofhimabouttheestate，whichtheDucdeNavarreinswasdesirousofsellingbecauseheforesawthestrugglewhichthePrincedePolignacwasforcingonbetweenliberalismandthehouseofBourbon，andheauguredillofit;infact，thedukewasoneoftheboldestopposersofthe/coup—d’Etat/。
ThedukehadsenthisagenttoLimogestonegotiatethematter;
tellinghimtoacceptanygoodsumofmoney，forherememberedtheRevolutionof1789toowellnottoprofitbythelessonsithadtaughtthearistocracy。ThisagenthadnowbeenamonthlayingsiegetoGraslin，theshrewdestandwariestbusinessheadintheLimousin，——theonlyman，hewastoldbypracticalpersons，whowasabletopurchasesolargeapropertyandpayforitonthespot。TheAbbeDutheilwrotealinetoMonsieurBonnet，whocametoLimogesatonce，andwastakentothehotelGraslin。
Veroniquedeterminedtoasktherectortodinner;butthebankerwouldnotlethimgouptohiswife’sapartmentuntilhehadtalkedtohiminhisofficeforoveranhourandobtainedsuchinformationasfullysatisfiedhim，andmadehimresolvetobuytheforestanddomainsofMontegnacatonceforthesumoffivehundredthousandfrancs。Heacquiescedreadilyinhiswife’swishthatthispurchaseandallothersconnectedwithitshouldbeinfulfilmentoftheclauseofthemarriagecontractrelativetotheinvestmentofherdowry。Graslinwasallthemorereadytodosobecausethisactofjusticecosthimnothing，hehavingdoubledtheoriginalsum。
Atthistime，whenGraslinwasnegotiatingthepurchase，theNavarreinsdomainscomprisedtheforestofMontegnacwhichcontainedaboutthirtythousandacresofunusedland，theruinsofthecastle，thegardens，park，andaboutfivethousandacresofuncultivatedlandontheplainbeyondMontegnac。GraslinimmediatelyboughtotherlandsinordertomakehimselfmasterofthefirstpeakinthechainoftheCorrezanmountainsonwhichthevastforestofMontegnacended。SincetheimpositionoftaxestheDucdeNavarreinshadneverreceivedmorethanfifteenthousandfrancsperannumfromthismanor，onceamongtherichesttenuresofthekingdom，thelandsofwhichhadescapedthesaleof"publicdomain"orderedbytheConvention，onaccountprobablyoftheirbarrennessandtheknowndifficultyofreclaimingthem。
WhentherectorwentatlasttoMadameGraslin’sapartment，andsawthewomannotedforherpietyandforherintellectofwhomhehadheardspeak，hecouldnotrestrainagestureofamazement。Veroniquehadnowreachedthethirdphaseofherlife，thatinwhichshewastoriseintograndeurbytheexerciseofthehighestvirtues，——aphaseinwhichshebecameanotherwoman。TotheLittleVirginofTitian，hiddenatelevenyearsofagebeneathaspottedmantleofsmall—pox，hadsucceededabeautifulwoman，nobleandpassionate;andfromthatwoman，nowwrungbyinwardsorrows，cameforthasaint。
Herskinboretheyellowtingewhichcolorstheausterefacesofabbesseswhohavebeenfamousfortheirmacerations。Theattenuatedtempleswerealmostgolden。Thelipshadpaled，theredofanopenedpomegranatewasnolongeronthem，theircolorhadchangedtothepalepinkofaBengalrose。Atthecornersoftheeyes，closetothenose，sorrowshadmadetwoshiningtrackslikemother—of—pearl，wheretearshadflowed;tearswhicheffacedthemarksofsmall—poxandglazedtheskin。Curiositywasinvinciblyattractedtothatpearlyspot，wherethebluethreadsofthelittleveinsthrobbedprecipitately，asthoughtheywereswelledbyaninfluxofbloodbroughtthere，asitwere，tofeedthetears。Thecircleroundtheeyeswasnowadark—brownthatwasalmostblackabovetheeyelids，whichwerehorriblywrinkled。Thecheekswerehollow;intheirfoldslaythesignofsolemnthoughts。
Thechin，whichinyouthwasfullandround，thefleshcoveringthemuscles，wasnowshrunken，totheinjuryofitsexpression，whichtoldofanimplacablereligiousseverityexercisedbythiswomanuponherself。
Attwenty—nineyearsofageVeronique’shairwasscantyandalreadywhitening。Herthinnesswasalarming。Inspiteofherdoctor’sadvicesheinsistedonsucklingherson。Thedoctortriumphedintheresult;
andashewatchedthechangeshehadforetoldinVeronique’sappearance，heoftensaid:——
"Seetheeffectsofchildbirthonawoman！Sheadoresthatchild;I
haveoftennoticedthatmothersarefondestofthechildrenwhocostthemmost。"
Veronique’sfadedeyeswereallthatretainedevenamemoryofheryouth。Thedarkblueoftheirisstillcastitspassionatefires，towhichthewoman’slifeseemedtohaveretreated，desertingthecold，impassibleface，andglowingwithanexpressionofdevotionwhenthewelfareofafellow—beingwasconcerned。
Thusthesurprise，thedreadoftherectorceasedbydegreesashewentonexplainingtoMadameGraslinallthegoodthatalargeownerofpropertycoulddoatMontegnacprovidedhelivedthere。Veronique’sbeautycamebacktoherforamomentashereyesglowedwiththelightofanunhoped—forfuture。
"Iwilllivethere，"shesaid。"Itshallbemywork。IwillaskMonsieurGraslinformoney，andIwillgladlyshareinyourreligiousenterprise。Montegnacshallbefertilized;wewillfindsomemeanstowaterthosearidplains。LikeMoses，youhavestruckarockfromwhichthewaterswillgush。"
TherectorofMontegnac，whenquestionedbyhisfriendsinLimogesaboutMadameGraslin，spokeofherasasaint。
ThedayafterthepurchasewasconcludedMonsieurGraslinsentanarchitecttoMontegnac。Thebankerintendedtorestorethechateau，gardens，terrace，andpark，andalsotoconnectthecastlegroundswiththeforestbyaplantation。Hesethimselftomaketheseimprovementswithvaingloriousactivity。
AfewmonthslaterMadameGraslinmetwithagreatmisfortune。InAugust，1830，Graslin，overtakenbythecommercialandbankingdisastersofthatperiod，becameinvolvedbynofaultofhisown。Hecouldnotendurethethoughtofbankruptcy，northatoflosingafortuneofthreemillionsacquiredbyfortyyearsofincessanttoil。
Themoralmaladywhichresultedfromthisanguishofmindaggravatedtheinflammatorydiseasealwaysreadytobreakforthinhisblood。Hetooktohisbed。SinceherconfinementVeronique’sregardforherhusbandhaddeveloped，andhadoverthrownallthehopesofheradmirer，MonsieurdeGrandville。Shestrovetosaveherhusband’slifebyunremittingcare，withnoresultbutthatofprolongingforafewmonthsthepoorman’stortures;buttherespitewasveryusefultoGrossetete，who，foreseeingtheendofhisformerclerkandpartner，obtainedfromhimalltheinformationnecessaryforthepromptliquidationoftheassets。
GraslindiedinApril，1831，andthewidow’sgriefyieldedonlytoChristianresignation。Veronique’sfirstwords，whentheconditionofMonsieurGraslin’saffairsweremadeknowntoher，werethatsheabandonedherownfortunetopaythecreditors;butitwasfoundthatGraslin’sownpropertywasmorethansufficient。Twomonthslater，theliquidation，ofwhichGrossetetetookcharge，lefttoMadameGraslintheestateofMontegnacandsixhundredthousandfrancs，herwholepersonalfortune。Theson’snameremaineduntainted，forGraslinhadinjurednoone’sproperty，noteventhatofhiswife。FrancisGraslin，theson，receivedaboutonehundredthousandfrancs。
MonsieurdeGrandville，towhomVeronique’sgrandeurofsoulandnoblequalitieswerewellknown，madeheranofferofmarriage;but，tothesurpriseofallLimoges，MadameGraslindeclined，underpretextthattheChurchdiscouragedsecondmarriages。Grossetete，amanofstrongcommon—senseandsuregraspofasituation，advisedVeroniquetoinvestherpropertyandwhatremainedofMonsieurGraslin’sintheFunds;andhemadetheinvestmenthimselfinoneofthegovernmentsecuritieswhichofferedspecialadvantagesatthattime，namely，theThree—per—cents，whichwerethenquotedatfifty。ThechildFrancisreceived，therefore，sixthousandfrancsayear，andhismotherfortythousand。Veronique’sfortunewasstillthelargestinthedepartment。
Whentheseaffairswereallsettled，MadameGraslinannouncedherintentionofleavingLimogesandtakingupherresidenceatMontegnac，tobenearMonsieurBonnet。ShesentfortherectortoconsultabouttheenterprisehewassoanxioustocarryonatMontegnac，inwhichshedesiredtotakepart。Butheendeavoredunselfishlytodissuadeher，tellingherthatherplacewasintheworldandinsociety。
"IwasbornofthepeopleandIwishtoreturntothepeople，"shereplied。Onwhichtherector，fullofloveforhisvillage，saidnomoreagainstMadameGraslin’sapparentvocation;andthelessbecauseshehadactuallyputitoutofherpowertocontinueinLimoges，havingsoldthehotelGraslintoGrossetete，who，tocoverasumthatwasduetohim，tookitatitspropervaluation。
Thedayofherdeparture，towardtheendofAugust，1831，MadameGraslin’snumerousfriendsaccompaniedhersomedistanceoutofthetown。Afewwentasfarasthefirstrelay。Veroniquewasinanopencarriagewithhermother。TheAbbeDutheil（justappointedtoabishopric）occupiedthefrontseatofthecarriagewitholdGrossetete。Astheypassedthroughtheplaced’Aine，Veroniqueshowedsignsofasuddenshock;herfacecontractedsothattheplayofthemusclescouldbeseen;sheclaspedherinfanttoherbreastwithaconvulsivemotion，whicholdMadameSauviatconcealedbyinstantlytakingthechild，forsheseemedtobeonthewatchforherdaughter’sagitation。ChancewilledthatMadameGraslinshouldpassthroughthesquareinwhichstoodthehouseshehadformerlyoccupiedwithherfatherandmotherinhergirlishdays;shegraspedhermother’shandwhilegreattearsfellfromhereyesandrolleddownhercheeks。
AfterleavingLimogessheturnedandlookedback，seemingtofeelanemotionofhappinesswhichwasnoticedbyallherfriends。WhenMonsieurdeGrandville，thenayoungmanoftwenty—five，whomshedeclinedtotakeasahusband，kissedherhandwithanearnestexpressionofregret，thenewbishopnoticedthestrangemannerinwhichtheblackpupilofVeronique’seyessuddenlyspreadovertheblueoftheiris，reducingittoanarrowcircle。Theeyebetrayedunmistakablysomeviolentinwardemotion。
"Ishallneverseehimagain，"shewhisperedtohermother，whoreceivedthisconfidencewithoutbetrayingtheslightestfeelinginheroldface。
MadameGraslinwasatthatinstantundertheobservationofGrossetete，whowasdirectlyinfrontofher;but，inspiteofhisshrewdness，theoldbankerdidnotdetectthehatredwhichVeroniquefeltforthemagistrate，whomsheneverthelessreceivedatherhouse。
Butchurchmenhavefarmoreperceptionthanothermen，andMonsieurDutheilsuddenlystartledVeroniquewithapriestlyglance。
"DoyouregretnothinginLimoges？"heaskedher。
"Nothing，nowthatyouareleavingit;andmonsieur，"sheadded，smilingatGrossetete，whowasbiddingheradieu，"willseldombethere。"
ThebishopaccompaniedMadameGraslinasfarasMontegnac。
"Ioughttowalkthisroadinsackclothandashes，"shesaidinhermother’searastheywentonfootupthesteepslopeofSaint—Leonard。
Theoldwomanputherfingeronherlipsandglancedatthebishop，whowaslookingatthechildwithterribleattention。Thisgesture，andtheluminouslookintheprelate’seyes，sentashudderthroughVeronique’sbody。AttheaspectofthevastplainsstretchingtheirgrayexpansebeforeMontegnacthefirediedoutofhereyes，andaninfinitesadnessovercameher。Presentlyshesawthevillagerectorcomingtomeether，andtogethertheyreturnedtothecarriage。
"Thereisyourdomain，madame，"saidMonsieurBonnet，extendinghishandtowardthebarrenplain。
Afewmomentsmore，andthevillageofMontegnac，withitshill，onwhichthenewlyerectedbuildingsstrucktheeye，cameinsight，gildedbythesettingsun，andfullofthepoesybornofthecontrastbetweenthebeautifulspotandthesurroundingbarrenness，inwhichitlaylikeanoasisinthedesert。MadameGraslin’seyesfilledsuddenlywithtears。Therectorcalledherattentiontoabroadwhitelinelikeagashonthemountainside。
"Seewhatmyparishionershavedonetotestifytheirgratitudetotheladyofthemanor，"hesaid，pointingtotheline，whichwasreallyaroad;"wecannowdriveuptothechateau。Thispieceofroadhasbeenmadebythemwithoutcostingyouapenny，andtwomonthshenceweshallplantitwithtrees。Monseigneurwillunderstandwhattroubleandcareanddevotionwereneededtoaccomplishsuchachange。"
"Isitpossibletheyhavedonethat？"saidthebishop。
"Withoutacceptinganypaymentfortheirwork，Monseigneur。Thepoorestputtheirhandsintoit，knowingthatitwouldbringamotheramongthem。"
Atthefootofthehillthetravellerssawthewholepopulationoftheneighborhood，whowerelightingfire—boxesanddischargingafewguns;
thentwooftheprettiestofthevillagegirls，dressedinwhite，cameforwardtoofferMadameGraslinflowersandfruit。
"Tobethusreceivedinthisvillage！"sheexclaimed，graspingtherector’shandasifshestoodonthebrinkofaprecipice。
Thecrowdaccompaniedthecarriagetotheirongatesoftheavenue。
FromthereMadameGraslincouldseeherchateau，ofwhichasyetshehadonlycaughtglimpses，andshewasthunderstruckatthemagnificenceofthebuilding。Stoneisrareinthoseparts，thegraniteofthemountainsbeingdifficulttoquarry。ThearchitectemployedbyGraslintorestorethehousehadusedbrickasthechiefsubstanceofthisvastconstruction。ThiswasrenderedlesscostlybythefactthattheforestofMontegnacfurnishedallthenecessarywoodandclayforitsfabrication。Theframeworkofwoodandthestoneforthefoundationsalsocamefromtheforest;otherwisethecostoftherestorationswouldhavebeenruinous。Thechiefexpenseshadbeenthoseoftransportation，labor，andsalaries。Thusthemoneylaidoutwaskeptinthevillage，andgreatlybenefitedit。
Atfirstsight，andfromadistance，thechateaupresentsanenormousredmass，threadedbyblacklinesproducedbythepointing，andedgedwithgray;forthewindowanddoorcasings，theentablatures，cornerstones，andcoursesbetweenthestories，areofgranite，cutinfacetslikeadiamond。Thecourtyard，whichformsaslopingovallikethatoftheChateaudeVersailles，issurroundedbybrickwallsdividedintopanelsbyprojectingbuttresses。Atthefootofthesewallsaregroupsofrareshrubs，remarkableforthevariedcoloroftheirgreens。TwofineirongatesplacedoppositetoeachotherleadononesidetoaterracewhichoverlooksMontegnac，ontheothertotheofficesandafarm—house。
Thegrandentrance—gate，towhichtheroadjustconstructedled，isflankedbytwoprettylodgesinthestyleofthesixteenthcentury。
Thefacadeonthecourtyardlookingeasthasthreetowers，——oneinthecentre，separatedfromthetwoothersbythemainbuildingofthehouse。Thefacadeonthegardens，whichisabsolutelythesameastheothers，lookswestward。Thetowershavebutonewindowonthefacade;
themainbuildinghasthreeoneithersideofthemiddletower。Thelatter，whichissquarelikea/campanile/，thecornersbeingvermiculated，isnoticeablefortheeleganceofafewcarvingssparselydistributed。Artistimidintheprovinces，andthough，since1829，ornamentationhasmadesomeprogressattheinstigationofcertainwriters，landownerswereatthatperiodafraidofexpenseswhichthelackofcompetitionandskilledworkmenrenderedserious。
Thecornertowers，whichhavethreestorieswithasinglewindowineach，lookingtotheside，arecoveredwithveryhigh—pitchedroofssurroundedbygranitebalustrades，andoneachpyramidalslopeoftheseroofscrownedatthetopwiththesharpridgeofaplatformsurroundedwithawroughtironrailing，isanotherwindowcarvedliketherest。OneachfloorthecorbelsofthedoorsandwindowsareadornedwithcarvingscopiedfromthoseoftheGenoesemansions。ThecornertowerwiththreewindowstothesouthlooksdownonMontegnac;
theother，tothenorth，facestheforest。FromthegardenfronttheeyetakesinthatpartofMontegnacwhichisstillcalledLesTascherons，andfollowsthehigh—roadleadingthroughthevillagetothechieftownofthedepartment。ThefacadeonthecourtyardhasaviewofthevastplainssemicircledbythemountainsoftheCorreze，onthesidetowardMontegnac，butendinginthefardistanceonalowhorizon。Themainbuildinghasonlyonefloorabovetheground—floor，coveredwithamansarderoofintheoldenstyle。Thetowersateachendarethreestoriesinheight。ThemiddletowerhasastunteddomesomethinglikethatonthePavillondel’HorlogeofthepalaceoftheTuileries，andinitisasingleroomformingabelvedereandcontainingtheclock。Asamatterofeconomytheroofshadallbeenmadeofgutter—tiles，theenormousweightofwhichwaseasilysupportedbythestoutbeamsanduprightsoftheframeworkcutintheforest。
BeforehisdeathGraslinhadlaidouttheroadwhichthepeasantryhadjustbuiltoutofgratitude;fortheserestorations（whichGraslincalledhisfolly）haddistributedseveralhundredthousandfrancsamongthepeople;inconsequenceofwhichMontegnachadconsiderablyincreased。Graslinhadalsobegun，beforehisdeath，behindtheofficesontheslopeofthehillleadingdowntotheplain，anumberoffarmbuildings，provinghisintentiontodrawsomeprofitfromthehithertouncultivatedsoiloftheplains。Sixjourneyman—gardeners，whowerelodgedintheoffices，werenowatworkunderordersofaheadgardener，plantingandcompletingcertainworkswhichMonsieurBonnethadconsideredindispensable。
Theground—floorapartmentsofthechateau，intendedonlyforreception—rooms，hadbeensumptuouslyfurnished;theupperfloorwasratherbare，MonsieurGraslinhavingstoppedforatimetheworkoffurnishingit。
"Ah，Monseigneur！"saidMadameGraslintothebishop，aftergoingtheroundsofthehouse，"Iwhoexpectedtoliveinacottage！PoorMonsieurGraslinwasextravagantindeed！"
"Andyou，"saidthebishop，addingafterapause，ashenoticedtheshudderthanranthroughherframeathisfirstwords，"youwillbeextravagantincharity？"
Shetookthearmofhermother，whowasleadingFrancisbythehand，andwenttothelongterraceatthefootofwhicharethechurchandtheparsonage，andfromwhichthehousesofthevillagecanbeseenintiers。TherectorcarriedoffMonseigneurDutheiltoshowhimthedifferentsidesofthelandscape。Beforelongthetwopriestscameroundtothefartherendoftheterrace，wheretheyfoundMadameGraslinandhermothermotionlessasstatues。Theoldwomanwaswipinghereyeswithahandkerchief，andherdaughterstoodwithbothhandsstretchedbeyondthebalustradeasthoughshewerepointingtothechurchbelow。
"Whatisthematter，madame？"saidtherectortoMadameSauviat。
"Nothing，"repliedMadameGraslin，turningroundandadvancingafewstepstomeetthepriests;"IdidnotknowthatIshouldhavethecemeteryundermyeyes。"
"Youcanputitelsewhere;thelawgivesyouthatright。"
"Thelaw！"sheexclaimedwithalmostacry。
AgainthebishoplookedfixedlyatVeronique。Disturbedbythedarkglancewithwhichthepriesthadpenetratedtheveiloffleshthatcoveredhersoul，draggingthenceasecrethiddeninthegraveofthatcemetery，shesaidtohimsuddenly:——
"Well，/yes/！"
Thepriestlaidhishandoverhiseyesandwassilentforamomentasifstunned。
"Helpmydaughter，"criedtheoldmother;"sheisfainting。"
"Theairissokeen，itovercomesme，"saidMadameGraslin，asshefellunconsciousintothearmsofthetwopriests，whocarriedherintooneofthelowerroomsofthechateau。
Whensherecoveredconsciousnessshesawthepriestsontheirkneesprayingforher。
"Maytheangelyouvisitedyouneverleaveyou！"saidthebishop，blessingher。"Farewell，mydaughter。"
OvercomebythosewordsMadameGraslinburstintotears。
"Tearswillsaveher！"criedhermother。
"Inthisworldandinthenext，"saidthebishop，turningroundashelefttheroom。
TheroomtowhichtheyhadcarriedMadameGraslinwasonthefirstfloorabovetheground—floorofthecornertower，fromwhichthechurchandcemeteryandsouthernsideofMontegnaccouldbeseen。Shedeterminedtoremainthere，anddidso，moreorlessuncomfortably，withAlinehermaidandlittleFrancis。MadameSauviat，naturally，tookanotherroomnearhers。
ItwasseveraldaysbeforeMadameGraslinrecoveredfromtheviolentemotionwhichovercameheronthatfirstevening，andhermotherinducedhertostayinbedatleastduringthemornings。Atnight，Veroniquewouldcomeoutandsitonabenchoftheterracefromwhichhereyescouldrestonthechurchandcemetery。InspiteofMadameSauviat’smutebutpersistentopposition，MadameGraslinformedanalmostmonomaniacalhabitofsittinginthesameplace，wheresheseemedtogivewaytotheblackestmelancholy。
"Madamewilldie，"saidAlinetotheoldmother。
AppealedtobyMadameSauviat，therector，whohadwishednottoseemintrusive，camehenceforthveryfrequentlytovisitMadameGraslin;heneededonlytobewarnedthathersoulwassick。ThistruepastortookcaretopayhisvisitsatthehourwhenVeroniquecameouttositatthecorneroftheterracewithherchild，bothindeepmourning。
XI
THERECTORATWORK
ItwasnowthebeginningofOctober，andNaturewasgrowingdullandsad。MonsieurBonnet，perceivinginVeroniquefromthemomentofherarrivalatMontegnactheexistenceofaninwardwound，thoughtitwisesttowaitforthevoluntaryandcompleteconfidenceofawomanwhowouldsoonerorlaterbecomehispenitent。