第9章

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。