第4章

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。