protracted； the object of a liking which resembles enthusiasm； and
which usually deceives the object of this ephemeral worship。 It is to
this social caprice that we owe so many local geniuses； soon ignored
and their false reputations mortified。 The men whom women make the
fashion in this way are oftener strangers than compatriots。
In this particular case the admirers of the Vicomte de Grandville were
not mistaken； he was in truth a superior man。 Madame Graslin was the
only woman he found in Limoges with whom he could exchange ideas and
keep up a varied conversation。 A few months after his arrival；
attracted by the increasing charm of Veronique's manners and
conversation； he proposed to the Abbe Dutheil； and a few other of the
remarkable men in Limoges； to meet in the evenings at Madame Graslin's
house and play whist。 At this time Madame Graslin was at home five
evenings in the week to visitors； reserving two free days； as she
said； for herself。
When Madame Graslin had thus gathered about her the distinguished men
we have mentioned； others were not sorry to give themselves the
reputation of cleverness by seeking to join the same society。
Veronique also received three or four of the distinguished officers of
the garrison and staff； but the freedom of mind displayed by her
guests； and the tacit discretion enjoined by the manners of the best
society； made her extremely cautious as to the admission of those who
now vied with each other to obtain her invitations。
The other women in this provincial society were not without jealousy
in seeing Madame Graslin surrounded by the most agreeable and
distinguished men in the town； but by this time Veronique's social
power was all the stronger because it was exclusive； she accepted the
intimacy of four or five women only； and these were strangers in
Limoges who had come from Paris with their husbands； and who held in
horror the petty gossip of provincial life。 If any one outside of this
little clique of superior persons came in to make a visit； the
conversation immediately changed； and the habitues of the house talked
commonplace。
The hotel Graslin thus became an oasis where intelligent minds found
relaxation and relief from the dulness of provincial life； where
persons connected with the government could express themselves freely
on politics without fear of having their words taken down and
repeated； where all could satirize that which provoked satire； and
where each individual abandoned his professional trammels and yielded
himself up to his natural self。
So； after being the most obscure young girl in all Limoges； considered
ugly； dull； and vacant； Madame Graslin； at the beginning of the year
1828； was regarded as one of the leading personages in the town； and
the most noted woman in society。 No one went to see her in the
mornings； for all knew her habits of benevolence and the regularity of
her religious observances。 She always went to early mass so as not to
delay her husband's breakfast； for which； however； there was no fixed
hour； though she never failed to be present and to serve it herself。
Graslin had trained his wife to this little ceremony。 He continued to
praise her on all occasions； he thought her perfect； she never asked
him for anything； he could pile up louis upon louis； and spread his
investments over a wide field of enterprise through his relations with
the Brezacs； he sailed with a fair wind and well freighted over the
ocean of commerce；his intense business interest keeping him in the
still； though half…intoxicated； frenzy of gamblers watching events on
the green table of speculation。
During this happy period； and until the beginning of the year 1829；
Madame Graslin attained； in the eyes of her friends； to a degree of
beauty that was really extraordinary； the reasons of which they were
unable to explain。 The blue of the iris expanded like a flower；
diminishing the dark circle of the pupil； and seeming to float in a
liquid and languishing light that was full of love。 Her forehead；
illumined by thoughts and memories of happiness； was seen to whiten
like the zenith before the dawn； and its lines were purified by an
inward fire。 Her face lost those heated brown tones which betoken a
disturbance of the liver；that malady of vigorous constitutions； or
of persons whose soul is distressed and whose affections are thwarted。
Her temples became adorably fresh and pure； gleams of the celestial
face of a Raffaelle showed themselves now and then in hers；a face
hitherto obscured by the malady of grief； as the canvas of the great
master is encrusted by time。 Her hands seemed whiter； her shoulders
took on an exquisite fulness； her graceful； animated movements gave to
her supple figure its utmost charm。
The Limoges women accused her of being in love with Monsieur de
Grandville； who certainly paid her assiduous attention； to which
Veronique opposed all the barriers of a conscientious resistance。 The
viscount professed for her one of those respectful attachments which
did not blind the habitual visitors of her salon。 The priests and men
of sense saw plainly that this affection； which was love on the part
of the young man； did not go beyond the permissible line in Madame
Graslin。 Weary at last of a resistance based on religious principle；
the Vicomte de Grandville consoled himself （to the knowledge of his
intimates） with other and easier friendships； which did not； however；
lessen his constant admiration and worship of the beautiful Madame
Graslin；such was the term by which she was designated in 1829。
The most clear…sighted among those who surrounded her attributed the
change which rendered Veronique increasingly charming to her friends
to the secret delight which all women； even the most religious； feel
when they see themselves courted； and to the satisfaction of living at
last in a circle congenial to her mind； where the pleasure of
exchanging ideas and the happiness of being surrounded by intelligent
and well…informed men and true friends； whose attachment deepened day
by day； had dispersed forever the weary dulness of her life。
Perhaps； however； closer； more perceptive or sceptical observers were
needed than those who frequented the hotel Graslin； to detect the
barbaric grandeur； the plebeian force of the People which lay deep…
hidden in her soul。 If sometimes her friends surprised her in a torpor
of meditation either gloomy or merely pensive； they knew she bore upon
her heart the miseries of others； and had doubtless that morning been
initiated in some fresh sorrow； or had penetrated to some haunt where
vices terrify the soul with their candor。
The viscount； now promoted to be /procureur…general/； would
occasionally blame her for certain unintelligent acts of charity by
which； as he knew from his secret police…reports； she had given
encouragement to criminal schemes。
〃If you ever want money for any of your paupers； let me be a sharer in
your good deeds；〃 said old Grossetete； taking Veronique's hand。
〃Ah！〃 she replied with a sigh； 〃it is impossible to make everybody
rich。〃
At the beginning of this year an event occurred which was destined to
change the whole interior life of this woman and to transform the
splendid expression of her countenance into something far more
interesting in the eyes of painters。
Becoming uneasy about his health； Graslin； to his wife's despair； no
longer desired to live on the ground…floor。 He returned to the
conjugal chamber and allowed himself to be nursed。 The news soon
spread throughout Limoges that Madame Graslin was pregnant。 Her
sadness； mingled with joy； struck the minds of her friends； who then
for the first time perceived that in spite of her virtues she had been
happy in the fact of living separate from her husband。 Perhaps she had
hoped for some better fate ever since the time when； as it was known；
the attorney…general had declined to marry the richest heiress in the
place； in order to keep his loyalty to her。
From this suggestion there grew up in the minds of the profound
politicians who played their whist at the hotel Graslin a belief that
the viscount and the young wife had based certain hopes on the ill…
health of the banker which were now frustrated。 The great agitations
which marked this period of Veronique's life； the anxieties which a
first childbirth causes in every woman； and which； it is said；
threatens special danger when she is past her first youth； made her
friends more attentive than ever to her； they vied with each other in
showing her those little kindnesses which proved how warm and solid
their affection really was。
V
TASCHERON
It was in this year that Limoges witnessed a terrible event and the
singular drama of the Tascheron trial； in which the young Vicomte de
Grandville displayed the talents which afterwards made him /procureur…
general/。
An old man living in a lonely house in the suburb of Saint…Etienne was
murdered。 A large fruit…garden lay between the road and the house；
which was also separated from the adjoining fields by a pleasure…
garden； at the farther end of which were several old and disused
greenhouses。 In front of the house a rapid slope to the river bank
gave a view of the Vienne。 The courtyard； which also sloped downward；
ended at a little wall； from which small columns rose at equal
distances united by a railing； more； however； for ornament than
protection； for the bars of the railing were of painted wood。
The old man； named Pingret； noted for his avarice； lived with a single
woman…servant； a country…girl who did all the work of the house。 He
himself took care of his espaliers； trimmed his trees； gathered his
fruit； and sent it to Limoges for sale； together with early
vegetables； in the raising of which he excelled。
The niece of this old man； and his sole heiress； married to a
gentleman of small means living in Limoges； a Madame des Vanneaulx；
had again and again urged her uncle to hire a man to protect the
house； pointing out to him that he would thus obtain the profits of
certain uncultivated ground where he now grew nothing but clover。 But
the old man steadily refused。 More than once a discussion on the
subject had cut into the w