the old man steadily refused。 More than once a discussion on the
subject had cut into the whist…playing of Limoges。 A few shrewd heads
declared that the old miser buried his gold in that clover…field。
〃If I were Madame des Vanneaulx；〃 said a wit； 〃I shouldn't torment my
uncle about it； if somebody murders him； why； let him be murdered！ I
should inherit the money。〃
Madame des Vanneaulx； however； wanted to keep her uncle； after the
manner of the managers of the Italian Opera； who entreat their popular
tenor to wrap up his throat； and give him their cloak if he happens to
have forgotten his own。 She had sent old Pingret a fine English
mastiff； which Jeanne Malassis； the servant…woman brought back the
next day saying：
〃Your uncle doesn't want another mouth to feed。〃
The result proved how well…founded were the niece's fears。 Pingret was
murdered on a dark night； in the middle of his clover…field； where he
may have been adding a few coins to a buried pot of gold。 The servant…
woman； awakened by the struggle； had the courage to go to the
assistance of the old miser； and the murderer was under the necessity
of killing her to suppress her testimony。 This necessity； which
frequently causes murderers to increase the number of their victims；
is an evil produced by the fear of the death penalty。
This double murder was attended by curious circumstances which told as
much for the prosecution as for the defence。 After the neighbors had
missed seeing the little old Pingret and his maid for a whole morning
and had gazed at his house through the wooden railings as they passed
it； and seen that； contrary to custom； the doors and windows were
still closed； an excitement began in the Faubourg Saint…Etienne which
presently reached the rue de la Cloche； where Madame des Vanneaulx
resided。
The niece was always in expectation of some such catastrophe； and she
at once notified the officers of the law； who went to the house and
broke in the gate。 They soon discovered in a clover patch four holes；
and near two of these holes lay the fragments of earthenware pots；
which had doubtless been full of gold the night before。 In the other
two holes； scarcely covered up； were the bodies of old Pingret and
Jeanne Malassis； who had been buried with their clothes on。 The poor
girl had run to her master's assistance in her night…gown； with bare
feet。
While the /procureur…du…roi/； the commissary of police； and the
examining magistrate were gathering all particulars for the basis of
their action； the luckless des Vanneaulx picked up the broken pots and
calculated from their capacity the sum lost。 The magistrates admitted
the correctness of their calculations and entered the sum stolen on
their records as； in all probability； a thousand gold coins to each
pot。 But were these coins forty…eight or forty； twenty…four or twenty
francs in value？ All expectant heirs in Limoges sympathized with the
des Vanneaulx。 The Limousin imagination was greatly stirred by the
spectacle of the broken pots。 As for old Pingret； who often sold
vegetables himself in the market； lived on bread and onions； never
spent more than three hundred francs a year； obliged and disobliged no
one； and had never done one atom of good in the suburb of Saint…
Etienne where he lived； his death did not excite the slightest regret。
Poor Jeanne Malassis' heroism； which the old miser； had she saved him；
would certainly not have rewarded； was thought rash； the number of
souls who admired it was small in comparison with those who said： 〃For
my part； I should have stayed in my bed。〃
The police found neither pen nor ink wherewith to write their report
in the bare； dilapidated； cold； and dismal house。 Observing persons
and the heir might then have noticed a curious inconsistency which may
be seen in certain misers。 The dread the little old man had of the
slightest outlay showed itself in the non…repaired roof which opened
its sides to the light and the rain and snow； in the cracks of the
walls； in the rotten doors ready to fall at the slightest shock； in
the windows； where the broken glass was replaced by paper not even
oiled。 All the windows were without curtains； the fireplaces without
mirrors or andirons； the hearth was garnished with one log of wood and
a few little sticks almost caked with the soot which had fallen down
the chimney。 There were two rickety chairs； two thin couches； a few
cracked pots and mended plates； a one…armed armchair； a dilapidated
bed； the curtains of which time had embroidered with a bold hand； a
worm…eaten secretary where the miser kept his seeds； a pile of linen
thickened by many darns； and a heap of ragged garments； which existed
only by the will of their master； he being dead they dropped into
shreds； powder； chemical dissolution； in fact I know not into what
form of utter ruin； as soon as the heir or the officers of the law
laid rough hands upon them； they disappeared as if afraid of being
publicly sold。
The population at Limoges was much concerned for these worthy des
Vanneaulx； who had two children； and yet； no sooner did the law lay
hands upon the reputed doer of the crime than the guilty personage
absorbed attention； became a hero； and the des Vanneaulx were
relegated into a corner of the picture。
Toward the end of March Madame Graslin began to feel some of those
pains which precede a first confinement and cannot be concealed。 The
inquiry as to the murder was then going on； but the murderer had not
as yet been arrested。
Veronique now received her friends in her bedroom； where they played
whist。 For several days past Madame Graslin had not left the house；
and she seemed to be tormented by several of those caprices attributed
to women in her condition。 Her mother came to see her almost every
day； and the two women remained for hours in consultation。
It was nine o'clock； and the card tables were still without players；
for every one was talking of the murder。 Monsieur de Grandville
entered the room。
〃We have arrested the murderer of old Pingret；〃 he said； joyfully。
〃Who is it？〃 was asked on all sides。
〃A porcelain workman； a man whose character has always been excellent；
and who was in a fair way to make his fortune。 He worked in your
husband's old factory；〃 added Monsieur de Grandville； turning to
Madame Graslin。
〃What is his name？〃 asked Veronique； in a weak voice。
〃Jean…Francois Tascheron。〃
〃Unhappy man！〃 she answered。 〃Yes； I have often seen him； my poor
father recommended him to my care as some one to be looked after。〃
〃He left the factory before Sauviat's death；〃 said her mother； 〃and
went to that of Messrs。 Philippart； who offered him higher wages But
my daughter is scarcely well enough for this exciting conversation；〃
she added； calling attention to Madame Graslin； whose face was as
white as her sheets。
After that evening Mere Sauviat gave up her own home； and came； in
spite of her sixty…six years； to stay with her daughter and nurse her
through her confinement。 She never left the room； Madame Graslin's
friends found the old woman always at the bed's head busy with her
eternal knitting；brooding over Veronique as she did when the girl
had the small…pox； answering questions for her and often refusing to
admit visitors。 The maternal and filial love of mother and daughter
was so well known in Limoges that these actions of Madame Sauviat
caused no comment。
A few days later； when the viscount； thinking to amuse the invalid；
began to relate details which the whole town were eagerly demanding
about Jean…Francois Tascheron； Madame Sauviat again stopped him
hastily； declaring that he would give her daughter bad dreams。
Veronique； however； looking fixedly at Monsieur de Grandville； asked
him to finish what he was saying。 Thus her friends； and she herself；
were the first to know the results of the preliminary inquiry； which
would soon be made public。 The following is a brief epitome of the
facts on which the indictment found against the prisoner was based。
Jean…Francois Tascheron was the son of a small farmer burdened with a
family； who lived in the village of Montegnac。
Twenty years before this crime； which was famous throughout the
Limousin； the canton of Montegnac was known for its evil ways。 The
saying was proverbial in Limoges that out of one hundred criminals in
the department fifty belonged to the arrondissement of Montegnac。
Since 1816； however； two years after a priest named Bonnet was sent
there as rector； it had lost its bad reputation； and the inhabitants
no longer sent their heavy contingent to the assizes。 This change was
widely attributed to the influence acquired by the rector； Monsieur
Bonnet； over a community which had lately been a hotbed for evil…
minded persons whose actions dishonored the whole region。 The crime of
Jean…Francois Tascheron brought back upon Montegnac its former ill…
savor。
By a curious trick of chance； the Tascherons were almost the only
family in this village community who had retained through its evil
period the old rigid morals and religious habits which are noticed by
the observers of to…day to be rapidly disappearing throughout the
country districts。 This family had therefore formed a point of
reliance to the rector； who naturally bore it on his heart。 The
Tascherons； remarkable for their uprightness； their union； their love
of work； had never given other than good examples to Jean…Francois。
Induced by the praiseworthy ambition of earning his living by a trade；
the lad had left his native village； to the regret of his parents and
friends； who greatly loved him； and had come to Limoges。 During his
two years' apprenticeship in a porcelain factory； his conduct was
worthy of all praise； no apparent ill…conduct had led up to the
horrible crime which was now to end his life。 On the contrary； Jean…
Francois Tascheron had given the time which other workmen were in the
habit of spending in wine…shops and debauchery to study and self…
improvement。
The most searching and minute inquiry on the part of the provincial
authorities （who have plenty of time on their hands） failed to throw
any light on the secrets of the young man's life。 When the mistress of
the humble lodg