partly in the hope of gaining some conclusive information for
themselves； and partly to allow religion an opportunity to prevail。
Nevertheless； their power was not unlimited； and the sentence must
sooner or later be carried out。 The same liberals who； out of mere
opposition； had declared Tascheron innocent； and who had done their
best to break down the verdict； now clamored because the sentence was
not executed。 When the opposition is consistent it invariably falls
into such unreasonableness； because its object is not to have right on
its own side； but to harass the authorities and put them in the wrong。
Accordingly； about the beginning of August； the government officials
felt their hand forced by that clamor； so often stupid； called 〃public
opinion。〃 The day for the execution was named。 In this extremity the
Abbe Dutheil took upon himself to propose to the bishop a last
resource； the adoption of which caused the introduction into this
judicial drama of a remarkable personage； who serves as a bond between
all the figures brought upon the scene of it； and who； by ways
familiar to Providence； was destined to lead Madame Graslin along a
path where her virtues were to shine with greater brilliancy as a
noble benefactress and an angelic Christian woman。
The episcopal palace at Limoges stands on a hill which slopes to the
banks of the Vienne； and its gardens； supported by strong walls topped
with a balustrade； descend to the river by terrace after terrace；
according to the natural lay of the land。 The rise of this hill is
such that the suburb of Saint…Etienne on the opposite bank seems to
lie at the foot of the lower terrace。 From there； according to the
direction in which a person walks； the Vienne can be seen either in a
long stretch or directly across it； in the midst of a fertile
panorama。 On the west； after the river leaves the embankment of the
episcopal gardens； it turns toward the town in a graceful curve which
winds around the suburb of Saint…Martial。 At a short distance beyond
that suburb is a pretty country house called Le Cluseau； the walls of
which can be seen from the lower terrace of the bishop's palace；
appearing； by an effect of distance； to blend with the steeples of the
suburb。 Opposite to Le Cluseau is the sloping island； covered with
poplar and other trees； which Veronique in her girlish youth had named
the Ile de France。 To the east the distance is closed by an
ampitheatre of hills。
The magic charm of the site and the rich simplicity of the building
make this episcopal palace one of the most interesting objects in a
town where the other edifices do not shine； either through choice of
material or architecture。
Long familiarized with the aspects which commend these gardens to all
lovers of the picturesque； the Abbe Dutheil； who had induced the Abbe
de Grancour to accompany him； descended from terrace to terrace；
paying no attention to the ruddy colors； the orange tones； the violet
tints； which the setting sun was casting on the old walls and
balustrades of the gardens； on the river beneath them； and； in the
distance； on the houses of the town。 He was in search of the bishop；
who was sitting on the lower terrace under a grape…vine arbor； where
he often came to take his dessert and enjoy the charm of a tranquil
evening。 The poplars on the island seemed at this moment to divide the
waters with the lengthening shadow of their yellowing heads； to which
the sun was lending the appearance of a golden foliage。 The setting
rays； diversely reflected on masses of different greens； produced a
magnificent harmony of melancholy tones。 At the farther end of the
valley a sheet of sparkling water ruffled by the breeze brought out
the brown stretch of roofs in the suburb of Saint…Etienne。 The
steeples and roofs of Saint…Martial； bathed in light； showed through
the tracery of the grape…vine arbor。 The soft murmur of the provincial
town； half hidden by the bend of the river； the sweetness of the balmy
air； all contributed to plunge the prelate into the condition of
quietude prescribed by medical writers on digestion； seemingly his
eyes were resting mechanically on the right bank of the river； just
where the long shadows of the island poplars touched it on the side
toward Saint…Etienne； near the field where the twofold murder of old
Pingret and his servant had been committed。 But when his momentary
felicity was interrupted by the arrival of the two grand vicars； and
the difficulties they brought to him to solve； it was seen his eyes
were filled with impenetrable thoughts。 The two priests attributed
this abstraction to the fact of being bored； whereas； on the contrary；
the prelate was absorbed in seeing in the sands of the Vienne the
solution of the enigma then so anxiously sought for by the officers of
justice； the des Vanneaulx； and the community at large。
〃Monsieur；〃 said the Abbe de Grancour； approaching the bishop； 〃it is
all useless； we shall certainly have the distress of seeing that
unhappy Tascheron die an unbeliever。 He vociferates the most horrible
imprecations against religion； he insults that poor Abbe Pascal； he
spits upon the crucifix； and means to die denying all； even hell。〃
〃He will shock the populace on the scaffold；〃 said the Abbe Dutheil。
〃The great scandal and horror his conduct will excite may hide our
defeat and powerlessness。 In fact； as I have just been saying to
Monsieur de Grancour； this very spectacle may drive other sinners into
the arms of the Church。〃
Troubled by these words； the bishop laid down upon a rustic wooden
table the bunch of grapes at which he was picking； and wiped his
fingers as he made a sign to the two grand vicars to be seated。
〃The Abbe Pascal did not take a wise course；〃 he said。
〃He is actually ill in his bed from the effects of his last scene with
the man；〃 said the Abbe de Grancour。 〃If it were not for that we might
get him to explain more clearly the difficulties that have defeated
all the various efforts monseigneur ordered him to make。〃
〃The condemned man sings obscene songs at the highest pitch of his
voice as soon as he sees any one of us； so as to drown out every word
we try to say to him；〃 said a young priest who was sitting beside the
bishop。
This young man； who was gifted with a charming personality； had his
right arm resting on the table； while his white hand dropped
negligently on the bunches of grapes； seeking the ripest； with the
ease and assurance of an habitual guest or favorite。 He was both to
the prelate； being the younger brother of Baron Eugene de Rastignac；
to whom ties of family and also of affection had long bound the Bishop
of Limoges。 Aware of the want of fortune which devoted this young man
to the Church； the bishop took him as his private secretary to give
him time to wait for eventual preferment。 The Abbe Gabriel bore a name
which would lead him sooner or later to the highest dignities of the
Church。
〃Did you go to see him； my son？〃 asked the bishop。
〃Yes； Monseigneur。 As soon as I entered his cell the wretched man
hurled the most disgusting epithets at you and at me。 He behaved in
such a manner that it was impossible for any priest to remain in his
presence。 Might I give Monseigneur a word of advice？〃
〃Let us listen to the words of wisdom which God Almighty sometimes
puts into the mouths of children；〃 said the bishop； smiling。
〃Well； you know he made Balaam's ass speak out；〃 said the young abbe
quickly。
〃But according to some commentators she did not know what she was
saying；〃 replied the bishop； laughing。
The two grand vicars smiled。 In the first place； the joke came from
Monseigneur； next； it bore gently on the young abbe； of whom the
dignitaries and other ambitious priests grouped around the bishop were
somewhat jealous。
〃My advice would be；〃 resumed the young man； 〃to ask Monsieur de
Grandville to reprieve the man for the present。 When Tascheron knows
that he owes an extension of his life to our intercession； he may
pretend to listen to us； and if he listens〃
〃He will persist in his present conduct； finding that it has won him
that advantage；〃 said the bishop； interrupting his favorite。
〃Messieurs；〃 he said； after a moment's silence； 〃does the whole town
know of these details？〃
〃There is not a household in which they are not talked over；〃 said the
Abbe de Grancour。 〃The state in which our good Abbe Pascal was put by
his last efforts is the present topic of conversation throughout the
town。〃
〃When is Tascheron to be executed？〃 asked the bishop。
〃To…morrow； which is market…day〃； replied Monsieur de Grancour。
〃Messieurs；〃 exclaimed the bishop； 〃religion must not be overset in
this way。 The more public attention is attracted to the matter； the
more I am determined to obtain a notable triumph。 The Church is now in
presence of a great difficulty。 We are called upon to do miracles in
this manufacturing town； where the spirit of sedition against
religious and monarchical principles has such deep root； where the
system of inquiry born of protestantism （which in these days calls
itself liberalism； prepared at any moment to take another name）
extends into everything。 Go at once to Monsieur de Grandville； he is
wholly on our side； and say to him from me that we beg for a few days'
reprieve。 I will go myself and see that unhappy man。〃
〃You； Monseigneur！〃 said the Abbe de Rastignac。 〃If you should fail；
wouldn't that complicate matters？ You ought not to go unless you are
certain of success。〃
〃If Monseigneur will permit me to express my opinion；〃 said the Abbe
Dutheil； 〃I think I can suggest a means which may bring victory to
religion in this sad case。〃
The prelate answered with a sign of assent； so coldly given as to show
how little credit he gave to his vicar…general。
〃If any one can influence that rebellious soul and bring it back to
God；〃 continued the Abbe Dutheil； 〃it is the rector of the village in
which he was born； Monsieur Bonnet。〃
〃One of your proteges；〃 remarked the bishop。
〃Monseigneur； Monsieur Bonnet is one of those men who protect
themselves； both by their active virtues and their gospel work。〃
This simple and modest reply was received in a silence