crime； and for years they were suspected of shaving both gold and
silver coins。 When Champagnac died the Sauviats made no inventory of
his property； but they rummaged； with the intelligence of rats； into
every nook and corner of the old man's house； left it as naked as a
corpse； and sold the wares it contained in their own shop。
Once a year； in December； Sauviat went to Paris in one of the public
conveyances。 The gossips of the neighborhood concluded that in order
to conceal from others the amount of his fortune； he invested it
himself on these occasions。 It was known later that； having been
connected in his youth with one of the most celebrated dealers in
metal； an Auvergnat like himself； who was living in Paris； Sauviat
placed his funds with the firm of Bresac； the mainspring and spine of
that famous association known by the name of the 〃Bande Noire；〃 which；
as we have already said； took its rise from a suggestion made by
Sauviat himself。
Sauviat was a fat little man with a weary face； endowed by Nature with
a look of honesty which attracted customers and facilitated the sale
of goods。 His straightforward assertions； and the perfect indifference
of his tone and manner； increased this impression。 In person； his
naturally ruddy complexion was hardly perceptible under the black
metallic dust which powdered his curly black hair and the seams of a
face pitted with the small…pox。 His forehead was not without dignity；
in fact； it resembled the well…known brow given by all painters to
Saint Peter； the man of the people； the roughest； but withal the
shrewdest； of the apostles。 His hands were those of an indefatigable
worker；large； thick； square； and wrinkled with deep furrows。 His
chest was of seemingly indestructible muscularity。 He never
relinquished his peddler's costume；thick； hobnailed shoes； blue
stockings knit by his wife and hidden by leather gaiters； bottle…green
velveteen trousers； a checked waistcoat； from which depended the brass
key of his silver watch by an iron chain which long usage had polished
till it shone like steel； a jacket with short tails； also of
velveteen； like that of the trousers； and around his neck a printed
cotton cravat much frayed by the rubbing of his beard。
On Sundays and fete…days Sauviat wore a frock…coat of maroon cloth； so
well taken care of that two new ones were all he bought in twenty
years。 The living of galley…slaves would be thought sumptuous in
comparison with that of the Sauviats； who never ate meat except on the
great festivals of the Church。 Before paying out the money absolutely
needed for their daily subsistence； Madame Sauviat would feel in the
two pockets hidden between her gown and petticoat； and bring forth a
single well…scraped coin；a crown of six francs； or perhaps a piece
of fifty…five sous；which she would gaze at for a long time before
she could bring herself to change it。 As a general thing the Sauviats
ate herrings； dried peas； cheese； hard eggs in salad； vegetables
seasoned in the cheapest manner。 Never did they lay in provisions；
except perhaps a bunch of garlic or onions； which could not spoil and
cost but little。 The small amount of wood they burned in winter they
bought of itinerant sellers day by day。 By seven in winter； by nine in
summer； the household was in bed； and the shop was closed and guarded
by a huge dog； which got its living from the kitchens in the
neighborhood。 Madame Sauviat used about three francs' worth of candles
in the course of the year。
The sober； toilsome life of these persons was brightened by one joy；
but that was a natural joy； and for it they made their only known
outlays。 In May； 1802； Madame Sauviat gave birth to a daughter。 She
was confined all alone； and went about her household work five days
later。 She nursed her child in the open air； seated as usual in her
chair by the corner pillar； continuing to sell old iron while the
infant sucked。 Her milk cost nothing； and she let her little daughter
feed on it for two years； neither of them being the worse for the long
nursing。
Veronique （that was the infant's name） became the handsomest child in
the Lower town； and every one who saw her stopped to look at her。 The
neighbors then noticed for the first time a trace of feeling in the
old Sauviats； of which they had supposed them devoid。 While the wife
cooked the dinner the husband held the little one； or rocked it to the
tune of an Auvergnat song。 The workmen as they passed sometimes saw
him motionless gazing at Veronique asleep on her mother's knees。 He
softened his harsh voice when he spoke to her； and wiped his hands on
his trousers before taking her up。 When Veronique tried to walk； the
father bent his legs and stood at a little distance holding out his
arms and making little grimaces which contrasted funnily with the
rigid furrows of his stern； hard face。 The man of iron； brass； and
lead became a being of flesh and blood and bones。 If he happened to be
standing with his back against the corner pillar motionless； a cry
from Veronique would agitate him and send him flying over the mounds
of iron fragments to find her； for she spent her childhood playing
with the wreck of ancient castles heaped in the depths of that old
shop。 There were other days on which she went to play in the street or
with the neighboring children； but even then her mother's eye was
always on her。
It is not unimportant to say here that the Sauviats were eminently
religious。 At the very height of the Revolution they observed both
Sunday and fete…days。 Twice Sauviat came near having his head cut off
for hearing mass from an unsworn priest。 He was put in prison； being
justly accused of helping a bishop； whose life he saved； to fly the
country。 Fortunately the old…iron dealer； who knew the ways of bolts
and bars； was able to escape； nevertheless he was condemned to death
by default； and as； by the bye； he never purged himself of that
contempt； he may be said to have died dead。
His wife shared his piety。 The avariciousness of the household yielded
to the demands of religion。 The old…iron dealers gave their alms
punctually at the sacrament and to all the collections in church。 When
the vicar of Saint…Etienne called to ask help for his poor； Sauviat or
his wife fetched at once without reluctance or sour faces the sum they
thought their fair share of the parish duties。 The mutilated Virgin on
their corner pillar never failed （after 1799） to be wreathed with
holly at Easter。 In the summer season she was feted with bouquets kept
fresh in tumblers of blue glass； this was particularly the case after
the birth of Veronique。 On the days of the processions the Sauviats
scrupulously hung their house with sheets covered with flowers； and
contributed money to the erection and adornment of the altar； which
was the pride and glory of the whole square。
Veronique Sauviat was； therefore； brought up in a Christian manner。
From the time she was seven years old she was taught by a Gray sister
from Auvergne to whom the Sauviats had done some kindness in former
times。 Both husband and wife were obliging when the matter did not
affect their pockets or consume their time；like all poor folk who
are cordially ready to be serviceable to others in their own way。 The
Gray sister taught Veronique to read and write； she also taught her
the history of the people of God； the catechism； the Old and the New
Testaments； and a very little arithmetic。 That was all； the worthy
sister thought it enough； it was in fact too much。
At nine years of age Veronique surprised the whole neighborhood with
her beauty。 Every one admired her face； which promised much to the
pencil of artists who are always seeking a noble ideal。 She was called
〃the Little Virgin〃 and showed signs already of a fine figure and
great delicacy of complexion。 Her Madonna…like facefor the popular
voice had well named herwas surrounded by a wealth of fair hair；
which brought out the purity of her features。 Whoever has seen the
sublime Virgin of Titian in his great picture of the 〃Presentation〃 at
Venice； will know that Veronique was in her girlhood；the same
ingenuous candor； the same seraphic astonishment in her eyes； the same
simple yet noble attitude； the same majesty of childhood in her
demeanor。
At eleven years of age she had the small…pox； and owed her life to the
care of Soeur Marthe。 During the two months that their child was in
danger the Sauviats betrayed to the whole community the depth of their
tenderness。 Sauviat no longer went about the country to sales； he
stayed in the shop； going upstairs and down to his daughter's room；
sitting up with her every night in company with his wife。 His silent
anguish seemed so great that no one dared to speak to him； his
neighbors looked at him with compassion； but they only asked news of
Veronique from Soeur Marthe。 During the days when the child's danger
reached a crisis； the neighbors and passers saw； for the first and
only time in Sauviat's life； tears in his eyes and rolling down his
hollow cheeks； he did not wipe them； but stood for hours as if
stupefied； not daring to go upstairs to his daughter's room； gazing
before him and seeing nothing； so oblivious of all things that any one
might have robbed him。
Veronique was saved； but her beauty perished。 Her face； once
exquisitely colored with a tint in which brown and rose were
harmoniously mingled； came out from the disease with a myriad of pits
which thickened the skin； the flesh beneath it being deeply indented。
Even her forehead did not escape the ravages of the scourge； it turned
brown and looked as though it were hammered； like metal。 Nothing can
be more discordant than brick tones of the skin surrounded by golden
hair； they destroy all harmony。 These fissures in the tissues；
capriciously hollowed； injured the purity of the profile and the
delicacy of the lines of the face； especially that of the nose； the
Grecian form of which was lost； and that of the chin； once as
exquisitely rounded as a piece of white porcelain。 The disease left
nothing unharmed except the parts it was unable to reach；the eyes
and the teeth。 She did not； however； lose the elegance and beauty of
her shape；neither the fulness