did； so happy；so happy that the poor girl found strength to hide her
surprise and her violent repulsion。 During the conversation which then
took place something was said of Graslin's health。 The banker looked
naively into the mirror； with bevelled edges in an ebony frame。
〃Mademoiselle；〃 he said； 〃I am not good…looking。〃
Thereupon he proceeded to explain the blotches on his face as the
result of his overworked life。 He related how he had constantly
disobeyed his physician's advice； and remarked that he hoped to change
his appearance altogether when he had a wife to rule his household；
and take better care of him than he took of himself。
〃Is a man married for his face； compatriot？〃 said Sauviat； giving the
other a hearty slap on the thigh。
Graslin's speech went straight to those natural feelings which； more
or less； fill the heart of every woman。 The thought came into
Veronique's mind that her face； too； had been destroyed by a horrible
disease； and her Christian modesty rebuked her first impression。
Hearing a whistle in the street； Graslin went downstairs； followed by
Sauviat。 They speedily returned。 The office…boy had brought the first
bouquet； which was a little late in coming。 When the banker exhibited
this mound of exotic flowers； the fragrance of which completely filled
the room； and offered it to his future wife； Veronique felt a rush of
conflicting emotions； she was suddenly plunged into the ideal and
fantastic world of tropical nature。 Never before had she seen white
camelias； never had she smelt the fragrance of the Alpine cistus； the
Cape jessamine； the cedronella； the volcameria； the moss…rose； or any
of the divine perfumes which woo to love； and sing to the heart their
hymns of fragrance。 Graslin left Veronique that night in the grasp of
such emotions。
From this time forth； as soon as all Limoges was sleeping； the banker
would slip along the walls to the Sauviats' house。 There he would tap
gently on the window…shutter； the dog did not bark； old Sauviat came
down and let him in； and Graslin would then spend an hour or two with
Veronique in the brown room； where Madame Sauviat always served him a
true Auvergnat supper。 Never did this singular lover arrive without a
bouquet made of the rarest flowers from the greenhouse of his old
partner； Monsieur Grossetete； the only person who as yet knew of the
approaching marriage。 The man…of…all…work went every evening to fetch
the bunch； which Monsieur Grossetete made himself。
Graslin made about fifty such visits in two months； each time； besides
the flowers； he brought with him some rich present；rings； a watch； a
gold chain； a work…box； etc。 These inconceivable extravagances must be
explained； and a word suffices。 Veronique's dowry； promised by her
father； consisted of nearly the whole of old Sauviat's property；
namely； seven hundred and fifty thousand francs。 The old man retained
an income of eight thousand francs derived from the Funds； bought for
him originally for sixty thousand francs in assignats by his
correspondent Brezac； to whom； at the time of his imprisonment； he had
confided that sum； and who kept it for him safely。 These sixty
thousand francs in assignats were the half of Sauviat's fortune at the
time he came so near being guillotined。 Brezac was also； at the same
time； the faithful repository of the rest； namely； seven hundred louis
d'or （an enormous sum at that time in gold）； with which old Sauviat
began his business once more as soon as he recovered his liberty。 In
thirty years each of those louis d'or had been transformed into a
bank…note for a thousand francs； by means of the income from the
Funds； of Madame Sauviat's inheritance from her father； old
Champagnac； and of the profits accruing from the business and the
accumulated interest thereon in the hands of the Brezac firm。 Brezac
himself had a loyal and honest friendship for Sauviat；such as all
Auvergnats are apt to feel for one another。
So； whenever Sauviat passed the front of the Graslin mansion he had
said to himself； 〃Veronique shall live in that fine palace。〃 He knew
very well that no girl in all the department would have seven hundred
and fifty thousand francs as a marriage portion； besides the
expectation of two hundred and fifty thousand more。 Graslin； his
chosen son…in…law； would therefore infallibly marry Veronique； and so；
as we have seen； it came about。
Every evening Veronique had her fresh bunch of flowers； which on the
morrow decked her little salon and was carefully concealed from the
neighbors。 She admired the beautiful jewels； the pearls and diamonds；
the bracelets； the rubies； gifts which assuredly gratify all the
daughters of Eve。 She thought herself less plain when she wore them。
She saw her mother happy in the marriage； and she had no other point
of view from which to make comparisons。 She was； moreover； totally
ignorant of the duties or the purpose of marriage。 She heard the
solemn voice of the vicar of Saint…Etienne praising Graslin to her as
a man of honor； with whom she would lead an honorable life。 Thus it
was that Veronique consented to receive Monsieur Graslin as her future
husband。
When it happens that in a life so withdrawn from the world； so
solitary as that of Veronique； a single person enters it every day；
that person cannot long remain indifferent； either he is hated； and
the aversion； justified by a deepening knowledge of his character；
renders him intolerable； or the habit of seeing bodily defects dims
the eye to them。 The mind looks about for compensations； his
countenance awakens curiosity； its features brighten； fleeting
beauties appear in it。 At last the inner； hidden beneath the outer；
shows itself。 Then； when the first impressions are fairly overcome；
the attachment felt is all the stronger； because the soul clings to it
as its own creation。 That is love。 And here lies the reason of those
passions conceived by beautiful things for other beings apparently
ugly。 The outward aspect； forgotten by affection； is no longer seen in
a creature whose soul is deeply valued。 Besides this； beauty； so
necessary to a woman； takes many strange aspects in man； and there is
as much diversity of feeling among women about the beauty of men as
there is among men about the beauty of women。 So； after deep
reflection and much debating with herself； Veronique gave her consent
to the publication of the banns。
From that moment all Limoges rang with this inexplicable affair；
inexplicable because no one knew the secret of it； namely； the
immensity of the dowry。 Had that dowry been known Veronique could have
chosen a husband where she pleased； but even so； she might have made a
mistake。
Graslin was thought to be much in love。 Upholsterers came from Paris
to fit up the house。 Nothing was talked of in Limoges but the profuse
expenditures of the banker。 The value of the chandeliers was
calculated； the gilding of the walls； the figures on the clocks； all
were discussed； the jardinieres； the caloriferes； the objects of
luxury and novelty； nothing was left unnoticed。 In the garden of the
hotel Graslin； above the icehouse； was an aviary； and all the
inhabitants of the town were presently surprised by the sight of rare
birds；Chinese pheasants； mysterious breeds of ducks。 Every one
flocked to see them。 Monsieur and Madame Grossetete； an old couple who
were highly respected in Limoges； made several visits to the Sauviats；
accompanied by Graslin。 Madame Grossetete； a most excellent woman；
congratulated Veronique on her happy marriage。 Thus the Church； the
family； society； and all material things down to the most trivial；
made themselves accomplices to bring about this marriage。
In the month of April the formal invitations to the wedding were
issued to all Graslin's friends and acquaintance。 On a fine spring
morning a caleche and a coupe； drawn by Limousin horses chosen by
Monsieur Grossetete； drew up at eleven o'clock before the shop of the
iron…dealer； bringing； to the great excitement of the neighborhood；
the former partners of the bridegroom and the latter's two clerks。 The
street was lined with spectators； all anxious to see the Sauviats'
daughter； on whose beautiful hair the most renowned hairdresser in
Limoges had placed the bridal wreath and a costly veil of English
lace。 Veronique wore a gown of simple white muslin。 A rather imposing
assemblage of the most distinguished women in the society of the town
attended the wedding in the cathedral； where the bishop； knowing the
religious fervor of the Sauviats； deigned to marry Veronique himself。
The bride was very generally voted plain。
She entered her new house； and went from one surprise to another。 A
grand dinner was to precede the ball； to which Graslin had invited
nearly all Limoges。 The dinner； given to the bishop； the prefect； the
judge of the court； the attorney…general； the mayor； the general； and
Graslin's former partners with their wives； was a triumph for the
bride； who； like all other persons who are simple and natural； showed
charms that were not expected in her。 Neither of the bridal pair could
dance； Veronique continued therefore to do the honors to her guests；
and to win the esteem and good graces of nearly all the persons who
were presented to her； asking Grossetete； who took an honest liking to
her； for information about the company。 She made no mistakes and
committed no blunders。 It was during this evening that the two former
partners of the banker announced the amount of the dowry （immense for
Limousin） given by the Sauviats to their daughter。 At nine o'clock the
old iron…dealer returned home and went to bed； leaving his wife to
preside over the bride's retiring。 It was said by everyone throughout
the town that Madame Graslin was very plain； though well made。
Old Sauviat now wound up his business and sold his house in town。 He
bought a little country…place on the left bank of the Vienne between
Limoges and Cluzeau； ten minutes' walk from the suburb of Saint…
Martial； where he intended to finish his days tranquilly with his
wife。 The old couple had an apartment in the hotel Graslin and always
dined once or twice a week with their daughter； who； as often； made
their ho