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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 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
hand