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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 lodging…house in which he lived was questioned she said she
had never had a lodger whose moral conduct was as blameless。 He was
naturally amiable and gentle； and sometimes gay。 About a year before
the commission of the crime； his habits changed： he slept away from
home several times a month and often for consecutive nights； but where
she did not know； though she thought； from the state of his shoes when
he returned； that he must have been into the country。 She noticed that
although he appeared to have left the town； he never wore his heavy
boots； but always a pair of light shoes。 He shaved before starting；
and put on clean linen。 Hearing this； the police turned their
attention to houses of ill…fame and questionable resorts； but Jean…
Francois Tascheron was found to be wholly unknown among them。 The
authorities then made a search through the working…girl and /grisette/
class； but none of these women had had relations with the accused。
A crime without a motive is unheard of； especially in a young man
whose desire for education and whose laudable ambition gave him higher
ideas and a superior judgment to that of other workmen。 The police and
the examining justice； finding themselves balked in the above
directions； attributed the murder to a passion for gambling； but after
the most searching inquiries it was proved that Tascheron never played
cards。
At first Jean…Francois entrenched himself in a system of flat denials；
which； of course； in presence of a jury； would fall before proof； they
seemed to show the collusion of some person either well versed in law
or gifted with an intelligent mind。 The following are the chief proofs
the prosecution were prepared to present； and they are； as is
frequently the case in trials for murder； both important and trifling；
to wit：
The absence of Tascheron during the night of the crime； and his
refusal to say where he was； for the accused did not offer to set up
an alibi； a fragment of his blouse； torn off by the servant…woman in
t