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mournful elegy； that useless plea against the penalty of death （the
mainstay of society！）； which had lately been published； as if
expressly to meet this case； was the topic of all conversations。
But； above all； in the mind of every one； stood that invisible unknown
woman； her feet in blood； raised aloft by the trial as it were on a
pedestal；torn； no doubt； by horrible inward anguish and condemned to
absolute silence within her home。 Who was this Medea whom the public
well…nigh admired；the woman with that impenetrable brow； that white
breast covering a heart of steel？ Perhaps she was the sister or the
cousin or the daughter or the wife of this one or of that one among
them！ Alarm seemed to creep into the bosom of families。 As Napoleon
finely said； it is especially in the domain of the imagination that
the power of the Unknown is immeasurable。
As for the hundred thousand francs stolen from Monsieur and Madame des
Vanneaulx no efforts of the police could find them； and the obstinate
silence of the criminal gave no clue。 Monsieur de Grandville tried the
common means of holding out hopes of commutation of the sentence in
case of confession； but when he went to see the prisoner and suggest
it the latter received him with such furious cries and epileptic
contortions； such rage at being powerless to take him by the throat；
that he could do nothing。
The law could only look to the influence of the Church at the last
moment。 The des Vanneaulx had frequently consulted with the Abbe
Pascal； chaplain of the prison。 This priest was not without the
faculty of making prisoners listen to him； and he religiously braved
Tascheron's violence； trying to get in a few words amid the storms of
that powerful nature in convulsion。 But this struggle of spiritual
fatherhood against the hurricane of unchained passions； overcame the
poor abbe completely。
〃The man has had his paradise here below；〃 said the old man； in his
gentle voice。
Little Madame des Vanneaulx consulted her friends as to whether she
ought to try a visit herself to the criminal。 Monsieur des Vanneaulx
talked of offering terms。 In his anxiety to recover the money he
actually went to Monsieur de Grandville and asked for the pardon of
his uncle's murderer if the latter would make restitution of the
hundred thousand francs。 The /procureur…general/ replied that the
majesty of the crown did not stoop to such compromises。
The des Vanneaulx then had recourse to the lawyer who had defended
Tascheron； and to him they offered ten per cent of whatever sum he
could recover。 This lawyer was the only person before whom Tascheron
was not violent。 The heirs authorized him to offer the prisoner an
additional ten per cent to be paid to his family。 In spite of all
these inducements and his own eloquence； the lawyer could obtain
nothing whatever from his client。 The des Vanneaulx were furious； they
anathematized the unhappy man。
〃He is not only a murderer； but he has no sense of decency；〃 cried
Madame des Vanneaulx （ignorant of Fualdes' famous complaint）； when she
received word of the failure of the Abbe Pascal's efforts； and was
told there was no hope of a reversal of the sentence by the court of
appeals。
〃What good will our money do him in the place he is going to？〃 said
her husband。 〃Murder can be conceived of； but useless theft is
inconceivable。 What days we live in； to be sure！ To think that people
in good society actually take an interest in such a wretch！〃
〃He has no honor；〃 said Madame des Vanneaulx。
〃But perhaps the restitution would compromise the woman he loves；〃
said an old maid。
〃We would keep his secret；〃 returned Monsieur des Vanneaulx。
〃Then you would be compounding a felony；〃 remarked a lawyer。
〃Oh； the villain！〃 was Monsieur des Vanneaulx's usual conclusion。
One of Madame Graslin's female friends related to her with much
amusement these discussions of the des Vanneaulx。 This lady； who was
very intelligent； and one of those persons who form ideals and desire
that all things should attain perfection； regretted the violence and
savage temper of the condemned； she would rather he had been cold and
calm and dignified； she said。
〃Do you not see；〃 replied Veronique； 〃that he is thus avoiding their
temptations and foiling their efforts？ He is making himself a wild
beast for a purpose。〃
〃At any rate；〃 said the lady； 〃he is not a well…bred man； he is only a
workman。〃
〃If he had been a well…bred man；〃 said Madame Graslin； 〃he would soon
have sacrificed that unknown woman。〃
These events； discussed and turned and twisted in every salon； every
household； commented on in a score of ways； stripped bare by the
cleverest tongues in the community； gave； of course； a cruel interest
to the execution of the criminal； whose appeal was rejected after two
months' delay by the upper court。 What would probably be his demeanor
in his last moments？ Would he speak out？ Would he contradict himself？
How would the bets be decided？ Who would go to see him executed； and
who would not go； and how could it be done？ The position of the
localities； which in Limoges spares a criminal the anguish of a long
distance to the scaffold； lessens the number of spectators。 The law
courts which adjoin the prison stand at the corner of the rue du
Palais and the rue du Pont…Herisson。 The rue du Palais is continued in
a straight line by the short rue de Monte…a…Regret； which leads to the
place des Arenes； where the executions take place； and which probably
owes its name to that circumstances。 There is therefore but little
distance to go； few houses to pass； and few windows to look from。 No
person in good society would be willing to mingle in the crowd which
would fill the streets。
But the expected execution was； to the great astonishment of the whole
town； put off from day to day for the following reason：
The repentance and resignation of great criminals on their way to
death is one of the triumphs which the Church reserves for itself；a
triumph which seldom misses its effect on the popular mind。 Repentance
is so strong a proof of the power of religious ideastaken apart from
all Christian interest； though that； of course； is the chief object of
the Churchthat the clergy are always distressed by a failure on such
occasions。 In July； 1829； such a failure was aggravated by the spirit
of party which envenomed every detail in the life of the body politic。
The liberal party rejoiced in the expectation that the priest…party （a
term invented by Montlosier； a royalist who went over to the
constitutionals； and was dragged by them far beyond his wishes）；that
the priests would fail on so public an occasion before the eyes of the
people。 Parties /en masse/ commit infamous actions which would cover a
single man with shame and opprobrium； therefore when one man alone
stands in his guilt before the eyes of the masses； he becomes a
Robespierre； a Jeffries； a Laubardemont； a species of expiatory altar
on which all secret guilts hang their /ex…votos/。
The authorities； sympathizing with the Church； delayed the execution；
partly in the hope of gaining some conclusive information for
themselves； and partly to allow rel