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church reached the principal house he found their bags and bundles
ready for the journey。 The purchaser of the property was there with
the money。 The notary had drawn up the papers。 In the yard behind the
house was a carriole ready harnessed to carry away the older couple
with the money； and the mother of Jean…Francois。 The remainder of the
family were to go on foot by night。
At the moment when the young abbe entered the low room in which the
family were assembled the rector of Montegnac had exhausted all the
resources of his eloquence。 The old pair； now insensible to the
violence of grief； were crouching in a corner on their bags and
looking round on their old hereditary home； its furniture； and the new
purchaser； and then upon each other as if to say：
〃Did we ever think this thing could happen？〃
These old people； who had long resigned their authority to their son；
the father of the criminal； were； like kings on their abdication；
reduced to the passive role of subjects and children。 Tascheron； the
father； was standing up； he listened to the pastor； and replied to him
in a low voice and by monosyllables。 This man； who was about forty…
eight years of age； had the noble face which Titian has given to so
many of his Apostles；a countenance full of faith； of grave and
reflective integrity； a stern profile； a nose cut in a straight and
projecting line； blue eyes； a noble brow； regular features； black；
crisp； wiry hair； planted on his head with that symmetry which gives a
charm to these brown faces； bronzed by toil in the open air。 It was
easy to see that the rector's appeals were powerless against that
inflexible will。
Denise was leaning against the bread…box； looking at the notary； who
was using that receptacle as a writing…table； seated before it in the
grandmother's armchair。 The purchaser was sitting on a stool beside
him。 The married sisters were laying a cloth upon the table； and
serving the last meal the family were to take in its own house before
expatriating itself to other lands and other skies。 The sons were
half…seated on the green serge bed。 The mother； busy beside the fire；
was beating an omelet。 The grandchildren crowded the doorway； before
which stood the incoming family of the purchaser。
The old smoky room with its blackened rafters； through the window of
which was visible a well…kept garden planted by the two old people；
seemed in harmony with the pent…up anguish which could be read on all
their faces in diverse expressions。 The meal was chiefly prepared for
the notary； the purchaser； the menkind； and the children。 The father
and mother； Denise and her sisters； were too unhappy to eat。 There was
a lofty； stern resignation in the accomplishment of these last duties
of rustic hospitality。 The Tascherons； men of the olden time； ended
their days in that house as they had begun them； by doing its honors。
This scene； without pretension； though full of solemnity； met the eyes
of the bishop's secretary when he approached the village rector to
fulfil the prelate's errand。
〃The son of these good people still lives；〃 said Gabriel。
At these words； heard by all in the deep silence； the two old people
rose to their feet as if the last trump had sounded。 The mother
dropped her pan upon the fire； Denise gave a cry of joy； all the
others stood by in petrified astonishment。
〃Jean…Francois is pardoned！〃 cried the whole village； now rushing
toward the house； having heard the news from Ursule。 〃Monseigneur the
bishop〃
〃I knew he was innocent！〃 cried the mother。
〃Will it hinder the purchase？〃 said the purchaser to the notary； who
answered with a satisfying gesture。
The Abbe Gabriel was now the centre of all eyes； his sadness raised a
suspicion of mistake。 To avoid correcting it himself； he left the
house； followed by the rector； and said to the crowd outside that the
execution was only postponed for some days。 The uproar subsided
instantly into dreadful silence。 When the Abbe Gabriel and the rector
returned； the expression on the faces of the family was full of
anguish； the silence of the crowd was understood。
〃My friends； Jean…Francois is not pardoned；〃 said the young abbe；
seeing that the blow had fallen； 〃but the state of his soul has so
distressed Monseigneur that he has obtained a delay in order to save
your son in eternity。〃
〃But he lives！〃 cried Denise。
The young abbe took the rector aside to explain to him the injurious
situation in which the impenitence of his parishioner placed religion；
and the duty the bishop imposed upon him。
〃Monseigneur exacts my death；〃 replied the rector。 〃I have already
refused the entreaties of the family to visit their unhappy son。 Such
a conference and the sight of his death would shatter me like glass。
Every man must work as he can。 The weakness of my organs； or rather；
the too great excitability of my nervous organization； prevents me
from exercising these functions of our ministry。 I have remained a
simple rector expressly to be useful to my kind in a sphere in which I
can really accomplish my Christian duty。 I have carefully considered
how far I could satisfy this virtuous family and do my pastoral duty
to this poor son； but the very idea of mounting the scaffold with him；
the mere thought of assisting in those fatal preparations； sends a
shudder as of death through my veins。 It would not be asked of a
mother； and remember； monsieur； he was born in the bosom of my poor
church。〃
〃So；〃 said the Abbe Gabriel； 〃you refuse to obey Monseigneur？〃
〃Monseigneur is ignorant of the state of my health； he does not know
that in a constitution like mine nature refuses〃 said Monsieur
Bonnet； looking at the younger priest。
〃There are times when we ought； like Belzunce at Marseille； to risk
certain death；〃 replied the Abbe Gabriel； interrupting him。
At this moment the rector felt a hand pulling at his cassock； he heard
sobs； and turning round he saw the whole family kneeling before him。
Young and old； small and great； all were stretching their supplicating
hands to him。 One sole cry rose from their lips as he turned his face
upon them：
〃Save his soul； at least！〃
The old grandmother it was who had pulled his cassock and was wetting
it with her tears。
〃I shall obey； monsieur。〃
That said； the rector was forced to sit down； for his legs trembled
under him。 The young secretary explained the frenzied state of the
criminal's mind。
〃Do you think；〃 he said； as he ended his account； 〃that the sight of
his young sister would shake his determination？〃
〃Yes； I do；〃 replied the rector。 〃Denise； you must go with us。〃
〃And I； too；〃 said the mother。
〃No！〃 cried the father； 〃that child no longer exists for us； and you
know it。 None of us shall see him。〃
〃Do not oppose what may be for his salvation；〃 said the young abbe。
〃You will be responsible for his soul if you refuse us the means of
softening it。 His death may possibly do more injury than his life has
done。〃
〃She may go；〃 said the father； 〃it shall be her punishment for
opposing all the discipline I ever wished to give her son。〃
The Abbe Gabriel and Monsieur Bonnet returned to the parsonage； where
Denise