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merely to fasten her wild ideas on an actual being； as the mists of a
damp atmosphere； touched by frost； crystallize on the branches of a
tree by the wayside。 She must have flung herself deep into the abysses
of her dream； for though she often returned bearing on her brow； as if
from vast heights； some luminous reflections； oftener she seemed to
carry in her hand the flowers that grew beside a torrent she had
followed down a precipice。
On the warm summer evenings she would ask her father to take her on
his arm to the banks of the Vienne； where she went into ecstasies over
the beauties of the sky and fields； the glories of the setting sun； or
the infinite sweetness of the dewy evening。 Her soul exhaled itself
thenceforth in a fragrance of natural poesy。 Her hair； until then
simply wound about her head； she now curled and braided。 Her dress
showed some research。 The vine which was running wild and naturally
among the branches of the old elm； was transplanted； cut and trained
over a green and pretty trellis。
After the return of old Sauviat （then seventy years of age） from a
trip to Paris in December； 1822； the vicar came to see him one
evening； and after a few insignificant remarks he said suddenly：
〃You had better think of marrying your daughter； Sauviat。 At your age
you ought not to put off the accomplishment of so important a duty。〃
〃But is Veronique willing to be married？〃 asked the old man； startled。
〃As you please； father；〃 she said； lowering her eyes。
〃Yes； we'll marry her！〃 cried stout Madame Sauviat； smiling。
〃Why didn't you speak to me about it before I went to Paris； mother？〃
said Sauviat。 〃I shall have to go back there。〃
Jerome…Baptiste Sauviat； a man in whose eyes money seemed to
constitute the whole of happiness； who knew nothing of love； and had
never seen in marriage anything but the means of transmitting property
to another self； had long sworn to marry Veronique to some rich
bourgeois；so long； in fact； that the idea had assumed in his brain
the characteristics of a hobby。 His neighbor； the hat…maker； who
possessed about two thousand francs a year； had already asked； on
behalf of his son； to whom he proposed to give up his hat…making
establishment； the hand of a girl so well known in the neighborhood
for her exemplary conduct and Christian principles。 Sauviat had
politely refused； without saying anything to Veronique。 The day after
the vicara very important personage in the eyes of the Sauviat
householdhad mentioned the necessary of marrying Veronique； whose
confessor he was； the old man shaved and dressed himself as for a
fete…day； and went out without saying a word to his wife or daughter；
both knew very well； however； that the father was in search of a son…
in…law。 Old Sauviat went to Monsieur Graslin。
Monsieur Graslin； a rich banker in Limoges； had； like Sauviat himself；
started from Auvergne without a penny； he came to Limoges to be a
porter； found a place as an office…boy in a financial house； and
there； like many other financiers； he made his way by dint of economy；
and also through fortunate circumstances。 Cashier at twenty…five years
of age； partner ten years later； in the firm of Perret and Grossetete；
he ended by finding himself the head of the house； after buying out
the senior partners； both of whom retired into the country； leaving
him their funds to manage in the business at a low interest。
Pierre Graslin； then forty…seven years of age； was supposed to possess
about six hundred thousand francs。 The estimate of his fortune had
lately increased throughout the department； in consequence of his
outlay in having built； in a new quarter of the town called the place
d'Arbres （thus assisting to give Limoges an improved aspect）； a fine
house； the front of it being on a line with a public building with the
facade of which it corresponded。 This house had now been finished six
months； but Pierre Graslin delayed furnishing it； it had cost him so
much that he shrank from the further expense of living in it。 His
vanity had led him to transgress the wise laws by which he governed
his life。 He felt； with the good sense of a business man； that the
interior of the house ought to correspond with the character of the
outside。 The furniture； silver…ware； and other needful accessories to
the life he would have to lead in his new mansion would； he estimated；
cost him nearly as much as the original building。 In spite； therefore；
of the gossip of tongues and the charitable suppositions of his
neighbors； he continued to live on in the damp； old； and dirty ground…
floor apartment in the rue Montantmanigne where his fortune had been
made。 The public carped； but Graslin had the approval of his former
partners； who praised a resolution that was somewhat uncommon。
A fortune and a position like those of Pierre Graslin naturally
excited the greed of not a few in a small provincial city。 During the
last ten years more than one proposition of marriage had been
intimated to Monsieur Graslin。 But the bachelor state was so well
suited to a man who was busy from morning till night； overrun with
work； eager in the pursuit of money as a hunter for game； and always
tired out with his day's labor； that Graslin fell into none of the
traps laid for him by ambitious mothers who coveted so brilliant a
position for their daughters。
Graslin； another Sauviat in an upper sphere； did not spend more than
forty sous a day； and clothed himself no better than his under…clerk。
Two clerks and an office…boy sufficed him to carry on his business；
which was immense through the multiplicity of its details。 One clerk
attended to the correspondence； the other had charge of the accounts；
but Pierre Graslin was himself the soul； and body too； of the whole
concern。 His clerks； chosen from his own relations； were safe men；
intelligent and as well…trained in the work as himself。 As for the
office…boy； he led the life of a truck horse；up at five in the
morning at all seasons； and never getting to bed before eleven at
night。
Graslin employed a charwoman by the day； an old peasant from Auvergne；
who did his cooking。 The brown earthenware off which he ate； and the
stout coarse linen which he used； were in keeping with the character
of his food。 The old woman had strict orders never to spend more than
three francs daily for the total expenses of the household。 The
office…boy was also man…of…all…work。 The clerks took care of their own
rooms。 The tables of blackened wood； the straw chairs half unseated；
the wretched beds； the counters and desks； in short； the whole
furniture of house and office was not worth more than a thousand
francs； including a colossal iron safe； built into the wall； before
which slept the man…of…all…work with two dogs at his feet。
Graslin did not often go into society； which； however； discussed him
constantly。 Two or three times a year he dined with the receiver…
general； with whom his business brought him into occasional
intercourse。 He also occasionally took a meal at the prefecture； for
he had been appointed； much to his regret； a member of the Council…
general of the department〃a waste of time；〃 he remarked。 Sometimes