the village rector-第15部分

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partly　in　the　hope　of　gaining　some　conclusive　information　for
themselves；　and　partly　to　allow　religion　an　opportunity　to　prevail。

Nevertheless；　their　power　was　not　unlimited；　and　the　sentence　must
sooner　or　later　be　carried　out。　The　same　liberals　who；　out　of　mere
opposition；　had　declared　Tascheron　innocent；　and　who　had　done　their
best　to　break　down　the　verdict；　now　clamored　because　the　sentence　was
not　executed。　When　the　opposition　is　consistent　it　invariably　falls
into　such　unreasonableness；　because　its　object　is　not　to　have　right　on
its　own　side；　but　to　harass　the　authorities　and　put　them　in　the　wrong。

Accordingly；　about　the　beginning　of　August；　the　government　officials
felt　their　hand　forced　by　that　clamor；　so　often　stupid；　called　〃public
opinion。〃　The　day　for　the　execution　was　named。　In　this　extremity　the
Abbe　Dutheil　took　upon　himself　to　propose　to　the　bishop　a　last
resource；　the　adoption　of　which　caused　the　introduction　into　this
judicial　drama　of　a　remarkable　personage；　who　serves　as　a　bond　between
all　the　figures　brought　upon　the　scene　of　it；　and　who；　by　ways
familiar　to　Providence；　was　destined　to　lead　Madame　Graslin　along　a
path　where　her　virtues　were　to　shine　with　greater　brilliancy　as　a
noble　benefactress　and　an　angelic　Christian　woman。

The　episcopal　palace　at　Limoges　stands　on　a　hill　which　slopes　to　the
banks　of　the　Vienne；　and　its　gardens；　supported　by　strong　walls　topped
with　a　balustrade；　descend　to　the　river　by　terrace　after　terrace；
according　to　the　natural　lay　of　the　land。　The　rise　of　this　hill　is
such　that　the　suburb　of　Saint…Etienne　on　the　opposite　bank　seems　to
lie　at　the　foot　of　the　lower　terrace。　From　there；　according　to　the
direction　in　which　a　person　walks；　the　Vienne　can　be　seen　either　in　a
long　stretch　or　directly　across　it；　in　the　midst　of　a　fertile
panorama。　On　the　west；　after　the　river　leaves　the　embankment　of　the
episcopal　gardens；　it　turns　toward　the　town　in　a　graceful　curve　which
winds　around　the　suburb　of　Saint…Martial。　At　a　short　distance　beyond
that　suburb　is　a　pretty　country　house　called　Le　Cluseau；　the　walls　of
which　can　be　seen　from　the　lower　terrace　of　the　bishop's　palace；
appearing；　by　an　effect　of　distance；　to　blend　with　the　steeples　of　the
suburb。　Opposite　to　Le　Cluseau　is　the　sloping　island；　covered　with
poplar　and　other　trees；　which　Veronique　in　her　girlish　youth　had　named
the　Ile　de　France。　To　the　east　the　distance　is　closed　by　an
ampitheatre　of　hills。

The　magic　charm　of　the　site　and　the　rich　simplicity　of　the　building
make　this　episcopal　palace　one　of　the　most　interesting　objects　in　a
town　where　the　other　edifices　do　not　shine；　either　through　choice　of
material　or　architecture。

Long　familiarized　with　the　aspects　which　commend　these　gardens　to　all
lovers　of　the　picturesque；　the　Abbe　Dutheil；　who　had　induced　the　Abbe
de　Grancour　to　accompany　him；　descended　from　terrace　to　terrace；
paying　no　attention　to　the　ruddy　colors；　the　orange　tones；　the　violet
tints；　which　the　setting　sun　was　casting　on　the　old　walls　and
balustrades　of　the　gardens；　on　the　river　beneath　them；　and；　in　the
distance；　on　the　houses　of　the　town。　He　was　in　search　of　the　bishop；
who　was　sitting　on　the　lower　terrace　under　a　grape…vine　arbor；　where
he　often　came　to　take　his　dessert　and　enjoy　the　charm　of　a　tranquil
evening。　The　poplars　on　the　island　seemed　at　this　moment　to　divide　the
waters　with　the　lengthening　shadow　of　their　yellowing　heads；　to　which
the　sun　was　lending　the　appearance　of　a　golden　foliage。　The　setting
rays；　diversely　reflected　on　masses　of　different　greens；　produced　a
magnificent　harmony　of　melancholy　tones。　At　the　farther　end　of　the
valley　a　sheet　of　sparkling　water　ruffled　by　the　breeze　brought　out
the　brown　stretch　of　roofs　in　the　suburb　of　Saint…Etienne。　The
steeples　and　roofs　of　Saint…Martial；　bathed　in　light；　showed　through
the　tracery　of　the　grape…vine　arbor。　The　soft　murmur　of　the　provincial
town；　half　hidden　by　the　bend　of　the　river；　the　sweetness　of　the　balmy
air；　all　contributed　to　plunge　the　prelate　into　the　condition　of
quietude　prescribed　by　medical　writers　on　digestion；　seemingly　his
eyes　were　resting　mechanically　on　the　right　bank　of　the　river；　just
where　the　long　shadows　of　the　island　poplars　touched　it　on　the　side
toward　Saint…Etienne；　near　the　field　where　the　twofold　murder　of　old
Pingret　and　his　servant　had　been　committed。　But　when　his　momentary
felicity　was　interrupted　by　the　arrival　of　the　two　grand　vicars；　and
the　difficulties　they　brought　to　him　to　solve；　it　was　seen　his　eyes
were　filled　with　impenetrable　thoughts。　The　two　priests　attributed
this　abstraction　to　the　fact　of　being　bored；　whereas；　on　the　contrary；
the　prelate　was　absorbed　in　seeing　in　the　sands　of　the　Vienne　the
solution　of　the　enigma　then　so　anxiously　sought　for　by　the　officers　of
justice；　the　des　Vanneaulx；　and　the　community　at　large。

〃Monsieur；〃　said　the　Abbe　de　Grancour；　approaching　the　bishop；　〃it　is
all　useless；　we　shall　certainly　have　the　distress　of　seeing　that
unhappy　Tascheron　die　an　unbeliever。　He　vociferates　the　most　horrible
imprecations　against　religion；　he　insults　that　poor　Abbe　Pascal；　he
spits　upon　the　crucifix；　and　means　to　die　denying　all；　even　hell。〃

〃He　will　shock　the　populace　on　the　scaffold；〃　said　the　Abbe　Dutheil。
〃The　great　scandal　and　horror　his　conduct　will　excite　may　hide　our
defeat　and　powerlessness。　In　fact；　as　I　have　just　been　saying　to
Monsieur　de　Grancour；　this　very　spectacle　may　drive　other　sinners　into
the　arms　of　the　Church。〃

Troubled　by　these　words；　the　bishop　laid　down　upon　a　rustic　wooden
table　the　bunch　of　grapes　at　which　he　was　picking；　and　wiped　his
fingers　as　he　made　a　sign　to　the　two　grand　vicars　to　be　seated。

〃The　Abbe　Pascal　did　not　take　a　wise　course；〃　he　said。

〃He　is　actually　ill　in　his　bed　from　the　effects　of　his　last　scene　with
the　man；〃　said　the　Abbe　de　Grancour。　〃If　it　were　not　for　that　we　might
get　him　to　explain　more　clearly　the　difficulties　that　have　defeated
all　the　various　efforts　monseigneur　ordered　him　to　make。〃

〃The　condemned　man　sings　obscene　songs　at　the　highest　pitch　of　his
voice　as　soon　as　he　sees　any　one　of　us；　so　as　to　drown　out　every　word
we　try　to　say　to　him；〃　said　a　young　priest　who　was　sitting　beside　the
bishop。

This　young　man；　who　was　gifted　with　a　charming　personality；　had　his
right　arm　resting　on　the　table；　while　his　white　hand　dropped
negligently　on　the　bunches　of　grapes；　seeking　the　ripest；　with　the
ease　and　assurance　of　an　habitual　guest　or　favorite。　He　was　both　to
the　prelate；　being　the　younger　brother　of　Baron　Eugene　de　Rastignac；
to　whom　ties　of　family　and　also　of　affection　had　long　bound　the　Bishop
of　Limoges。　Aware　of　the　want　of　fortune　which　devoted　this　young　man
to　the　Church；　the　bishop　took　him　as　his　private　secretary　to　give
him　time　to　wait　for　eventual　preferment。　The　Abbe　Gabriel　bore　a　name
which　would　lead　him　sooner　or　later　to　the　highest　dignities　of　the
Church。

〃Did　you　go　to　see　him；　my　son？〃　asked　the　bishop。

〃Yes；　Monseigneur。　As　soon　as　I　entered　his　cell　the　wretched　man
hurled　the　most　disgusting　epithets　at　you　and　at　me。　He　behaved　in
such　a　manner　that　it　was　impossible　for　any　priest　to　remain　in　his
presence。　Might　I　give　Monseigneur　a　word　of　advice？〃

〃Let　us　listen　to　the　words　of　wisdom　which　God　Almighty　sometimes
puts　into　the　mouths　of　children；〃　said　the　bishop；　smiling。

〃Well；　you　know　he　made　Balaam's　ass　speak　out；〃　said　the　young　abbe
quickly。

〃But　according　to　some　commentators　she　did　not　know　what　she　was
saying；〃　replied　the　bishop；　laughing。

The　two　grand　vicars　smiled。　In　the　first　place；　the　joke　came　from
Monseigneur；　next；　it　bore　gently　on　the　young　abbe；　of　whom　the
dignitaries　and　other　ambitious　priests　grouped　around　the　bishop　were
somewhat　jealous。

〃My　advice　would　be；〃　resumed　the　young　man；　〃to　ask　Monsieur　de
Grandville　to　reprieve　the　man　for　the　present。　When　Tascheron　knows
that　he　owes　an　extension　of　his　life　to　our　intercession；　he　may
pretend　to　listen　to　us；　and　if　he　listens〃

〃He　will　persist　in　his　present　conduct；　finding　that　it　has　won　him
that　advantage；〃　said　the　bishop；　interrupting　his　favorite。
〃Messieurs；〃　he　said；　after　a　moment's　silence；　〃does　the　whole　town
know　of　these　details？〃

〃There　is　not　a　household　in　which　they　are　not　talked　over；〃　said　the
Abbe　de　Grancour。　〃The　state　in　which　our　good　Abbe　Pascal　was　put　by
his　last　efforts　is　the　present　topic　of　conversation　throughout　the
town。〃

〃When　is　Tascheron　to　be　executed？〃　asked　the　bishop。

〃To…morrow；　which　is　market…day〃；　replied　Monsieur　de　Grancour。

〃Messieurs；〃　exclaimed　the　bishop；　〃religion　must　not　be　overset　in
this　way。　The　more　public　attention　is　attracted　to　the　matter；　the
more　I　am　determined　to　obtain　a　notable　triumph。　The　Church　is　now　in
presence　of　a　great　difficulty。　We　are　called　upon　to　do　miracles　in
this　manufacturing　town；　where　the　spirit　of　sedition　against
religious　and　monarchical　principles　has　such　deep　root；　where　the
system　of　inquiry　born　of　protestantism　（which　in　these　days　calls
itself　liberalism；　prepared　at　any　moment　to　take　another　name）
extends　into　everything。　Go　at　once　to　Monsieur　de　Grandville；　he　is
wholly　on　our　side；　and　say　to　him　from　me　that　we　beg　for　a　few　days'
reprieve。　I　will　go　myself　and　see　that　unhappy　man。〃

〃You；　Monseigneur！〃　said　the　Abbe　de　Rastignac。　〃If　you　should　fail；
wouldn't　that　complicate　matters？　You　ought　not　to　go　unless　you　are
certain　of　success。〃

〃If　Monseigneur　will　permit　me　to　express　my　opinion；〃　said　the　Abbe
Dutheil；　〃I　think　I　can　suggest　a　means　which　may　bring　victory　to
religion　in　this　sad　case。〃

The　prelate　answered　with　a　sign　of　assent；　so　coldly　given　as　to　show
how　little　credit　he　gave　to　his　vicar…general。

〃If　any　one　can　influence　that　rebellious　soul　and　bring　it　back　to
God；〃　continued　the　Abbe　Dutheil；　〃it　is　the　rector　of　the　village　in
which　he　was　born；　Monsieur　Bonnet。〃

〃One　of　your　proteges；〃　remarked　the　bishop。

〃Monseigneur；　Monsieur　Bonnet　is　one　of　those　men　who　protect
themselves；　both　by　their　active　virtues　and　their　gospel　work。〃

This　simple　and　modest　reply　was　received　in　a　silence