None of the personages connected with Pierrette’s death ever felt the slightest remorse about it.  Monsieur Desfondrilles is still archaeological, but, in order to compass his own election, the procureur general Vinet took pains to have him appointed president of the Provins court.  Sylvie has a little circle, and manages her brother’s property; she lends her own money at high interest, and does not spend more than twelve hundred francs a year.

From time to time, when some former son or daughter of Provins returns from Paris to settle down, you may hear them ask, as they leave Mademoiselle Rogron’s house, “Wasn’t there a painful story against the Rogrons,—­something about a ward?”

“Mere prejudice,” replies Monsieur Desfondrilles.  “Certain persons tried to make us believe falsehoods.  Out of kindness of heart the Rogrons took in a girl named Pierrette, quite pretty but with no money.  Just as she was growing up she had an intrigue with a young man, and stood at her window barefooted talking to him.  The lovers passed notes to each other by a string.  She took cold in this way and died, having no constitution.  The Rogrons behaved admirably.  They made no claim on certain property which was to come to her,—­they gave it all up to the grandmother.  The moral of it was, my good friend, that the devil punishes those who try to benefit others.”

“Ah! that is quite another story from the one old Frappier told me.”

“Frappier consults his wine-cellar more than he does his memory,” remarked another of Mademoiselle Rogron’s visitors.

“But that old priest, Monsieur Habert says—­”

“Oh, he! don’t you know why?”

“No.”

“He wanted to marry his sister to Monsieur Rogron, the receiver-general.”

* * * * *

Two men think of Pierrette daily:  Doctor Martener and Major Brigaut; they alone know the hideous truth.

To give that truth its true proportions we must transport the scene to the Rome of the middle ages, where a sublime young girl, Beatrice Cenci, was brought to the scaffold by motives and intrigues that were almost identical with those which laid our Pierrette in her grave.  Beatrice Cenci had but one defender,—­an artist, a painter.  In our day history, and living men, on the faith of Guido Reni’s portrait, condemn the Pope, and know that Beatrice was a most tender victim of infamous passions and base feuds.

We must all agree that legality would be a fine thing for social scoundrelism IF THERE WERE NO GOD.

ADDENDUM

The following personages appear in other stories of the Human Comedy.

Bianchon, Horace
  Father Goriot
  The Atheist’s Mass
  Cesar Birotteau
  The Commission in Lunacy
  Lost Illusions
  A Distinguished Provincial at Paris
  A Bachelor’s Establishment
  The Secrets of a Princess