Thisdeclaration，whichwascausedbyobservingthephenomenonthatformerlymadeVeroniquesobeautifulonherreturnfromtheholytable，madeagreatnoiseinLimoges，whereforatimetheyoungdeputy，towhomtheplaceofthe/procureur—general/wassaidtobepromised，playedaleadingpart。Inallprovincialtownsamanwhorisesatrifleaboveothersbecomes，foraperiodmoreorlessprotracted，theobjectofalikingwhichresemblesenthusiasm，andwhichusuallydeceivestheobjectofthisephemeralworship。Itistothissocialcapricethatweowesomanylocalgeniuses，soonignoredandtheirfalsereputationsmortified。Themenwhomwomenmakethefashioninthiswayareoftenerstrangersthancompatriots。
InthisparticularcasetheadmirersoftheVicomtedeGrandvillewerenotmistaken;hewasintruthasuperiorman。MadameGraslinwastheonlywomanhefoundinLimogeswithwhomhecouldexchangeideasandkeepupavariedconversation。Afewmonthsafterhisarrival，attractedbytheincreasingcharmofVeronique’smannersandconversation，heproposedtotheAbbeDutheil，andafewotheroftheremarkablemeninLimoges，tomeetintheeveningsatMadameGraslin’shouseandplaywhist。AtthistimeMadameGraslinwasathomefiveeveningsintheweektovisitors，reservingtwofreedays，asshesaid，forherself。
WhenMadameGraslinhadthusgatheredaboutherthedistinguishedmenwehavementioned，otherswerenotsorrytogivethemselvesthereputationofclevernessbyseekingtojointhesamesociety。
Veroniquealsoreceivedthreeorfourofthedistinguishedofficersofthegarrisonandstaff;butthefreedomofminddisplayedbyherguests，andthetacitdiscretionenjoinedbythemannersofthebestsociety，madeherextremelycautiousastotheadmissionofthosewhonowviedwitheachothertoobtainherinvitations。
TheotherwomeninthisprovincialsocietywerenotwithoutjealousyinseeingMadameGraslinsurroundedbythemostagreeableanddistinguishedmeninthetown;butbythistimeVeronique’ssocialpowerwasallthestrongerbecauseitwasexclusive;sheacceptedtheintimacyoffourorfivewomenonly，andthesewerestrangersinLimogeswhohadcomefromPariswiththeirhusbands，andwhoheldinhorrorthepettygossipofprovinciallife。Ifanyoneoutsideofthislittlecliqueofsuperiorpersonscameintomakeavisit，theconversationimmediatelychanged，andthehabituesofthehousetalkedcommonplace。