Thehithertouselesseffortsoftheprosecutionwerenowmadepublic，alsotheprecautionstakenbythecriminaltoensurethesuccessofhiscrime。ItwasshownthatJean—FrancoisTascheronhadobtainedapassportforNorthAmericasomemonthsbeforethecrimewascommitted。
ThustheplanofleavingFrancewasfullyformed;theobjectofhispassionmustthereforebeamarriedwoman;forhewouldhavenoreasontofleethecountrywithayounggirl。Possiblythecrimehadthisoneobjectinview，namely，toobtainsufficientmeanstosupportthisunknownwomanincomfort。
TheprosecutionhadfoundnopassportissuedtoawomanforNorthAmerica。IncaseshehadobtainedoneinParis，theregistersofthatcityweresearched，alsothoseofthetownscontingenttoLimoges，butwithoutresult。Alltheshrewdestmindsinthecommunityfollowedthecasewithdeepattention。Whilethemorevirtuousdamesofthedepartmentattributedthewearingofpumpsonamuddyroad（aninexplicablecircumstanceintheordinarylivesofsuchshoes）tothenecessityofnoiselesslywatchingoldPingret，themenpointedoutthatpumpswereveryusefulinsilentlypassingthroughahouse——upstairwaysandalongcorridors——withoutdiscovery。
SoJean—FrancoisTascheronandhismistress（bythistimeshewasyoung，beautiful，romantic，foreveryonemadeaportraitofher）hadevidentlyintendedtoescapewithonlyonepassport，towhichtheywouldforgetheadditionalwords，\"andwife。\"Thecardtablesweredesertedatnightinthevarioussocialsalons，andmalicioustonguesdiscussedwhatwomenwereknowninMarch，1829，tohavegonetoParis，andwhatotherscouldbemaking，openlyorsecretly，preparationsforajourney。LimogesmightbesaidtobeenjoyingitsFualdestrial，withanunknownandmysteriousMadameMansonforanadditionalexcitement。NeverwasanyprovincialtownsostirredtoitsdepthsasLimogesaftereachday’ssession。Nothingwastalkedofbutthetrial，alltheincidentsofwhichincreasedtheinterestfeltfortheaccused，whoseableanswers，learnedlytakenup，turnedandtwistedandcommentedupon，gaverisetoamplediscussions。WhenoneofthejurorsaskedTascheronwhyhehadtakenapassportforAmerica，themanrepliedthathehadintendedtoestablishaporcelainmanufactoryinthatcountry。Thus，withoutcommittinghimselftoanylineofdefence，hecoveredhisaccomplice，leavingittobesupposedthatthecrimewascommitted，ifatall，toobtainfundsforthisbusinessventure。
InthemidstofsuchexcitementitwasimpossibleforVeronique’sfriendstorefrainfromdiscussinginherpresencetheprogressofthecaseandthereticenceofthecriminal。Herhealthwasextremelyfeeble;butthedoctorhavingadvisedhergoingoutintothefreshair，shehadononeoccasiontakenhermother’sarmandwalkedasfarasMadameSauviat’shouseinthecountry，wheresherested。Onherreturnsheendeavoredtokeepaboutuntilherhusbandcametohisdinner，whichshealwaysservedhimherself。OnthisoccasionGraslin，beingdetainedinthecourt—room，didnotcomeintilleighto’clock。