Herve de Lanrivain-past (Kerfol)

Herve de Lanrivain was the ancestor of the Herve de Lanrivain in the present. Herve was a young nobleman, who got arrested for complicity in the murder crime.[1]

Herve had been accused by some not very reputable people to be seen climbing the wall of the park on the murder night, which he denied. He also denied that he had met Anne in that night.[2]

Herve had been to Kerfol once or twice, but the first time they really had a talk was in Ste. Barbe, where he met Anne during a pilgrimage of hers. He pitied Anne for her life at Kerfol, and offered her to call for him, when she was in need. Afterwards they had met for three times and on the last meeting he told Anne that he was going on a mission to a foreign country for some months and asked for a memento. Anne gave him the dog collar then.[3]

Eventually, Herve returned home and sent Anne a secret message that he wanted to see her at night. He wanted to enter, but Anne sent him away, since her husband was there.[4]

As it is mentioned by the narrator, the evidence for Herve's conspiracy was insufficient and he was set free. Probably, he didn't want to live a worldly life anymore and under the influence of M. Arnauld d'Andilly, he became a member of the Jansenist order. A pupil of Philippe de Champaigne must have painted him during his lifetime, since there is a portrait of him in the house of the present Herve de Lanrivain. The narrator assumes that Herve talked to Blaise Pascal. Herve de Lanrivain died some 20 years later, after he had joined the Jansenists.[5]

[1] Wharton, "Kerfol," 335

[2] Ibid.

[3] Wharton, "Kerfol," 337

[4] Wharton, "Kerfol," 339

[5] Wharton, "Kerfol," 340