eugenie grandet(欧也妮·葛朗台)-第8章

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there　are　some　amusements　even　here。〃
She　threw　him　the　ogling　glance　of　the　provinces；　where　women　put　so
much　prudence　and　reserve　into　their　eyes　that　they　impart　to　them　the
prudish　concupiscence　peculiar　to　certain　ecclesiastics　to　whom　all
pleasure　is　either　a　theft　or　an　error。　Charles　was　so　completely　out
of　his　element　in　this　abode；　and　so　far　from　the　vast　chateau　and　the
sumptuous　life　with　which　his　fancy　had　endowed　his　uncle；　that　as　he
looked　at　Madame　des　Grassins　he　perceived　a　dim　likeness　to　Parisian
faces。　He　gracefully　responded　to　the　species　of　invitation　addressed
to　him；　and　began　very　naturally　a　conversation；　in　which　Madame　des
Grassins　gradually　lowered　her　voice　so　as　to　bring　it　into　harmony
with　the　nature　of　the　confidences　she　was　making。　With　her；　as　with
Charles；　there　was　the　need　of　conference；　so　after　a　few　moments
spent　in　coquettish　phrases　and　a　little　serious　jesting；　the　clever
provincial　said；　thinking　herself　unheard　by　the　others；　who　were
discussing　the　sale　of　wines　which　at　that　season　filled　the　heads　of
every　one　in　Saumur；
〃Monsieur　if　you　will　do　us　the　honor　to　come　and　see　us；　you　will
give　as　much　pleasure　to　my　husband　as　to　myself。　Our　salon　is　the
only　one　in　Saumur　where　you　will　find　the　higher　business　circles
mingling　with　the　nobility。　We　belong　to　both　societies；　who　meet　at
our　house　simply　because　they　find　it　amusing。　My　husbandI　say　it
with　prideis　as　much　valued　by　the　one　class　as　by　the　other。　We
will　try　to　relieve　the　monotony　of　your　visit　here。　If　you　stay　all
the　time　with　Monsieur　Grandet；　good　heavens！　what　will　become　of　you？
Your　uncle　is　a　sordid　miser　who　thinks　of　nothing　but　his　vines；　your
aunt　is　a　pious　soul　who　can't　put　two　ideas　together；　and　your　cousin
is　a　little　fool；　without　education；　perfectly　common；　no　fortune；　who
will　spend　her　life　in　darning　towels。〃
〃She　is　really　very　nice；　this　woman；〃　thought　Charles　Grandet　as　he
duly　responded　to　Madame　des　Grassins'　coquetries。
〃It　seems　to　me；　wife；　that　you　are　taking　possession　of　monsieur；〃
said　the　stout　banker；　laughing。
On　this　remark　the　notary　and　the　president　said　a　few　words　that　were
more　or　less　significant；　but　the　abbe；　looking　at　them　slyly；　brought
their　thoughts　to　a　focus　by　taking　a　pinch　of　snuff　and　saying　as　he
handed　round　his　snuff…box：　〃Who　can　do　the　honors　of　Saumur　for
monsieur　so　well　as　madame？〃
〃Ah！　what　do　you　mean　by　that；　monsieur　l'abbe？〃　demanded　Monsieur　des
Grassins。
〃I　mean　it　in　the　best　possible　sense　for　you；　for　madame；　for　the
town　of　Saumur；　and　for　monsieur；〃　said　the　wily　old　man；　turning　to
Charles。
The　Abbe　Cruchot　had　guessed　the　conversation　between　Charles　and
Madame　des　Grassins　without　seeming　to　pay　attention　to　it。
〃Monsieur；〃　said　Adolphe　to　Charles　with　an　air　which　he　tried　to　make
free　and　easy；　〃I　don't　know　whether　you　remember　me；　but　I　had　the
honor　of　dancing　as　your　/vis…a…vis/　at　a　ball　given　by　the　Baron　de
Nucingen；　and〃
〃Perfectly；　I　remember　perfectly；　monsieur；〃　answered　Charles；　pleased
to　find　himself　the　object　of　general　attention。
〃Monsieur　is　your　son？〃　he　said　to　Madame　des　Grassins。
The　abbe　looked　at　her　maliciously。
〃Yes；　monsieur；〃　she　answered。
〃Then　you　were　very　young　when　you　were　in　Paris？〃　said　Charles；
addressing　Adolphe。
〃You　must　know；　monsieur；〃　said　the　abbe；　〃that　we　send　them　to
Babylon　as　soon　as　they　are　weaned。〃
Madame　des　Grassins　examined　the　abbe　with　a　glance　of　extreme
penetration。
〃It　is　only　in　the　provinces；〃　he　continued；　〃that　you　will　find　women
of　thirty　and　more　years　as　fresh　as　madame；　here；　with　a　son　about　to
take　his　degree。　I　almost　fancy　myself　back　in　the　days　when　the　young
men　stood　on　chairs　in　the　ball…room　to　see　you　dance；　madame；〃　said
the　abbe；　turning　to　his　female　adversary。　〃To　me；　your　triumphs　are
but　of　yesterday〃
〃The　old　rogue！〃　thought　Madame　Grassins；　〃can　he　have　guessed　my
intentions？〃
〃It　seems　that　I　shall　have　a　good　deal　of　success　in　Saumur；〃　thought
Charles　as　he　unbuttoned　his　great…coat；　put　a　hand　into　his
waistcoat；　and　cast　a　glance　into　the　far　distance；　to　imitate　the
attitude　which　Chantrey　has　given　to　Lord　Byron。
The　inattention　of　Pere　Grandet；　or；　to　speak　more　truly；　the
preoccupation　of　mind　into　which　the　reading　of　the　letter　had　plunged
him；　did　not　escape　the　vigilance　of　the　notary　and　the　president；　who
tried　to　guess　the　contents　of　the　letter　by　the　almost　imperceptible
motions　of　the　miser's　face；　which　was　then　under　the　full　light　of
the　candle。　He　maintained　the　habitual　calm　of　his　features　with
evident　difficulty；　we　may；　in　fact；　picture　to　ourselves　the
countenance　such　a　man　endeavored　to　preserve　as　he　read　the　fatal
letter　which　here　follows：
　　My　Brother；It　is　almost　twenty…three　years　since　we　have　seen
　　each　other。　My　marriage　was　the　occasion　of　our　last　interview；
　　after　which　we　parted；　and　both　of　us　were　happy。　Assuredly　I
　　could　not　then　foresee　that　you　would　one　day　be　the　prop　of　the
　　family　whose　prosperity　you　then　predicted。
　　When　you　hold　this　letter　within　your　hands　I　shall　be　no　longer
　　living。　In　the　position　I　now　hold　I　cannot　survive　the　disgrace
　　of　bankruptcy。　I　have　waited　on　the　edge　of　the　gulf　until　the
　　last　moment；　hoping　to　save　myself。　The　end　has　come；　I　must　sink
　　into　it。　The　double　bankruptcies　of　my　broker　and　of　Roguin；　my
　　notary；　have　carried　off　my　last　resources　and　left　me　nothing。　I
　　have　the　bitterness　of　owing　nearly　four　millions；　with　assets　not
　　more　than　twenty…five　per　cent　in　value　to　pay　them。　The　wines　in
　　my　warehouses　suffer　from　the　fall　in　prices　caused　by　the　
　　abundance　and　quality　of　your　vintage。　In　three　days　Paris　will
　　cry　out：　〃Monsieur　Grandet　was　a　knave！〃　and　I；　an　honest　man；
　　shall　be　lying　in　my　winding…sheet　of　infamy。　I　deprive　my　son　of
　　a　good　name；　which　I　have　stained；　and　the　fortune　of　his　mother；
　　which　I　have　lost。　He　knows　nothing　of　all　this；my　unfortunate
　　child　whom　I　idolize！　We　parted　tenderly。　He　was　ignorant；
　　happily；　that　the　last　beatings　of　my　heart　were　spent　in　that
　　farewell。　Will　he　not　some　day　curse　me？　My　brother；　my　brother！
　　the　curses　of　our　children　are　horrible；　they　can　appeal　against
　　ours；　but　theirs　are　irrevocable。　Grandet；　you　are　my　elder
　　brother；　you　owe　me　your　protection；　act　for　me　so　that　Charles
　　may　cast　no　bitter　words　upon　my　grave！　My　brother；　if　I　were
　　writing　with　my　blood；　with　my　tears；　no　greater　anguish　could　I
　　put　into　this　letter；nor　as　great；　for　then　I　should　weep；　I
　　should　bleed；　I　should　die；　I　should　suffer　no　more；　but　now　I
　　suffer　and　look　at　death　with　dry　eyes。
　　From　henceforth　you　are　my　son's　father；　he　has　no　relations；　as
　　you　well　know；　on　his　mother's　side。　Why　did　I　not　consider　social
　　prejudices？　Why　did　I　yield　to　love？　Why　did　I　marry　the　natural
　　daughter　of　a　great　lord？　Charles　has　no　family。　Oh；　my　unhappy
　　son！　my　son！　Listen；　Grandet！　I　implore　nothing　for　myself；
　　besides；　your　property　may　not　be　large　enough　to　carry　a　mortgage
　　of　three　millions；but　for　my　son！　Brother；　my　suppliant　hands
　　are　clasped　as　I　think　of　you；　behold　them！　Grandet；　I　confide　my
　　son　to　you　in　dying；　and　I　look　at　the　means　of　death　with　less
　　pain　as　I　think　that　you　will　be　to　him　a　father。　He　loved　me
　　well；　my　Charles；　I　was　good　to　him；　I　never　thwarted　him；　he　will
　　not　curse　me。　Ah；　you　see！　he　is　gentle；　he　is　like　his　mother；　he
　　will　cause　you　no　grief。　Poor　boy！　accustomed　to　all　the
　　enjoyments　of　luxury；　he　knows　nothing　of　the　privations　to　which
　　you　and　I　were　condemned　by　the　poverty　of　our　youth。　And　I　leave
　　him　ruined！　alone！　Yes；　all　my　friends　will　avoid　him；　and　it　is　I
　　who　have　brought　this　humiliation　upon　him！　Would　that　I　had　the
　　force　to　send　him　with　one　thrust　into　the　heavens　to　his　mother's
　　side！　Madness！　I　come　back　to　my　disasterto　his。　I　send　him　to
　　you　that　you　may　tell　him　in　some　fitting　way　of　my　death；　of　his
　　future　fate。　Be　a　father　to　him；　but　a　good　father。　Do　not　tear
　　him　all　at　once　from　his　idle　life；　it　would　kill　him。　I　beg　him
　　on　my　knees　to　renounce　all　rights　that；　as　his　mother's　heir；　he
　　may　have　on　my　estate。　But　the　prayer　is　superfluous；　he　is
　　honorable；　and　he　will　feel　that　he　must　not　appear　among　my
　　creditors。　Bring　him　to　see　this　at　the　right　time；　reveal　to　him
　　the　hard　conditions　of　the　life　I　have　made　for　him：　and　if　he
　　still　has　tender　thoughts　of　me；　tell　him　in　my　name　that　all　is
　　not　lost　for　him。　Yes；　work；　labor；　which　saved　us　both；　may　give
　　him　back　the　fortune　of　which　I　have　deprived　him；　and　if　he
　　listens　to　his　father's　voice　as　it　reaches　him　from　the　grave；　he
　　will　go　the　Indies。　My　brother；　Charles　is　an　upright　and
　　courageous　young　man；　give　him　the　wherewithal　to　make　his
　　venture；　he　will　die　sooner　than　not　repay　you　the　funds　which　you
　　may　lend　him。　Grandet！　if　you　will　not　do　this；　you　will　lay　up
　　for　yourself　remorse。　Ah；　should　my　child　find　neither　tenderness
　　nor　succor　in　you；　I　would　call　down　the　vengeance　of　God　upon
　　your　cruelty！
　　If　I　had　been　able　to　save　something　from　the　wreck；　I　might　have
　　had　the　right　to　leave　him　at　least　a　portion　of　his　mother's
　　property；　but　my　last　monthly　payments　have　absorbed　everything。　I
　　did　not　wish　to　die　uncertain　of　my　child's　fate；　I　hoped　to　feel
　　a　sacred　promise　in　a　clasp　of　your　hand　which　might　have　warmed
　　my　heart：　but　time　fails　me。　While　Charles　is　journeying　to　you　I
　　shall　be　preparing　my　assignment。　I　shall　endeavor　to　show　by　the
　　order　and　good　faith　of　my　accounts　that　my　disaster　comes　neither
　　from　a　faulty　life　nor　from　dishonesty。　It　is　for　my　son's　sake
　　that　I　strive　to　do　this。
　　Farewell；　my　brother！　May　the　blessing　of　God　be　yours　for　the
　　generous　guardianship　I　lay　upon　you；　and　which；　I　doubt　not；　you
　　will　accept。　A　voice　will　henceforth　and　forever　pray　for　you　in
　　that　world　where　we　must　all　go；　and　where　I　am　now　as　you　read
　　these　lines。
Victor…Ange…Guillaume　Grandet。

〃So　you　are　talking？〃　said　Pere　Grandet　as　he　carefully　folded　the
letter　in　its　original　creases　and　put　it　into　his　waistcoat…pocket。
He　looked　at　his　nephew　with　a　humble；　timid　air；　beneath　which　he　hid
his　feelings　and　his　calculations。　〃Have　you　warmed　yourself？〃　he　said
to　him。
〃Thoroughly；　my　dear　uncle。〃
〃Well；　where　are　the　women？〃　said　his　uncle；　already　forgetting　that
his　nephew　was　to　sleep　at　the　house。　At　this　moment　Eugenie　and
Madame　Grandet　returned。
〃Is　the　room　all　ready？〃　said　Grandet；　recovering　his　composure。
〃Yes；　father。〃
〃Well　then；　my　nephew；　if　you　are　tired；　Nanon　shall　show　you　your
room。　It　isn't　a　dandy's　room；　but　you　will　excuse　a　poor　wine…grower
who　never　has　a　penny　to　spare。　Taxes　swallow　up　everything。〃
〃We　do　not　wish　to　intrude；　Grandet；〃　said　the　banker；　〃you　may　want
to　talk　to　your　nephew；　and　therefore　we　will　bid　you　good…night。〃
At　these　words　the　assembly　rose；　and　each　made　a　parting　bow　in
keeping　with　his　or　her　own　character。　The　old　notary　went　to　the　door
to　fetch　his　lantern　and　came　back　to　light　it；　offering　to