the marriage contract-µÚ20ÕÂ
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
pleasures¡¡of¡¡marriage¡¡and¡¡the¡¡excitements¡¡of¡¡Paris¡¡would¡¡drive¡¡it
away¡£¡¡Madame¡¡Evangelista¡¡saw¡¡this¡¡confidence¡¡with¡¡much¡¡satisfaction¡£
She¡¡had¡¡already¡¡taken¡¡two¡¡great¡¡steps¡£¡¡Her¡¡daughter¡¡possessed¡¡the
diamonds¡¡which¡¡had¡¡cost¡¡Paul¡¡two¡¡hundred¡¡thousand¡¡francs£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡had
gained¡¡her¡¡point¡¡of¡¡leaving¡¡these¡¡two¡¡children¡¡to¡¡themselves¡¡with¡¡no
other¡¡guide¡¡than¡¡their¡¡illogical¡¡love¡£¡¡Her¡¡revenge¡¡was¡¡thus¡¡preparing£»
unknown¡¡to¡¡her¡¡daughter£»¡¡who¡¡would£»¡¡sooner¡¡or¡¡later£»¡¡become¡¡its
accomplice¡£¡¡Did¡¡Natalie¡¡love¡¡Paul£¿¡¡That¡¡was¡¡a¡¡question¡¡still
undecided£»¡¡the¡¡answer¡¡to¡¡which¡¡might¡¡modify¡¡her¡¡projects£»¡¡for¡¡she
loved¡¡her¡¡daughter¡¡too¡¡sincerely¡¡not¡¡to¡¡respect¡¡her¡¡happiness¡£¡¡Paul's
future£»¡¡therefore£»¡¡still¡¡depended¡¡on¡¡himself¡£¡¡If¡¡he¡¡could¡¡make¡¡his
wife¡¡love¡¡him£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡saved¡£
The¡¡next¡¡day£»¡¡at¡¡midnight£»¡¡after¡¡an¡¡evening¡¡spent¡¡together£»¡¡with¡¡the
addition¡¡of¡¡the¡¡four¡¡witnesses£»¡¡to¡¡whom¡¡Madame¡¡Evangelista¡¡gave¡¡the
formal¡¡dinner¡¡which¡¡follows¡¡the¡¡legal¡¡marriage£»¡¡the¡¡bridal¡¡pair£»
accompanied¡¡by¡¡their¡¡friends£»¡¡heard¡¡mass¡¡by¡¡torchlight£»¡¡in¡¡presence¡¡of
a¡¡crowd¡¡of¡¡inquisitive¡¡persons¡£¡¡A¡¡marriage¡¡celebrated¡¡at¡¡night¡¡always
suggests¡¡to¡¡the¡¡mind¡¡an¡¡unpleasant¡¡omen¡£¡¡Light¡¡is¡¡the¡¡symbol¡¡of¡¡life
and¡¡pleasure£»¡¡the¡¡forecasts¡¡of¡¡which¡¡are¡¡lacking¡¡to¡¡a¡¡midnight
wedding¡£¡¡Ask¡¡the¡¡intrepid¡¡soul¡¡why¡¡it¡¡shivers£»¡¡why¡¡the¡¡chill¡¡of¡¡those
black¡¡arches¡¡enervates¡¡it£»¡¡why¡¡the¡¡sound¡¡of¡¡steps¡¡startles¡¡it£»¡¡why¡¡it
notices¡¡the¡¡cry¡¡of¡¡bats¡¡and¡¡the¡¡hoot¡¡of¡¡owls¡£¡¡Though¡¡there¡¡is
absolutely¡¡no¡¡reason¡¡to¡¡tremble£»¡¡all¡¡present¡¡do¡¡tremble£»¡¡and¡¡the
darkness£»¡¡emblem¡¡of¡¡death£»¡¡saddens¡¡them¡£¡¡Natalie£»¡¡parted¡¡from¡¡her
mother£»¡¡wept¡£¡¡The¡¡girl¡¡was¡¡now¡¡a¡¡prey¡¡to¡¡those¡¡doubts¡¡which¡¡grasp¡¡the
heart¡¡as¡¡it¡¡enters¡¡a¡¡new¡¡career¡¡in¡¡which£»¡¡despite¡¡all¡¡assurances¡¡of
happiness£»¡¡a¡¡thousand¡¡pitfalls¡¡await¡¡the¡¡steps¡¡of¡¡a¡¡young¡¡wife¡£¡¡She
was¡¡cold¡¡and¡¡wanted¡¡a¡¡mantle¡£¡¡The¡¡air¡¡and¡¡manner¡¡of¡¡Madame¡¡Evangelista
and¡¡that¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bridal¡¡pair¡¡excited¡¡some¡¡comment¡¡among¡¡the¡¡elegant
crowd¡¡which¡¡surrounded¡¡the¡¡altar¡£
¡¨Solonet¡¡tells¡¡me¡¡that¡¡the¡¡bride¡¡and¡¡bridegroom¡¡leave¡¡for¡¡Paris
to¡morrow¡¡morning£»¡¡all¡¡alone¡£¡¨
¡¨Madame¡¡Evangelista¡¡was¡¡to¡¡live¡¡with¡¡them£»¡¡I¡¡thought¡£¡¨
¡¨Count¡¡Paul¡¡has¡¡got¡¡rid¡¡of¡¡her¡¡already¡£¡¨
¡¨What¡¡a¡¡mistake£¡¡¨¡¡said¡¡the¡¡Marquise¡¡de¡¡Gyas¡£¡¡¡¨To¡¡shut¡¡the¡¡door¡¡on¡¡the
mother¡¡of¡¡his¡¡wife¡¡is¡¡to¡¡open¡¡it¡¡to¡¡a¡¡lover¡£¡¡Doesn't¡¡he¡¡know¡¡what¡¡a
mother¡¡is£¿¡¨
¡¨He¡¡has¡¡been¡¡very¡¡hard¡¡on¡¡Madame¡¡Evangelista£»¡¡the¡¡poor¡¡woman¡¡has¡¡had
to¡¡sell¡¡her¡¡house¡¡and¡¡her¡¡diamonds£»¡¡and¡¡is¡¡going¡¡to¡¡live¡¡at¡¡Lanstrac¡£¡¨
¡¨Natalie¡¡looks¡¡very¡¡sad¡£¡¨
¡¨Would¡¡you¡¡like¡¡to¡¡be¡¡made¡¡to¡¡take¡¡a¡¡journey¡¡the¡¡day¡¡after¡¡your
marriage£¿¡¨
¡¨It¡¡is¡¡very¡¡awkward¡£¡¨
¡¨I¡¡am¡¡glad¡¡I¡¡came¡¡here¡¡to¡night£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡a¡¡lady¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡am¡¡now¡¡convinced¡¡of
the¡¡necessity¡¡of¡¡the¡¡pomps¡¡of¡¡marriage¡¡and¡¡of¡¡wedding¡¡fetes£»¡¡a¡¡scene
like¡¡this¡¡is¡¡very¡¡bare¡¡and¡¡sad¡£¡¡If¡¡I¡¡may¡¡say¡¡what¡¡I¡¡think£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡added£»
in¡¡a¡¡whisper¡¡to¡¡her¡¡neighbor£»¡¡¡¨this¡¡marriage¡¡seems¡¡to¡¡me¡¡indecent¡£¡¨
Madame¡¡Evangelista¡¡took¡¡Natalie¡¡in¡¡her¡¡carriage¡¡and¡¡accompanied¡¡her£»
alone£»¡¡to¡¡Paul's¡¡house¡£
¡¨Well£»¡¡mother£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡done£¡¡¨
¡¨Remember£»¡¡my¡¡dear¡¡child£»¡¡my¡¡last¡¡advice£»¡¡and¡¡you¡¡will¡¡be¡¡a¡¡happy
woman¡£¡¡Be¡¡his¡¡wife£»¡¡and¡¡not¡¡his¡¡mistress¡£¡¨
When¡¡Natalie¡¡had¡¡retired£»¡¡the¡¡mother¡¡played¡¡the¡¡little¡¡comedy¡¡of
flinging¡¡herself¡¡with¡¡tears¡¡into¡¡the¡¡arms¡¡of¡¡her¡¡son¡in¡law¡£¡¡It¡¡was
the¡¡only¡¡provincial¡¡thing¡¡that¡¡Madame¡¡Evangelista¡¡allowed¡¡herself£»¡¡but
she¡¡had¡¡her¡¡reasons¡¡for¡¡it¡£¡¡Amid¡¡tears¡¡and¡¡speeches£»¡¡apparently¡¡half
wild¡¡and¡¡despairing£»¡¡she¡¡obtained¡¡of¡¡Paul¡¡those¡¡concessions¡¡which¡¡all
husbands¡¡make¡£
The¡¡next¡¡day¡¡she¡¡put¡¡the¡¡married¡¡pair¡¡into¡¡their¡¡carriage£»¡¡and
accompanied¡¡them¡¡to¡¡the¡¡ferry£»¡¡by¡¡which¡¡the¡¡road¡¡to¡¡Paris¡¡crosses¡¡the
Gironde¡£¡¡With¡¡a¡¡look¡¡and¡¡a¡¡word¡¡Natalie¡¡enabled¡¡her¡¡mother¡¡to¡¡see¡¡that
if¡¡Paul¡¡had¡¡won¡¡the¡¡trick¡¡in¡¡the¡¡game¡¡of¡¡the¡¡contract£»¡¡her¡¡revenge¡¡was
beginning¡£¡¡Natalie¡¡was¡¡already¡¡reducing¡¡her¡¡husband¡¡to¡¡perfect
obedience¡£
CHAPTER¡¡VI
CONCLUSION
Five¡¡years¡¡later£»¡¡on¡¡an¡¡afternoon¡¡in¡¡the¡¡month¡¡of¡¡November£»¡¡Comte¡¡Paul
de¡¡Manerville£»¡¡wrapped¡¡in¡¡a¡¡cloak£»¡¡was¡¡entering£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡bowed¡¡head¡¡and
a¡¡mysterious¡¡manner£»¡¡the¡¡house¡¡of¡¡his¡¡old¡¡friend¡¡Monsieur¡¡Mathias¡¡at
Bordeaux¡£
Too¡¡old¡¡to¡¡continue¡¡in¡¡business£»¡¡the¡¡worthy¡¡notary¡¡had¡¡sold¡¡his
practice¡¡and¡¡was¡¡ending¡¡his¡¡days¡¡peacefully¡¡in¡¡a¡¡quiet¡¡house¡¡to¡¡which
he¡¡had¡¡retired¡£¡¡An¡¡urgent¡¡affair¡¡had¡¡obliged¡¡him¡¡to¡¡be¡¡absent¡¡at¡¡the
moment¡¡of¡¡his¡¡guest's¡¡arrival£»¡¡but¡¡his¡¡housekeeper£»¡¡warned¡¡of¡¡Paul's
coming£»¡¡took¡¡him¡¡to¡¡the¡¡room¡¡of¡¡the¡¡late¡¡Madame¡¡Mathias£»¡¡who¡¡had¡¡been
dead¡¡a¡¡year¡£¡¡Fatigued¡¡by¡¡a¡¡rapid¡¡journey£»¡¡Paul¡¡slept¡¡till¡¡evening¡£
When¡¡the¡¡old¡¡man¡¡reached¡¡home¡¡he¡¡went¡¡up¡¡to¡¡his¡¡client's¡¡room£»¡¡and
watched¡¡him¡¡sleeping£»¡¡as¡¡a¡¡mother¡¡watches¡¡her¡¡child¡£¡¡Josette£»¡¡the¡¡old
housekeeper£»¡¡followed¡¡her¡¡master¡¡and¡¡stood¡¡before¡¡the¡¡bed£»¡¡her¡¡hands
on¡¡her¡¡hips¡£
¡¨It¡¡is¡¡a¡¡year¡¡to¡day£»¡¡Josette£»¡¡since¡¡I¡¡received¡¡my¡¡dear¡¡wife's¡¡last
sigh£»¡¡I¡¡little¡¡knew¡¡then¡¡that¡¡I¡¡should¡¡stand¡¡here¡¡again¡¡to¡¡see¡¡the
count¡¡half¡¡dead¡£¡¨
¡¨Poor¡¡man£¡¡¡he¡¡moans¡¡in¡¡his¡¡sleep£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Josette¡£
¡¨Sac¡¡a¡¡papier£¡¡¨¡¡cried¡¡the¡¡old¡¡notary£»¡¡an¡¡innocent¡¡oath¡¡which¡¡was¡¡a
sign¡¡with¡¡him¡¡of¡¡the¡¡despair¡¡on¡¡a¡¡man¡¡of¡¡business¡¡before
insurmountable¡¡difficulties¡£¡¡¡¨At¡¡any¡¡rate£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡thought£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡have¡¡saved
the¡¡title¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Lanstrac¡¡estate¡¡for¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡of¡¡Ausac£»¡¡Saint¡
Froult£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡house£»¡¡though¡¡the¡¡usufruct¡¡has¡¡gone¡£¡¨¡¡Mathias¡¡counted
his¡¡fingers¡£¡¡¡¨Five¡¡years£¡¡¡Just¡¡five¡¡years¡¡this¡¡month£»¡¡since¡¡his¡¡old
aunt£»¡¡now¡¡dead£»¡¡that¡¡excellent¡¡Madame¡¡de¡¡Maulincour£»¡¡asked¡¡for¡¡the
hand¡¡of¡¡that¡¡little¡¡crocodile¡¡of¡¡a¡¡woman£»¡¡who¡¡has¡¡finally¡¡ruined¡¡him
as¡¡I¡¡expected¡£¡¨
And¡¡the¡¡gouty¡¡old¡¡gentleman£»¡¡leaning¡¡on¡¡his¡¡cane£»¡¡went¡¡to¡¡walk¡¡in¡¡the
little¡¡garden¡¡till¡¡his¡¡guest¡¡should¡¡awake¡£¡¡At¡¡nine¡¡o'clock¡¡supper¡¡was
served£»¡¡for¡¡Mathias¡¡took¡¡supper¡£¡¡The¡¡old¡¡man¡¡was¡¡not¡¡a¡¡little
astonished£»¡¡when¡¡Paul¡¡joined¡¡him£»¡¡to¡¡see¡¡that¡¡his¡¡old¡¡client's¡¡brow
was¡¡calm¡¡and¡¡his¡¡face¡¡serene£»¡¡though¡¡noticeably¡¡changed¡£¡¡If¡¡at¡¡the¡¡age
of¡¡thirty¡three¡¡the¡¡Comte¡¡de¡¡Manerville¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡be¡¡a¡¡man¡¡of¡¡forty£»
that¡¡change¡¡in¡¡his¡¡appearance¡¡was¡¡due¡¡solely¡¡to¡¡mental¡¡shocks£»
physically£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡well¡£¡¡He¡¡clasped¡¡the¡¡old¡¡man's¡¡hand¡¡affectionately£»
and¡¡forced¡¡him¡¡not¡¡to¡¡rise£»¡¡saying£º
¡¨Dear£»¡¡kind¡¡Maitre¡¡Mathias£»¡¡you£»¡¡too£»¡¡have¡¡had¡¡your¡¡troubles¡£¡¨
¡¨Mine¡¡were¡¡natural¡¡troubles£»¡¡Monsieur¡¡le¡¡comte£»¡¡but¡¡yours¡¨
¡¨We¡¡will¡¡talk¡¡of¡¡that¡¡presently£»¡¡while¡¡we¡¡sup¡£¡¨
¡¨If¡¡I¡¡had¡¡not¡¡a¡¡son¡¡in¡¡the¡¡magistracy£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡daughter¡¡married£»¡¨¡¡said
the¡¡good¡¡old¡¡man£»¡¡¡¨you¡¡would¡¡have¡¡found¡¡in¡¡old¡¡Mathias£»¡¡believe¡¡me£»
Monsieur¡¡le¡¡comte£»¡¡something¡¡better¡¡than¡¡mere¡¡hospitality¡£¡¡Why¡¡have
you¡¡come¡¡to¡¡Bordeaux¡¡at¡¡the¡¡very¡¡moment¡¡when¡¡posters¡¡are¡¡on¡¡all¡¡the
walls¡¡of¡¡the¡¡seizure¡¡of¡¡your¡¡farms¡¡at¡¡Grassol¡¡and¡¡Guadet£»¡¡the¡¡vineyard
of¡¡Belle¡Rose¡¡and¡¡the¡¡family¡¡mansion£¿¡¡I¡¡cannot¡¡tell¡¡you¡¡the¡¡grief¡¡I
feel¡¡at¡¡the¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡those¡¡placards£»I£»¡¡who¡¡for¡¡forty¡¡years¡¡nursed
that¡¡property¡¡as¡¡if¡¡it¡¡belonged¡¡to¡¡me£»¡¡I£»¡¡who¡¡bought¡¡it¡¡for¡¡your
mother¡¡when¡¡I¡¡was¡¡only¡¡third¡¡clerk¡¡to¡¡Monsieur¡¡Chesnau£»¡¡my
predecessor£»¡¡and¡¡wrote¡¡the¡¡deeds¡¡myself¡¡in¡¡my¡¡best¡¡round¡¡hand£»¡¡I£»¡¡who
have¡¡those¡¡titles¡¡now¡¡in¡¡my¡¡successor's¡¡office£»¡¡I£»¡¡who¡¡have¡¡known¡¡you
since¡¡you¡¡were¡¡so¡¡high¡¨£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡old¡¡man¡¡stopped¡¡to¡¡put¡¡his¡¡hand¡¡near
the¡¡ground¡£¡¡¡¨Ah£¡¡¡a¡¡man¡¡must¡¡have¡¡been¡¡a¡¡notary¡¡for¡¡forty¡one¡¡years¡¡and
a¡¡half¡¡to¡¡know¡¡the¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡grief¡¡I¡¡feel¡¡to¡¡see¡¡my¡¡name¡¡exposed¡¡before
the¡¡face¡¡of¡¡Israel¡¡in¡¡those¡¡announcements¡¡of¡¡the¡¡seizure¡¡and¡¡sale¡¡of
the¡¡property¡£¡¡When¡¡I¡¡pass¡¡through¡¡the¡¡streets¡¡and¡¡see¡¡men¡¡reading
these¡¡horrible¡¡yellow¡¡posters£»¡¡I¡¡am¡¡ashamed£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡my¡¡own¡¡honor¡¡and
ruin¡¡were¡¡concerned¡£¡¡Some¡¡fools¡¡will¡¡stand¡¡there¡¡and¡¡read¡¡them¡¡aloud
expressly¡¡to¡¡draw¡¡other¡¡fools¡¡about¡¡themand¡¡what¡¡imbecile¡¡remarks
they¡¡make£¡¡¡As¡¡if¡¡a¡¡man¡¡were¡¡not¡¡master¡¡of¡¡his¡¡own¡¡property£¡¡¡Your
father¡¡ran¡¡through¡¡two¡¡fortunes¡¡before¡¡he¡¡made¡¡the¡¡one¡¡he¡¡left¡¡you£»
and¡¡you¡¡wouldn't¡¡be¡¡a¡¡Manerville¡¡if¡¡you¡¡didn't¡¡do¡¡likewise¡£¡¡Besides£»
seizures¡¡of¡¡real¡¡estate¡¡have¡¡a¡¡whole¡¡section¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Code¡¡to
themselves£»¡¡they¡¡are¡¡expected¡¡and¡¡provided¡¡for£»¡¡you¡¡are¡¡in¡¡a¡¡position
recognized¡¡by¡¡the¡¡law¡£If¡¡I¡¡were¡¡not¡¡an¡¡old¡¡man¡¡with¡¡white¡¡hair£»¡¡I
would¡¡thrash¡¡those¡¡fools¡¡I¡¡hear¡¡reading¡¡aloud¡¡in¡¡the¡¡streets¡¡such¡¡an
abomination¡¡as¡¡this£»¡¨¡¡added¡¡the¡¡worthy¡¡notary£»¡¡taking¡¡up¡¡a¡¡paper£»¡¡¡¨'At
the¡¡request¡¡of¡¡Dame¡¡Natalie¡¡Evangelista£»¡¡wife¡¡of¡¡Paul¡Francois¡Joseph£»
Comte¡¡de¡¡Manerville£»¡¡separated¡¡from¡¡him¡¡as¡¡to¡¡worldly¡¡goods¡¡and
chattels¡¡by¡¡the¡¡Lower¡¡court¡¡of¡¡the¡¡department¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Seine'¡¨
¡¨Yes£»¡¡and¡¡now¡¡separated¡¡in¡¡body£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Paul¡£
¡¨Ah£¡¡¨¡¡exclaimed¡¡the¡¡old¡¡man¡£
¡¨Oh£¡¡¡against¡¡my¡¡wife's¡¡will£»¡¨¡¡added¡¡the¡¡count£»¡¡hastily¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡was¡¡forced
to¡¡deceive¡¡her£»¡¡she¡¡did¡¡not¡¡know¡¡that¡¡I¡¡was¡¡leaving¡¡her¡£¡¨
¡¨You¡¡have¡¡left¡¡her£¿¡¨
¡¨My¡¡passage¡¡is¡¡taken£»¡¡I¡¡sail¡¡for¡¡Calcutta¡¡on¡¡the¡¡'Belle¡Amelie¡£'¡¨
¡¨Two¡¡day's¡¡hence£¡¡¨¡¡cried¡¡the¡¡notary¡£¡¡¡¨Then£»¡¡Monsieur¡¡le¡¡comte£»¡¡we
shall¡¡never¡¡meet¡¡again¡£¡¨
¡¨You¡¡are¡¡only¡¡seventy¡three£»¡¡my¡¡dear¡¡Mathias£»¡¡and¡¡you¡¡have¡¡the¡¡gout£»
the¡¡brevet¡¡of¡¡old¡¡age¡£¡¡When¡¡I¡¡return¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡find¡¡you¡¡still¡¡afoot¡£
Your¡¡good¡¡head¡¡and¡¡heart¡¡will¡¡be¡¡as¡¡sound¡¡as¡¡ever£»¡¡and¡¡you¡¡will¡¡help
me¡¡to¡¡reconstruct¡¡what¡¡is¡¡now¡¡a¡¡shaken¡¡edifice¡£¡¡I¡¡intend¡¡to¡¡make¡¡a
noble¡¡fortune¡¡in¡¡seven¡¡years¡£¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡be¡¡only¡¡forty¡¡on¡¡my¡¡return¡£¡¡All
is¡¡still¡¡possible¡¡at¡¡that¡¡age¡£¡¨
¡¨You£¿¡¨¡¡said¡¡Mathias£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡gesture¡¡of¡¡amazement£»you£»¡¡Monsieur¡¡le
comte£»¡¡to¡¡undertake¡¡commerce£¡¡¡How¡¡can¡¡you¡¡even¡¡think¡¡of¡¡it£¿¡¨
¡¨I¡¡am¡¡no¡¡longer¡¡Monsieur¡¡le¡¡comte£»¡¡dear¡¡Mathias¡£¡¡My¡¡passage¡¡is¡¡taken
under¡¡the¡¡name¡¡of¡¡Camille£»¡¡one¡¡of¡¡my¡¡mother's¡¡baptismal¡¡names¡£¡¡I¡¡have
acquirements¡¡which¡¡will¡¡enable¡¡me¡¡to¡¡make¡¡my¡¡fortune¡¡otherwise¡¡than¡¡in
business¡£¡¡Commerce£»¡¡at¡¡any¡¡rate£»¡¡will¡¡be¡¡only¡¡my¡¡final¡¡chance¡£¡¡I¡¡start
with¡¡a¡¡sum¡¡in¡¡hand¡¡sufficient¡¡for¡¡the¡¡redemption¡¡of¡¡my¡¡future¡¡on¡¡a
large¡¡scale¡£¡¨
¡¨Where¡¡is¡¡that¡¡money£¿¡¨
¡¨A¡¡friend¡¡is¡¡to¡¡send¡¡it¡¡to¡¡me¡£¡¨
The¡¡old¡¡man¡¡dropped¡¡his¡¡fork¡¡as¡¡he¡¡heard¡¡the¡¡word¡¡¡¨friend£»¡¨¡¡not¡¡in
surprise£»¡¡not¡¡scoffingly£»¡¡but¡¡in¡¡grief£»¡¡his¡¡look¡¡and¡¡manner¡¡expressed
the¡¡pain¡¡he¡¡felt¡¡in¡¡finding¡¡Paul¡¡under¡¡the¡¡influence¡¡of¡¡a¡¡deceitful
illusion£»¡¡his¡¡practised¡¡eye¡¡fathomed¡¡a¡¡gulf¡¡where¡¡the¡¡count¡¡saw
nothing¡¡but¡¡solid¡¡ground¡£
¡¨I¡¡have¡¡been¡¡fifty¡¡years¡¡in¡¡the¡¡notariat£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨and¡¡I¡¡never¡¡yet
knew¡¡a¡¡ruined¡¡man¡¡whose¡¡friend¡¡would¡¡lend¡¡him¡¡money¡£¡¨
¡¨You¡¡don't¡¡know¡¡de¡¡Marsay¡£¡¡I¡¡am¡¡certain¡¡that¡¡he¡¡has¡¡sold¡¡out¡¡some¡¡of
his¡¡investments¡¡already£»¡¡and¡¡to¡morrow¡¡you¡¡will¡¡receive¡¡from¡¡him¡¡a
bill¡¡of¡¡exchange¡¡for¡¡one¡¡hundred¡¡and¡¡fifty¡¡thousand¡¡francs¡£¡¨
¡¨I¡¡hope¡¡I¡¡may¡£¡¡If¡¡that¡¡be¡¡so£»¡¡cannot¡¡your¡¡friend¡¡settle¡¡your
difficulties¡¡here£¿¡¡You¡¡could¡¡live¡¡quietly¡¡at¡¡Lanstrac¡¡for¡¡five¡¡or¡¡six
years¡¡on¡¡your¡¡wife's¡¡income£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡recover¡¡yourself¡£¡¨
¡¨No¡¡assignment¡¡or¡¡economy¡¡on¡¡my¡¡part¡¡could¡¡pay¡¡off¡¡fifteen¡¡hundred
thousand¡¡francs¡¡of¡¡debt£»¡¡in¡¡which¡¡my¡¡wife¡¡is¡¡involved¡¡to¡¡the¡¡amount¡¡of
five¡¡hundred¡¡and¡¡fifty¡¡thousand¡£¡¨
¡¨You¡¡cannot¡¡mean¡¡to¡¡say¡¡that¡¡in¡¡four¡¡years¡¡you¡¡have¡¡incurred¡¡a¡¡million
and¡¡a¡¡half¡¡of¡¡debt£¿¡¨
¡¨Nothing¡¡is¡¡more¡¡certain£»¡¡Mathias¡£¡¡Did¡¡I¡¡not¡¡give¡¡those¡¡diamonds¡¡to¡¡my
wife£¿¡¡Did¡¡I¡¡not¡¡spend¡¡the¡¡hundred