father goriot(高老头)-第12章

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to　his　feet。

〃Sir；〃　he　cried；　〃you　might　have　called　him　'Monsieur　Goriot'！〃

The　Countess　turned　pale　at　first　at　the　sight　of　her　husband's　vexation；　then　she　reddened；　clearly　she　was　embarrassed；　her　answer　was　made　in　a　tone　that　she　tried　to　make　natural；　and　with　an　air　of　assumed　carelessness：

〃You　could　not　know　any　one　who　is　dearer　to　us　both　。　。　。〃

She　broke　off；　glanced　at　the　piano　as　if　some　fancy　had　crossed　her　mind；　and　asked；　〃Are　you　fond　of　music；　M。　de　Rastignac？〃

〃Exceedingly；〃　answered　Eugene；　flushing；　and　disconcerted　by　a　dim　suspicion　that　he　had　somehow　been　guilty　of　a　clumsy　piece　of　folly。

〃Do　you　sing？〃　she　cried；　going　to　the　piano；　and；　sitting　down　before　it；　she　swept　her　fingers　over　the　keyboard　from　end　to　end。　R…r…r…rah！

〃No；　madame。〃

The　Comte　de　Restaud　walked　to　and　fro。

〃That　is　a　pity；　you　are　without　one　great　means　of　success。Ca…　ro；　ca…a…ro；　ca…a…a…ro；　non　du…bi…ta…re；〃　sang　the　Countess。

Eugene　had　a　second　time　waved　a　magic　wand　when　he　uttered　Goriot's　name；　but　the　effect　seemed　to　be　entirely　opposite　to　that　produced　by　the　formula　〃related　to　Mme。　de　Beauseant。〃　His　position　was　not　unlike　that　of　some　visitor　permitted　as　a　favor　to　inspect　a　private　collection　of　curiosities；　when　by　inadvertence　he　comes　into　collision　with　a　glass　case　full　of　sculptured　figures；　and　three　or　four　heads；　imperfectly　secured；　fall　at　the　shock。　He　wished　the　earth　would　open　and　swallow　him。　Mme。　de　Restaud's　expression　was　reserved　and　chilly；　her　eyes　had　grown　indifferent；　and　sedulously　avoided　meeting　those　of　the　unlucky　student　of　law。

〃Madame；〃　he　said；　〃you　wish　to　talk　with　M。　de　Restaud；　permit　me　to　wish　you　good…day〃

The　Countess　interrupted　him　by　a　gesture；　saying　hastily；　〃Whenever　you　come　to　see　us；　both　M。　de　Restaud　and　I　shall　be　delighted　to　see　you。〃

Eugene　made　a　profound　bow　and　took　his　leave；　followed　by　M。　de　Restaud；　who　insisted；　in　spite　of　his　remonstrances；　on　accompanying　him　into　the　hall。

〃Neither　your　mistress　nor　I　are　at　home　to　that　gentleman　when　he　calls；〃　the　Count　said　to　Maurice。

As　Eugene　set　foot　on　the　steps；　he　saw　that　it　was　raining。

〃Come；〃　said　he　to　himself；　〃somehow　I　have　just　made　a　mess　of　it；　I　do　not　know　how。　And　now　I　am　going　to　spoil　my　hat　and　coat　into　the　bargain。　I　ought　to　stop　in　my　corner；　grind　away　at　law；　and　never　look　to　be　anything　but　a　boorish　country　magistrate。　How　can　I　go　into　society；　when　to　manage　properly　you　want　a　lot　of　cabs；　varnished　boots；　gold　watch　chains；　and　all　sorts　of　things；　you　have　to　wear　white　doeskin　gloves　that　cost　six　francs　in　the　morning；　and　primrose　kid　gloves　every　evening？　A　fig　for　that　old　humbug　of　a　Goriot！〃

When　he　reached　the　street　door；　the　driver　of　a　hackney　coach；　who　had　probably　just　deposited　a　wedding　party　at　their　door；　and　asked　nothing　better　than　a　chance　of　making　a　little　money　for　himself　without　his　employer's　knowledge；　saw　that　Eugene　had　no　umbrella；　remarked　his　black　coat；　white　waistcoat；　yellow　gloves；　and　varnished　boots；　and　stopped　and　looked　at　him　inquiringly。　Eugene；　in　the　blind　desperation　that　drives　a　young　man　to　plunge　deeper　and　deeper　into　an　abyss；　as　if　he　might　hope　to　find　a　fortunate　issue　in　its　lowest　depths；　nodded　in　reply　to　the　driver's　signal；　and　stepped　into　the　cab；　a　few　stray　petals　of　orange　blossom　and　scraps　of　wire　bore　witness　to　its　recent　occupation　by　a　wedding　party。

〃Where　am　I　to　drive；　sir？〃　demanded　the　man；　who；　by　this　time；　had　taken　off　his　white　gloves。

〃Confound　it！〃　Eugene　said　to　himself；　〃I　am　in　for　it　now；　and　at　least　I　will　not　spend　cab…hire　for　nothing！Drive　to　the　Hotel　Beauseant；〃　he　said　aloud。

〃Which？〃　asked　the　man；　a　portentous　word　that　reduced　Eugene　to　confusion。　This　young　man　of　fashion；　species　incerta；　did　not　know　that　there　were　two　Hotels　Beauseant；　he　was　not　aware　how　rich　he　was　in　relations　who　did　not　care　about　him。

〃The　Vicomte　de　Beauseant；　Rue〃

〃De　Grenelle；〃　interrupted　the　driver；　with　a　jerk　of　his　head。　〃You　see；　there　are　the　hotels　of　the　Marquis　and　Comte　de　Beauseant　in　the　Rue　Saint…Dominique；〃　he　added；　drawing　up　the　step。

〃I　know　all　about　that；〃　said　Eugene；　severely。〃Everybody　is　laughing　at　me　to…day；　it　seems！〃　he　said　to　himself；　as　he　deposited　his　hat　on　the　opposite　seat。　〃This　escapade　will　cost　me　a　king's　ransom；　but；　at　any　rate；　I　shall　call　on　my　so…　called　cousin　in　a　thoroughly　aristocratic　fashion。　Goriot　has　cost　me　ten　francs　already；　the　old　scoundrel。　My　word！　I　will　tell　Mme。　de　Beauseant　about　my　adventure；　perhaps　it　may　amuse　her。　Doubtless　she　will　know　the　secret　of　the　criminal　relation　between　that　handsome　woman　and　the　old　rat　without　a　tail。　It　would　be　better　to　find　favor　in　my　cousin's　eyes　than　to　come　in　contact　with　that　shameless　woman；　who　seems　to　me　to　have　very　expensive　tastes。　Surely　the　beautiful　Vicomtesse's　personal　interest　would　turn　the　scale　for　me；　when　the　mere　mention　of　her　name　produces　such　an　effect。　Let　us　look　higher。　If　you　set　yourself　to　carry　the　heights　of　heaven；　you　must　face　God。〃

The　innumerable　thoughts　that　surged　through　his　brain　might　be　summed　up　in　these　phrases。　He　grew　calmer；　and　recovered　something　of　his　assurance　as　he　watched　the　falling　rain。　He　told　himself　that　though　he　was　about　to　squander　two　of　the　precious　five…franc　pieces　that　remained　to　him；　the　money　was　well　laid　out　in　preserving　his　coat；　boots；　and　hat；　and　his　cabman's　cry　of　〃Gate；　if　you　please；〃　almost　put　him　in　spirits。　A　Swiss；　in　scarlet　and　gold；　appeared；　the　great　door　groaned　on　its　hinges；　and　Rastignac；　with　sweet　satisfaction；　beheld　his　equipage　pass　under　the　archway　and　stop　before　the　flight　of　steps　beneath　the　awning。　The　driver；　in　a　blue…and…red　greatcoat；　dismounted　and　let　down　the　step。　As　Eugene　stepped　out　of　the　cab；　he　heard　smothered　laughter　from　the　peristyle。　Three　or　four　lackeys　were　making　merry　over　the　festal　appearance　of　the　vehicle。　In　another　moment　the　law　student　was　enlightened　as　to　the　cause　of　their　hilarity；　he　felt　the　full　force　of　the　contrast　between　his　equipage　and　one　of　the　smartest　broughams　in　Paris；　a　coachman；　with　powdered　hair；　seemed　to　find　it　difficult　to　hold　a　pair　of　spirited　horses；　who　stood　chafing　the　bit。　In　Mme。　de　Restaud's　courtyard；　in　the　Chaussee　d'Antin；　he　had　seen　the　neat　turnout　of　a　young　man　of　six…and…twenty；　in　the　Faubourg　Saint…Germain　he　found　the　luxurious　equipage　of　a　man　of　rank；　thirty　thousand　francs　would　not　have　purchased　it。

〃Who　can　be　here？〃　said　Eugene　to　himself。　He　began　to　understand；　though　somewhat　tardily；　that　he　must　not　expect　to　find　many　women　in　Paris　who　were　not　already　appropriated；　and　that　the　capture　of　one　of　these　queens　would　be　likely　to　cost　something　more　than　bloodshed。　〃Confound　it　all！　I　expect　my　cousin　also　has　her　Maxime。〃

He　went　up　the　steps；　feeling　that　he　was　a　blighted　being。　The　glass　door　was　opened　for　him；　the　servants　were　as　solemn　as　jackasses　under　the　curry　comb。　So　far；　Eugene　had　only　been　in　the　ballroom　on　the　ground　floor　of　the　Hotel　Beauseant；　the　fete　had　followed　so　closely　on　the　invitation；　that　he　had　not　had　time　to　call　on　his　cousin；　and　had　therefore　never　seen　Mme。　de　Beauseant's　apartments；　he　was　about　to　behold　for　the　first　time　a　great　lady　among　the　wonderful　and　elegant　surroundings　that　reveal　her　character　and　reflect　her　daily　life。　He　was　the　more　curious；　because　Mme。　de　Restaud's　drawing…room　had　provided　him　with　a　standard　of　comparison。

At　half…past　four　the　Vicomtesse　de　Beauseant　was　visible。　Five　minutes　earlier　she　would　not　have　received　her　cousin；　but　Eugene　knew　nothing　of　the　recognized　routine　of　various　houses　in　Paris。　He　was　conducted　up　the　wide；　white…painted；　crimson…　carpeted　staircase；　between　the　gilded　balusters　and　masses　of　flowering　plants；　to　Mme。　de　Beauseant's　apartments。　He　did　not　know　the　rumor　current　about　Mme。　de　Beauseant；　one　of　the　biographies　told；　with　variations；　in　whispers；　every　evening　in　the　salons　of　Paris。

For　three　years　past　her　name　had　been　spoken　of　in　connection　with　that　of　one　of　the　most　wealthy　and　distinguished　Portuguese　nobles；　the　Marquis　d'Ajuda…Pinto。　It　was　one　of　those　innocent　liaisons　which　possess　so　much　charm　for　the　two　thus　attached　to　each　other　that　they　find　the　presence　of　a　third　person　intolerable。　The　Vicomte　de　Beauseant；　therefore；　had　himself　set　an　example　to　the　rest　of　the　world　by　respecting；　with　as　good　a　grace　as　might　be；　this　morganatic　union。　Any　one　who　came　to　call　on　the　Vicomtesse　in　the　early　days　of　this　friendship　was　sure　to　find　the　Marquis　d'Ajuda…Pinto　there。　As；　under　the　circumstances；　Mme。　de　Beauseant　could　not　very　well　shut　her　door　against　these　visitors；　she　gave　them　such　a　cold　reception；　and　showed　so　much　interest　in　the　study　of　the　ceiling；　that　no　one　could　fail　to　understand　how　much　he　bored　her；　and　when　it　became　known　in　Paris　that　Mme。　de　Beauseant　was　bored　by　callers　between　two　and　four　o'clock；　she　was　left　in　perfect　solitude　during　that　interval。　She　went　to　the　Bouffons　or　to　the　Opera　with　M。　de　Beauseant　and　M。　d'Ajuda…Pinto；　and　M。　de　Beauseant；　like　a　well…bred　man　of　the　world；　always　left　his　wife　and　the　Portuguese　as　soon　as　he　had　installed　them。　But　M。　d'Ajuda…Pinto　must　marry；　and　a　Mlle。　de　Rochefide　was　the　young　lady。　In　the　whole　fashionable　world　there　was　but　one　person　who　as　yet　knew　nothing　of　the　arrangement；　and　that　was　Mme。　de　Beauseant。　Some　of　her　friends　had　hinted　at　the　possibility；　and　she　had　laughed　at　them；　believing　that　envy　had　prompted　those　ladies　to　try　to　make　mischief。　And　now；　though　the　bans　were　about　to　be　published；　and　although　the　handsome　Portuguese　had　come　that　day　to　break　the　news　to　the　Vicomtesse；　he　had　not　found　courage　as　yet　to　say　one　word　about　his　treachery。　How　was　it？　Nothing　is　doubtless　more　difficult　than　the　notification　of　an　ultimatum　of　this　kind。　There　are　men　who　feel　more　at　their　ease　when　they　stand　up　before　another　man　who　threatens　their　lives　with　sword　or　pistol　than　in　the　presence　of　a　woman　who；　after　two　hours　of　lamentations　and　reproaches；　falls　into　a　dead　swoon　and　requires　salts。　At　this　moment；　therefore；　M。　d'Ajuda…Pinto　was　on　thorns；　and　anxious　to　take　his　leave。　He　told　himself　that　in　some　way　or　other　the　news　would　reach　Mme。　de　Beauseant；　he　would　write；　it　would　be　much　better　to　do　it　by　letter；　and　not　to　utter　the　words　that　should　stab　her　to　the　heart。

So　when　the　servant　announced　M。　Eugene　de　Rastignac；　the　Marquis　d'Ajuda…Pinto　trembled　with　joy。　To　be　sure；　a　loving　woman　shows　even　more　ingenuity　in　inventing　doubts　of　her　lover　than　in　varying　the　monotony　of　his　happiness；　and　when　she　is　about　to　be　forsaken；　she　instinctively　interprets　every　gesture　as　rapidly　as　Virgil's　courser　detected　the　presence　of　his　companion　by　snuffing　the　breeze。　It　was　impossible；　therefore；　that　Mme。　de　Beauseant　should　not　detect　that　involuntary　thrill　of　satisfaction；　slight　though　it　was；　it　was　appalling　in　its　artlessness。

Eugene　had　yet　to　learn　that　no　one　in　Paris　should　present　himself　in　any　house　without　first　making