father goriot(高老头)-第15章

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more　than　post…horses；　take　a　fresh　relay；　and　leave　the　last　to　drop　by　the　roadside；　in　this　way　you　will　reach　the　goal　of　your　ambition。　You　will　be　nothing　here；　you　see；　unless　a　woman　interests　herself　in　you；　and　she　must　be　young　and　wealthy；　and　a　woman　of　the　world。　Yet；　if　you　have　a　heart；　lock　it　carefully　away　like　a　treasure；　do　not　let　any　one　suspect　it；　or　you　will　be　lost；　you　would　cease　to　be　the　executioner；　you　would　take　the　victim's　place。　And　if　ever　you　should　love；　never　let　your　secret　escape　you！　Trust　no　one　until　you　are　very　sure　of　the　heart　to　which　you　open　your　heart。　Learn　to　mistrust　every　one；　take　every　precaution　for　the　sake　of　the　love　which　does　not　exist　as　yet。　Listen；　Miguel〃　the　name　slipped　from　her　so　naturally　that　she　did　not　notice　her　mistake〃there　is　something　still　more　appalling　than　the　ingratitude　of　daughters　who　have　cast　off　their　old　father　and　wish　that　he　were　dead；　and　that　is　a　rivalry　between　two　sisters。　Restaud　comes　of　a　good　family；　his　wife　has　been　received　into　their　circle；　she　has　been　presented　at　court；　and　her　sister；　her　wealthy　sister；　Mme。　Delphine　de　Nucingen；　the　wife　of　a　great　capitalist；　is　consumed　with　envy；　and　ready　to　die　of　spleen。　There　is　gulf　set　between　the　sistersindeed；　they　are　sisters　no　longerthe　two　women　who　refuse　to　acknowledge　their　father　do　not　acknowledge　each　other。　So　Mme。　de　Nucingen　would　lap　up　all　the　mud　that　lies　between　the　Rue　Saint…Lazare　and　the　Rue　de　Grenelle　to　gain　admittance　to　my　salon。　She　fancied　that　she　should　gain　her　end　through　de　Marsay；　she　has　made　herself　de　Marsay's　slave；　and　she　bores　him。　De　Marsay　cares　very　little　about　her。　If　you　will　introduce　her　to　me；　you　will　be　her　darling；　her　Benjamin；　she　will　idolize　you。　If；　after　that；　you　can　love　her；　do　so；　if　not；　make　her　useful。　I　will　ask　her　to　come　once　or　twice　to　one　of　my　great　crushes；　but　I　will　never　receive　her　here　in　the　morning。　I　will　bow　to　her　when　I　see　her；　and　that　will　be　quite　sufficient。　You　have　shut　the　Comtesse　de　Restaud's　door　against　you　by　mentioning　Father　Goriot's　name。　Yes；　my　good　friend；　you　may　call　at　her　house　twenty　times；　and　every　time　out　of　the　twenty　you　will　find　that　she　is　not　at　home。　The　servants　have　their　orders；　and　will　not　admit　you。　Very　well；　then；　now　let　Father　Goriot　gain　the　right　of　entry　into　her　sister's　house　for　you。　The　beautiful　Mme。　de　Nucingen　will　give　the　signal　for　a　battle。　As　soon　as　she　singles　you　out；　other　women　will　begin　to　lose　their　heads　about　you；　and　her　enemies　and　rivals　and　intimate　friends　will　all　try　to　take　you　from　her。　There　are　women　who　will　fall　in　love　with　a　man　because　another　woman　has　chosen　him；　like　the　city　madams；　poor　things；　who　copy　our　millinery；　and　hope　thereby　to　acquire　our　manners。　You　will　have　a　success；　and　in　Paris　success　is　everything；　it　is　the　key　of　power。　If　the　women　credit　you　with　wit　and　talent；　the　men　will　follow　suit　so　long　as　you　do　not　undeceive　them　yourself。　There　will　be　nothing　you　may　not　aspire　to；　you　will　go　everywhere；　and　you　will　find　out　what　the　world　isan　assemblage　of　fools　and　knaves。　But　you　must　be　neither　the　one　nor　the　other。　I　am　giving　you　my　name　like　Ariadne's　clue　of　thread　to　take　with　you　into　the　labyrinth；　make　no　unworthy　use　of　it；〃　she　said；　with　a　queenly　glance　and　curve　of　her　throat；　〃give　it　back　to　me　unsullied。　And　now；　go；　leave　me。　We　women　also　have　our　battles　to　fight。〃

〃And　if　you　should　ever　need　some　one　who　would　gladly　set　a　match　to　a　train　for　you〃

〃Well？〃　she　asked。

He　tapped　his　heart；　smiled　in　answer　to　his　cousin's　smile；　and　went。

It　was　five　o'clock；　and　Eugene　was　hungry；　he　was　afraid　lest　he　should　not　be　in　time　for　dinner；　a　misgiving　which　made　him　feel　that　it　was　pleasant　to　be　borne　so　quickly　across　Paris。　This　sensation　of　physical　comfort　left　his　mind　free　to　grapple　with　the　thoughts　that　assailed　him。　A　mortification　usually　sends　a　young　man　of　his　age　into　a　furious　rage；　he　shakes　his　fist　at　society；　and　vows　vengeance　when　his　belief　in　himself　is　shaken。　Just　then　Rastignac　was　overwhelmed　by　the　words；　〃You　have　shut　the　Countess'　door　against　you。〃

〃I　shall　call！〃　he　said　to　himself；　〃and　if　Mme。　de　Beauseant　is　right；　if　I　never　find　her　at　homeI　。　。　。　well；　Mme。　de　Restaud　shall　meet　me　in　every　salon　in　Paris。　I　will　learn　to　fence　and　have　some　pistol　practice；　and　kill　that　Maxime　of　hers！〃

〃And　money？〃　cried　an　inward　monitor。　〃How　about　money；　where　is　that　to　come　from？〃　And　all　at　once　the　wealth　displayed　in　the　Countess　de　Restaud's　drawing…room　rose　before　his　eyes。　That　was　the　luxury　which　Goriot's　daughter　had　loved　too　well；　the　gilding；　the　ostentatious　splendor；　the　unintelligent　luxury　of　the　parvenu；　the　riotous　extravagance　of　a　courtesan。　Then　the　attractive　vision　suddenly　went　under　an　eclipse　as　he　remembered　the　stately　grandeur　of　the　Hotel　de　Beauseant。　As　his　fancy　wandered　among　these　lofty　regions　in　the　great　world　of　Paris；　innumerable　dark　thoughts　gathered　in　his　heart；　his　ideas　widened；　and　his　conscience　grew　more　elastic。　He　saw　the　world　as　it　is；　saw　how　the　rich　lived　beyond　the　jurisdiction　of　law　and　public　opinion；　and　found　in　success　the　ultima　ratio　mundi。

〃Vautrin　is　right；　success　is　virtue！〃　he　said　to　himself。



Arrived　in　the　Rue　Neuve…Sainte…Genevieve；　he　rushed　up　to　his　room　for　ten　francs　wherewith　to　satisfy　the　demands　of　the　cabman；　and　went　in　to　dinner。　He　glanced　round　the　squalid　room；　saw　the　eighteen　poverty…stricken　creatures　about　to　feed　like　cattle　in　their　stalls；　and　the　sight　filled　him　with　loathing。　The　transition　was　too　sudden；　and　the　contrast　was　so　violent　that　it　could　not　but　act　as　a　powerful　stimulant；　his　ambition　developed　and　grew　beyond　all　social　bounds。　On　the　one　hand；　he　beheld　a　vision　of　social　life　in　its　most　charming　and　refined　forms；　of　quick…pulsed　youth；　of　fair；　impassioned　faces　invested　with　all　the　charm　of　poetry；　framed　in　a　marvelous　setting　of　luxury　or　art；　and；　on　the　other　hand；　he　saw　a　sombre　picture；　the　miry　verge　beyond　these　faces；　in　which　passion　was　extinct　and　nothing　was　left　of　the　drama　but　the　cords　and　pulleys　and　bare　mechanism。　Mme。　de　Beauseant's　counsels；　the　words　uttered　in　anger　by　the　forsaken　lady；　her　petulant　offer；　came　to　his　mind；　and　poverty　was　a　ready　expositor。　Rastignac　determined　to　open　two　parallel　trenches　so　as　to　insure　success；　he　would　be　a　learned　doctor　of　law　and　a　man　of　fashion。　Clearly　he　was　still　a　child！　Those　two　lines　are　asymptotes；　and　will　never　meet。

〃You　are　very　dull；　my　lord　Marquis；〃　said　Vautrin；　with　one　of　the　shrewd　glances　that　seem　to　read　the　innermost　secrets　of　another　mind。

〃I　am　not　in　the　humor　to　stand　jokes　from　people　who　call　me　'my　lord　Marquis；'　〃　answered　Eugene。　〃A　marquis　here　in　Paris；　if　he　is　not　the　veriest　sham；　ought　to　have　a　hundred　thousand　livres　a　year　at　least；　and　a　lodger　in　the　Maison　Vauquer　is　not　exactly　Fortune's　favorite。〃

Vautrin's　glance　at　Rastignac　was　half…paternal；　half…　contemptuous。　〃Puppy！〃　it　seemed　to　say；　〃I　should　make　one　mouthful　of　him！〃　Then　he　answered：

〃You　are　in　a　bad　humor；　perhaps　your　visit　to　the　beautiful　Comtesse　de　Restaud　was　not　a　success。〃

〃She　has　shut　her　door　against　me　because　I　told　her　that　her　father　dined　at　our　table；〃　cried　Rastignac。

Glances　were　exchanged　all　round　the　room；　Father　Goriot　looked　down。

〃You　have　sent　some　snuff　into　my　eye；〃　he　said　to　his　neighbor；　turning　a　little　aside　to　rub　his　hand　over　his　face。

〃Any　one　who　molests　Father　Goriot　will　have　henceforward　to　reckon　with　me；〃　said　Eugene；　looking　at　the　old　man's　neighbor；　〃he　is　worth　all　the　rest　of　us　put　together。I　am　not　speaking　of　the　ladies；〃　he　added；　turning　in　the　direction　of　Mlle。　Taillefer。

Eugene's　remarks　produced　a　sensation；　and　his　tone　silenced　the　dinner…table。　Vautrin　alone　spoke。　〃If　you　are　going　to　champion　Father　Goriot；　and　set　up　for　his　responsible　editor　into　the　bargain；　you　had　need　be　a　crack　shot　and　know　how　to　handle　the　foils；〃　he　said；　banteringly。

〃So　I　intend；〃　said　Eugene。

〃Then　you　are　taking　the　field　today？〃

〃Perhaps；〃　Rastignac　answered。　〃But　I　owe　no　account　of　myself　to　any　one；　especially　as　I　do　not　try　to　find　out　what　other　people　do　of　a　night。〃

Vautrin　looked　askance　at　Rastignac。

〃If　you　do　not　mean　to　be　deceived　by　the　puppets；　my　boy；　you　must　go　behind　and　see　the　whole　show；　and　not　peep　through　holes　in　the　curtain。　That　is　enough；〃　he　added；　seeing　that　Eugene　was　about　to　fly　into　a　passion。　〃We　can　have　a　little　talk　whenever　you　like。〃

There　was　a　general　feeling　of　gloom　and　constraint。　Father　Goriot　was　so　deeply　dejected　by　the　student's　remark　that　he　did　not　notice　the　change　in　the　disposition　of　his　fellow…lodgers；　nor　know　that　he　had　met　with　a　champion　capable　of　putting　an　end　to　the　persecution。

〃Then；　M。　Goriot　sitting　there　is　the　father　of　a　countess；〃　said　Mme。　Vauquer　in　a　low　voice。

〃And　of　a　baroness；〃　answered　Rastignac。

〃That　is　about　all　he　is　capable　of；〃　said　Bianchon　to　Rastignac；　〃I　have　taken　a　look　at　his　head；　there　is　only　one　bumpthe　bump　of　Paternity；　he　must　be　an　ETERNAL　FATHER。〃

Eugene　was　too　intent　on　his　thoughts　to　laugh　at　Bianchon's　joke。　He　determined　to　profit　by　Mme。　de　Beauseant's　counsels；　and　was　asking　himself　how　he　could　obtain　the　necessary　money。　He　grew　grave。　The　wide　savannas　of　the　world　stretched　before　his　eyes；　all　things　lay　before　him；　nothing　was　his。　Dinner　came　to　an　end；　the　others　went；　and　he　was　left　in　the　dining…room。

〃So　you　have　seen　my　daughter？〃　Goriot　spoke　tremulously；　and　the　sound　of　his　voice　broke　in　upon　Eugene's　dreams。　The　young　man　took　the　elder's　hand；　and　looked　at　him　with　something　like　kindness　in　his　eyes。

〃You　are　a　good　and　noble　man；〃　he　said。　〃We　will　have　some　talk　about　your　daughters　by　and　by。〃

He　rose　without　waiting　for　Goriot's　answer；　and　went　to　his　room。　There　he　wrote　the　following　letter　to　his　mother：

〃My　Dear　Mother；Can　you　nourish　your　child　from　your　breast　again？　I　am　in　a　position　to　make　a　rapid　fortune；　but　I　want　twelve　hundred　francsI　must　have　them　at　all　costs。　Say　nothing　about　this　to　my　father；　perhaps　he　might　make　objections；　and　unless　I　have　the　money；　I　may　be　led　to　put　an　end　to　myself；　and　so　escape　the　clutches　of　despair。　I　will　tell　you　everything　when　I　see　you。　I　will　not　begin　to　try　to　describe　my　present　situation；　it　would　take　volumes　to　put　the　whole　story　clearly　and　fully。　I　have　not　been　gambling；　my　kind　mother；　I　owe　no　one　a　penny；　but　if　you　would　preserve　the　life　that　you　gave　me；　you　must　send　me　the　sum　I　mention。　As　a　matter　of　fact；　I　go　to　see　the　Vicomtesse　de　Beauseant；　she　is　using　her　influence　for　me；　I　am　obliged　to　go　into　society；　and　I　have　not　a　penny　to　lay　out　on　clean　gloves。　I　can　manage　to　exist　on　bread　and　water；　or　go　without　food；　if　need　be；　but　I　cannot　do　without　the　tools　with　which　they　cultivate　the　vineyards　in　this　country。　I　must　resolutely　make　up　my　mind　at　once　to　make　my　way；　or　stick　in　the　mire　for　the　rest　of　my　days。　I　know　that　all　your　hopes　are　set　on　me；　and　I　want　to