father goriot(高老头)-第23章

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In　vain　Mme。　de　Beauseant　looked　at　Eugene　as　if　asking　him　to　speak；　the　student　was　tongue…tied　in　the　Vicomte's　presence。

〃Are　you　going　to　take　me　to　the　Italiens　this　evening？〃　the　Vicomtesse　asked　her　husband。

〃You　cannot　doubt　that　I　should　obey　you　with　pleasure；〃　he　answered；　and　there　was　a　sarcastic　tinge　in　his　politeness　which　Eugene　did　not　detect；　〃but　I　ought　to　go　to　meet　some　one　at　the　Varietes。〃

〃His　mistress；〃　said　she　to　herself。

〃Then；　is　not　Ajuda　coming　for　you　this　evening？〃　inquired　the　Vicomte。

〃No；〃　she　answered；　petulantly。

〃Very　well；　then；　if　you　really　must　have　an　arm；　take　that　of　M。　de　Rastignac。〃

The　Vicomtess　turned　to　Eugene　with　a　smile。

〃That　would　be　a　very　compromising　step　for　you；〃　she　said。

〃　'A　Frenchman　loves　danger；　because　in　danger　there　is　glory；'　to　quote　M。　de　Chateaubriand；〃　said　Rastignac；　with　a　bow。

A　few　moments　later　he　was　sitting　beside　Mme。　de　Beauseant　in　a　brougham；　that　whirled　them　through　the　streets　of　Paris　to　a　fashionable　theatre。　It　seemed　to　him　that　some　fairy　magic　had　suddenly　transported　him　into　a　box　facing　the　stage。　All　the　lorgnettes　of　the　house　were　pointed　at　him　as　he　entered；　and　at　the　Vicomtesse　in　her　charming　toilette。　He　went　from　enchantment　to　enchantment。

〃You　must　talk　to　me；　you　know；〃　said　Mme。　de　Beauseant。　〃Ah！　look！　There　is　Mme。　de　Nucingen　in　the　third　box　from　ours。　Her　sister　and　M。　de　Trailles　are　on　the　other　side。〃

The　Vicomtesse　glanced　as　she　spoke　at　the　box　where　Mlle。　de　Rochefide　should　have　been；　M。　d'Ajuda　was　not　there；　and　Mme。　de　Beauseant's　face　lighted　up　in　a　marvelous　way。

〃She　is　charming；〃　said　Eugene；　after　looking　at　Mme。　de　Nucingen。

〃She　has　white　eyelashes。〃

〃Yes；　but　she　has　such　a　pretty　slender　figure！〃

〃Her　hands　are　large。〃

〃Such　beautiful　eyes！〃

〃Her　face　is　long。〃

〃Yes；　but　length　gives　distinction。〃

〃It　is　lucky　for　her　that　she　has　some　distinction　in　her　face。　Just　see　how　she　fidgets　with　her　opera…glass！　The　Goriot　blood　shows　itself　in　every　movement；〃　said　the　Vicomtesse；　much　to　Eugene's　astonishment。

Indeed；　Mme。　de　Beauseant　seemed　to　be　engaged　in　making　a　survey　of　the　house；　and　to　be　unconscious　of　Mme。　Nucingen's　existence；　but　no　movement　made　by　the　latter　was　lost　upon　the　Vicomtesse。　The　house　was　full　of　the　loveliest　women　in　Paris；　so　that　Delphine　de　Nucingen　was　not　a　little　flattered　to　receive　the　undivided　attention　of　Mme。　de　Beauseant's　young；　handsome；　and　well…dressed　cousin；　who　seemed　to　have　no　eyes　for　any　one　else。

〃If　you　look　at　her　so　persistently；　you　will　make　people　talk；　M。　de　Rastignac。　You　will　never　succeed　if　you　fling　yourself　at　any　one's　head　like　that。〃

〃My　dear　cousin；〃　said　Eugene；　〃you　have　protected　me　indeed　so　far；　and　now　if　you　would　complete　your　work；　I　only　ask　of　you　a　favor　which　will　cost　you　but　little；　and　be　of　very　great　service　to　me。　I　have　lost　my　heart。〃

〃Already！〃

〃Yes。〃

〃And　to　that　woman！〃

〃How　could　I　aspire　to　find　any　one　else　to　listen　to　me？〃　he　asked；　with　a　keen　glance　at　his　cousin。　〃Her　Grace　the　Duchesse　de　Carigliano　is　a　friend　of　the　Duchesse　de　Berri；〃　he　went　on；　after　a　pause；　〃you　are　sure　to　see　her；　will　you　be　so　kind　as　to　present　me　to　her；　and　to　take　me　to　her　ball　on　Monday？　I　shall　meet　Mme。　de　Nucingen　there；　and　enter　into　my　first　skirmish。〃

〃Willingly；〃　she　said。　〃If　you　have　a　liking　for　her　already；　your　affairs　of　the　heart　are　like　to　prosper。　That　is　de　Marsay　over　there　in　the　Princesse　Galathionne's　box。　Mme。　de　Nucingen　is　racked　with　jealousy。　There　is　no　better　time　for　approaching　a　woman；　especially　if　she　happens　to　be　a　banker's　wife。　All　those　ladies　of　the　Chaussee…d'Antin　love　revenge。〃

〃Then；　what　would　you　do　yourself　in　such　a　case？〃

〃I　should　suffer　in　silence。〃

At　this　point　the　Marquis　d'Ajuda　appeared　in　Mme。　de　Beauseant's　box。

〃I　have　made　a　muddle　of　my　affairs　to　come　to　you；〃　he　said；　〃and　I　am　telling　you　about　it；　so　that　it　may　not　be　a　sacrifice。〃

Eugene　saw　the　glow　of　joy　on　the　Vicomtesse's　face；　and　knew　that　this　was　love；　and　learned　the　difference　between　love　and　the　affectations　of　Parisian　coquetry。　He　admired　his　cousin；　grew　mute；　and　yielded　his　place　to　M。　d'Ajuda　with　a　sigh。

〃How　noble；　how　sublime　a　woman　is　when　she　loves　like　that！〃　he　said　to　himself。　〃And　HE　could　forsake　her　for　a　doll！　Oh！　how　could　any　one　forsake　her？〃

There　was　a　boy's　passionate　indignation　in　his　heart。　He　could　have　flung　himself　at　Mme。　de　Beauseant's　feet；　he　longed　for　the　power　of　the　devil　if　he　could　snatch　her　away　and　hide　her　in　his　heart；　as　an　eagle　snatches　up　some　white　yeanling　from　the　plains　and　bears　it　to　its　eyrie。　It　was　humiliating　to　him　to　think　that　in　all　this　gallery　of　fair　pictures　he　had　not　one　picture　of　his　own。　〃To　have　a　mistress　and　an　almost　royal　position　is　a　sign　of　power；〃　he　said　to　himself。　And　he　looked　at　Mme。　de　Nucingen　as　a　man　measures　another　who　has　insulted　him。

The　Vicomtesse　turned　to　him；　and　the　expression　of　her　eyes　thanked　him　a　thousand　times　for　his　discretion。　The　first　act　came　to　an　end　just　then。

〃Do　you　know　Mme。　de　Nucingen　well　enough　to　present　M。　de　Rastignac　to　her？〃　she　asked　of　the　Marquis　d'Ajuda。

〃She　will　be　delighted；〃　said　the　Marquis。　The　handsome　Portuguese　rose　as　he　spoke　and　took　the　student's　arm；　and　in　another　moment　Eugene　found　himself　in　Mme。　de　Nucingen's　box。

〃Madame；〃　said　the　Marquis；　〃I　have　the　honor　of　presenting　to　you　the　Chevalier　Eugene　de　Rastignac；　he　is　a　cousin　of　Mme。　de　Beauseant's。　You　have　made　so　deep　an　impression　upon　him；　that　I　thought　I　would　fill　up　the　measure　of　his　happiness　by　bringing　him　nearer　to　his　divinity。〃

Words　spoken　half　jestingly　to　cover　their　somewhat　disrespectful　import；　but　such　an　implication；　if　carefully　disguised；　never　gives　offence　to　a　woman。　Mme。　de　Nucingen　smiled；　and　offered　Eugene　the　place　which　her　husband　had　just　left。

〃I　do　not　venture　to　suggest　that　you　should　stay　with　me；　monsieur；〃　she　said。　〃Those　who　are　so　fortunate　as　to　be　in　Mme。　de　Beauseant's　company　do　not　desire　to　leave　it。〃

〃Madame；〃　Eugene　said；　lowering　his　voice；　〃I　think　that　to　please　my　cousin　I　should　remain　with　you。　Before　my　lord　Marquis　came　we　were　speaking　of　you　and　of　your　exceedingly　distinguished　appearance；〃　he　added　aloud。

M。　d'Ajuda　turned　and　left　them。

〃Are　you　really　going　to　stay　with　me；　monsieur？〃　asked　the　Baroness。　〃Then　we　shall　make　each　other's　acquaintance。　Mme。　de　Restaud　told　me　about　you；　and　has　made　me　anxious　to　meet　you。〃

〃She　must　be　very　insincere；　then；　for　she　has　shut　her　door　on　me。〃

〃What？〃

〃Madame；　I　will　tell　you　honestly　the　reason　why；　but　I　must　crave　your　indulgence　before　confiding　such　a　secret　to　you。　I　am　your　father's　neighbor；　I　had　no　idea　that　Mme。　de　Restaud　was　his　daughter。　I　was　rash　enough　to　mention　his　name；　I　meant　no　harm；　but　I　annoyed　your　sister　and　her　husband　very　much。　You　cannot　think　how　severely　the　Duchesse　de　Langeais　and　my　cousin　blamed　this　apostasy　on　a　daughter's　part；　as　a　piece　of　bad　taste。　I　told　them　all　about　it；　and　they　both　burst　out　laughing。　Then　Mme。　de　Beauseant　made　some　comparison　between　you　and　your　sister；　speaking　in　high　terms　of　you；　and　saying　how　very　fond　you　were　of　my　neighbor；　M。　Goriot。　And；　indeed；　how　could　you　help　loving　him？　He　adores　you　so　passionately　that　I　am　jealous　already。　We　talked　about　you　this　morning　for　two　hours。　So　this　evening　I　was　quite　full　of　all　that　your　father　had　told　me；　and　while　I　was　dining　with　my　cousin　I　said　that　you　could　not　be　as　beautiful　as　affectionate。　Mme。　de　Beauseant　meant　to　gratify　such　warm　admiration；　I　think；　when　she　brought　me　here；　telling　me；　in　her　gracious　way；　that　I　should　see　you。〃

〃Then；　even　now；　I　owe　you　a　debt　of　gratitude；　monsieur；〃　said　the　banker's　wife。　〃We　shall　be　quite　old　friends　in　a　little　while。〃

〃Although　a　friendship　with　you　could　not　be　like　an　ordinary　friendship；〃　said　Rastignac；　〃I　should　never　wish　to　be　your　friend。〃

Such　stereotyped　phrases　as　these；　in　the　mouths　of　beginners；　possess　an　unfailing　charm　for　women；　and　are　insipid　only　when　read　coldly；　for　a　young　man's　tone；　glance　and　attitude　give　a　surpassing　eloquence　to　the　banal　phrases。　Mme。　de　Nucingen　thought　that　Rastignac　was　adorable。　Then；　woman…like；　being　at　a　loss　how　to　reply　to　the　student's　outspoken　admiration；　she　answered　a　previous　remark。

〃Yes；　it　is　very　wrong　of　my　sister　to　treat　our　poor　father　as　she　does；〃　she　said；　〃he　has　been　a　Providence　to　us。　It　was　not　until　M。　de　Nucingen　positively　ordered　me　only　to　receive　him　in　the　mornings　that　I　yielded　the　point。　But　I　have　been　unhappy　about　it　for　a　long　while；　I　have　shed　many　tears　over　it。　This　violence　to　my　feelings；　with　my　husband's　brutal　treatment；　have　been　two　causes　of　my　unhappy　married　life。　There　is　certainly　no　woman　in　Paris　whose　lot　seems　more　enviable　than　mine；　and　yet；　in　reality；　there　is　not　one　so　much　to　be　pitied。　You　will　think　I　must　be　out　of　my　senses　to　talk　to　you　like　this；　but　you　know　my　father；　and　I　cannot　regard　you　as　a　stranger。〃

〃You　will　find　no　one；〃　said　Eugene；　〃who　longs　as　eagerly　as　I　do　to　be　yours。　What　do　all　women　seek？　Happiness。〃　（He　answered　his　own　question　in　low；　vibrating　tones。）　〃And　if　happiness　for　a　woman　means　that　she　is　to　be　loved　and　adored；　to　have　a　friend　to　whom　she　can　pour　out　her　wishes；　her　fancies；　her　sorrows　and　joys；　to　whom　she　can　lay　bare　her　heart　and　soul；　and　all　her　fair　defects　and　her　gracious　virtues；　without　fear　of　a　betrayal；　believe　me；　the　devotion　and　the　warmth　that　never　fails　can　only　be　found　in　the　heart　of　a　young　man　who；　at　a　bare　sign　from　you；　would　go　to　his　death；　who　neither　knows　nor　cares　to　know　anything　as　yet　of　the　world；　because　you　will　be　all　the　world　to　him。　I　myself；　you　see　（you　will　laugh　at　my　simplicity）；　have　just　come　from　a　remote　country　district；　I　am　quite　new　to　this　world　of　Paris；　I　have　only　known　true　and　loving　hearts；　and　I　made　up　my　mind　that　here　I　should　find　no　love。　Then　I　chanced　to　meet　my　cousin；　and　to　see　my　cousin's　heart　from　very　near；　I　have　divined　the　inexhaustible　treasures　of　passion；　and；　like　Cherubino；　I　am　the　lover　of　all　women；　until　the　day　comes　when　I　find　THE　woman　to　whom　I　may　devote　myself。　As　soon　as　I　saw　you；　as　soon　as　I　came　into　the　theatre　this　evening；　I　felt　myself　borne　towards　you　as　if　by　the　current　of　a　stream。　I　had　so　often　thought　of　you　already；　but　I　had　never　dreamed　that　you　would　be　so　beautiful！　Mme。　de　Beauseant　told　me　that　I　must　not　look　so　much　at　you。　She　does　not　know　the　charm　of　your　red　lips；　your　fair　face；　nor　see　how　soft　your　eyes　are。　。　。　。　I　also　am　beginning　to　talk　nonsense；　but　let　me　talk。〃

Nothing　pleases　a　woman　better　than　to　listen　to　such　whispered　words　as　these；　the　most　puritanical　among　them　listens　even　when　she　ought　not　to　reply　to　them；　and　Rastignac；　having　once　begun；　continued　to　pour　out　his　story；　dropping　his　voice；　that　she　might　lean　and　listen；　and　Mme。　de　Nucingen；　smiling；　glanced　from　time　to　time　at　de　Marsay；　who　still　sat　in　the　Princesse