father goriot(高老头)-第24章

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y；　who　still　sat　in　the　Princesse　Galathionne's　box。

Rastignac　did　not　leave　Mme。　de　Nucingen　till　her　husband　came　to　take　her　home。

〃Madame；〃　Eugene　said；　〃I　shall　have　the　pleasure　of　calling　upon　you　before　the　Duchesse　de　Carigliano's　ball。〃

〃If　Matame　infites　you　to　come；〃　said　the　Baron；　a　thickset　Alsatian；　with　indications　of　a　sinister　cunning　in　his　full…moon　countenance；　〃you　are　quide　sure　of　being　well　receifed。〃

〃My　affairs　seem　to　be　in　a　promising　way；〃　said　Eugene　to　himself。〃　'Can　you　love　me？'　I　asked　her；　and　she　did　not　resent　it。　The　bit　is　in　the　horse's　mouth；　and　I　have　only　to　mount　and　ride；〃　and　with　that　he　went　to　pay　his　respects　to　Mme。　de　Beauseant；　who　was　leaving　the　theatre　on　d'Ajuda's　arm。

The　student　did　not　know　that　the　Baroness'　thoughts　had　been　wandering；　that　she　was　even　then　expecting　a　letter　from　de　Marsay；　one　of　those　letters　that　bring　about　a　rupture　that　rends　the　soul；　so；　happy　in　his　delusion；　Eugene　went　with　the　Vicomtesse　to　the　peristyle；　where　people　were　waiting　till　their　carriages　were　announced。

〃That　cousin　of　yours　is　hardly　recognizable　for　the　same　man；〃　said　the　Portuguese　laughingly　to　the　Vicomtesse；　when　Eugene　had　taken　leave　of　them。　〃He　will　break　the　bank。　He　is　as　supple　as　an　eel；　he　will　go　a　long　way；　of　that　I　am　sure。　Who　else　could　have　picked　out　a　woman　for　him；　as　you　did；　just　when　she　needed　consolation？〃

〃But　it　is　not　certain　that　she　does　not　still　love　the　faithless　lover；〃　said　Mme。　de　Beauseant。

The　student　meanwhile　walked　back　from　the　Theatre…Italien　to　the　Rue　Neuve…Sainte…Genevieve；　making　the　most　delightful　plans　as　he　went。　He　had　noticed　how　closely　Mme。　de　Restaud　had　scrutinized　him　when　he　sat　beside　Mme。　de　Nucingen；　and　inferred　that　the　Countess'　doors　would　not　be　closed　in　the　future。　Four　important　houses　were　now　open　to　himfor　he　meant　to　stand　well　with　the　Marechale；　he　had　four　supporters　in　the　inmost　circle　of　society　in　Paris。　Even　now　it　was　clear　to　him　that；　once　involved　in　this　intricate　social　machinery；　he　must　attach　himself　to　a　spoke　of　the　wheel　that　was　to　turn　and　raise　his　fortunes；　he　would　not　examine　himself　too　curiously　as　to　the　methods；　but　he　was　certain　of　the　end；　and　conscious　of　the　power　to　gain　and　keep　his　hold。

〃If　Mme。　de　Nucingen　takes　an　interest　in　me；　I　will　teach　her　how　to　manage　her　husband。　That　husband　of　hers　is　a　great　speculator；　he　might　put　me　in　the　way　of　making　a　fortune　by　a　single　stroke。〃

He　did　not　say　this　bluntly　in　so　many　words；　as　yet；　indeed；　he　was　not　sufficient　of　a　diplomatist　to　sum　up　a　situation；　to　see　its　possibilities　at　a　glance；　and　calculate　the　chances　in　his　favor。　These　were　nothing　but　hazy　ideas　that　floated　over　his　mental　horizon；　they　were　less　cynical　than　Vautrin's　notions；　but　if　they　had　been　tried　in　the　crucible　of　conscience；　no　very　pure　result　would　have　issued　from　the　test。　It　is　by　a　succession　of　such　like　transactions　that　men　sink　at　last　to　the　level　of　the　relaxed　morality　of　this　epoch；　when　there　have　never　been　so　few　of　those　who　square　their　courses　with　their　theories；　so　few　of　those　noble　characters　who　do　not　yield　to　temptation；　for　whom　the　slightest　deviation　from　the　line　of　rectitude　is　a　crime。　To　these　magnificent　types　of　uncompromising　Right　we　owe　two　masterpiecesthe　Alceste　of　Moliere；　and；　in　our　own　day；　the　characters　of　Jeanie　Deans　and　her　father　in　Sir　Walter　Scott's　novel。　Perhaps　a　work　which　should　chronicle　the　opposite　course；　which　should　trace　out　all　the　devious　courses　through　which　a　man　of　the　world；　a　man　of　ambitions；　drags　his　conscience；　just　steering　clear　of　crime　that　he　may　gain　his　end　and　yet　save　appearances；　such　a　chronicle　would　be　no　less　edifying　and　no　less　dramatic。

Rastignac　went　home。　He　was　fascinated　by　Mme。　de　Nucingen；　he　seemed　to　see　her　before　him；　slender　and　graceful　as　a　swallow。　He　recalled　the　intoxicating　sweetness　of　her　eyes；　her　fair　hair；　the　delicate　silken　tissue　of　the　skin；　beneath　which　it　almost　seemed　to　him　that　he　could　see　the　blood　coursing；　the　tones　of　her　voice　still　exerted　a　spell　over　him；　he　had　forgotten　nothing；　his　walk　perhaps　heated　his　imagination　by　sending　a　glow　of　warmth　through　his　veins。　He　knocked　unceremoniously　at　Goriot's　door。

〃I　have　seen　Mme。　Delphine；　neighbor；〃　said　he。

〃Where？〃

〃At　the　Italiens。〃

〃Did　she　enjoy　it？。　。　。　。　Just　come　inside；〃　and　the　old　man　left　his　bed；　unlocked　the　door；　and　promptly　returned　again。

It　was　the　first　time　that　Eugene　had　been　in　Father　Goriot's　room；　and　he　could　not　control　his　feeling　of　amazement　at　the　contrast　between　the　den　in　which　the　father　lived　and　the　costume　of　the　daughter　whom　he　had　just　beheld。　The　window　was　curtainless；　the　walls　were　damp；　in　places　the　varnished　wall…　paper　had　come　away　and　gave　glimpses　of　the　grimy　yellow　plaster　beneath。　The　wretched　bed　on　which　the　old　man　lay　boasted　but　one　thin　blanket；　and　a　wadded　quilt　made　out　of　large　pieces　of　Mme。　Vauquer's　old　dresses。　The　floor　was　damp　and　gritty。　Opposite　the　window　stood　a　chest　of　drawers　made　of　rosewood；　one　of　the　old…fashioned　kind　with　a　curving　front　and　brass　handles；　shaped　like　rings　of　twisted　vine　stems　covered　with　flowers　and　leaves。　On　a　venerable　piece　of　furniture　with　a　wooden　shelf　stood　a　ewer　and　basin　and　shaving　apparatus。　A　pair　of　shoes　stood　in　one　corner；　a　night…table　by　the　bed　had　neither　a　door　nor　marble　slab。　There　was　not　a　trace　of　a　fire　in　the　empty　grate；　the　square　walnut　table　with　the　crossbar　against　which　Father　Goriot　had　crushed　and　twisted　his　posset…　dish　stood　near　the　hearth。　The　old　man's　hat　was　lying　on　a　broken…down　bureau。　An　armchair　stuffed　with　straw　and　a　couple　of　chairs　completed　the　list　of　ramshackle　furniture。　From　the　tester　of　the　bed；　tied　to　the　ceiling　by　a　piece　of　rag；　hung　a　strip　of　some　cheap　material　in　large　red　and　black　checks。　No　poor　drudge　in　a　garret　could　be　worse　lodged　than　Father　Goriot　in　Mme。　Vauquer's　lodging…house。　The　mere　sight　of　the　room　sent　a　chill　through　you　and　a　sense　of　oppression；　it　was　like　the　worst　cell　in　a　prison。　Luckily；　Goriot　could　not　see　the　effect　that　his　surroundings　produced　on　Eugene　as　the　latter　deposited　his　candle　on　the　night…table。　The　old　man　turned　round；　keeping　the　bedclothes　huddled　up　to　his　chin。

〃Well；〃　he　said；　〃and　which　do　you　like　the　best；　Mme。　de　Restaud　or　Mme。　de　Nucingen？〃

〃I　like　Mme。　Delphine　the　best；〃　said　the　law　student；　〃because　she　loves　you　the　best。〃

At　the　words　so　heartily　spoken　the　old　man's　hand　slipped　out　from　under　the　bedclothes　and　grasped　Eugene's。

〃Thank　you；　thank　you；〃　he　said；　gratefully。　〃Then　what　did　she　say　about　me？〃

The　student　repeated　the　Baroness'　remarks　with　some　embellishments　of　his　own；　the　old　man　listening　the　while　as　though　he　heard　a　voice　from　Heaven。

〃Dear　child！〃　he　said。　〃Yes；　yes；　she　is　very　fond　of　me。　But　you　must　not　believe　all　that　she　tells　you　about　Anastasie。　The　two　sisters　are　jealous　of　each　other；　you　see；　another　proof　of　their　affection。　Mme。　de　Restaud　is　very　fond　of　me　too。　I　know　she　is。　A　father　sees　his　children　as　God　sees　all　of　us；　he　looks　into　the　very　depths　of　their　hearts；　he　knows　their　intentions；　and　both　of　them　are　so　loving。　Oh！　if　I　only　had　good　sons…in…law；　I　should　be　too　happy；　and　I　dare　say　there　is　no　perfect　happiness　here　below。　If　I　might　live　with　them　simply　hear　their　voices；　know　that　they　are　there；　see　them　go　and　come　as　I　used　to　do　at　home　when　they　were　still　with　me；　why；　my　heart　bounds　at　the　thought。　。　。　。　Were　they　nicely　dressed？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Eugene。　〃But；　M。　Goriot；　how　is　it　that　your　daughters　have　such　fine　houses；　while　you　live　in　such　a　den　as　this？〃

〃Dear　me；　why　should　I　want　anything　better？〃　he　replied；　with　seeming　carelessness。　〃I　can't　quite　explain　to　you　how　it　is；　I　am　not　used　to　stringing　words　together　properly；　but　it　all　lies　there〃　he　said；　tapping　his　heart。　〃My　real　life　is　in　my　two　girls；　you　see；　and　so　long　as　they　are　happy；　and　smartly　dressed；　and　have　soft　carpets　under　their　feet；　what　does　it　matter　what　clothes　I　wear　or　where　I　lie　down　of　a　night？　I　shall　never　feel　cold　so　long　as　they　are　warm；　I　shall　never　feel　dull　if　they　are　laughing。　I　have　no　troubles　but　theirs。　When　you；　too；　are　a　father；　and　you　hear　your　children's　little　voices；　you　will　say　to　yourself；　'That　has　all　come　from　me。'　You　will　feel　that　those　little　ones　are　akin　to　every　drop　in　your　veins；　that　they　are　the　very　flower　of　your　life　（and　what　else　are　they？）；　you　will　cleave　so　closely　to　them　that　you　seem　to　feel　every　movement　that　they　make。　Everywhere　I　hear　their　voices　sounding　in　my　ears。　If　they　are　sad；　the　look　in　their　eyes　freezes　my　blood。　Some　day　you　will　find　out　that　there　is　far　more　happiness　in　another's　happiness　than　in　your　own。　It　is　something　that　I　cannot　explain；　something　within　that　sends　a　glow　of　warmth　all　through　you。　In　short；　I　live　my　life　three　times　over。　Shall　I　tell　you　something　funny？　Well；　then；　since　I　have　been　a　father；　I　have　come　to　understand　God。　He　is　everywhere　in　the　world；　because　the　whole　world　comes　from　Him。　And　it　is　just　the　same　with　my　children；　monsieur。　Only；　I　love　my　daughters　better　than　God　loves　the　world；　for　the　world　is　not　so　beautiful　as　God　Himself　is；　but　my　children　are　more　beautiful　than　I　am。　Their　lives　are　so　bound　up　with　mine　that　I　felt　somehow　that　you　would　see　them　this　evening。　Great　Heaven！　If　any　man　would　make　my　little　Delphine　as　happy　as　a　wife　is　when　she　is　loved；　I　would　black　his　boots　and　run　on　his　errands。　That　miserable　M。　de　Marsay　is　a　cur；　I　know　all　about　him　from　her　maid。　A　longing　to　wring　his　neck　comes　over　me　now　and　then。　He　does　not　love　her！　does　not　love　a　pearl　of　a　woman；　with　a　voice　like　a　nightingale　and　shaped　like　a　model。　Where　can　her　eyes　have　been　when　she　married　that　great　lump　of　an　Alsatian？　They　ought　both　of　them　to　have　married　young　men；　good…looking　and　good…temperedbut；　after　all；　they　had　their　own　way。〃

Father　Goriot　was　sublime。　Eugene　had　never　yet　seen　his　face　light　up　as　it　did　now　with　the　passionate　fervor　of　a　father's　love。　It　is　worthy　of　remark　that　strong　feeling　has　a　very　subtle　and　pervasive　power；　the　roughest　nature；　in　the　endeavor　to　express　a　deep　and　sincere　affection；　communicates　to　others　the　influence　that　has　put　resonance　into　the　voice；　and　eloquence　into　every　gesture；　wrought　a　change　in　the　very　features　of　the　speaker；　for　under　the　inspiration　of　passion　the　stupidest　human　being　attains　to　the　highest　eloquence　of　ideas；　if　not　of　language；　and　seems　to　move　in　some　sphere　of　light。　In　the　old　man's　tones　and　gesture　there　was　something　just　then　of　the　same　spell　that　a　great　actor　exerts　over　his　audience。　But　does　not　the　poet　in　us　find　expression　in　our　affections？

〃Well；〃　said　Eugene；　〃perhaps　you　will　not　be　sorry　to　hear　that　she　is　pretty　sure　to　break　with　de　Marsay　before　long。　That　sprig　of　fashion　has　left　her　for　the　Princesse　Galathionne。　For　my　part；　I　fell　in　love　with　Mme。　Delphine　this　evening。〃

〃Stuff！〃　said　Father　Goriot。

〃I　did　indeed；　and　she　did　not　re