father goriot(高老头)-第25章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


th　Mme。　Delphine　this　evening。〃

〃Stuff！〃　said　Father　Goriot。

〃I　did　indeed；　and　she　did　not　regard　me　with　aversion。　For　a　whole　hour　we　talked　of　love；　and　I　am　to　go　to　call　on　her　on　Saturday；　the　day　after　to…morrow。〃

〃Oh！　how　I　should　love　you；　if　she　should　like　you。　You　are　kind…　hearted；　you　would　never　make　her　miserable。　If　you　were　to　forsake　her；　I　would　cut　your　throat　at　once。　A　woman　does　not　love　twice；　you　see！　Good　heavens！　what　nonsense　I　am　talking；　M。　Eugene！　It　is　cold；　you　ought　not　to　stay　here。　MON　DIEU！　so　you　have　heard　her　speak？　What　message　did　she　give　you　for　me？〃

〃None　at　all；〃　said　Eugene　to　himself；　aloud　he　answered；　〃She　told　me　to　tell　you　that　your　daughter　sends　you　a　good　kiss。〃

〃Good…night；　neighbor！　Sleep　well；　and　pleasant　dreams　to　you！　I　have　mine　already　made　for　me　by　that　message　from　her。　May　God　grant　you　all　your　desires！　You　have　come　in　like　a　good　angel　on　me　to…night；　and　brought　with　you　the　air　that　my　daughter　breathes。〃

〃Poor　old　fellow！〃　said　Eugene　as　he　lay　down。　〃It　is　enough　to　melt　a　heart　of　stone。　His　daughter　no　more　thought　of　him　than　of　the　Grand　Turk。〃



Ever　after　this　conference　Goriot　looked　upon　his　neighbor　as　a　friend；　a　confidant　such　as　he　had　never　hoped　to　find；　and　there　was　established　between　the　two　the　only　relationship　that　could　attach　this　old　man　to　another　man。　The　passions　never　miscalculate。　Father　Goriot　felt　that　this　friendship　brought　him　closer　to　his　daughter　Delphine；　he　thought　that　he　should　find　a　warmer　welcome　for　himself　if　the　Baroness　should　care　for　Eugene。　Moreover；　he　had　confided　one　of　his　troubles　to　the　younger　man。　Mme。　de　Nucingen；　for　whose　happiness　he　prayed　a　thousand　times　daily；　had　never　known　the　joys　of　love。　Eugene　was　certainly　（to　make　use　of　his　own　expression）　one　of　the　nicest　young　men　that　he　had　ever　seen；　and　some　prophetic　instinct　seemed　to　tell　him　that　Eugene　was　to　give　her　the　happiness　which　had　not　been　hers。　These　were　the　beginnings　of　a　friendship　that　grew　up　between　the　old　man　and　his　neighbor；　but　for　this　friendship　the　catastrophe　of　the　drama　must　have　remained　a　mystery。

The　affection　with　which　Father　Goriot　regarded　Eugene；　by　whom　he　seated　himself　at　breakfast；　the　change　in　Goriot's　face；　which　as　a　rule；　looked　as　expressionless　as　a　plaster　cast；　and　a　few　words　that　passed　between　the　two；　surprised　the　other　lodgers。　Vautrin；　who　saw　Eugene　for　the　first　time　since　their　interview；　seemed　as　if　he　would　fain　read　the　student's　very　soul。　During　the　night　Eugene　had　had　some　time　in　which　to　scan　the　vast　field　which　lay　before　him；　and　now；　as　he　remembered　yesterday's　proposal；　the　thought　of　Mlle。　Taillefer's　dowry　came；　of　course；　to　his　mind；　and　he　could　not　help　thinking　of　Victorine　as　the　most　exemplary　youth　may　think　of　an　heiress。　It　chanced　that　their　eyes　met。　The　poor　girl　did　not　fail　to　see　that　Eugene　looked　very　handsome　in　his　new　clothes。　So　much　was　said　in　the　glance；　thus　exchanged；　that　Eugene　could　not　doubt　but　that　he　was　associated　in　her　mind　with　the　vague　hopes　that　lie　dormant　in　a　girl's　heart　and　gather　round　the　first　attractive　newcomer。　〃Eight　hundred　thousand　francs！〃　a　voice　cried　in　his　ears；　but　suddenly　he　took　refuge　in　the　memories　of　yesterday　evening；　thinking　that　his　extemporized　passion　for　Mme。　de　Nucingen　was　a　talisman　that　would　preserve　him　from　this　temptation。

〃They　gave　Rossini's　Barber　of　Seville　at　the　Italiens　yesterday　evening；〃　he　remarked。　〃I　never　heard　such　delicious　music。　Good　gracious！　how　lucky　people　are　to　have　a　box　at　the　Italiens！〃

Father　Goriot　drank　in　every　word　that　Eugene　let　fall；　and　watched　him　as　a　dog　watches　his　master's　slightest　movement。

〃You　men　are　like　fighting　cocks；〃　said　Mme。　Vauquer；　〃you　do　what　you　like。〃

〃How　did　you　get　back？〃　inquired　Vautrin。

〃I　walked；〃　answered　Eugene。

〃For　my　own　part；〃　remarked　the　tempter；　〃I　do　not　care　about　doing　things　by　halves。　If　I　want　to　enjoy　myself　that　way；　I　should　prefer　to　go　in　my　carriage；　sit　in　my　own　box；　and　do　the　thing　comfortably。　Everything　or　nothing；　that　is　my　motto。〃

〃And　a　good　one；　too；〃　commented　Mme。　Vauquer。

〃Perhaps　you　will　see　Mme。　de　Nucingen　to…day；〃　said　Eugene；　addressing　Goriot　in　an　undertone。　〃She　will　welcome　you　with　open　arms；　I　am　sure；　she　would　want　to　ask　you　for　all　sorts　of　little　details　about　me。　I　have　found　out　that　she　will　do　anything　in　the　world　to　be　known　by　my　cousin　Mme。　de　Beauseant；　don't　forget　to　tell　her　that　I　love　her　too　well　not　to　think　of　trying　to　arrange　this。〃

Rastignac　went　at　once　to　the　Ecole　de　Droit。　He　had　no　mind　to　stay　a　moment　longer　than　was　necessary　in　that　odious　house。　He　wasted　his　time　that　day；　he　had　fallen　a　victim　to　that　fever　of　the　brain　that　accompanies　the　too　vivid　hopes　of　youth。　Vautrin's　arguments　had　set　him　meditating　on　social　life；　and　he　was　deep　in　these　reflections　when　he　happened　on　his　friend　Bianchon　in　the　Jardin　du　Luxembourg。

〃What　makes　you　look　so　solemn？〃　said　the　medical　student；　putting　an　arm　through　Eugene's　as　they　went　towards　the　Palais。

〃I　am　tormented　by　temptations。〃

〃What　kind？　There　is　a　cure　for　temptation。〃

〃What？〃

〃Yielding　to　it。〃

〃You　laugh；　but　you　don't　know　what　it　is　all　about。　Have　you　read　Rousseau？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Do　you　remember　that　he　asks　the　reader　somewhere　what　he　would　do　if　he　could　make　a　fortune　by　killing　an　old　mandarin　somewhere　in　China　by　mere　force　of　wishing　it；　and　without　stirring　from　Paris？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Well；　then？〃

〃Pshaw！　I　am　at　my　thirty…third　mandarin。〃

〃Seriously；　though。　Look　here；　suppose　you　were　sure　that　you　could　do　it；　and　had　only　to　give　a　nod。　Would　you　do　it？〃

〃Is　he　well　stricken　in　years；　this　mandarin　of　yours？　Pshaw！　after　all；　young　or　old；　paralytic；　or　well　and　sound；　my　word　for　it。　。　。　。　Well；　then。　Hang　it；　no！〃

〃You　are　a　good　fellow；　Bianchon。　But　suppose　you　loved　a　woman　well　enough　to　lose　your　soul　in　hell　for　her；　and　that　she　wanted　money　for　dresses　and　a　carriage；　and　all　her　whims；　in　fact？〃

〃Why；　here　you　are　taking　away　my　reason；　and　want　me　to　reason！〃

〃Well；　then；　Bianchon；　I　am　mad；　bring　me　to　my　senses。　I　have　two　sisters　as　beautiful　and　innocent　as　angels；　and　I　want　them　to　be　happy。　How　am　I　to　find　two　hundred　thousand　francs　apiece　for　them　in　the　next　five　years？　Now　and　then　in　life；　you　see；　you　must　play　for　heavy　stakes；　and　it　is　no　use　wasting　your　luck　on　low　play。〃

〃But　you　are　only　stating　the　problem　that　lies　before　every　one　at　the　outset　of　his　life；　and　you　want　to　cut　the　Gordian　knot　with　a　sword。　If　that　is　the　way　of　it；　dear　boy；　you　must　be　an　Alexander；　or　to　the　hulks　you　go。　For　my　own　part；　I　am　quite　contented　with　the　little　lot　I　mean　to　make　for　myself　somewhere　in　the　country；　when　I　mean　to　step　into　my　father's　shoes　and　plod　along。　A　man's　affections　are　just　as　fully　satisfied　by　the　smallest　circle　as　they　can　be　by　a　vast　circumference。　Napoleon　himself　could　only　dine　once；　and　he　could　not　have　more　mistresses　than　a　house　student　at　the　Capuchins。　Happiness；　old　man；　depends　on　what　lies　between　the　sole　of　your　foot　and　the　crown　of　your　head；　and　whether　it　costs　a　million　or　a　hundred　louis；　the　actual　amount　of　pleasure　that　you　receive　rests　entirely　with　you；　and　is　just　exactly　the　same　in　any　case。　I　am　for　letting　that　Chinaman　live。〃

〃Thank　you；　Bianchon；　you　have　done　me　good。　We　will　always　be　friends。〃

〃I　say；〃　remarked　the　medical　student；　as　they　came　to　the　end　of　a　broad　walk　in　the　Jardin　des　Plantes；　〃I　saw　the　Michonneau　and　Poiret　a　few　minutes　ago　on　a　bench　chatting　with　a　gentleman　whom　I　used　to　see　in　last　year's　troubles　hanging　about　the　Chamber　of　Deputies；　he　seems　to　me；　in　fact；　to　be　a　detective　dressed　up　like　a　decent　retired　tradesman。　Let　us　keep　an　eye　on　that　couple；　I　will　tell　you　why　some　time。　Good…bye；　it　is　nearly　four　o'clock；　and　I　must　be　in　to　answer　to　my　name。〃

When　Eugene　reached　the　lodging…house；　he　found　Father　Goriot　waiting　for　him。

〃Here；〃　cried　the　old　man；　〃here　is　a　letter　from　her。　Pretty　handwriting；　eh？〃

Eugene　broke　the　seal　and　read：

〃Sir；I　have　heard　from　my　father　that　you　are　fond　of　Italian　music。　I　shall　be　delighted　if　you　will　do　me　the　pleasure　of　accepting　a　seat　in　my　box。　La　Fodor　and　Pellegrini　will　sing　on　Saturday；　so　I　am　sure　that　you　will　not　refuse　me。　M。　de　Nucingen　and　I　shall　be　pleased　if　you　will　dine　with　us；　we　shall　be　quite　by　ourselves。　If　you　will　come　and　be　my　escort；　my　husband　will　be　glad　to　be　relieved　from　his　conjugal　duties。　Do　not　answer；　but　simply　come。Yours　sincerely；　D。　DE　N。〃

〃Let　me　see　it；〃　said　Father　Goriot；　when　Eugene　had　read　the　letter。　〃You　are　going；　aren't　you？〃　he　added；　when　he　had　smelled　the　writing…paper。　〃How　nice　it　smells！　Her　fingers　have　touched　it；　that　is　certain。〃

〃A　woman　does　not　fling　herself　at　a　man's　head　in　this　way；〃　the　student　was　thinking。　〃She　wants　to　use　me　to　bring　back　de　Marsay；　nothing　but　pique　makes　a　woman　do　a　thing　like　this。〃

〃Well；〃　said　Father　Goriot；　〃what　are　you　thinking　about？〃

Eugene　did　not　know　the　fever　or　vanity　that　possessed　some　women　in　those　days；　how　should　he　imagine　that　to　open　a　door　in　the　Faubourg　Saint…Germain　a　banker's　wife　would　go　to　almost　any　length。　For　the　coterie　of　the　Faubourg　Saint…Germain　was　a　charmed　circle；　and　the　women　who　moved　in　it　were　at　that　time　the　queens　of　society；　and　among　the　greatest　of　these　Dames　du　Petit…Chateau；　as　they　were　called；　were　Mme。　de　Beauseant　and　her　friends　the　Duchesse　de　Langeais　and　the　Duchesse　de　Maufrigneause。　Rastignac　was　alone　in　his　ignorance　of　the　frantic　efforts　made　by　women　who　lived　in　the　Chausee…d'Antin　to　enter　this　seventh　heaven　and　shine　among　the　brightest　constellations　of　their　sex。　But　his　cautious　disposition　stood　him　in　good　stead；　and　kept　his　judgment　cool；　and　the　not　altogether　enviable　power　of　imposing　instead　of　accepting　conditions。

〃Yes；　I　am　going；〃　he　replied。

So　it　was　curiosity　that　drew　him　to　Mme。　de　Nucingen；　while；　if　she　had　treated　him　disdainfully；　passion　perhaps　might　have　brought　him　to　her　feet。　Still　he　waited　almost　impatiently　for　to…morrow；　and　the　hour　when　he　could　go　to　her。　There　is　almost　as　much　charm　for　a　young　man　in　a　first　flirtation　as　there　is　in　first　love。　The　certainty　of　success　is　a　source　of　happiness　to　which　men　do　not　confess；　and　all　the　charm　of　certain　women　lies　in　this。　The　desire　of　conquest　springs　no　less　from　the　easiness　than　from　the　difficulty　of　triumph；　and　every　passion　is　excited　or　sustained　by　one　or　the　other　of　these　two　motives　which　divide　the　empire　of　love。　Perhaps　this　division　is　one　result　of　the　great　question　of　temperaments；　which；　after　all；　dominates　social　life。　The　melancholic　temperament　may　stand　in　need　of　the　tonic　of　coquetry；　while　those　of　nervous　or　sanguine　complexion　withdraw　if　they　meet　with　a　too　stubborn　resistance。　In　other　words；　the　lymphatic　temperament　is　essentially　despondent；　and　the　rhapsodic　is　bilious。

Eugene　lingered　over　his　toilette　with　an　enjoyment　of　all　its　little　details　that　is　grateful　to　a　young　man's