father goriot(高老头)-第30章

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e；　you　have　only　to　nod　your　head；　it　won't　compromise　you　in　any　way；　and　you　hesitate。　'Tis　an　effeminate　age。〃

Eugene　accepted　the　draft；　and　received　the　banknotes　in　exchange　for　it。

〃Well；　well。　Come；　now；　let　us　talk　rationally；〃　Vautrin　continued。　〃I　mean　to　leave　this　country　in　a　few　months'　time　for　America；　and　set　about　planting　tobacco。　I　will　send　you　the　cigars　of　friendship。　If　I　make　money　at　it；　I　will　help　you　in　your　career。　If　I　have　no　childrenwhich　will　probably　be　the　case；　for　I　have　no　anxiety　to　raise　slips　of　myself　hereyou　shall　inherit　my　fortune。　That　is　what　you　may　call　standing　by　a　man；　but　I　myself　have　a　liking　for　you。　I　have　a　mania；　too；　for　devoting　myself　to　some　one　else。　I　have　done　it　before。　You　see；　my　boy；　I　live　in　a　loftier　sphere　than　other　men　do；　I　look　on　all　actions　as　means　to　an　end；　and　the　end　is　all　that　I　look　at。　What　is　a　man's　life　to　me？　Not　THAT；〃　he　said；　and　he　snapped　his　thumb…nail　against　his　teeth。　〃A　man；　in　short；　is　everything　to　me；　or　just　nothing　at　all。　Less　than　nothing　if　his　name　happens　to　be　Poiret；　you　can　crush　him　like　a　bug；　he　is　flat　and　he　is　offensive。　But　a　man　is　a　god　when　he　is　like　you；　he　is　not　a　machine　covered　with　a　skin；　but　a　theatre　in　which　the　greatest　sentiments　are　displayedgreat　thoughts　and　feelingsand　for　these；　and　these　only；　I　live。　A　sentiment　what　is　that　but　the　whole　world　in　a　thought？　Look　at　Father　Goriot。　For　him；　his　two　girls　are　the　whole　universe；　they　are　the　clue　by　which　he　finds　his　way　through　creation。　Well；　for　my　own　part；　I　have　fathomed　the　depths　of　life；　there　is　only　one　real　sentimentcomradeship　between　man　and　man。　Pierre　and　Jaffier；　that　is　my　passion。　I　knew　Venice　Preserved　by　heart。　Have　you　met　many　men　plucky　enough　when　a　comrade　says；　'Let　us　bury　a　dead　body！'　to　go　and　do　it　without　a　word　or　plaguing　him　by　taking　a　high　moral　tone？　I　have　done　it　myself。　I　should　not　talk　like　this　to　just　everybody；　but　you　are　not　like　an　ordinary　man；　one　can　talk　to　you；　you　can　understand　things。　You　will　not　dabble　about　much　longer　among　the　tadpoles　in　these　swamps。　Well；　then；　it　is　all　settled。　You　will　marry。　Both　of　us　carry　our　point。　Mine　is　made　of　iron；　and　will　never　soften；　he！　he！〃

Vautrin　went　out。　He　would　not　wait　to　hear　the　student's　repudiation；　he　wished　to　put　Eugene　at　his　ease。　He　seemed　to　understand　the　secret　springs　of　the　faint　resistance　still　made　by　the　younger　man；　the　struggles　in　which　men　seek　to　preserve　their　self…respect　by　justifying　their　blameworthy　actions　to　themselves。

〃He　may　do　as　he　likes；　I　shall　not　marry　Mlle。　Taillefer；　that　is　certain；〃　said　Eugene　to　himself。

He　regarded　this　man　with　abhorrence；　and　yet　the　very　cynicism　of　Vautrin's　ideas；　and　the　audacious　way　in　which　he　used　other　men　for　his　own　ends；　raised　him　in　the　student's　eyes；　but　the　thought　of　a　compact　threw　Eugene　into　a　fever　of　apprehension；　and　not　until　he　had　recovered　somewhat　did　he　dress；　call　for　a　cab；　and　go　to　Mme。　de　Restaud's。

For　some　days　the　Countess　had　paid　more　and　more　attention　to　a　young　man　whose　every　step　seemed　a　triumphal　progress　in　the　great　world；　it　seemed　to　her　that　he　might　be　a　formidable　power　before　long。　He　paid　Messieurs　de　Trailles　and　d'Ajuda；　played　at　whist　for　part　of　the　evening；　and　made　good　his　losses。　Most　men　who　have　their　way　to　make　are　more　or　less　of　fatalists；　and　Eugene　was　superstitious；　he　chose　to　consider　that　his　luck　was　heaven's　reward　for　his　perseverance　in　the　right　way。　As　soon　as　possible　on　the　following　morning　he　asked　Vautrin　whether　the　bill　he　had　given　was　still　in　the　other's　possession；　and　on　receiving　a　reply　in　the　affirmative；　he　repaid　the　three　thousand　francs　with　a　not　unnatural　relief。

〃Everything　is　going　on　well；〃　said　Vautrin。

〃But　I　am　not　your　accomplice；〃　said　Eugene。

〃I　know；　I　know；〃　Vautrin　broke　in。　〃You　are　still　acting　like　a　child。　You　are　making　mountains　out　of　molehills　at　the　outset。〃

Two　days　later；　Poiret　and　Mlle。　Michonneau　were　sitting　together　on　a　bench　in　the　sun。　They　had　chosen　a　little　frequented　alley　in　the　Jardin　des　Plantes；　and　a　gentleman　was　chatting　with　them；　the　same　person；　as　a　matter　of　fact；　about　whom　the　medical　student　had；　not　without　good　reason；　his　own　suspicions。

〃Mademoiselle；〃　this　M。　Gondureau　was　saying；　〃I　do　not　see　any　cause　for　your　scruples。　His　Excellency；　Monseigneur　the　Minister　of　Police〃

〃Yes；　his　Excellency　is　taking　a　personal　interest　in　the　matter；〃　said　Gondureau。

Who　would　think　it　probable　that　Poiret；　a　retired　clerk；　doubtless　possessed　of　some　notions　of　civic　virtue；　though　there　might　be　nothing　else　in　his　headwho　would　think　it　likely　that　such　a　man　would　continue　to　lend　an　ear　to　this　supposed　independent　gentleman　of　the　Rue　de　Buffon；　when　the　latter　dropped　the　mask　of　a　decent　citizen　by　that　word　〃police；〃　and　gave　a　glimpse　of　the　features　of　a　detective　from　the　Rue　de　Jerusalem？　And　yet　nothing　was　more　natural。　Perhaps　the　following　remarks　from　the　hitherto　unpublished　records　made　by　certain　observers　will　throw　a　light　on　the　particular　species　to　which　Poiret　belonged　in　the　great　family　of　fools。　There　is　a　race　of　quill…drivers；　confined　in　the　columns　of　the　budget　between　the　first　degree　of　latitude　（a　kind　of　administrative　Greenland　where　the　salaries　begin　at　twelve　hundred　francs）　to　the　third　degree；　a　more　temperate　zone；　where　incomes　grow　from　three　to　six　thousand　francs；　a　climate　where　the　BONUS　flourishes　like　a　half…hardy　annual　in　spite　of　some　difficulties　of　culture。　A　characteristic　trait　that　best　reveals　the　feeble　narrow…mindedness　of　these　inhabitants　of　petty　officialdom　is　a　kind　of　involuntary；　mechanical；　and　instinctive　reverence　for　the　Grand　Lama　of　every　Ministry；　known　to　the　rank　and　file　only　by　his　signature　（an　illegible　scrawl）　and　by　his　title〃His　Excellency　Monseigneur　le　Ministre；〃　five　words　which　produce　as　much　effect　as　the　il　Bondo　Cani　of　the　Calife　de　Bagdad；　five　words　which　in　the　eyes　of　this　low　order　of　intelligence　represent　a　sacred　power　from　which　there　is　no　appeal。　The　Minister　is　administratively　infallible　for　the　clerks　in　the　employ　of　the　Government；　as　the　Pope　is　infallible　for　good　Catholics。　Something　of　this　peculiar　radiance　invests　everything　he　does　or　says；　or　that　is　said　or　done　in　his　name；　the　robe　of　office　covers　everything　and　legalizes　everything　done　by　his　orders；　does　not　his　very　titleHis　Excellencyvouch　for　the　purity　of　his　intentions　and　the　righteousness　of　his　will；　and　serve　as　a　sort　of　passport　and　introduction　to　ideas　that　otherwise　would　not　be　entertained　for　a　moment？　Pronounce　the　words　〃His　Excellency；〃　and　these　poor　folk　will　forthwith　proceed　to　do　what　they　would　not　do　for　their　own　interests。　Passive　obedience　is　as　well　known　in　a　Government　department　as　in　the　army　itself；　and　the　administrative　system　silences　consciences；　annihilates　the　individual；　and　ends　（give　it　time　enough）　by　fashioning　a　man　into　a　vise　or　a　thumbscrew；　and　he　becomes　part　of　the　machinery　of　Government。　Wherefore；　M。　Gondureau；　who　seemed　to　know　something　of　human　nature；　recognized　Poiret　at　once　as　one　of　those　dupes　of　officialdom；　and　brought　out　for　his　benefit；　at　the　proper　moment；　the　deus　ex　machina；　the　magical　words　〃His　Excellency；〃　so　as　to　dazzle　Poiret　just　as　he　himself　unmasked　his　batteries；　for　he　took　Poiret　and　the　Michonneau　for　the　male　and　female　of　the　same　species。

〃If　his　Excellency　himself；　his　Excellency　the　Minister　。　。　。　Ah！　that　is　quite　another　thing；〃　said　Poiret。

〃You　seem　to　be　guided　by　this　gentleman's　opinion；　and　you　hear　what　he　says；〃　said　the　man　of　independent　means；　addressing　Mlle。　Michonneau。　〃Very　well；　his　Excellency　is　at　this　moment　absolutely　certain　that　the　so…called　Vautrin；　who　lodges　at　the　Maison　Vauquer；　is　a　convict　who　escaped　from　penal　servitude　at　Toulon；　where　he　is　known　by　the　nickname　Trompe…la…Mort。〃

〃Trompe…la…Mort？〃　said　Pioret。　〃Dear　me；　he　is　very　lucky　if　he　deserves　that　nickname。〃

〃Well；　yes；〃　said　the　detective。　〃They　call　him　so　because　he　has　been　so　lucky　as　not　to　lose　his　life　in　the　very　risky　businesses　that　he　has　carried　through。　He　is　a　dangerous　man；　you　see！　He　has　qualities　that　are　out　of　the　common；　the　thing　he　is　wanted　for；　in　fact；　was　a　matter　which　gained　him　no　end　of　credit　with　his　own　set〃

〃Then　is　he　a　man　of　honor？〃　asked　Poiret。

〃Yes；　according　to　his　notions。　He　agreed　to　take　another　man's　crime　upon　himselfa　forgery　committed　by　a　very　handsome　young　fellow　that　he　had　taken　a　great　fancy　to；　a　young　Italian；　a　bit　of　a　gambler；　who　has　since　gone　into　the　army；　where　his　conduct　has　been　unexceptionable。〃

〃But　if　his　Excellency　the　Minister　of　Police　is　certain　that　M。　Vautrin　is　this　Trompe…la…Mort；　why　should　he　want　me？〃　asked　Mlle。　Michonneau。

〃Oh　yes；〃　said　Poiret；　〃if　the　Minister；　as　you　have　been　so　obliging　as　to　tell　us；　really　knows　for　a　certainty〃

〃Certainty　is　not　the　word；　he　only　suspects。　You　will　soon　understand　how　things　are。　Jacques　Collin；　nicknamed　Trompe…la…　Mort；　is　in　the　confidence　of　every　convict　in　the　three　prisons；　he　is　their　man　of　business　and　their　banker。　He　makes　a　very　good　thing　out　of　managing　their　affairs；　which　want　a　MAN　OF　MARK　to　see　about　them。〃

〃Ha！　ha！　do　you　see　the　pun；　mademoiselle？〃　asked　Poiret。　〃This　gentleman　calls　himself　a　MAN　OF　MARK　because　he　is　a　MARKED　MAN　branded；　you　know。〃

〃This　so…called　Vautrin；〃　said　the　detective；　〃receives　the　money　belonging　to　my　lords　the　convicts；　invests　it　for　them；　and　holds　it　at　the　disposal　of　those　who　escape；　or　hands　it　over　to　their　families　if　they　leave　a　will；　or　to　their　mistresses　when　they　draw　upon　him　for　their　benefit。〃

〃Their　mistresses！　You　mean　their　wives；〃　remarked　Poiret。

〃No；　sir。　A　convict's　wife　is　usually　an　illegitimate　connection。　We　call　them　concubines。〃

〃Then　they　all　live　in　a　state　of　concubinage？〃

〃Naturally。〃

〃Why；　these　are　abominations　that　his　Excellency　ought　not　to　allow。　Since　you　have　the　honor　of　seeing　his　Excellency；　you；　who　seem　to　have　philanthropic　ideas；　ought　really　to　enlighten　him　as　to　their　immoral　conductthey　are　setting　a　shocking　example　to　the　rest　of　society。〃

〃But　the　Government　does　not　hold　them　up　as　models　of　all　the　virtues；　my　dear　sir〃

〃Of　course　not；　sir；　but　still〃

〃Just　let　the　gentleman　say　what　he　has　to　say；　dearie；〃　said　Mlle。　Michonneau。

〃You　see　how　it　is；　mademoiselle；〃　Gondureau　continued。　〃The　Government　may　have　the　strongest　reasons　for　getting　this　illicit　hoard　into　its　hands；　it　mounts　up　to　something　considerable；　by　all　that　we　can　make　out。　Trompe…la…Mort　not　only　holds　large　sums　for　his　friends　the　convicts；　but　he　has　other　amounts　which　are　paid　over　to　him　by　the　Society　of　the　Ten　Thousand〃

〃Ten　Thousand　Thieves！〃　cried　Pioret　in　alarm。

〃No。　The　Society　of　the　Ten　Thousand　is　not　an　association　of　petty　offenders；　but　of　people　who　set　about　their　work　on　a　large　scalethey　won't　touch　a　matter　unless　there　are　ten　thousand　francs　in　it。　It　is　composed　of　the　most　distinguished　of　the　men　who　are　sent　straight　to　the　Assize