father goriot(高老头)-第31章

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rancs　in　it。　It　is　composed　of　the　most　distinguished　of　the　men　who　are　sent　straight　to　the　Assize　Courts　when　they　come　up　for　trial。　They　know　the　Code　too　well　to　risk　their　necks　when　they　are　nabbed。　Collin　is　their　confidential　agent　and　legal　adviser。　By　means　of　the　large　sums　of　money　at　his　disposal　he　has　established　a　sort　of　detective　system　of　his　own；　it　is　widespread　and　mysterious　in　its　workings。　We　have　had　spies　all　about　him　for　a　twelvemonth；　and　yet　we　could　not　manage　to　fathom　his　games。　His　capital　and　his　cleverness　are　at　the　service　of　vice　and　crime；　this　money　furnishes　the　necessary　funds　for　a　regular　army　of　blackguards　in　his　pay　who　wage　incessant　war　against　society。　If　we　can　catch　Trompe…la…Mort；　and　take　possession　of　his　funds；　we　should　strike　at　the　root　of　this　evil。　So　this　job　is　a　kind　of　Government　affaira　State　secretand　likely　to　redound　to　the　honor　of　those　who　bring　the　thing　to　a　successful　conclusion。　You；　sir；　for　instance；　might　very　well　be　taken　into　a　Government　department　again；　they　might　make　you　secretary　to　a　Commissary　of　Police；　you　could　accept　that　post　without　prejudice　to　your　retiring　pension。〃

Mlle。　Michonneau　interposed　at　this　point　with；　〃What　is　there　to　hinder　Trompe…la…Mort　from　making　off　with　the　money？〃

〃Oh！〃　said　the　detective；　〃a　man　is　told　off　to　follow　him　everywhere　he　goes；　with　orders　to　kill　him　if　he　were　to　rob　the　convicts。　Then　it　is　not　quite　as　easy　to　make　off　with　a　lot　of　money　as　it　is　to　run　away　with　a　young　lady　of　family。　Besides；　Collin　is　not　the　sort　of　fellow　to　play　such　a　trick；　he　would　be　disgraced；　according　to　his　notions。〃

〃You　are　quite　right；　sir；〃　said　Poiret；　〃utterly　disgraced　he　would　be。〃

〃But　none　of　all　this　explains　why　you　do　not　come　and　take　him　without　more　ado；〃　remarked　Mlle。　Michonneau。

〃Very　well；　mademoiselle；　I　will　explainbut；〃　he　added　in　her　ear；　〃keep　your　companion　quiet；　or　I　shall　never　have　done。　The　old　boy　ought　to　pay　people　handsomely　for　listening　to　him。　Trompe…la…Mort；　when　he　came　back　here；〃　he　went　on　aloud　〃slipped　into　the　skin　of　an　honest　man；　he　turned　up　disguised　as　a　decent　Parisian　citizen；　and　took　up　his　quarters　in　an　unpretending　lodging…house。　He　is　cunning；　that　he　is！　You　don't　catch　him　napping。　Then　M。　Vautrin　is　a　man　of　consequence；　who　transacts　a　good　deal　of　business。〃

〃Naturally；〃　said　Poiret　to　himself。

〃And　suppose　that　the　Minister　were　to　make　a　mistake　and　get　hold　of　the　real　Vautrin；　he　would　put　every　one's　back　up　among　the　business　men　in　Paris；　and　public　opinion　would　be　against　him。　M。　le　Prefet　de　Police　is　on　slippery　ground；　he　has　enemies。　They　would　take　advantage　of　any　mistake。　There　would　be　a　fine　outcry　and　fuss　made　by　the　Opposition；　and　he　would　be　sent　packing。　We　must　set　about　this　just　as　we　did　about　the　Coignard　affair；　the　sham　Comte　de　Sainte…Helene；　if　he　had　been　the　real　Comte　de　Sainte…Helene；　we　should　have　been　in　the　wrong　box。　We　want　to　be　quite　sure　what　we　are　about。〃

〃Yes；　but　what　you　want　is　a　pretty　woman；〃　said　Mlle。　Michonneau　briskly。

〃Trompe…la…Mort　would　not　let　a　woman　come　near　him；〃　said　the　detective。　〃I　will　tell　you　a　secrethe　does　not　like　them。〃

〃Still；　I　do　not　see　what　I　can　do；　supposing　that　I　did　agree　to　identify　him　for　two　thousand　francs。〃

〃Nothing　simpler；〃　said　the　stranger。　〃I　will　send　you　a　little　bottle　containing　a　dose　that　will　send　a　rush　of　blood　to　the　head；　it　will　do　him　no　harm　whatever；　but　he　will　fall　down　as　if　he　were　in　a　fit。　The　drug　can　be　put　into　wine　or　coffee；　either　will　do　equally　well。　You　carry　your　man　to　bed　at　once；　and　undress　him　to　see　that　he　is　not　dying。　As　soon　as　you　are　alone；　you　give　him　a　slap　on　the　shoulder；　and　PRESTO！　the　letters　will　appear。〃

〃Why；　that　is　just　nothing　at　all；〃　said　Poiret。

〃Well；　do　you　agree？〃　said　Gondureau；　addressing　the　old　maid。

〃But；　my　dear　sir；　suppose　there　are　no　letters　at　all；〃　said　Mlle。　Michonneau；　〃am　I　to　have　the　two　thousand　francs　all　the　same？〃

〃No。〃

〃What　will　you　give　me　then？〃

〃Five　hundred　francs。〃

〃It　is　such　a　thing　to　do　for　so　little！　It　lies　on　your　conscience　just　the　same；　and　I　must　quiet　my　conscience；　sir。〃

〃I　assure　you；〃　said　Poiret；　〃that　mademoiselle　has　a　great　deal　of　conscience；　and　not　only　so；　she　is　a　very　amiable　person；　and　very　intelligent。〃

〃Well；　now；〃　Mlle。　Michonneau　went　on；　〃make　it　three　thousand　francs　if　he　is　Trompe…la…Mort；　and　nothing　at　all　if　he　is　an　ordinary　man。〃

〃Done！〃　said　Gondureau；　〃but　on　the　condition　that　the　thing　is　settled　to…morrow。〃

〃Not　quite　so　soon；　my　dear　sir；　I　must　consult　my　confessor　first。〃

〃You　are　a　sly　one；〃　said　the　detective　as　he　rose　to　his　feet。　〃Good…bye　till　to…morrow；　then。　And　if　you　should　want　to　see　me　in　a　hurry；　go　to　the　Petite　Rue　Saint…Anne　at　the　bottom　of　the　Cour　de　la　Sainte…Chapelle。　There　is　one　door　under　the　archway。　Ask　there　for　M。　Gondureau。〃

Bianchon；　on　his　way　back　from　Cuvier's　lecture；　overheard　the　sufficiently　striking　nickname　of　Trompe…la…Mort；　and　caught　the　celebrated　chief　detective's　〃Done！〃

〃Why　didn't　you　close　with　him？　It　would　be　three　hundred　francs　a　year；〃　said　Poiret　to　Mlle。　Michonneau。

〃Why　didn't　I？〃　she　asked。　〃Why；　it　wants　thinking　over。　Suppose　that　M。　Vautrin　is　this　Trompe…la…Mort；　perhaps　we　might　do　better　for　ourselves　with　him。　Still；　on　the　other　hand；　if　you　ask　him　for　money；　it　would　put　him　on　his　guard；　and　he　is　just　the　man　to　clear　out　without　paying；　and　that　would　be　an　abominable　sell。〃

〃And　suppose　you　did　warn　him；〃　Poiret　went　on；　〃didn't　that　gentleman　say　that　he　was　closely　watched？　You　would　spoil　everything。〃

〃Anyhow；〃　thought　Mlle。　Michonneau；　〃I　can't　abide　him。　He　says　nothing　but　disagreeable　things　to　me。〃

〃But　you　can　do　better　than　that；〃　Poiret　resumed。　〃As　that　gentleman　said　（and　he　seemed　to　me　to　be　a　very　good　sort　of　man；　besides　being　very　well　got　up）；　it　is　an　act　of　obedience　to　the　laws　to　rid　society　of　a　criminal；　however　virtuous　he　may　be。　Once　a　thief；　always　a　thief。　Suppose　he　were　to　take　it　into　his　head　to　murder　us　all？　The　deuce！　We　should　be　guilty　of　manslaughter；　and　be　the　first　to　fall　victims　into　the　bargain！〃

Mlle。　Michonneau's　musings　did　not　permit　her　to　listen　very　closely　to　the　remarks　that　fell　one　by　one　from　Poiret's　lips　like　water　dripping　from　a　leaky　tap。　When　once　this　elderly　babbler　began　to　talk；　he　would　go　on　like　clockwork　unless　Mlle。　Michonneau　stopped　him。　He　started　on　some　subject　or　other；　and　wandered　on　through　parenthesis　after　parenthesis；　till　he　came　to　regions　as　remote　as　possible　from　his　premises　without　coming　to　any　conclusions　by　the　way。

By　the　time　they　reached　the　Maison　Vauquer　he　had　tacked　together　a　whole　string　of　examples　and　quotations　more　or　less　irrelevant　to　the　subject　in　hand；　which　led　him　to　give　a　full　account　of　his　own　deposition　in　the　case　of　the　Sieur　Ragoulleau　versus　Dame　Morin；　when　he　had　been　summoned　as　a　witness　for　the　defence。

As　they　entered　the　dining…room；　Eugene　de　Rastignac　was　talking　apart　with　Mlle。　Taillefer；　the　conversation　appeared　to　be　of　such　thrilling　interest　that　the　pair　never　noticed　the　two　older　lodgers　as　they　passed　through　the　room。　None　of　this　was　thrown　away　on　Mlle。　Michonneau。

〃I　knew　how　it　would　end；〃　remarked　that　lady；　addressing　Poiret。　〃They　have　been　making　eyes　at　each　other　in　a　heartrending　way　for　a　week　past。〃

〃Yes；〃　he　answered。　〃So　she　was　found　guilty。〃

〃Who？〃

〃Mme。　Morin。〃

〃I　am　talking　about　Mlle。　Victorine；〃　said　Mlle；　Michonneau；　as　she　entered　Poiret's　room　with　an　absent　air；　〃and　you　answer；　'Mme。　Morin。'　Who　may　Mme。　Morin　be？〃

〃What　can　Mlle。　Victorine　be　guilty　of？〃　demanded　Poiret。

〃Guilty　of　falling　in　love　with　M。　Eugene　de　Rastignac　and　going　further　and　further　without　knowing　exactly　where　she　is　going；　poor　innocent！〃



That　morning　Mme。　de　Nucingen　had　driven　Eugene　to　despair。　In　his　own　mind　he　had　completely　surrendered　himself　to　Vautrin；　and　deliberately　shut　his　eyes　to　the　motive　for　the　friendship　which　that　extraordinary　man　professed　for　him；　nor　would　he　look　to　the　consequences　of　such　an　alliance。　Nothing　short　of　a　miracle　could　extricate　him　now　out　of　the　gulf　into　which　he　had　walked　an　hour　ago；　when　he　exchanged　vows　in　the　softest　whispers　with　Mlle。　Taillefer。　To　Victorine　it　seemed　as　if　she　heard　an　angel's　voice；　that　heaven　was　opening　above　her；　the　Maison　Vauquer　took　strange　and　wonderful　hues；　like　a　stage　fairy…palace。　She　loved　and　she　was　loved；　at　any　rate；　she　believed　that　she　was　loved；　and　what　woman　would　not　likewise　have　believed　after　seeing　Rastignac's　face　and　listening　to　the　tones　of　his　voice　during　that　hour　snatched　under　the　Argus　eyes　of　the　Maison　Vauquer？　He　had　trampled　on　his　conscience；　he　knew　that　he　was　doing　wrong；　and　did　it　deliberately；　he　had　said　to　himself　that　a　woman's　happiness　should　atone　for　this　venial　sin。　The　energy　of　desperation　had　lent　new　beauty　to　his　face；　the　lurid　fire　that　burned　in　his　heart　shone　from　his　eyes。　Luckily　for　him；　the　miracle　took　place。　Vautrin　came　in　in　high　spirits；　and　at　once　read　the　hearts　of　these　two　young　creatures　whom　he　had　brought　together　by　the　combinations　of　his　infernal　genius；　but　his　deep　voice　broke　in　upon　their　bliss。

　　〃A　charming　girl　is　my　Fanchette　　　In　her　simplicity；〃

he　sang　mockingly。

Victorine　fled。　Her　heart　was　more　full　than　it　had　ever　been；　but　it　was　full　of　joy；　and　not　of　sorrow。　Poor　child！　A　pressure　of　the　hand；　the　light　touch　of　Rastignac's　hair　against　her　cheek；　a　word　whispered　in　her　ear　so　closely　that　she　felt　the　student's　warm　breath　on　her；　the　pressure　of　a　trembling　arm　about　her　waist；　a　kiss　upon　her　throatsuch　had　been　her　betrothal。　The　near　neighborhood　of　the　stout　Sylvie；　who　might　invade　that　glorified　room　at　any　moment；　only　made　these　first　tokens　of　love　more　ardent；　more　eloquent；　more　entrancing　than　the　noblest　deeds　done　for　love's　sake　in　the　most　famous　romances。　This　plain…song　of　love；　to　use　the　pretty　expression　of　our　forefathers；　seemed　almost　criminal　to　the　devout　young　girl　who　went　to　confession　every　fortnight。　In　that　one　hour　she　had　poured　out　more　of　the　treasures　of　her　soul　than　she　could　give　in　later　days　of　wealth　and　happiness；　when　her　whole　self　followed　the　gift。

〃The　thing　is　arranged；〃　Vautrin　said　to　Eugene；　who　remained。　〃Our　two　dandies　have　fallen　out。　Everything　was　done　in　proper　form。　It　is　a　matter　of　opinion。　Our　pigeon　has　insulted　my　hawk。　They　will　meet　to…morrow　in　the　redoubt　at　Clignancourt。　By　half…　past　eight　in　the　morning　Mlle。　Taillefer；　calmly　dipping　her　bread　and　butter　in　her　coffee　cup；　will　be　sole　heiress　of　her　father's　fortune　and　affections。　A　funny　way　of　putting　it；　isn't　it？　Taillefer's　youngster　is　an　expert　swordsman；　and　quite　cocksure　about　it；　but　he　will　be　bled；　I　have　just　invented　a　thrust　for　his　benefit；　a　way　of　raising　your　sword　point　and　driving　it　at　the　forehead。　I　must　show　you　that　thrust；　it　is　an　uncommonly　handy　thing　to　know。〃

Rastignac　heard　him　in　dazed　bewilderment；　he　could　not　find　a　word　in　reply。