father goriot(高老头)-第32章

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ndy　thing　to　know。〃

Rastignac　heard　him　in　dazed　bewilderment；　he　could　not　find　a　word　in　reply。　Just　then　Goriot　came　in；　and　Bianchon　and　a　few　of　the　boarders　likewise　appeared。

〃That　is　just　as　I　intended。〃　Vautrin　said。　〃You　know　quite　well　what　you　are　about。　Good；　my　little　eaglet！　You　are　born　to　command；　you　are　strong；　you　stand　firm　on　your　feet；　you　are　game！　I　respect　you。〃

He　made　as　though　he　would　take　Eugene's　hand；　but　Rastignac　hastily　withdrew　it；　sank　into　a　chair；　and　turned　ghastly　pale；　it　seemed　to　him　that　there　was　a　sea　of　blood　before　his　eyes。

〃Oh！　so　we　still　have　a　few　dubious　tatters　of　the　swaddling　clothes　of　virtue　about　us！〃　murmured　Vautrin。　〃But　Papa　Doliban　has　three　millions；　I　know　the　amount　of　his　fortune。　Once　have　her　dowry　in　your　hands；　and　your　character　will　be　as　white　as　the　bride's　white　dress；　even　in　your　own　eyes。〃

Rastignac　hesitated　no　longer。　He　made　up　his　mind　that　he　would　go　that　evening　to　warn　the　Taillefers；　father　and　son。　But　just　as　Vautrin　left　him；　Father　Goriot　came　up　and　said　in　his　ear；　〃You　look　melancholy；　my　boy；　I　will　cheer　you　up。　Come　with　me。〃

The　old　vermicelli　dealer　lighted　his　dip　at　one　of　the　lamps　as　he　spoke。　Eugene　went　with　him；　his　curiosity　had　been　aroused。

〃Let　us　go　up　to　your　room；〃　the　worthy　soul　remarked；　when　he　had　asked　Sylvie　for　the　law　student's　key。　〃This　morning；〃　he　resumed；　〃you　thought　that　SHE　did　not　care　about　you；　did　you　not？　Eh？　She　would　have　nothing　to　say　to　you；　and　you　went　away　out　of　humor　and　out　of　heart。　Stuff　and　rubbish！　She　wanted　you　to　go　because　she　was　expecting　ME！　Now　do　you　understand？　We　were　to　complete　the　arrangements　for　taking　some　chambers　for　you；　a　jewel　of　a　place；　you　are　to　move　into　it　in　three　days'　time。　Don't　split　upon　me。　She　wants　it　to　be　a　surprise；　but　I　couldn't　bear　to　keep　the　secret　from　you。　You　will　be　in　the　Rue　d'Artois；　only　a　step　or　two　from　the　Rue　Saint…Lazare；　and　you　are　to　be　housed　like　a　prince！　Any　one　might　have　thought　we　were　furnishing　the　house　for　a　bride。　Oh！　we　have　done　a　lot　of　things　in　the　last　month；　and　you　knew　nothing　about　it。　My　attorney　has　appeared　on　the　scene；　and　my　daughter　is　to　have　thirty…six　thousand　francs　a　year；　the　interest　on　her　money；　and　I　shall　insist　on　having　her　eight　hundred　thousand　invested　in　sound　securities；　landed　property　that　won't　run　away。〃

Eugene　was　dumb。　He　folded　his　arms　and　paced　up　and　down　in　his　cheerless；　untidy　room。　Father　Goriot　waited　till　the　student's　back　was　turned；　and　seized　the　opportunity　to　go　to　the　chimney…　piece　and　set　upon　it　a　little　red　morocco　case　with　Rastignac's　arms　stamped　in　gold　on　the　leather。

〃My　dear　boy；〃　said　the　kind　soul；　〃I　have　been　up　to　the　eyes　in　this　business。　You　see；　there　was　plenty　of　selfishness　on　my　part；　I　have　an　interested　motive　in　helping　you　to　change　lodgings。　You　will　not　refuse　me　if　I　ask　you　something；　will　you；　eh？〃

〃What　is　it？〃

〃There　is　a　room　on　the　fifth　floor；　up　above　your　rooms；　that　is　to　let　along　with　them；　that　is　where　I　am　going　to　live；　isn't　that　so？　I　am　getting　old：　I　am　too　far　from　my　girls。　I　shall　not　be　in　the　way；　but　I　shall　be　there；　that　is　all。　You　will　come　and　talk　to　me　about　her　every　evening。　It　will　not　put　you　about；　will　it？　I　shall　have　gone　to　bed　before　you　come　in；　but　I　shall　hear　you　come　up；　and　I　shall　say　to　myself；　'He　has　just　seen　my　little　Delphine。　He　has　been　to　a　dance　with　her；　and　she　is　happy；　thanks　to　him。'　If　I　were　ill；　it　would　do　my　heart　good　to　hear　you　moving　about　below；　to　know　when　you　leave　the　house　and　when　you　come　in。　It　is　only　a　step　to　the　Champs…　Elysees；　where　they　go　every　day；　so　I　shall　be　sure　of　seeing　them；　whereas　now　I　am　sometimes　too　late。　And　thenperhaps　she　may　come　to　see　you！　I　shall　hear　her；　I　shall　see　her　in　her　soft　quilted　pelisse　tripping　about　as　daintily　as　a　kitten。　In　this　one　month　she　has　become　my　little　girl　again；　so　light…　hearted　and　gay。　Her　soul　is　recovering；　and　her　happiness　is　owing　to　you！　Oh！　I　would　do　impossibilities　for　you。　Only　just　now　she　said　to　me；　'I　am　very　happy；　papa！'　When　they　say　'father'　stiffly；　it　sends　a　chill　through　me；　but　when　they　call　me　'papa；'　it　brings　all　the　old　memories　back。　I　feel　most　their　father　then；　I　even　believe　that　they　belong　to　me；　and　to　no　one　else。〃

The　good　man　wiped　his　eyes；　he　was　crying。

〃It　is　a　long　while　since　I　have　heard　them　talk　like　that；　a　long；　long　time　since　she　took　my　arm　as　she　did　to…day。　Yes；　indeed；　it　must　be　quite　ten　years　since　I　walked　side　by　side　with　one　of　my　girls。　How　pleasant　it　was　to　keep　step　with　her；　to　feel　the　touch　of　her　gown；　the　warmth　of　her　arm！　Well；　I　took　Delphine　everywhere　this　morning；　I　went　shopping　with　her；　and　I　brought　her　home　again。　Oh！　you　must　let　me　live　near　you。　You　may　want　some　one　to　do　you　a　service　some　of　these　days；　and　I　shall　be　on　the　spot　to　do　it。　Oh！　if　only　that　great　dolt　of　an　Alsatian　would　die；　if　his　gout　would　have　the　sense　to　attack　his　stomach；　how　happy　my　poor　child　would　be！　You　would　be　my　son…in…law；　you　would　be　her　husband　in　the　eyes　of　the　world。　Bah！　she　has　known　no　happiness；　that　excuses　everything。　Our　Father　in　heaven　is　surely　on　the　side　of　fathers　on　earth　who　love　their　children。　How　fond　of　you　she　is！〃　he　said；　raising　his　head　after　a　pause。　〃All　the　time　we　were　going　about　together　she　chatted　away　about　you。　'He　is　so　nice…looking；　papa；　isn't　he？　He　is　kind…hearted！　Does　he　talk　to　you　about　me？'　Pshaw！　she　said　enough　about　you　to　fill　whole　volumes；　between　the　Rue　d'Artois　and　the　Passage　des　Panoramas　she　poured　her　heart　out　into　mine。　I　did　not　feel　old　once　during　that　delightful　morning；　I　felt　as　light　as　a　feather。　I　told　her　how　you　had　given　the　banknote　to　me；　it　moved　my　darling　to　tears。　But　what　can　this　be　on　your　chimney…piece？〃　said　Father　Goriot　at　last。　Rastignac　had　showed　no　sign；　and　he　was　dying　of　impatience。

Eugene　stared　at　his　neighbor　in　dumb　and　dazed　bewilderment。　He　thought　of　Vautrin；　of　that　duel　to　be　fought　to…morrow　morning；　and　of　this　realization　of　his　dearest　hopes；　and　the　violent　contrast　between　the　two　sets　of　ideas　gave　him　all　the　sensations　of　nightmare。　He　went　to　the　chimney…piece；　saw　the　little　square　case；　opened　it；　and　found　a　watch　of　Breguet's　make　wrapped　in　paper；　on　which　these　words　were　written：

　　〃I　want　you　to　think　of　me　every　hour；　BECAUSE　。　。　。　　　〃DELPHINE。〃

That　last　word　doubtless　contained　an　allusion　to　some　scene　that　had　taken　place　between　them。　Eugene　felt　touched。　Inside　the　gold　watch…case　his　arms　had　been　wrought　in　enamel。　The　chain；　the　key；　the　workmanship　and　design　of　the　trinket　were　all　such　as　he　had　imagined；　for　he　had　long　coveted　such　a　possession。　Father　Goriot　was　radiant。　Of　course　he　had　promised　to　tell　his　daughter　every　little　detail　of　the　scene　and　of　the　effect　produced　upon　Eugene　by　her　present；　he　shared　in　the　pleasure　and　excitement　of　the　young　people；　and　seemed　to　be　not　the　least　happy　of　the　three。　He　loved　Rastignac　already　for　his　own　as　well　as　for　his　daughter's　sake。

〃You　must　go　and　see　her；　she　is　expecting　you　this　evening。　That　great　lout　of　an　Alsatian　is　going　to　have　supper　with　his　opera…　dancer。　Aha！　he　looked　very　foolish　when　my　attorney　let　him　know　where　he　was。　He　says　he　idolizes　my　daughter；　does　he？　He　had　better　let　her　alone；　or　I　will　kill　him。　To　think　that　my　Delphine　is　his〃he　heaved　a　sigh〃it　is　enough　to　make　me　murder　him；　but　it　would　not　be　manslaughter　to　kill　that　animal；　he　is　a　pig　with　a　calf's　brains。You　will　take　me　with　you；　will　you　not？〃

〃Yes；　dear　Father　Goriot；　you　know　very　well　how　fond　I　am　of　you〃

〃Yes；　I　do　know　very　well。　You　are　not　ashamed　of　me；　are　you？　Not　you！　Let　me　embrace　you；〃　and　he　flung　his　arms　around　the　student's　neck。

〃You　will　make　her　very　happy；　promise　me　that　you　will！　You　will　go　to　her　this　evening；　will　you　not？〃

〃Oh！　yes。　I　must　go　out；　I　have　some　urgent　business　on　hand。〃

〃Can　I　be　of　any　use？〃

〃My　word；　yes！　Will　you　go　to　old　Taillefer's　while　I　go　to　Mme。　de　Nucingen？　Ask　him　to　make　an　appointment　with　me　some　time　this　evening；　it　is　a　matter　of　life　and　death。〃

〃Really；　young　man！〃　cried　Father　Goriot；　with　a　change　of　countenance；　〃are　you　really　paying　court　to　his　daughter；　as　those　simpletons　were　saying　down　below？　。　。　。　TONNERRE　DE　DIEU！　you　have　no　notion　what　a　tap　A　LA　GORIOT　is　like；　and　if　you　are　playing　a　double　game；　I　shall　put　a　stop　to　it　by　one　blow　of　the　fist。　。　。　Oh！　the　thing　is　impossible！〃

〃I　swear　to　you　that　I　love　but　one　woman　in　the　world；〃　said　the　student。　〃I　only　knew　it　a　moment　ago。〃

〃Oh！　what　happiness！〃　cried　Goriot。

〃But　young　Taillefer　has　been　called　out；　the　duel　comes　off　to…　morrow　morning；　and　I　have　heard　it　said　that　he　may　lose　his　life　in　it。〃

〃But　what　business　is　it　of　yours？〃　said　Goriot。

〃Why；　I　ought　to　tell　him　so；　that　he　may　prevent　his　son　from　putting　in　an　appearance〃

Just　at　that　moment　Vautrin's　voice　broke　in　upon　them；　he　was　standing　at　the　threshold　of　his　door　and　singing：

　　〃Oh！　Richard；　oh　my　king！　　　All　the　world　abandons　thee！　　　Broum！　broum！　broum！　broum！　broum！

　　The　same　old　story　everywhere；　　　A　roving　heart　and　a　。　。　。　tra　la　la。〃

〃Gentlemen！〃　shouted　Christophe；　〃the　soup　is　ready；　and　every　one　is　waiting　for　you。〃

〃Here；〃　Vautrin　called　down　to　him；　〃come　and　take　a　bottle　of　my　Bordeaux。〃

〃Do　you　think　your　watch　is　pretty？〃　asked　Goriot。　〃She　has　good　taste；　hasn't　she？　Eh？〃

Vautrin；　Father　Goriot；　and　Rastignac　came　downstairs　in　company；　and；　all　three　of　them　being　late；　were　obliged　to　sit　together。

Eugene　was　as　distant　as　possible　in　his　manner　to　Vautrin　during　dinner；　but　the　other；　so　charming　in　Mme。　Vauquer's　opinion；　had　never　been　so　witty。　His　lively　sallies　and　sparkling　talk　put　the　whole　table　in　good　humor。　His　assurance　and　coolness　filled　Eugene　with　consternation。

〃Why；　what　has　come　to　you　to…day？〃　inquired　Mme。　Vauquer。　〃You　are　as　merry　as　a　skylark。〃

〃I　am　always　in　spirits　after　I　have　made　a　good　bargain。〃

〃Bargain？〃　said　Eugene。

〃Well；　yes；　bargain。　I　have　just　delivered　a　lot　of　goods；　and　I　shall　be　paid　a　handsome　commission　on　themMlle。　Michonneau；〃　he　went　on；　seeing　that　the　elderly　spinster　was　scrutinizing　him　intently；　〃have　you　any　objection　to　some　feature　in　my　face；　that　you　are　making　those　lynx　eyes　at　me？　Just　let　me　know；　and　I　will　have　it　changed　to　oblige　you　。　。　。　We　shall　not　fall　out　about　it；　Poiret；　I　dare　say？〃　he　added；　winking　at　the　superannuated　clerk。

〃Bless　my　soul；　you　ought　to　stand　as　model　for　a　burlesque　Hercules；〃　said　the　young　painter。

〃I　will；　upon　my　word！　if　Mlle。　Michonneau　will　consent　to　sit　as　the　Venus　of　Pere…Lachaise；〃　replied　Vautrin。

〃There's　Poiret；〃　suggested　Bianchon。

〃Oh！　Poiret　shall　pose　as　Poiret。　He　can　be　a　garden　god！〃　cried　Vautrin；　〃his　name　means　a　pear〃

〃A　sleepy　pear！〃　Bianchon　put　in。　〃You　will　come　in　between　the　pear　and　the　cheese。〃

〃What　stuff　are　you　all　talking！〃　said　Mme。　Vauquer；　〃you　would　do　better　to　treat　us　to　your　Bordeaux；　I　see　a　glimpse　of　a　bottle　there