father goriot(高老头)-第39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！


visions　of　an　agony　suffered　for　a　whole　world　by　the　Saviour　of　men。　Father　Goriot　pressed　his　lips　very　gently　against　the　waist　than　his　fingers　had　grasped　too　roughly。

〃Oh！　no；　no；〃　he　cried。　〃I　have　not　hurt　you；　have　I？〃　and　his　smile　seemed　to　repeat　the　question。　〃YOU　have　hurt　me　with　that　cry　just　now。The　things　cost　rather　more　than　that；〃　he　said　in　her　ear；　with　another　gentle　kiss；　〃but　I　had　to　deceive　him　about　it；　or　he　would　have　been　angry。〃

Eugene　sat　dumb　with　amazement　in　the　presence　of　this　inexhaustible　love；　he　gazed　at　Goriot；　and　his　face　betrayed　the　artless　admiration　which　shapes　the　beliefs　of　youth。

〃I　will　be　worthy　of　all　this；〃　he　cried。

〃Oh！　my　Eugene；　that　is　nobly　said；〃　and　Mme。　de　Nucingen　kissed　the　law　student　on　the　forehead。

〃He　gave　up　Mlle。　Taillefer　and　her　millions　for　you；〃　said　Father　Goriot。　〃Yes；　the　little　thing　was　in　love　with　you；　and　now　that　her　brother　is　dead　she　is　as　rich　as　Croesus。〃

〃Oh！　why　did　you　tell　her？〃　cried　Rastignac。

〃Eugene；〃　Delphine　said　in　his　ear；　〃I　have　one　regret　now　this　evening。　Ah！　how　I　will　love　you！　and　for　ever！〃

〃This　is　the　happiest　day　I　have　had　since　you　two　were　married！〃　cried　Goriot。　〃God　may　send　me　any　suffering；　so　long　as　I　do　not　suffer　through　you；　and　I　can　still　say；　'In　this　short　month　of　February　I　had　more　happiness　than　other　men　have　in　their　whole　lives。'Look　at　me；　Fifine！〃　he　said　to　his　daughter。　〃She　is　very　beautiful；　is　she　not？　Tell　me；　now；　have　you　seen　many　women　with　that　pretty　soft　colorthat　little　dimple　of　hers？　No；　I　thought　not。　Ah；　well；　and　but　for　me　this　lovely　woman　would　never　have　been。　And　very　soon　happiness　will　make　her　a　thousand　times　lovelier；　happiness　through　you。　I　could　give　up　my　place　in　heaven　to　you；　neighbor；　if　needs　be；　and　go　down　to　hell　instead。　Come；　let　us　have　dinner；〃　he　added；　scarcely　knowing　what　he　said；　〃everything　is　ours。〃

〃Poor　dear　father！〃

He　rose　and　went　over　to　her；　and　took　her　face　in　his　hands；　and　set　a　kiss　on　the　plaits　of　hair。　〃If　you　only　knew；　little　one；　how　happy　you　can　make　mehow　little　it　takes　to　make　me　happy！　Will　you　come　and　see　me　sometimes？　I　shall　be　just　above；　so　it　is　only　a　step。　Promise　me；　say　that　you　will！〃

〃Yes；　dear　father。〃

〃Say　it　again。〃

〃Yes；　I　will；　my　kind　father。〃

〃Hush！　hush！　I　should　make　you　say　it　a　hundred　times　over　if　I　followed　my　own　wishes。　Let　us　have　dinner。〃

The　three　behaved　like　children　that　evening；　and　Father　Goriot's　spirits　were　certainly　not　the　least　wild。　He　lay　at　his　daughter's　feet；　kissed　them；　gazed　into　her　eyes；　rubbed　his　head　against　her　dress；　in　short；　no　young　lover　could　have　been　more　extravagant　or　more　tender。

〃You　see！〃　Delphine　said　with　a　look　at　Eugene；　〃so　long　as　my　father　is　with　us；　he　monopolizes　me。　He　will　be　rather　in　the　way　sometimes。〃

Eugene　had　himself　already　felt　certain　twinges　of　jealousy；　and　could　not　blame　this　speech　that　contained　the　germ　of　all　ingratitude。

〃And　when　will　the　rooms　be　ready？〃　asked　Eugene；　looking　round。　〃We　must　all　leave　them　this　evening；　I　suppose。〃

〃Yes；　but　to…morrow　you　must　come　and　dine　with　me；〃　she　answered；　with　an　eloquent　glance。　〃It　is　our　night　at　the　Italiens。〃

〃I　shall　go　to　the　pit；〃　said　her　father。

It　was　midnight。　Mme。　de　Nucingen's　carriage　was　waiting　for　her；　and　Father　Goriot　and　the　student　walked　back　to　the　Maison　Vauquer；　talking　of　Delphine；　and　warming　over　their　talk　till　there　grew　up　a　curious　rivalry　between　the　two　violent　passions。　Eugene　could　not　help　seeing　that　the　father's　self…less　love　was　deeper　and　more　steadfast　than　his　own。　For　this　worshiper　Delphine　was　always　pure　and　fair；　and　her　father's　adoration　drew　its　fervor　from　a　whole　past　as　well　as　a　future　of　love。

They　found　Mme。　Vauquer　by　the　stove；　with　Sylvie　and　Christophe　to　keep　her　company；　the　old　landlady；　sitting　like　Marius　among　the　ruins　of　Carthage；　was　waiting　for　the　two　lodgers　that　yet　remained　to　her；　and　bemoaning　her　lot　with　the　sympathetic　Sylvie。　Tasso's　lamentations　as　recorded　in　Byron's　poem　are　undoubtedly　eloquent；　but　for　sheer　force　of　truth　they　fall　far　short　of　the　widow's　cry　from　the　depths。

〃Only　three　cups　of　coffee　in　the　morning；　Sylvie！　Oh　dear！　to　have　your　house　emptied　in　this　way　is　enough　to　break　your　heart。　What　is　life；　now　my　lodgers　are　gone？　Nothing　at　all。　Just　think　of　it！　It　is　just　as　if　all　the　furniture　had　been　taken　out　of　the　house；　and　your　furniture　is　your　life。　How　have　I　offended　heaven　to　draw　down　all　this　trouble　upon　me？　And　haricot　beans　and　potatoes　laid　in　for　twenty　people！　The　police　in　my　house　too！　We　shall　have　to　live　on　potatoes　now；　and　Christophe　will　have　to　go！〃

The　Savoyard；　who　was　fast　asleep；　suddenly　woke　up　at　this；　and　said；　〃Madame；〃　questioningly。

〃Poor　fellow！〃　said　Sylvie；　〃he　is　like　a　dog。〃

〃In　the　dead　season；　too！　Nobody　is　moving　now。　I　would　like　to　know　where　the　lodgers　are　to　drop　down　from。　It　drives　me　distracted。　And　that　old　witch　of　a　Michonneau　goes　and　takes　Poiret　with　her！　What　can　she　have　done　to　make　him　so　fond　of　her？　He　runs　about　after　her　like　a　little　dog。〃

〃Lord！〃　said　Sylvie；　flinging　up　her　head；　〃those　old　maids　are　up　to　all　sorts　of　tricks。〃

〃There's　that　poor　M。　Vautrin　that　they　made　out　to　be　a　convict；〃　the　widow　went　on。　〃Well；　you　know　that　is　too　much　for　me；　Sylvie；　I　can't　bring　myself　to　believe　it。　Such　a　lively　man　as　he　was；　and　paid　fifteen　francs　a　month　for　his　coffee　of　an　evening；　paid　you　very　penny　on　the　nail　too。〃

〃And　open…handed　he　was！〃　said　Christophe。

〃There　is　some　mistake；〃　said　Sylvie。

〃Why；　no　there　isn't！　he　said　so　himself！〃　said　Mme。　Vauquer。　〃And　to　think　that　all　these　things　have　happened　in　my　house；　and　in　a　quarter　where　you　never　see　a　cat　go　by。　On　my　word　as　an　honest　woman；　it's　like　a　dream。　For；　look　here；　we　saw　Louis　XVI。　meet　with　his　mishap；　we　saw　the　fall　of　the　Emperor；　and　we　saw　him　come　back　and　fall　again；　there　was　nothing　out　of　the　way　in　all　that；　but　lodging…houses　are　not　liable　to　revolutions。　You　can　do　without　a　king；　but　you　must　eat　all　the　same；　and　so　long　as　a　decent　woman；　a　de　Conflans　born　and　bred；　will　give　you　all　sorts　of　good　things　for　dinner；　nothing　short　of　the　end　of　the　world　ought　tobut　there；　it　is　the　end　of　the　world；　that　is　just　what　it　is！〃

〃And　to　think　that　Mlle。　Michonneau　who　made　all　this　mischief　is　to　have　a　thousand　crowns　a　year　for　it；　so　I　hear；〃　cried　Sylvie。

〃Don't　speak　of　her；　she　is　a　wicked　woman！〃　said　Mme。　Vauquer。　〃She　is　going　to　the　Buneaud；　who　charges　less　than　cost。　But　the　Buneaud　is　capable　of　anything；　she　must　have　done　frightful　things；　robbed　and　murdered　people　in　her　time。　SHE　ought　to　be　put　in　jail　for　life　instead　of　that　poor　dear〃

Eugene　and　Goriot　rang　the　door…bell　at　that　moment。

〃Ah！　here　are　my　two　faithful　lodgers；〃　said　the　widow；　sighing。

But　the　two　faithful　lodgers；　who　retained　but　shadowy　recollections　of　the　misfortunes　of　their　lodging…house；　announced　to　their　hostess　without　more　ado　that　they　were　about　to　remove　to　the　Chaussee　d'Antin。

〃Sylvie！〃　cried　the　widow；　〃this　is　the　last　straw。Gentlemen；　this　will　be　the　death　of　me！　It　has　quite　upset　me！　There's　a　weight　on　my　chest！　I　am　ten　years　older　for　this　day！　Upon　my　word；　I　shall　go　out　of　my　senses！　And　what　is　to　be　done　with　the　haricots！Oh；　well；　if　I　am　to　be　left　here　all　by　myself；　you　shall　go　to…morrow；　Christophe。Good…night；　gentlemen；〃　and　she　went。

〃What　is　the　matter　now？〃　Eugene　inquired　of　Sylvie。

〃Lord！　everybody　is　going　about　his　business；　and　that　has　addled　her　wits。　There！　she　is　crying　upstairs。　It　will　do　her　good　to　snivel　a　bit。　It's　the　first　time　she　has　cried　since　I've　been　with　her。〃

By　the　morning；　Mme。　Vauquer；　to　use　her　own　expression；　had　〃made　up　her　mind　to　it。〃　True；　she　still　wore　a　doleful　countenance；　as　might　be　expected　of　a　woman　who　had　lost　all　her　lodgers；　and　whose　manner　of　life　had　been　suddenly　revolutionized；　but　she　had　all　her　wits　about　her。　Her　grief　was　genuine　and　profound；　it　was　real　pain　of　mind；　for　her　purse　had　suffered；　the　routine　of　her　existence　had　been　broken。　A　lover's　farewell　glance　at　his　lady…love's　window　is　not　more　mournful　than　Mme。　Vauquer's　survey　of　the　empty　places　round　her　table。　Eugene　administered　comfort；　telling　the　widow　that　Bianchon；　whose　term　of　residence　at　the　hospital　was　about　to　expire；　would　doubtless　take　his　（Rastignac's）　place；　that　the　official　from　the　Museum　had　often　expressed　a　desire　to　have　Mme。　Couture's　rooms；　and　that　in　a　very　few　days　her　household　would　be　on　the　old　footing。

〃God　send　it　may；　my　dear　sir！　but　bad　luck　has　come　to　lodge　here。　There'll　be　a　death　in　the　house　before　ten　days　are　out；　you'll　see；〃　and　she　gave　a　lugubrious　look　round　the　dining…　room。　〃Whose　turn　will　it　be；　I　wonder？〃

〃It　is　just　as　well　that　we　are　moving　out；〃　said　Eugene　to　Father　Goriot　in　a　low　voice。

〃Madame；〃　said　Sylvie；　running　in　with　a　scared　face；　〃I　have　not　seen　Mistigris　these　three　days。〃

〃Ah！　well；　if　my　cat　is　dead；　if　HE　has　gone　and　left　us；　I〃

The　poor　woman　could　not　finish　her　sentence；　she　clasped　her　hands　and　hid　her　face　on　the　back　of　her　armchair；　quite　overcome　by　this　dreadful　portent。

By　twelve　o'clock；　when　the　postman　reaches　that　quarter；　Eugene　received　a　letter。　The　dainty　envelope　bore　the　Beauseant　arms　on　the　seal；　and　contained　an　invitation　to　the　Vicomtesse's　great　ball；　which　had　been　talked　of　in　Paris　for　a　month。　A　little　note　for　Eugene　was　slipped　in　with　the　card。

　　〃I　think；　monsieur；　that　you　will　undertake　with　pleasure　to　　　interpret　my　sentiments　to　Mme。　de　Nucingen；　so　I　am　sending　the　　　card　for　which　you　asked　me　to　you。　I　shall　be　delighted　to　make　　　the　acquaintance　of　Mme。　de　Restaud's　sister。　Pray　introduce　that　　　charming　lady　to　me；　and　do　not　let　her　monopolize　all　your　　　affection；　for　you　owe　me　not　a　little　in　return　for　mine。　　　〃VICOMTESSE　DE　BEAUSEANT。〃

〃Well；〃　said　Eugene　to　himself；　as　he　read　the　note　a　second　time；　〃Mme。　de　Beauseant　says　pretty　plainly　that　she　does　not　want　the　Baron　de　Nucingen。〃

He　went　to　Delphine　at　once　in　his　joy。　He　had　procured　this　pleasure　for　her；　and　doubtless　he　would　receive　the　price　of　it。　Mme。　de　Nucingen　was　dressing。　Rastignac　waited　in　her　boudoir；　enduring　as　best　he　might　the　natural　impatience　of　an　eager　temperament　for　the　reward　desired　and　withheld　for　a　year。　Such　sensations　are　only　known　once　in　a　life。　The　first　woman　to　whom　a　man　is　drawn；　if　she　is　really　a　womanthat　is　to　say；　if　she　appears　to　him　amid　the　splendid　accessories　that　form　a　necessary　background　to　life　in　the　world　of　Pariswill　never　have　a　rival。

Love　in　Paris　is　a　thing　distinct　and　apart；　for　in　Paris　neither　men　nor　women　are　the　dupes　of　the　commonplaces　by　which　people　seek　to　throw　a　veil　over　their　motives；　or　to　parade　a　fine　affectation　of　disinterestedness　in　their　sentiments。　In　this　country　within　a　country；　it　is　not　merely　required　of　a　woman　that　she　should　satisfy　the　senses　and　the　soul；　she　knows　perfectly　well　that　she　has　still　greater　obligations　to　discharge；　that　she　m