father goriot(高老头)-第40章

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d　the　soul；　she　knows　perfectly　well　that　she　has　still　greater　obligations　to　discharge；　that　she　must　fulfil　the　countless　demands　of　a　vanity　that　enters　into　every　fibre　of　that　living　organism　called　society。　Love；　for　her；　is　above　all　things；　and　by　its　very　nature；　a　vainglorious；　brazen…fronted；　ostentatious；　thriftless　charlatan。　If　at　the　Court　of　Louis　XIV。　there　was　not　a　woman　but　envied　Mlle。　de　la　Valliere　the　reckless　devotion　of　passion　that　led　the　grand　monarch　to　tear　the　priceless　ruffles　at　his　wrists　in　order　to　assist　the　entry　of　a　Duc　de　Vermandois　into　the　worldwhat　can　you　expect　of　the　rest　of　society？　You　must　have　youth　and　wealth　and　rank；　nay；　you　must；　if　possible；　have　more　than　these；　for　the　more　incense　you　bring　with　you　to　burn　at　the　shrine　of　the　god；　the　more　favorably　will　he　regard　the　worshiper。　Love　is　a　religion；　and　his　cult　must　in　the　nature　of　things　be　more　costly　than　those　of　all　other　deities；　Love　the　Spoiler　stays　for　a　moment；　and　then　passes　on；　like　the　urchin　of　the　streets；　his　course　may　be　traced　by　the　ravages　that　he　has　made。　The　wealth　of　feeling　and　imagination　is　the　poetry　of　the　garret；　how　should　love　exist　there　without　that　wealth？

If　there　are　exceptions　who　do　not　subscribe　to　these　Draconian　laws　of　the　Parisian　code；　they　are　solitary　examples。　Such　souls　live　so　far　out　of　the　main　current　that　they　are　not　borne　away　by　the　doctrines　of　society；　they　dwell　beside　some　clear　spring　of　everflowing　water；　without　seeking　to　leave　the　green　shade；　happy　to　listen　to　the　echoes　of　the　infinite　in　everything　around　them　and　in　their　own　souls；　waiting　in　patience　to　take　their　flight　for　heaven；　while　they　look　with　pity　upon　those　of　earth。

Rastignac；　like　most　young　men　who　have　been　early　impressed　by　the　circumstances　of　power　and　grandeur；　meant　to　enter　the　lists　fully　armed；　the　burning　ambition　of　conquest　possessed　him　already；　perhaps　he　was　conscious　of　his　powers；　but　as　yet　he　knew　neither　the　end　to　which　his　ambition　was　to　be　directed；　nor　the　means　of　attaining　it。　In　default　of　the　pure　and　sacred　love　that　fills　a　life；　ambition　may　become　something　very　noble；　subduing　to　itself　every　thought　of　personal　interest；　and　setting　as　the　endthe　greatness；　not　of　one　man；　but　of　a　whole　nation。

But　the　student　had　not　yet　reached　the　time　of　life　when　a　man　surveys　the　whole　course　of　existence　and　judges　it　soberly。　Hitherto　he　had　scarcely　so　much　as　shaken　off　the　spell　of　the　fresh　and　gracious　influences　that　envelop　a　childhood　in　the　country；　like　green　leaves　and　grass。　He　had　hesitated　on　the　brink　of　the　Parisian　Rubicon；　and　in　spite　of　the　prickings　of　ambition；　he　still　clung　to　a　lingering　tradition　of　an　old　idealthe　peaceful　life　of　the　noble　in　his　chateau。　But　yesterday　evening；　at　the　sight　of　his　rooms；　those　scruples　had　vanished。　He　had　learned　what　it　was　to　enjoy　the　material　advantages　of　fortune；　as　he　had　already　enjoyed　the　social　advantages　of　birth；　he　ceased　to　be　a　provincial　from　that　moment；　and　slipped　naturally　and　easily　into　a　position　which　opened　up　a　prospect　of　a　brilliant　future。

So；　as　he　waited　for　Delphine；　in　the　pretty　boudoir；　where　he　felt　that　he　had　a　certain　right　to　be；　he　felt　himself　so　far　away　from　the　Rastignac　who　came　back　to　Paris　a　year　ago；　that；　turning　some　power　of　inner　vision　upon　this　latter；　he　asked　himself　whether　that　past　self　bore　any　resemblance　to　the　Rastignac　of　that　moment。

〃Madame　is　in　her　room；〃　Therese　came　to　tell　him。　The　woman's　voice　made　him　start。

He　found　Delphine　lying　back　in　her　low　chair　by　the　fireside；　looking　fresh　and　bright。　The　sight　of　her　among　the　flowing　draperies　of　muslin　suggested　some　beautiful　tropical　flower；　where　the　fruit　is　set　amid　the　blossom。

〃Well；〃　she　said；　with　a　tremor　in　her　voice；　〃here　you　are。〃

〃Guess　what　I　bring　for　you；〃　said　Eugene；　sitting　down　beside　her。　He　took　possession　of　her　arm　to　kiss　her　hand

Mme。　de　Nucingen　gave　a　joyful　start　as　she　saw　the　card。　She　turned　to　Eugene；　there　were　tears　in　her　eyes　as　she　flung　her　arms　about　his　neck；　and　drew　him　towards　her　in　a　frenzy　of　gratified　vanity。

〃And　I　owe　this　happiness　to　youto　THEE〃　（she　whispered　the　more　intimate　word　in　his　ear）；　〃but　Therese　is　in　my　dressing…　room；　let　us　be　prudent。This　happinessyes；　for　I　may　call　it　so；　when　it　comes　to　me　through　YOUis　surely　more　than　a　triumph　for　self…love？　No　one　has　been　willing　to　introduce　me　into　that　set。　Perhaps　just　now　I　may　seem　to　you　to　be　frivolous；　petty；　shallow；　like　a　Parisienne；　but　remember；　my　friend；　that　I　am　ready　to　give　up　all　for　you；　and　that　if　I　long　more　than　ever　for　an　entrance　into　the　Faubourg　Saint…　Germain；　it　is　because　I　shall　meet　you　there。〃

〃Mme。　de　Beauseant's　note　seems　to　say　very　plainly　that　she　does　not　expect　to　see　the　BARON　de　Nucingen　at　her　ball；　don't　you　think　so？〃　said　Eugene。

〃Why；　yes；〃　said　the　Baroness　as　she　returned　the　letter。　〃Those　women　have　a　talent　for　insolence。　But　it　is　of　no　consequence；　I　shall　go。　My　sister　is　sure　to　be　there；　and　sure　to　be　very　beautifully　dressed。Eugene；〃　she　went　on；　lowering　her　voice；　〃she　will　go　to　dispel　ugly　suspicions。　You　do　not　know　the　things　that　people　are　saying　about　her。　Only　this　morning　Nucingen　came　to　tell　me　that　they　had　been　discussing　her　at　the　club。　Great　heavens！　on　what　does　a　woman's　character　and　the　honor　of　a　whole　family　depend！　I　feel　that　I　am　nearly　touched　and　wounded　in　my　poor　sister。　According　to　some　people；　M。　de　Trailles　must　have　put　his　name　to　bills　for　a　hundred　thousand　francs；　nearly　all　of　them　are　overdue；　and　proceedings　are　threatened。　In　this　predicament；　it　seems　that　my　sister　sold　her　diamonds　to　a　Jewthe　beautiful　diamonds　that　belonged　to　her　husband's　mother；　Mme。　de　Restaud　the　elder；you　have　seen　her　wearing　them。　In　fact；　nothing　else　has　been　talked　about　for　the　last　two　days。　So　I　can　see　that　Anastasie　is　sure　to　come　to　Mme。　de　Beauseant's　ball　in　tissue　of　gold；　and　ablaze　with　diamonds；　to　draw　all　eyes　upon　her；　and　I　will　not　be　outshone。　She　has　tried　to　eclipse　me　all　her　life；　she　has　never　been　kind　to　me；　and　I　have　helped　her　so　often；　and　always　had　money　for　her　when　she　had　none。But　never　mind　other　people　now；　to…day　I　mean　to　be　perfectly　happy。〃

At　one　o'clock　that　morning　Eugene　was　still　with　Mme。　de　Nucingen。　In　the　midst　of　their　lovers'　farewell；　a　farewell　full　of　hope　of　bliss　to　come；　she　said　in　a　troubled　voice；　〃I　am　very　fearful；　superstitious。　Give　what　name　you　like　to　my　presentiments；　but　I　am　afraid　that　my　happiness　will　be　paid　for　by　some　horrible　catastrophe。〃

〃Child！〃　said　Eugene。

〃Ah！　have　we　changed　places；　and　am　I　the　child　to…night？〃　she　asked；　laughingly。

Eugene　went　back　to　the　Maison　Vauquer；　never　doubting　but　that　he　should　leave　it　for　good　on　the　morrow；　and　on　the　way　he　fell　to　dreaming　the　bright　dreams　of　youth；　when　the　cup　of　happiness　has　left　its　sweetness　on　the　lips。

〃Well？〃　cried　Goriot；　as　Rastignac　passed　by　his　door。

〃Yes；〃　said　Eugene；　〃I　will　tell　you　everything　to…morrow。〃

〃Everything；　will　you　not？〃　cried　the　old　man。　〃Go　to　bed。　To…　morrow　our　happy　life　will　begin。〃

Next　day；　Goriot　and　Rastignac　were　ready　to　leave　the　lodging…　house；　and　only　awaited　the　good　pleasure　of　a　porter　to　move　out　of　it；　but　towards　noon　there　was　a　sound　of　wheels　in　the　Rue　Neuve…Sainte…Genevieve；　and　a　carriage　stopped　before　the　door　of　the　Maison　Vauquer。　Mme。　de　Nucingen　alighted；　and　asked　if　her　father　was　still　in　the　house；　and；　receiving　an　affirmative　reply　from　Sylvie；　ran　lightly　upstairs。

It　so　happened　that　Eugene　was　at　home　all　unknown　to　his　neighbor。　At　breakfast　time　he　had　asked　Goriot　to　superintend　the　removal　of　his　goods；　saying　that　he　would　meet　him　in　the　Rue　d'Artois　at　four　o'clock；　but　Rastignac's　name　had　been　called　early　on　the　list　at　the　Ecole　de　Droit；　and　he　had　gone　back　at　once　to　the　Rue　Nueve…Sainte…Genevieve。　No　one　had　seen　him　come　in；　for　Goriot　had　gone　to　find　a　porter；　and　the　mistress　of　the　house　was　likewise　out。　Eugene　had　thought　to　pay　her　himself；　for　it　struck　him　that　if　he　left　this；　Goriot　in　his　zeal　would　probably　pay　for　him。　As　it　was；　Eugene　went　up　to　his　room　to　see　that　nothing　had　been　forgotten；　and　blessed　his　foresight　when　he　saw　the　blank　bill　bearing　Vautrin's　signature　lying　in　the　drawer　where　he　had　carelessly　thrown　it　on　the　day　when　he　had　repaid　the　amount。　There　was　no　fire　in　the　grate；　so　he　was　about　to　tear　it　into　little　pieces；　when　he　heard　a　voice　speaking　in　Goriot's　room；　and　the　speaker　was　Delphine！　He　made　no　more　noise；　and　stood　still　to　listen；　thinking　that　she　should　have　no　secrets　from　him；　but　after　the　first　few　words；　the　conversation　between　the　father　and　daughter　was　so　strange　and　interesting　that　it　absorbed　all　his　attention。

〃Ah！　thank　heaven　that　you　thought　of　asking　him　to　give　an　account　of　the　money　settled　on　me　before　I　was　utterly　ruined；　father。　Is　it　safe　to　talk？〃　she　added。

〃Yes；　there　is　no　one　in　the　house；〃　said　her　father　faintly。

〃What　is　the　matter　with　you？〃　asked　Mme。　de　Nucingen。

〃God　forgive　you！　you　have　just　dealt　me　a　staggering　blow；　child！〃　said　the　old　man。　〃You　cannot　know　how　much　I　love　you；　or　you　would　not　have　burst　in　upon　me　like　this；　with　such　news；　especially　if　all　is　not　lost。　Has　something　so　important　happened　that　you　must　come　here　about　it？　In　a　few　minutes　we　should　have　been　in　the　Rue　d'Artois。〃

〃Eh！　does　one　think　what　one　is　doing　after　a　catastrophe？　It　has　turned　my　head。　Your　attorney　has　found　out　the　state　of　things　now；　but　it　was　bound　to　come　out　sooner　or　later。　We　shall　want　your　long　business　experience；　and　I　come　to　you　like　a　drowning　man　who　catches　at　a　branch。　When　M。　Derville　found　that　Nucingen　was　throwing　all　sorts　of　difficulties　in　his　way；　he　threatened　him　with　proceedings；　and　told　him　plainly　that　he　would　soon　obtain　an　order　from　the　President　of　the　Tribunal。　So　Nucingen　came　to　my　room　this　morning；　and　asked　if　I　meant　to　ruin　us　both。　I　told　him　that　I　knew　nothing　whatever　about　it；　that　I　had　a　fortune；　and　ought　to　be　put　into　possession　of　my　fortune；　and　that　my　attorney　was　acting　for　me　in　the　matter；　I　said　again　that　I　knew　absolutely　nothing　about　it；　and　could　not　possibly　go　into　the　subject　with　him。　Wasn't　that　what　you　told　me　to　tell　him？〃

〃Yes；　quite　right；〃　answered　Goriot。

〃Well；　then；〃　Delphine　continued；　〃he　told　me　all　about　his　affairs。　He　had　just　invested　all　his　capital　and　mine　in　business　speculations；　they　have　only　just　been　started；　and　very　large　sums　of　money　are　locked　up。　If　I　were　to　compel　him　to　refund　my　dowry　now；　he　would　be　forced　to　file　his　petition；　but　if　I　will　wait　a　year；　he　undertakes；　on　his　honor；　to　double　or　treble　my　fortune；　by　investing　it　in　building　land；　and　I　shall　be　mistress　at　last　of　the　whole　of　my　property。　He　was　speaking　the　truth；　father　dear；　he　frightened　me！　He　asked　my　pardon　for　his　conduct；　he　has　given　me　my　liberty；　I　am　free　to　act　as　I　please　on　condition　that　I　leave　him　to　carry　on　my　business　in　my　name。　To　prove　his　sincerity；　he　promised　that　M。　Derville