father goriot(高老头)-第44章

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sight　displayed　by　this　woman　in　judging　of　natural　affection；　when　a　privileged　affection　had　separated　and　set　her　at　a　distance　apart。　Mme。　de　Nucingen　was　piqued　by　the　silence；

〃What　are　you　thinking　about？〃　she　asked。

〃I　am　thinking　about　what　you　said　just　now。　Hitherto　I　have　always　felt　sure　that　I　cared　far　more　for　you　than　you　did　for　me。〃

She　smiled；　and　would　not　give　way　to　the　happiness　she　felt；　lest　their　talk　should　exceed　the　conventional　limits　of　propriety。　She　had　never　heard　the　vibrating　tones　of　a　sincere　and　youthful　love；　a　few　more　words；　and　she　feared　for　her　self…　control。

〃Eugene；〃　she　said；　changing　the　conversation；　〃I　wonder　whether　you　know　what　has　been　happening？　All　Paris　will　go　to　Mme。　de　Beauseant's　to…morrow。　The　Rochefides　and　the　Marquis　d'Ajuda　have　agreed　to　keep　the　matter　a　profound　secret；　but　to…morrow　the　king　will　sign　the　marriage…contract；　and　your　poor　cousin　the　Vicomtesse　knows　nothing　of　it　as　yet。　She　cannot　put　off　her　ball；　and　the　Marquis　will　not　be　there。　People　are　wondering　what　will　happen？〃

〃The　world　laughs　at　baseness　and　connives　at　it。　But　this　will　kill　Mme。　de　Beauseant。〃

〃Oh；　no；〃　said　Delphine；　smiling；　〃you　do　not　know　that　kind　of　woman。　Why；　all　Paris　will　be　there；　and　so　shall　I；　I　ought　to　go　there　for　your　sake。〃

〃Perhaps；　after　all；　it　is　one　of　those　absurd　reports　that　people　set　in　circulation　here。〃

〃We　shall　know　the　truth　to…morrow。〃

Eugene　did　not　return　to　the　Maison　Vauquer。　He　could　not　forego　the　pleasure　of　occupying　his　new　rooms　in　the　Rue　d'Artois。　Yesterday　evening　he　had　been　obliged　to　leave　Delphine　soon　after　midnight；　but　that　night　it　was　Delphine　who　stayed　with　him　until　two　o'clock　in　the　morning。　He　rose　late；　and　waited　for　Mme。　de　Nucingen；　who　came　about　noon　to　breakfast　with　him。　Youth　snatches　eagerly　at　these　rosy　moments　of　happiness；　and　Eugene　had　almost　forgotten　Goriot's　existence。　The　pretty　things　that　surrounded　him　were　growing　familiar；　this　domestication　in　itself　was　one　long　festival　for　him；　and　Mme。　de　Nucingen　was　there　to　glorify　it　all　by　her　presence。　It　was　four　o'clock　before　they　thought　of　Goriot；　and　of　how　he　had　looked　forward　to　the　new　life　in　that　house。　Eugene　said　that　the　old　man　ought　to　be　moved　at　once；　lest　he　should　grow　too　ill　to　move。　He　left　Delphine　and　hurried　back　to　the　lodging…house。　Neither　Father　Goriot　nor　young　Bianchon　was　in　the　dining…room　with　the　others。

〃Aha！〃　said　the　painter　as　Eugene　came　in；　〃Father　Goriot　has　broken　down　at　last。　Bianchon　is　upstairs　with　him。　One　of　his　daughtersthe　Comtesse　de　Restauramacame　to　see　the　old　gentleman；　and　he　would　get　up　and　go　out；　and　made　himself　worse。　Society　is　about　to　lose　one　of　its　brightest　ornaments。〃

Rastignac　sprang　to　the　staircase。

〃Hey！　Monsieur　Eugene！〃

〃Monsieur　Eugene；　the　mistress　is　calling　you；〃　shouted　Sylvie。

〃It　is　this；　sir；〃　said　the　widow。　〃You　and　M。　Goriot　should　by　rights　have　moved　out　on　the　15th　of　February。　That　was　three　days　ago；　to…day　is　the　18th；　I　ought　really　to　be　paid　a　month　in　advance；　but　if　you　will　engage　to　pay　for　both；　I　shall　be　quite　satisfied。〃

〃Why　can't　you　trust　him？〃

〃Trust　him；　indeed！　If　the　old　gentleman　went　off　his　head　and　died；　those　daughters　of　his　would　not　pay　me　a　farthing；　and　his　things　won't　fetch　ten　francs。　This　morning　he　went　out　with　all　the　spoons　and　forks　he　has　left；　I　don't　know　why。　He　had　got　himself　up　to　look　quite　young；　andLord；　forgive　mebut　I　thought　he　had　rouge　on　his　cheeks；　he　looked　quite　young　again。〃

〃I　will　be　responsible；〃　said　Eugene；　shuddering　with　horror；　for　he　foresaw　the　end。

He　climbed　the　stairs　and　reached　Father　Goriot's　room。　The　old　man　was　tossing　on　his　bed。　Bianchon　was　with　him。

〃Good…evening；　father；〃　said　Eugene。

The　old　man　turned　his　glassy　eyes　on　him；　smiled　gently；　and　said：

〃How　is　SHE？〃

〃She　is　quite　well。　But　how　are　you？〃

〃There　is　nothing　much　the　matter。〃

〃Don't　tire　him；〃　said　Bianchon；　drawing　Eugene　into　a　corner　of　the　room。

〃Well？〃　asked　Rastignac。

〃Nothing　but　a　miracle　can　save　him　now。　Serous　congestion　has　set　in；　I　have　put　on　mustard　plasters；　and　luckily　he　can　feel　them；　they　are　acting。〃

〃Is　it　possible　to　move　him？〃

〃Quite　out　of　the　question。　He　must　stay　where　he　is；　and　be　kept　as　quiet　as　possible〃

〃Dear　Bianchon；〃　said　Eugene；　〃we　will　nurse　him　between　us。〃

〃I　have　had　the　head　physician　round　from　my　hospital　to　see　him。〃

〃And　what　did　he　say？〃

〃He　will　give　no　opinion　till　to…morrow　evening。　He　promised　to　look　in　again　at　the　end　of　the　day。　Unluckily；　the　preposterous　creature　must　needs　go　and　do　something　foolish　this　morning；　he　will　not　say　what　it　was。　He　is　as　obstinate　as　a　mule。　As　soon　as　I　begin　to　talk　to　him　he　pretends　not　to　hear；　and　lies　as　if　he　were　asleep　instead　of　answering；　or　if　he　opens　his　eyes　he　begins　to　groan。　Some　time　this　morning　he　went　out　on　foot　in　the　streets；　nobody　knows　where　he　went；　and　he　took　everything　that　he　had　of　any　value　with　him。　He　has　been　driving　some　confounded　bargain；　and　it　has　been　too　much　for　his　strength。　One　of　his　daughters　has　been　here。〃

〃Was　it　the　Countess？〃　asked　Eugene。　〃A　tall；　dark…haired　woman；　with　large　bright　eyes；　slender　figure；　and　little　feet？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Leave　him　to　me　for　a　bit；〃　said　Rastignac。　〃I　will　make　him　confess；　he　will　tell　me　all　about　it。〃

〃And　meanwhile　I　will　get　my　dinner。　But　try　not　to　excite　him；　there　is　still　some　hope　left。〃

〃All　right。〃

〃How　they　will　enjoy　themselves　to…morrow；〃　said　Father　Goriot　when　they　were　alone。　〃They　are　going　to　a　grand　ball。〃

〃What　were　you　doing　this　morning；　papa；　to　make　yourself　so　poorly　this　evening　that　you　have　to　stop　in　bed？〃

〃Nothing。〃

〃Did　not　Anastasie　come　to　see　you？〃　demanded　Rastignac。

〃Yes；〃　said　Father　Goriot。

〃Well；　then；　don't　keep　anything　from　me。　What　more　did　she　want　of　you？〃

〃Oh；　she　was　very　miserable；〃　he　answered；　gathering　up　all　his　strength　to　speak。　〃It　was　this　way；　my　boy。　Since　that　affair　of　the　diamonds；　Nasie　has　not　had　a　penny　of　her　own。　For　this　ball　she　had　ordered　a　golden　gown　like　a　setting　for　a　jewel。　Her　mantuamaker；　a　woman　without　a　conscience；　would　not　give　her　credit；　so　Nasie's　waiting…woman　advanced　a　thousand　francs　on　account。　Poor　Nasie！　reduced　to　such　shifts！　It　cut　me　to　the　heart　to　think　of　it！　But　when　Nasie's　maid　saw　how　things　were　between　her　master　and　mistress；　she　was　afraid　of　losing　her　money；　and　came　to　an　understanding　with　the　dressmaker；　and　the　woman　refuses　to　send　the　ball…dress　until　the　money　is　paid。　The　gown　is　ready；　and　the　ball　is　to…morrow　night！　Nasie　was　in　despair。　She　wanted　to　borrow　my　forks　and　spoons　to　pawn　them。　Her　husband　is　determined　that　she　shall　go　and　wear　the　diamonds；　so　as　to　contradict　the　stories　that　are　told　all　over　Paris。　How　can　she　go　to　that　heartless　scoundrel　and　say；　'I　owe　a　thousand　francs　to　my　dressmaker；　pay　her　for　me！'　She　cannot。　I　saw　that　myself。　Delphine　will　be　there　too　in　a　superb　toilette；　and　Anastasie　ought　not　to　be　outshone　by　her　younger　sister。　And　thenshe　was　drowned　in　tears；　poor　girl！　I　felt　so　humbled　yesterday　when　I　had　not　the　twelve　thousand　francs；　that　I　would　have　given　the　rest　of　my　miserable　life　to　wipe　out　that　wrong。　You　see；　I　could　have　borne　anything　once；　but　latterly　this　want　of　money　has　broken　my　heart。　Oh！　I　did　not　do　it　by　halves；　I　titivated　myself　up　a　bit；　and　went　out　and　sold　my　spoons　and　forks　and　buckles　for　six　hundred　francs；　then　I　went　to　old　Daddy　Gobseck；　and　sold　a　year's　interest　on　my　annuity　for　four　hundred　francs　down。　Pshaw！　I　can　live　on　dry　bread；　as　I　did　when　I　was　a　young　man；　if　I　have　done　it　before；　I　can　do　it　again。　My　Nasie　shall　have　one　happy　evening；　at　any　rate。　She　shall　be　smart。　The　banknote　for　a　thousand　francs　is　under　my　pillow；　it　warms　me　to　have　it　lying　there　under　my　head；　for　it　is　going　to　make　my　poor　Nasie　happy。　She　can　turn　that　bad　girl　Victoire　out　of　the　house。　A　servant　that　cannot　trust　her　mistress；　did　any　one　ever　hear　the　like！　I　shall　be　quite　well　to…morrow。　Nasie　is　coming　at　ten　o'clock。　They　must　not　think　that　I　am　ill；　or　they　will　not　go　to　the　ball；　they　will　stop　and　take　care　of　me。　To…morrow　Nasie　will　come　and　hold　me　in　her　arms　as　if　I　were　one　of　her　children；　her　kisses　will　make　me　well　again。　After　all；　I　might　have　spent　the　thousand　francs　on　physic；　I　would　far　rather　give　them　to　my　little　Nasie；　who　can　charm　all　the　pain　away。　At　any　rate；　I　am　some　comfort　to　her　in　her　misery；　and　that　makes　up　for　my　unkindness　in　buying　an　annuity。　She　is　in　the　depths；　and　I　cannot　draw　her　out　of　them　now。　Oh！　I　will　go　into　business　again；　I　will　buy　wheat　in　Odessa；　out　there；　wheat　fetches　a　quarter　of　the　price　it　sells　for　here。　There　is　a　law　against　the　importation　of　grain；　but　the　good　folk　who　made　the　law　forgot　to　prohibit　the　introduction　of　wheat　products　and　food　stuffs　made　from　corn。　Hey！　hey！　。　。　。　That　struck　me　this　morning。　There　is　a　fine　trade　to　be　done　in　starch。〃

Eugene；　watching　the　old　man's　face；　thought　that　his　friend　was　light…headed。

〃Come；〃　he　said；　〃do　not　talk　any　more；　you　must　rest〃　Just　then　Bianchon　came　up；　and　Eugene　went　down　to　dinner。

The　two　students　sat　up　with　him　that　night；　relieving　each　other　in　turn。　Bianchon　brought　up　his　medical　books　and　studied；　Eugene　wrote　letters　home　to　his　mother　and　sisters。　Next　morning　Bianchon　thought　the　symptoms　more　hopeful；　but　the　patient's　condition　demanded　continual　attention；　which　the　two　students　alone　were　willing　to　givea　task　impossible　to　describe　in　the　squeamish　phraseology　of　the　epoch。　Leeches　must　be　applied　to　the　wasted　body；　the　poultices　and　hot　foot…baths；　and　other　details　of　the　treatment　required　the　physical　strength　and　devotion　of　the　two　young　men。　Mme。　de　Restaud　did　not　come；　but　she　sent　a　messenger　for　the　money。

〃I　expected　she　would　come　herself；　but　it　would　have　been　a　pity　for　her　to　come；　she　would　have　been　anxious　about　me；〃　said　the　father；　and　to　all　appearances　he　was　well　content。

At　seven　o'clock　that　evening　Therese　came　with　a　letter　from　Delphine。

　　〃What　are　you　doing；　dear　friend？　I　have　been　loved　for　a　very　　　little　while；　and　I　am　neglected　already？　In　the　confidences　of　　　heart　and　heart；　I　have　learned　to　know　your　soulyou　are　too　　　noble　not　to　be　faithful　for　ever；　for　you　know　that　love　with　　　all　its　infinite　subtle　changes　of　feeling　is　never　the　same。　　　Once　you　said；　as　we　were　listening　to　the　Prayer　in　Mose　in　　　Egitto；　'For　some　it　is　the　monotony　of　a　single　note；　for　　　others；　it　is　the　infinite　of　sound。'　Remember　that　I　am　　　expecting　you　this　evening　to　take　me　to　Mme。　de　Beauseant's　　　ball。　Every　one　knows　now　that　the　King　signed　M。　d'Ajuda's　　　marriage…contract　this　morning；　and　the　poor　Vicomtesse　knew　　　nothing　of　it　until　two　o'clock　this　afternoon。　All　Paris　will　　　flock　to　her　house；　of　course；　just　as　a　crowd　fills　the　Place　de　　　Greve　to　see　an　execution。　It　is　horrible；　is　it　not；　to　go　out　　　of　curiosity　to　see　if　she　will　hide　her　anguish；　and　whether　she　　　will　die　courageously？　I　certainly