father goriot(高老头)-第46章

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〃They　are　dancing；〃　she　said。　〃They　all　came　very　early；　but　death　will　be　long　in　coming。　Hush！　my　friend；〃　and　she　laid　a　finger　on　Rastignac's　lips；　seeing　that　he　was　about　to　speak。　〃I　shall　never　see　Paris　again。　I　am　taking　my　leave　of　the　world。　At　five　o'clock　this　morning　I　shall　set　out　on　my　journey；　I　mean　to　bury　myself　in　the　remotest　part　of　Normandy。　I　have　had　very　little　time　to　make　my　arrangements；　since　three　o'clock　this　afternoon　I　have　been　busy　signing　documents；　setting　my　affairs　in　order；　there　was　no　one　whom　I　could　send　to　。　。　。〃

She　broke　off。

〃He　was　sure　to　be　。　。　。〃

Again　she　broke　off；　the　weight　of　her　sorrow　was　more　than　she　could　bear。　In　such　moments　as　these　everything　is　agony；　and　some　words　are　impossible　to　utter。

〃And　so　I　counted　upon　you　to　do　me　this　last　piece　of　service　this　evening；〃　she　said。　〃I　should　like　to　give　you　some　pledge　of　friendship。　I　shall　often　think　of　you。　You　have　seemed　to　me　to　be　kind　and　noble；　fresh…hearted　and　true；　in　this　world　where　such　qualities　are　seldom　found。　I　should　like　you　to　think　sometimes　of　me。　Stay；〃　she　said；　glancing　about　her；　〃there　is　this　box　that　has　held　my　gloves。　Every　time　I　opened　it　before　going　to　a　ball　or　to　the　theatre；　I　used　to　feel　that　I　must　be　beautiful；　because　I　was　so　happy；　and　I　never　touched　it　except　to　lay　some　gracious　memory　in　it：　there　is　so　much　of　my　old　self　in　it；　of　a　Madame　de　Beauseant　who　now　lives　no　longer。　Will　you　take　it？　I　will　leave　directions　that　it　is　to　be　sent　to　you　in　the　Rue　d'Artois。Mme。　de　Nucingen　looked　very　charming　this　evening。　Eugene；　you　must　love　her。　Perhaps　we　may　never　see　each　other　again；　my　friend；　but　be　sure　of　this；　that　I　shall　pray　for　you　who　have　been　kind　to　me。Now；　let　us　go　downstairs。　People　shall　not　think　that　I　am　weeping。　I　have　all　time　and　eternity　before　me；　and　where　I　am　going　I　shall　be　alone；　and　no　one　will　ask　me　the　reason　of　my　tears。　One　last　look　round　first。〃

She　stood　for　a　moment。　Then　she　covered　her　eyes　with　her　hands　for　an　instant；　dashed　away　the　tears；　bathed　her　face　with　cold　water；　and　took　the　student's　arm。

〃Let　us　go！〃　she　said。

This　suffering；　endured　with　such　noble　fortitude；　shook　Eugene　with　a　more　violent　emotion　than　he　had　felt　before。　They　went　back　to　the　ballroom；　and　Mme。　de　Beauseant　went　through　the　rooms　on　Eugene's　armthe　last　delicately　gracious　act　of　a　gracious　woman。　In　another　moment　he　saw　the　sisters；　Mme。　de　Restaud　and　Mme。　de　Nucingen。　The　Countess　shone　in　all　the　glory　of　her　magnificent　diamonds；　every　stone　must　have　scorched　like　fire；　she　was　never　to　wear　them　again。　Strong　as　love　and　pride　might　be　in　her；　she　found　it　difficult　to　meet　her　husband's　eyes。　The　sight　of　her　was　scarcely　calculated　to　lighten　Rastignac's　sad　thougths；　through　the　blaze　of　those　diamonds　he　seemed　to　see　the　wretched　pallet…bed　on　which　Father　Goriot　was　lying。　The　Vicomtesse　misread　his　melancholy；　she　withdrew　her　hand　from　his　arm。

〃Come；〃　she　said；　〃I　must　not　deprive　you　of　a　pleasure。〃

Eugene　was　soon　claimed　by　Delphine。　She　was　delighted　by　the　impression　that　she　had　made；　and　eager　to　lay　at　her　lover's　feet　the　homage　she　had　received　in　this　new　world　in　which　she　hoped　to　live　and　move　henceforth。

〃What　do　you　think　of　Nasie？〃　she　asked　him。

〃She　has　discounted　everything；　even　her　own　father's　death；〃　said　Rastignac。

Towards　four　o'clock　in　the　morning　the　rooms　began　to　empty。　A　little　later　the　music　ceased；　and　the　Duchesse　de　Langeais　and　Rastignac　were　left　in　the　great　ballroom。　The　Vicomtesse；　who　thought　to　find　the　student　there　alone；　came　back　there　at　last。　She　had　taken　leave　of　M。　de　Beauseant；　who　had　gone　off　to　bed；　saying　again　as　he　went；　〃It　is　a　great　pity；　my　dear；　to　shut　yourself　up　at　your　age！　Pray　stay　among　us。〃

Mme。　de　Beauseant　saw　the　Duchesse；　and；　in　spite　of　herself；　an　exclamation　broke　from　her。

〃I　saw　how　it　was；　Clara；〃　said　Mme。　de　Langeais。　〃You　are　going　from　among　us；　and　you　will　never　come　back。　But　you　must　not　go　until　you　have　heard　me；　until　we　have　understood　each　other。〃

She　took　her　friend's　arm；　and　they　went　together　into　the　next　room。　There　the　Duchess　looked　at　her　with　tears　in　her　eyes；　she　held　her　friend　in　close　embrace　and　kissed　her　cheek。

〃I　could　not　let　you　go　without　a　word；　dearest；　the　remorse　would　have　been　too　hard　to　bear。　You　can　count　upon　me　as　surely　as　upon　yourself。　You　have　shown　yourself　great　this　evening；　I　feel　that　I　am　worthy　of　our　friendship；　and　I　mean　to　prove　myself　worthy　of　it。　I　have　not　always　been　kind；　I　was　in　the　wrong；　forgive　me；　dearest；　I　wish　I　could　unsay　anything　that　may　have　hurt　you；　I　take　back　those　words。　One　common　sorrow　has　brought　us　together　again；　for　I　do　not　know　which　of　us　is　the　more　miserable。　M。　de　Montriveau　was　not　here　to…night；　do　you　understand　what　that　means？None　of　those　who　saw　you　to…night；　Clara；　will　ever　forget　you。　I　mean　to　make　one　last　effort。　If　I　fail；　I　shall　go　into　a　convent。　Clara；　where　are　you　going？〃

〃Into　Normandy；　to　Courcelles。　I　shall　love　and　pray　there　until　the　day　when　God　shall　take　me　from　this　world。M。　de　Rastignac！〃　called　the　Vicomtesse；　in　a　tremulous　voice；　remembering　that　the　young　man　was　waiting　there。

The　student　knelt　to　kiss　his　cousin's　hand。

〃Good…bye；　Antoinette！〃　said　Mme。　de　Beauseant。　〃May　you　be　happy。〃She　turned　to　the　student。　〃You　are　young；〃　she　said；　〃you　have　some　beliefs　still　left。　I　have　been　privileged；　like　some　dying　people；　to　find　sincere　and　reverent　feeling　in　those　about　me　as　I　take　my　leave　of　this　world。〃

It　was　nearly　five　o'clock　that　morning　when　Rastignac　came　away。　He　had　put　Mme。　de　Beauseant　into　her　traveling　carriage；　and　received　her　last　farewells；　spoken　amid　fast…falling　tears；　for　no　greatness　is　so　great　that　it　can　rise　above　the　laws　of　human　affection；　or　live　beyond　the　jurisdiction　of　pain；　as　certain　demagogues　would　have　the　people　believe。　Eugene　returned　on　foot　to　the　Maison　Vauquer　through　the　cold　and　darkness。　His　education　was　nearly　complete。

〃There　is　no　hope　for　poor　Father　Goriot；〃　said　Bianchon；　as　Rastignac　came　into　the　room。　Eugene　looked　for　a　while　at　the　sleeping　man；　then　he　turned　to　his　friend。　〃Dear　fellow；　you　are　content　with　the　modest　career　you　have　marked　out　for　yourself；　keep　to　it。　I　am　in　hell；　and　I　must　stay　there。　Believe　everything　that　you　hear　said　of　the　world；　nothing　is　too　impossibly　bad。　No　Juvenal　could　paint　the　horrors　hidden　away　under　the　covering　of　gems　and　gold。〃

At　two　o'clock　in　the　afternoon　Bianchon　came　to　wake　Rastignac；　and　begged　him　to　take　charge　of　Goriot；　who　had　grown　worse　as　the　day　wore　on。　The　medical　student　was　obliged　to　go　out。

〃Poor　old　man；　he　has　not　two　days　to　live；　maybe　not　many　hours；〃　he　said；　〃but　we　must　do　our　utmost；　all　the　same；　to　fight　the　disease。　It　will　be　a　very　troublesome　case；　and　we　shall　want　money。　We　can　nurse　him　between　us；　of　course；　but；　for　my　own　part；　I　have　not　a　penny。　I　have　turned　out　his　pockets；　and　rummaged　through　his　drawersresult；　nix。　I　asked　him　about　it　while　his　mind　was　clear；　and　he　told　me　he　had　not　a　farthing　of　his　own。　What　have　you？〃

〃I　have　twenty　francs　left；〃　said　Rastignac；　〃but　I　will　take　them　to　the　roulette　table；　I　shall　be　sure　to　win。〃

〃And　if　you　lose？〃

〃Then　I　shall　go　to　his　sons…in…law　and　his　daughters　and　ask　them　for　money。〃

〃And　suppose　they　refuse？〃　Bianchon　retorted。　〃The　most　pressing　thing　just　now　is　not　really　money；　we　must　put　mustard　poultices；　as　hot　as　they　can　be　made；　on　his　feet　and　legs。　If　he　calls　out；　there　is　still　some　hope　for　him。　You　know　how　to　set　about　doing　it；　and　besides；　Christophe　will　help　you。　I　am　going　round　to　the　dispensary　to　persuade　them　to　let　us　have　the　things　we　want　on　credit。　It　is　a　pity　that　we　could　not　move　him　to　the　hospital；　poor　fellow；　he　would　be　better　there。　Well；　come　along；　I　leave　you　in　charge；　you　must　stay　with　him　till　I　come　back。〃

The　two　young　men　went　back　to　the　room　where　the　old　man　was　lying。　Eugene　was　startled　at　the　change　in　Goriot's　face；　so　livid；　distorted；　and　feeble。

〃How　are　you；　papa？〃　he　said；　bending　over　the　pallet…bed。　Goriot　turned　his　dull　eyes　upon　Eugene；　looked　at　him　attentively；　and　did　not　recognize　him。　It　was　more　than　the　student　could　bear；　the　tears　came　into　his　eyes。

〃Bianchon；　ought　we　to　have　the　curtains　put　up　in　the　windows？〃

〃No；　the　temperature　and　the　light　do　not　affect　him　now。　It　would　be　a　good　thing　for　him　if　he　felt　heat　or　cold；　but　we　must　have　a　fire　in　any　case　to　make　tisanes　and　heat　the　other　things。　I　will　send　round　a　few　sticks；　they　will　last　till　we　can　have　in　some　firewood。　I　burned　all　the　bark　fuel　you　had　left；　as　well　as　his；　poor　man；　yesterday　and　during　the　night。　The　place　is　so　damp　that　the　water　stood　in　drops　on　the　walls；　I　could　hardly　get　the　room　dry。　Christophe　came　in　and　swept　the　floor；　but　the　place　is　like　a　stable；　I　had　to　burn　juniper；　the　smell　was　something　horrible。

〃MON　DIEU！〃　said　Rastignac。　〃To　think　of　those　daughters　of　his。〃

〃One　moment；　if　he　asks　for　something　to　drink；　give　him　this；〃　said　the　house　student；　pointing　to　a　large　white　jar。　〃If　he　begins　to　groan；　and　the　belly　feels　hot　and　hard　to　the　touch；　you　know　what　to　do；　get　Christophe　to　help　you。　If　he　should　happen　to　grow　much　excited；　and　begin　to　talk　a　good　deal　and　even　to　ramble　in　his　talk；　do　not　be　alarmed。　It　would　not　be　a　bad　symptom。　But　send　Christophe　to　the　Hospice　Cochin。　Our　doctor；　my　chum；　or　I　will　come　and　apply　moxas。　We　had　a　great　consultation　this　morning　while　you　were　asleep。　A　surgeon；　a　pupil　of　Gall's　came；　and　our　house　surgeon；　and　the　head　physician　from　the　Hotel…Dieu。　Those　gentlemen　considered　that　the　symptoms　were　very　unusual　and　interesting；　the　case　must　be　carefully　watched；　for　it　throws　a　light　on　several　obscure　and　rather　important　scientific　problems。　One　of　the　authorities　says　that　if　there　is　more　pressure　of　serum　on　one　or　other　portion　of　the　brain；　it　should　affect　his　mental　capacities　in　such　and　such　directions。　So　if　he　should　talk；　notice　very　carefully　what　kind　of　ideas　his　mind　seems　to　run　on；　whether　memory；　or　penetration；　or　the　reasoning　faculties　are　exercised；　whether　sentiments　or　practical　questions　fill　his　thoughts；　whether　he　makes　forecasts　or　dwells　on　the　past；　in　fact；　you　must　be　prepared　to　give　an　accurate　report　of　him。　It　is　quite　likely　that　the　extravasation　fills　the　whole　brain；　in　which　case　he　will　die　in　the　imbecile　state　in　which　he　is　lying　now。　You　cannot　tell　anything　about　these　mysterious　nervous　diseases。　Suppose　the　crash　came　here；〃　said　Bianchon；　touching　the　back　of　the　head；　〃very　strange　things　have　been　known　to　happen；　the　brain　sometimes　partially　recovers；　and　death　is　delayed。　Or　the　congested　matter　may　pass　out　of　the　brain　altogether　through　channels　which　can　only　be　determined　by　a　post…mortem　examination。　There　is　an　old　man　at　the　Hospital　for　Incurables；　an　imbecile　patient；　in　his　case　the　effusion　has　followed　the　direction　of　the　spinal　cord；　he　suffers　horrid　agonies；　but　he　lives。〃

〃Did　they　enj