father goriot(高老头)-第49章

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His　head　fell　back　on　the　pillow；　as　if　a　sudden　heavy　blow　had　struck　him　down；　but　his　hands　groped　feebly　over　the　quilt；　as　if　to　find　his　daughters'　hair。

〃My　blessing　on　them　。　。　。〃　he　said；　making　an　effort；　〃my　blessing　。　。　。〃

His　voice　died　away。　Just　at　that　moment　Bianchon　came　into　the　room。

〃I　met　Christophe；〃　he　said；　〃he　is　gone　for　your　cab。〃

Then　he　looked　at　the　patient；　and　raised　the　closed　eyelids　with　his　fingers。　The　two　students　saw　how　dead　and　lustreless　the　eyes　beneath　had　grown。

〃He　will　not　get　over　this；　I　am　sure；〃　said　Bianchon。　He　felt　the　old　man's　pulse；　and　laid　a　hand　over　his　heart。

〃The　machinery　works　still；　more　is　the　pity；　in　his　state　it　would　be　better　for　him　to　die。〃

〃Ah！　my　word；　it　would！〃

〃What　is　the　matter　with　you？　You　are　as　pale　as　death。〃

〃Dear　fellow；　the　moans　and　cries　that　I　have　just　heard。　。　。　。　There　is　a　God！　Ah！　yes；　yes；　there　is　a　God；　and　He　has　made　a　better　world　for　us；　or　this　world　of　ours　would　be　a　nightmare。　I　could　have　cried　like　a　child；　but　this　is　too　tragical；　and　I　am　sick　at　heart。

〃We　want　a　lot　of　things；　you　know；　and　where　is　the　money　to　come　from？〃

Rastignac　took　out　his　watch。

〃There；　be　quick　and　pawn　it。　I　do　not　want　to　stop　on　the　way　to　the　Rue　du　Helder；　there　is　not　a　moment　to　lose；　I　am　afraid；　and　I　must　wait　here　till　Christophe　comes　back。　I　have　not　a　farthing；　I　shall　have　to　pay　the　cabman　when　I　get　home　again。〃

Rastignac　rushed　down　the　stairs；　and　drove　off　to　the　Rue　du　Helder。　The　awful　scene　through　which　he　had　just　passed　quickened　his　imagination；　and　he　grew　fiercely　indignant。　He　reached　Mme。　de　Restaud's　house　only　to　be　told　by　the　servant　that　his　mistress　could　see　no　one。

〃But　I　have　brought　a　message　from　her　father；　who　is　dying；〃　Rastignac　told　the　man。

〃The　Count　has　given　us　the　strictest　orders；　sir〃

〃If　it　is　M。　de　Restaud　who　has　given　the　orders；　tell　him　that　his　father…in…law　is　dying；　and　that　I　am　here；　and　must　speak　with　him　at　once。〃

The　man　went　out。

Eugene　waited　for　a　long　while。　〃Perhaps　her　father　is　dying　at　this　moment；〃　he　thought。

Then　the　man　came　back；　and　Eugene　followed　him　to　the　little　drawing…room。　M。　de　Restaud　was　standing　before　the　fireless　grate；　and　did　not　ask　his　visitor　to　seat　himself。

〃Monsieur　le　Comte；〃　said　Rastignac；　〃M。　Goriot；　your　father…in…　law；　is　lying　at　the　point　of　death　in　a　squalid　den　in　the　Latin　Quarter。　He　has　not　a　penny　to　pay　for　firewood；　he　is　expected　to　die　at　any　moment；　and　keeps　calling　for　his　daughter〃

〃I　feel　very　little　affection　for　M。　Goriot；　sir；　as　you　probably　are　aware；〃　the　Count　answered　coolly。　〃His　character　has　been　compromised　in　connection　with　Mme。　de　Restaud；　he　is　the　author　of　the　misfortunes　that　have　embittered　my　life　and　troubled　my　peace　of　mind。　It　is　a　matter　of　perfect　indifference　to　me　if　he　lives　or　dies。　Now　you　know　my　feelings　with　regard　to　him。　Public　opinion　may　blame　me；　but　I　care　nothing　for　public　opinion。　Just　now　I　have　other　and　much　more　important　matters　to　think　about　than　the　things　that　fools　and　chatterers　may　say　about　me。　As　for　Mme。　de　Restaud；　she　cannot　leave　the　house；　she　is　in　no　condition　to　do　so。　And；　besides；　I　shall　not　allow　her　to　leave　it。　Tell　her　father　that　as　soon　as　she　has　done　her　duty　by　her　husband　and　child　she　shall　go　to　see　him。　If　she　has　any　love　for　her　father；　she　can　be　free　to　go　to　him；　if　she　chooses；　in　a　few　seconds；　it　lies　entirely　with　her〃

〃Monsieur　le　Comte；　it　is　no　business　of　mine　to　criticise　your　conduct；　you　can　do　as　you　please　with　your　wife；　but　may　I　count　upon　your　keeping　your　word　with　me？　Well；　then；　promise　me　to　tell　her　that　her　father　has　not　twenty…four　hours　to　live；　that　he　looks　in　vain　for　her；　and　has　cursed　her　already　as　he　lies　on　his　deathbed；that　is　all　I　ask。〃

〃You　can　tell　her　yourself；〃　the　Count　answered；　impressed　by　the　thrill　of　indignation　in　Eugene's　voice。

The　Count　led　the　way　to　the　room　where　his　wife　usually　sat。　She　was　drowned　in　tears；　and　lay　crouching　in　the　depths　of　an　armchair；　as　if　she　were　tired　of　life　and　longed　to　die。　It　was　piteous　to　see　her。　Before　venturing　to　look　at　Rastignac；　she　glanced　at　her　husband　in　evident　and　abject　terror　that　spoke　of　complete　prostration　of　body　and　mind；　she　seemed　crushed　by　a　tyranny　both　mental　and　physical。　The　Count　jerked　his　head　towards　her；　she　construed　this　as　a　permission　to　speak。

〃I　heard　all　that　you　said；　monsieur。　Tell　my　father　that　if　he　knew　all　he　would　forgive　me。　。　。　。　I　did　not　think　there　was　such　torture　in　the　world　as　this；　it　is　more　than　I　can　endure；　monsieur！But　I　will　not　give　way　as　long　as　I　live；〃　she　said；　turning　to　her　husband。　〃I　am　a　mother。Tell　my　father　that　I　have　never　sinned　against　him　in　spite　of　appearances！〃　she　cried　aloud　in　her　despair。

Eugene　bowed　to　the　husband　and　wife；　he　guessed　the　meaning　of　the　scene；　and　that　this　was　a　terrible　crisis　in　the　Countess'　life。　M。　de　Restaud's　manner　had　told　him　that　his　errand　was　a　fruitless　one；　he　saw　that　Anastasie　had　no　longer　any　liberty　of　action。　He　came　away　mazed　and　bewildered；　and　hurried　to　Mme。　de　Nucingen。　Delphine　was　in　bed。

〃Poor　dear　Eugene；　I　am　ill；〃　she　said。　〃I　caught　cold　after　the　ball；　and　I　am　afraid　of　pneumonia。　I　am　waiting　for　the　doctor　to　come。〃

〃If　you　were　at　death's　door；〃　Eugene　broke　in；　〃you　must　be　carried　somehow　to　your　father。　He　is　calling　for　you。　If　you　could　hear　the　faintest　of　those　cries；　you　would　not　feel　ill　any　longer。〃

〃Eugene；　I　dare　say　my　father　is　not　quite　so　ill　as　you　say；　but　I　cannot　bear　to　do　anything　that　you　do　not　approve；　so　I　will　do　just　as　you　wish。　As　for　HIM；　he　would　die　of　grief　I　know　if　I　went　out　to　see　him　and　brought　on　a　dangerous　illness。　Well；　I　will　go　as　soon　as　I　have　seen　the　doctor。Ah！〃　she　cried　out；　〃you　are　not　wearing　your　watch；　how　is　that？〃

Eugene　reddened。

〃Eugene；　Eugene！　if　you　have　sold　it　already　or　lost　it。　。　。　。　Oh！　it　would　be　very　wrong　of　you！〃

The　student　bent　over　Delphine　and　said　in　her　ear；　〃Do　you　want　to　know？　Very　well；　then；　you　shall　know。　Your　father　has　nothing　left　to　pay　for　the　shroud　that　they　will　lay　him　in　this　evening。　Your　watch　has　been　pawned；　for　I　had　nothing　either。〃

Delphine　sprang　out　of　bed；　ran　to　her　desk；　and　took　out　her　purse。　She　gave　it　to　Eugene；　and　rang　the　bell；　crying：

〃I　will　go；　I　will　go　at　once；　Eugene。　Leave　me；　I　will　dress。　Why；　I　should　be　an　unnatural　daughter！　Go　back；　I　will　be　there　before　you。Therese；〃　she　called　to　the　waiting…woman；　〃ask　M。　de　Nucingen　to　come　upstairs　at　once　and　speak　to　me。〃

Eugene　was　almost　happy　when　he　reached　the　Rue　Nueve…Sainte…　Genevieve；　he　was　so　glad　to　bring　the　news　to　the　dying　man　that　one　of　his　daughters　was　coming。　He　fumbled　in　Delphine's　purse　for　money；　so　as　to　dismiss　the　cab　at　once；　and　discovered　that　the　young；　beautiful；　and　wealthy　woman　of　fashion　had　only　seventy　francs　in　her　private　purse。　He　climbed　the　stairs　and　found　Bianchon　supporting　Goriot；　while　the　house　surgeon　from　the　hospital　was　applying　moxas　to　the　patient's　backunder　the　direction　of　the　physician；　it　was　the　last　expedient　of　science；　and　it　was　tried　in　vain。

〃Can　you　feel　them？〃　asked　the　physician。　But　Goriot　had　caught　sight　of　Rastignac；　and　answered；　〃They　are　coming；　are　they　not？〃

〃There　is　hope　yet；〃　said　the　surgeon；　〃he　can　speak。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Eugene；　〃Delphine　is　coming。〃

〃Oh！　that　is　nothing！〃　said　Bianchon；　〃he　has　been　talking　about　his　daughters　all　the　time。　He　calls　for　them　as　a　man　impaled　calls　for　water；　they　say〃

〃We　may　as　well　give　up；〃　said　the　physician；　addressing　the　surgeon。　〃Nothing　more　can　be　done　now；　the　case　is　hopeless。〃

Bianchon　and　the　house　surgeon　stretched　the　dying　man　out　again　on　his　loathsome　bed。

〃But　the　sheets　ought　to　be　changed；〃　added　the　physician。　〃Even　if　there　is　no　hope　left；　something　is　due　to　human　nature。　I　shall　come　back　again；　Bianchon；〃　he　said；　turning　to　the　medical　student。　〃If　he　complains　again；　rub　some　laudanum　over　the　diaphragm。〃

He　went；　and　the　house　surgeon　went　with　him。

〃Come；　Eugene；　pluck　up　heart；　my　boy；〃　said　Bianchon；　as　soon　as　they　were　alone；　〃we　must　set　about　changing　his　sheets；　and　put　him　into　a　clean　shirt。　Go　and　tell　Sylvie　to　bring　some　sheets　and　come　and　help　us　to　make　the　bed。〃

Eugene　went　downstairs；　and　found　Mme。　Vauquer　engaged　in　setting　the　table；　Sylvie　was　helping　her。　Eugene　had　scarcely　opened　his　mouth　before　the　widow　walked　up　to　him　with　the　acidulous　sweet　smile　of　a　cautious　shopkeeper　who　is　anxious　neither　to　lose　money　nor　to　offend　a　customer。

〃My　dear　Monsieur　Eugene；〃　she　said；　when　he　had　spoken；　〃you　know　quite　as　well　as　I　do　that　Father　Goriot　has　not　a　brass　farthing　left。　If　you　give　out　clean　linen　for　a　man　who　is　just　going　to　turn　up　his　eyes；　you　are　not　likely　to　see　your　sheets　again；　for　one　is　sure　to　be　wanted　to　wrap　him　in。　Now；　you　owe　me　a　hundred　and　forty…four　francs　as　it　is；　add　forty　francs　for　the　pair　of　sheets；　and　then　there　are　several　little　things；　besides　the　candle　that　Sylvie　will　give　you；　altogether　it　will　all　mount　up　to　at　least　two　hundred　francs；　which　is　more　than　a　poor　widow　like　me　can　afford　to　lose。　Lord！　now；　Monsieur　Eugene；　look　at　it　fairly。　I　have　lost　quite　enough　in　these　five　days　since　this　run　of　ill…luck　set　in　for　me。　I　would　rather　than　ten　crowns　that　the　old　gentlemen　had　moved　out　as　you　said。　It　sets　the　other　lodgers　against　the　house。　It　would　not　take　much　to　make　me　send　him　to　the　workhouse。　In　short；　just　put　yourself　in　my　place。　I　have　to　think　of　my　establishment　first；　for　I　have　my　own　living　to　make。〃

Eugene　hurried　up　to　Goriot's　room。

〃Bianchon；〃　he　cried；　〃the　money　or　the　watch？〃

〃There　it　is　on　the　table；　or　the　three　hundred　and　sixty　odd　francs　that　are　left　of　it。　I　paid　up　all　the　old　scores　out　of　it　before　they　let　me　have　the　things。　The　pawn　ticket　lies　there　under　the　money。〃

Rastignac　hurried　downstairs。

〃Here；　madame〃　he　said　in　disgust；　〃let　us　square　accounts。　M。　Goriot　will　not　stay　much　longer　in　your　house；　nor　shall　I〃

〃Yes；　he　will　go　out　feet　foremost；　poor　old　gentleman；〃　she　said；　counting　the　francs　with　a　half…facetious；　half…lugubrious　expression。

〃Let　us　get　this　over；〃　said　Rastignac。

〃Sylvie；　look　out　some　sheets；　and　go　upstairs　to　help　the　gentlemen。〃

〃You　won't　forget　Sylvie；〃　said　Mme。　Vauquer　in　Eugene's　ear；　〃she　has　been　sitting　up　these　two　nights。〃

As　soon　as　Eugene's　back　was　turned；　the　old　woman　hurried　after　her　handmaid。

〃Take　the　sheets　that　have　had　the　sides　turned　into　the　middle；　number　7。　Lord！　they　are　plenty　good　enough　for　a　corpse；〃　she　said　in　Sylvie's　ear。

Eugene；　by　this　time；　was　part　of　the　way　upstairs；　and　did　not　overhear　the　elderly　economist。

〃Quick；〃　said　Bianchon；　〃let　us　change　his　shirt。　Hold　him　upright。〃

Eugene　went　to　the　head　of　the　bed　and　supported　the　dying　man；　while　Bianchon　drew　off　his　shirt；　and　then　Goriot　made　a　movement　as　if　he　tried　to　clutch　something　to　his　breast；　uttering　a　low　inarticulate　moaning　the　while；　like　some　dumb