eugenie grandet-第32章

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those　of　a　man　accustomed　to　make　sharp　decisions；　to　rule；　and　to
succeed。　Charles　breathed　more　at　his　ease　in　Paris；　conscious　that　he
now　had　a　part　to　play。

Des　Grassins；　hearing　of　his　return；　of　his　approaching　marriage　and
his　large　fortune；　came　to　see　him；　and　inquired　about　the　three
hundred　thousand　francs　still　required　to　settle　his　father's　debts。
He　found　Grandet　in　conference　with　a　goldsmith；　from　whom　he　had
ordered　jewels　for　Mademoiselle　d'Aubrion's　/corbeille/；　and　who　was
then　submitting　the　designs。　Charles　had　brought　back　magnificent
diamonds；　and　the　value　of　their　setting；　together　with　the　plate　and
jewelry　of　the　new　establishment；　amounted　to　more　than　two　hundred
thousand　francs。　He　received　des　Grassins；　whom　he　did　not　recognize；
with　the　impertinence　of　a　young　man　of　fashion　conscious　of　having
killed　four　men　in　as　many　duels　in　the　Indies。　Monsieur　des　Grassins
had　already　called　several　times。　Charles　listened　to　him　coldly；　and
then　replied；　without　fully　understanding　what　had　been　said　to　him；

〃My　father's　affairs　are　not　mine。　I　am　much　obliged；　monsieur；　for
the　trouble　you　have　been　good　enough　to　take；by　which；　however；　I
really　cannot　profit。　I　have　not　earned　two　millions　by　the　sweat　of
my　brow　to　fling　them　at　the　head　of　my　father's　creditors。〃

〃But　suppose　that　your　father's　estate　were　within　a　few　days　to　be
declared　bankrupt？〃

〃Monsieur；　in　a　few　days　I　shall　be　called　the　Comte　d'Aubrion；　you
will　understand；　therefore；　that　what　you　threaten　is　of　no
consequence　to　me。　Besides；　you　know　as　well　as　I　do　that　when　a　man
has　an　income　of　a　hundred　thousand　francs　his　father　has　/never
failed/。〃　So　saying；　he　politely　edged　Monsieur　des　Grassins　to　the
door。

*****

At　the　beginning　of　August　in　the　same　year；　Eugenie　was　sitting　on
the　little　wooden　bench　where　her　cousin　had　sworn　to　love　her
eternally；　and　where　she　usually　breakfasted　if　the　weather　were　fine。
The　poor　girl　was　happy；　for　the　moment；　in　the　fresh　and　joyous
summer　air；　letting　her　memory　recall　the　great　and　the　little　events
of　her　love　and　the　catastrophes　which　had　followed　it。　The　sun　had
just　reached　the　angle　of　the　ruined　wall；　so　full　of　chinks；　which　no
one；　through　a　caprice　of　the　mistress；　was　allowed　to　touch；　though
Cornoiller　often　remarked　to　his　wife　that　〃it　would　fall　and　crush
somebody　one　of　these　days。〃　At　this　moment　the　postman　knocked；　and
gave　a　letter　to　Madame　Cornoiller；　who　ran　into　the　garden；　crying
out：

〃Mademoiselle；　a　letter！〃　She　gave　it　to　her　mistress；　adding；　〃Is　it
the　one　you　expected？〃

The　words　rang　as　loudly　in　the　heart　of　Eugenie　as　they　echoed　in
sound　from　wall　to　wall　of　the　court　and　garden。

〃Parisfrom　himhe　has　returned！〃

Eugenie　turned　pale　and　held　the　letter　for　a　moment。　She　trembled　so
violently　that　she　could　not　break　the　seal。　La　Grande　Nanon　stood
before　her；　both　hands　on　her　hips；　her　joy　puffing　as　it　were　like
smoke　through　the　cracks　of　her　brown　face。

〃Read　it；　mademoiselle！〃

〃Ah；　Nanon；　why　did　he　return　to　Paris？　He　went　from　Saumur。〃

〃Read　it；　and　you'll　find　out。〃

Eugenie　opened　the　letter　with　trembling　fingers。　A　cheque　on　the
house　of　〃Madame　des　Grassins　and　Coret；　of　Saumur；〃　fluttered　down。
Nanon　picked　it　up。

　　My　dear　Cousin；

〃No　longer　'Eugenie；'〃　she　thought；　and　her　heart　quailed。

　　You

〃He　once　said　'thou。'〃　She　folded　her　arms　and　dared　not　read　another
word；　great　tears　gathered　in　her　eyes。

〃Is　he　dead？〃　asked　Nanon。

〃If　he　were；　he　could　not　write；〃　said　Eugenie。

She　then　read　the　whole　letter；　which　was　as　follows：

　　My　dear　Cousin；You　will；　I　am　sure；　hear　with　pleasure　of　the
　　success　of　my　enterprise。　You　brought　me　luck；　I　have　come　back
　　rich；　and　I　have　followed　the　advice　of　my　uncle；　whose　death；
　　together　with　that　of　my　aunt；　I　have　just　learned　from　Monsieur
　　des　Grassins。　The　death　of　parents　is　in　the　course　of　nature；　and
　　we　must　succeed　them。　I　trust　you　are　by　this　time　consoled。
　　Nothing　can　resist　time；　as　I　am　well　aware。　Yes；　my　dear　cousin；
　　the　day　of　illusions　is；　unfortunately；　gone　for　me。　How　could　it
　　be　otherwise？　Travelling　through　many　lands；　I　have　reflected　upon
　　life。　I　was　a　child　when　I　went　away；I　have　come　back　a　man。
　　To…day；　I　think　of　many　I　did　not　dream　of　then。　You　are　free；　my
　　dear　cousin；　and　I　am　free　still。　Nothing　apparently　hinders　the
　　realization　of　our　early　hopes；　but　my　nature　is　too　loyal　to　hide
　　from　you　the　situation　in　which　I　find　myself。　I　have　not
　　forgotten　our　relations；　I　have　always　remembered；　throughout　my
　　long　wanderings；　the　little　wooden　seat

Eugenie　rose　as　if　she　were　sitting　on　live　coals；　and　went　away　and
sat　down　on　the　stone　steps　of　the　court。

　　the　little　wooden　seat　where　we　vowed　to　love　each　other
　　forever；　the　passage；　the　gray　hall；　my　attic　chamber；　and　the
　　night　when；　by　your　delicate　kindness；　you　made　my　future　easier
　　to　me。　Yes；　these　recollections　sustained　my　courage；　I　said　in　my
　　heart　that　you　were　thinking　of　me　at　the　hour　we　had　agreed　upon。
　　Have　you　always　looked　at　the　clouds　at　nine　o'clock？　Yes；　I　am
　　sure　of　it。　I　cannot　betray　so　true　a　friendship；no；　I　must　not
　　deceive　you。　An　alliance　has　been　proposed　to　me　which　satisfies
　　all　my　ideas　of　matrimony。　Love　in　marriage　is　a　delusion。　My
　　present　experience　warns　me　that　in　marrying　we　are　bound　to　obey
　　all　social　laws　and　meet　the　conventional　demands　of　the　world。
　　Now；　between　you　and　me　there　are　differences　which　might　affect
　　your　future；　my　dear　cousin；　even　more　than　they　would　mine。　I
　　will　not　here　speak　of　your　customs　and　inclinations；　your
　　education；　nor　yet　of　your　habits；　none　of　which　are　in　keeping
　　with　Parisian　life；　or　with　the　future　which　I　have　marked　out　for
　　myself。　My　intention　is　to　keep　my　household　on　a　stately　footing；
　　to　receive　much　company；in　short；　to　live　in　the　world；　and　I
　　think　I　remember　that　you　love　a　quiet　and　tranquil　life。　I　will
　　be　frank；　and　make　you　the　judge　of　my　situation；　you　have　the
　　right　to　understand　it　and　to　judge　it。

　　I　possess　at　the　present　moment　an　income　of　eighty　thousand
　　francs。　This　fortune　enables　me　to　marry　into　the　family　of
　　Aubrion；　whose　heiress；　a　young　girl　nineteen　years　of　age；　brings
　　me　a　title；　a　place　of　gentleman…of…the…bed…chamber　to　His
　　Majesty；　and　a　very　brilliant　position。　I　will　admit　to　you；　my
　　dear　cousin；　that　I　do　not　love　Mademoiselle　d'Aubrion；　but　in
　　marrying　her　I　secure　to　my　children　a　social　rank　whose
　　advantages　will　one　day　be　incalculable：　monarchical　principles
　　are　daily　coming　more　and　more　into　favor。　Thus　in　course　of　time
　　my　son；　when　he　becomes　Marquis　d'Aubrion；　having；　as　he　then　will
　　have；　an　entailed　estate　with　a　rental　of　forty　thousand　francs　a
　　year；　can　obtain　any　position　in　the　State　which　he　may　think
　　proper　to　select。　We　owe　ourselves　to　our　children。

　　You　see；　my　cousin；　with　what　good　faith　I　lay　the　state　of　my
　　heart；　my　hopes；　and　my　fortune　before　you。　Possibly；　after　seven
　　years'　separation；　you　have　yourself　forgotten　our　youthful　loves；
　　but　I　have　never　forgotten　either　your　kindness　or　my　own　words。　I
　　remember　all；　even　words　that　were　lightly　uttered；words　by
　　which　a　man　less　conscientious　than　I；　with　a　heart　less　youthful
　　and　less　upright；　would　scarcely　feel　himself　bound。　In　telling
　　you　that　the　marriage　I　propose　to　make　is　solely　one　of
　　convenience；　that　I　still　remember　our　childish　love；　am　I　not
　　putting　myself　entirely　in　your　hands　and　making　you　the　mistress
　　of　my　fate？　am　I　not　telling　you　that　if　I　must　renounce　my　social
　　ambitions；　I　shall　willingly　content　myself　with　the　pure　and
　　simple　happiness　of　which　you　have　shown　me　so　sweet　an　image？

〃Tan；　ta；　tatan；　ta；　ti；〃　sang　Charles　Grandet　to　the　air　of　/Non
piu　andrai/；　as　he　signed　himself；

Your　devoted　cousin；
Charles。


〃Thunder！　that's　doing　it　handsomely！〃　he　said；　as　he　looked　about　him
for　the　cheque；　having　found　it；　he　added　the　words：

　　P。S。I　enclose　a　cheque　on　the　des　Grassins　bank　for　eight
　　thousand　francs　to　your　order；　payable　in　gold；　which　includes　the
　　capital　and　interest　of　the　sum　you　were　kind　enough　to　lend　me。　I
　　am　expecting　a　case　from　Bordeaux　which　contains　a　few　things
　　which　you　must　allow　me　to　offer　you　as　a　mark　of　my　unceasing
　　gratitude。　You　can　send　my　dressing…case　by　the　diligence　to　the
　　hotel　d'Aubrion；　rue　Hillerin…Bertin。

〃By　the　diligence！〃　said　Eugenie。　〃A　thing　for　which　I　would　have　laid
down　my　life！〃

Terrible　and　utter　disaster！　The　ship　went　down；　leaving　not　a　spar；
not　a　plank；　on　a　vast　ocean　of　hope！　Some　women　when　they　see
themselves　abandoned　will　try　to　tear　their　lover　from　the　arms　of　a
rival；　they　will　kill　her；　and　rush　to　the　ends　of　the　earth；to　the
scaffold；　to　their　tomb。　That；　no　doubt；　is　fine；　the　motive　of　the
crime　is　a　great　passion；　which　awes　even　human　justice。　Other　women
bow　their　heads　and　suffer　in　silence；　they　go　their　way　dying；
resigned；　weeping；　forgiving；　praying；　and　recollecting；　till　they
draw　their　last　breath。　This　is　love；true　love；　the　love　of　angels；
the　proud　love　which　lives　upon　its　anguish　and　dies　of　it。　Such　was
Eugenie's　love　after　she　had　read　that　dreadful　letter。　She　raised　her
eyes　to　heaven；　thinking　of　the　last　words　uttered　by　her　dying
mother；　who；　with　the　prescience　of　death；　had　looked　into　the　future
with　clear　and　penetrating　eyes：　Eugenie；　remembering　that　prophetic
death；　that　prophetic　life；　measured　with　one　glance　her　own　destiny。
Nothing　was　left　for　her；　she　could　only　unfold　her　wings；　stretch
upward　to　the　skies；　and　live　in　prayer　until　the　day　of　her
deliverance。

〃My　mother　was　right；〃　she　said；　weeping。　〃Sufferand　die！〃



XIV

Eugenie　came　slowly　back　from　the　garden　to　the　house；　and　avoided
passing；　as　was　her　custom；　through　the　corridor。　But　the　memory　of
her　cousin　was　in　the　gray　old　hall　and　on　the　chimney…piece；　where
stood　a　certain　saucer　and　the　old　Sevres　sugar…bowl　which　she　used
every　morning　at　her　breakfast。

This　day　was　destined　to　be　solemn　throughout　and　full　of　events。
Nanon　announced　the　cure　of　the　parish　church。　He　was　related　to　the
Cruchots；　and　therefore　in　the　interests　of　Monsieur　de　Bonfons。　For
some　time　past　the　old　abbe　had　urged　him　to　speak　to　Mademoiselle
Grandet；　from　a　purely　religious　point　of　view；　about　the　duty　of
marriage　for　a　woman　in　her　position。　When　she　saw　her　pastor；　Eugenie
supposed　he　had　come　for　the　thousand　francs　which　she　gave　monthly　to
the　poor；　and　she　told　Nanon　to　go　and　fetch　them；　but　the　cure　only
smiled。

〃To…day；　mademoiselle；〃　he　said；　〃I　have　come　to　speak　to　you　about　a
poor　girl　in　whom　the　whole　town　of　Saumur　takes　an　interest；　who；
through　lack　of　charity　to　herself；　neglects　her　Christian　duties。〃

〃Monsieur　le　cure；　you　have　come　to　me　at　a　moment　when　I　cannot　think
of　my　neighbor；　I　am　filled　with　thoughts　of　myself。　I　am　very
unhappy；　my　only　refuge　is　in　the　Church；　her　bosom　is　large　enough　to
hold　all　human　woe；　her　love　so　full　that　we　ma