eugenie grandet(欧也妮·葛朗台)-第14章

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Your　father　is　ill〃
〃Then　why　am　I　here？〃　said　Charles。　〃Nanon；〃　he　cried；　〃order　post…
horses！　I　can　get　a　carriage　somewhere？〃　he　added；　turning　to　his
uncle；　who　stood　motionless。
〃Horses　and　carriages　are　useless；〃　answered　Grandet；　looking　at
Charles；　who　remained　silent；　his　eyes　growing　fixed。　〃Yes；　my　poor
boy；　you　guess　the　truth；he　is　dead。　But　that's　nothing；　there　is
something　worse：　he　blew　out　his　brains。〃
〃My　father！〃
〃Yes；　but　that's　not　the　worst；　the　newspapers　are　all　talking　about
it。　Here；　read　that。〃
Grandet；　who　had　borrowed　the　fatal　article　from　Cruchot；　thrust　the
paper　under　his　nephew's　eyes。　The　poor　young　man；　still　a　child；
still　at　an　age　when　feelings　wear　no　mask；　burst　into　tears。
〃That's　good！〃　thought　Grandet；　〃his　eyes　frightened　me。　He'll　be　all
right　if　he　weeps；That　is　not　the　worst；　my　poor　nephew；〃　he　said
aloud；　not　noticing　whether　Charles　heard　him；　〃that　is　nothing；　you
will　get　over　it：　but〃
〃Never；　never！　My　father！　Oh；　my　father！〃
〃He　has　ruined　you；　you　haven't　a　penny。〃
〃What　does　that　matter？　My　father！　Where　is　my　father？〃
His　sobs　resounded　horribly　against　those　dreary　walls　and
reverberated　in　the　echoes。　The　three　women；　filled　with　pity；　wept
also；　for　tears　are　often　as　contagious　as　laughter。　Charles；　without
listening　further　to　his　uncle；　ran　through　the　court　and　up　the
staircase　to　his　chamber；　where　he　threw　himself　across　the　bed　and
hid　his　face　in　the　sheets；　to　weep　in　peace　for　his　lost　parents。
〃The　first　burst　must　have　its　way；〃　said　Grandet；　entering　the
living…room；　where　Eugenie　and　her　mother　had　hastily　resumed　their
seats　and　were　sewing　with　trembling　hands；　after　wiping　their　eyes。
〃But　that　young　man　is　good　for　nothing；　his　head　is　more　taken　up
with　the　dead　than　with　his　money。〃
Eugenie　shuddered　as　she　heard　her　father's　comment　on　the　most　sacred
of　all　griefs。　From　that　moment　she　began　to　judge　him。　Charles's
sobs；　though　muffled；　still　sounded　through　the　sepulchral　house；　and
his　deep　groans；　which　seemed　to　come　from　the　earth　beneath；　only
ceased　towards　evening；　after　growing　gradually　feebler。
〃Poor　young　man！〃　said　Madame　Grandet。
Fatal　exclamation！　Pere　Grandet　looked　at　his　wife；　at　Eugenie；　and　at
the　sugar…bowl。　He　recollected　the　extraordinary　breakfast　prepared
for　the　unfortunate　youth；　and　he　took　a　position　in　the　middle　of　the
room。
〃Listen　to　me；〃　he　said；　with　his　usual　composure。　〃I　hope　that　you
will　not　continue　this　extravagance；　Madame　Grandet。　I　don't　give　you
MY　money　to　stuff　that　young　fellow　with　sugar。〃
〃My　mother　had　nothing　to　do　with　it；〃　said　Eugenie；　〃it　was　I　who〃
〃Is　it　because　you　are　of　age；〃　said　Grandet；　interrupting　his
daughter；　〃that　you　choose　to　contradict　me？　Remember；　Eugenie〃
〃Father；　the　son　of　your　brother　ought　to　receive　from　us〃
〃Ta；　ta；　ta；　ta！〃　exclaimed　the　cooper　on　four　chromatic　tones；　〃the
son　of　my　brother　this；　my　nephew　that！　Charles　is　nothing　at　all　to
us；　he　hasn't　a　farthing；　his　father　has　failed；　and　when　this　dandy
has　cried　his　fill；　off　he　goes　from　here。　I　won't　have　him
revolutionize　my　household。〃
〃What　is　'failing；'　father？〃　asked　Eugenie。
〃To　fail；〃　answered　her　father；　〃is　to　commit　the　most　dishonorable
action　that　can　disgrace　a　man。〃
〃It　must　be　a　great　sin；〃　said　Madame　Grandet；　〃and　our　brother　may　be
damned。〃
〃There；　there；　don't　begin　with　your　litanies！〃　said　Grandet；
shrugging　his　shoulders。　〃To　fail；　Eugenie；〃　he　resumed；　〃is　to　commit
a　theft　which　the　law；　unfortunately；　takes　under　its　protection。
People　have　given　their　property　to　Guillaume　Grandet　trusting　to　his
reputation　for　honor　and　integrity；　he　has　made　away　with　it　all；　and
left　them　nothing　but　their　eyes　to　weep　with。　A　highway　robber　is
better　than　a　bankrupt：　the　one　attacks　you　and　you　can　defend
yourself；　he　risks　his　own　life；　but　the　otherin　short；　Charles　is
dishonored。〃
The　words　rang　in　the　poor　girl's　heart　and　weighed　it　down　with　their
heavy　meaning。　Upright　and　delicate　as　a　flower　born　in　the　depths　of
a　forest；　she　knew　nothing　of　the　world's　maxims；　of　its　deceitful
arguments　and　specious　sophisms；　she　therefore　believed　the　atrocious
explanation　which　her　father　gave　her　designedly；　concealing　the
distinction　which　exists　between　an　involuntary　failure　and　an
intentional　one。
〃Father；　could　you　not　have　prevented　such　a　misfortune？〃
〃My　brother　did　not　consult　me。　Besides；　he　owes　four　millions。〃
〃What　is　a　'million；'　father？〃　she　asked；　with　the　simplicity　of　a
child　which　thinks　it　can　find　out　at　once　all　that　it　wants　to　know。
〃A　million？〃　said　Grandet；　〃why；　it　is　a　million　pieces　of　twenty　sous
each；　and　it　takes　five　twenty　sous　pieces　to　make　five　francs。〃
〃Dear　me！〃　cried　Eugenie；　〃how　could　my　uncle　possibly　have　had　four
millions？　Is　there　any　one　else　in　France　who　ever　had　so　many
millions？〃　Pere　Grandet　stroked　his　chin；　smiled；　and　his　wen　seemed
to　dilate。　〃But　what　will　become　of　my　cousin　Charles？〃
〃He　is　going　off　to　the　West　Indies　by　his　father's　request；　and　he
will　try　to　make　his　fortune　there。〃
〃Has　he　got　the　money　to　go　with？〃
〃I　shall　pay　for　his　journey　as　far　asyes；　as　far　as　Nantes。〃
Eugenie　sprang　into　his　arms。
〃Oh；　father；　how　good　you　are！〃
She　kissed　him　with　a　warmth　that　almost　made　Grandet　ashamed　of
himself；　for　his　conscience　galled　him　a　little。
〃Will　it　take　much　time　to　amass　a　million？〃　she　asked。
〃Look　here！〃　said　the　old　miser；　〃you　know　what　a　napoleon　is？　Well；
it　takes　fifty　thousand　napoleons　to　make　a　million。〃
〃Mamma；　we　must　say　a　great　many　/neuvaines/　for　him。〃
〃I　was　thinking　so；〃　said　Madame　Grandet。
〃That's　the　way；　always　spending　my　money！〃　cried　the　father。　〃Do　you
think　there　are　francs　on　every　bush？〃
At　this　moment　a　muffled　cry；　more　distressing　than　all　the　others；
echoed　through　the　garrets　and　struck　a　chill　to　the　hearts　of　Eugenie
and　her　mother。
〃Nanon；　go　upstairs　and　see　that　he　does　not　kill　himself；〃　said
Grandet。　〃Now；　then；〃　he　added；　looking　at　his　wife　and　daughter；　who
had　turned　pale　at　his　words；　〃no　nonsense；　you　two！　I　must　leave　you；
I　have　got　to　see　about　the　Dutchmen　who　are　going　away　to…day。　And
then　I　must　find　Cruchot；　and　talk　with　him　about　all　this。〃
He　departed。　As　soon　as　he　had　shut　the　door　Eugenie　and　her　mother
breathed　more　freely。　Until　this　morning　the　young　girl　had　never　felt
constrained　in　the　presence　of　her　father；　but　for　the　last　few　hours
every　moment　wrought　a　change　in　her　feelings　and　ideas。
〃Mamma；　how　many　louis　are　there　in　a　cask　of　wine？〃
〃Your　father　sells　his　from　a　hundred　to　a　hundred　and　fifty　francs；
sometimes　two　hundred；at　least；　so　I've　heard　say。〃
〃Then　papa　must　be　rich？〃
〃Perhaps　he　is。　But　Monsieur　Cruchot　told　me　he　bought　Froidfond　two
years　ago；　that　may　have　pinched　him。〃
Eugenie；　not　being　able　to　understand　the　question　of　her　father's
fortune；　stopped　short　in　her　calculations。
〃He　didn't　even　see　me；　the　darling！〃　said　Nanon；　coming　back　from　her
errand。　〃He's　stretched　out　like　a　calf　on　his　bed　and　crying　like　the
Madeleine；　and　that's　a　blessing！　What's　the　matter　with　the　poor　dear
young　man！〃
〃Let　us　go　and　console　him；　mamma；　if　any　one　knocks；　we　can　come
down。〃
Madame　Grandet　was　helpless　against　the　sweet　persuasive　tones　of　her
daughter's　voice。　Eugenie　was　sublime：　she　had　become　a　woman。　The
two；　with　beating　hearts；　went　up　to　Charles's　room。　The　door　was
open。　The　young　man　heard　and　saw　nothing；　plunged　in　grief；　he　only
uttered　inarticulate　cries。
〃How　he　loves　his　father！〃　said　Eugenie　in　a　low　voice。
In　the　utterance　of　those　words　it　was　impossible　to　mistake　the　hopes
of　a　heart　that；　unknown　to　itself；　had　suddenly　become　passionate。
Madame　Grandet　cast　a　mother's　look　upon　her　daughter；　and　then
whispered　in　her　ear；
〃Take　care；　you　will　love　him！〃
〃Love　him！〃　answered　Eugenie。　〃Ah！　if　you　did　but　know　what　my　father
said　to　Monsieur　Cruchot。〃
Charles　turned　over；　and　saw　his　aunt　and　cousin。
〃I　have　lost　my　father；　my　poor　father！　If　he　had　told　me　his　secret
troubles　we　might　have　worked　together　to　repair　them。　My　God！　my　poor
father！　I　was　so　sure　I　should　see　him　again　that　I　think　I　kissed　him
quite　coldly〃
Sobs　cut　short　the　words。
〃We　will　pray　for　him；〃　said　Madame　Grandet。　〃Resign　yourself　to　the
will　of　God。〃
〃Cousin；〃　said　Eugenie；　〃take　courage！　Your　loss　is　irreparable；
therefore　think　only　of　saving　your　honor。〃
With　the　delicate　instinct　of　a　woman　who　intuitively　puts　her　mind
into　all　things；　even　at　the　moment　when　she　offers　consolation；
Eugenie　sought　to　cheat　her　cousin's　grief　by　turning　his　thoughts
inward　upon　himself。
〃My　honor？〃　exclaimed　the　young　man；　tossing　aside　his　hair　with　an
impatient　gesture　as　he　sat　up　on　his　bed　and　crossed　his　arms。　〃Ah！
that　is　true。　My　uncle　said　my　father　had　failed。〃　He　uttered　a　heart…
rending　cry；　and　hid　his　face　in　his　hands。　〃Leave　me；　leave　me；
cousin！　My　God！　my　God！　forgive　my　father；　for　he　must　have　suffered
sorely！〃
There　was　something　terribly　attractive　in　the　sight　of　this　young
sorrow；　sincere　without　reasoning　or　afterthought。　It　was　a　virgin
grief　which　the　simple　hearts　of　Eugenie　and　her　mother　were　fitted　to
comprehend；　and　they　obeyed　the　sign　Charles　made　them　to　leave　him　to
himself。　They　went　downstairs　in　silence　and　took　their　accustomed
places　by　the　window　and　sewed　for　nearly　an　hour　without　exchanging　a
word。　Eugenie　had　seen　in　the　furtive　glance　that　she　cast　about　the
young　man's　roomthat　girlish　glance　which　sees　all　in　the　twinkling
of　an　eyethe　pretty　trifles　of　his　dressing…case；　his　scissors；　his
razors　embossed　with　gold。　This　gleam　of　luxury　across　her　cousin's
grief　only　made　him　the　more　interesting　to　her；　possibly　by　way　of
contrast。　Never　before　had　so　serious　an　event；　so　dramatic　a　sight；
touched　the　imaginations　of　these　two　passive　beings；　hitherto　sunk　in
the　stillness　and　calm　of　solitude。
〃Mamma；〃　said　Eugenie；　〃we　must　wear　mourning　for　my　uncle。〃
〃Your　father　will　decide　that；〃　answered　Madame　Grandet。
They　relapsed　into　silence。　Eugenie　drew　her　stitches　with　a　uniform
motion　which　revealed　to　an　observer　the　teeming　thoughts　of　her
meditation。　The　first　desire　of　the　girl's　heart　was　to　share　her
cousin's　mourning。

VI
About　four　o'clock　an　abrupt　knock　at　the　door　struck　sharply　on　the
heart　of　Madame　Grandet。
〃What　can　have　happened　to　your　father？〃　she　said　to　her　daughter。
Grandet　entered　joyously。　After　taking　off　his　gloves；　he　rubbed　his
hands　hard　enough　to　take　off　their　skin　as　well；　if　his　epidermis　had
not　been　tanned　and　cured　like　Russia　leather；saving；　of　course；　the
perfume　of　larch…trees　and　incense。　Presently　his　secret　escaped　him。
〃Wife；〃　he　said；　without　stuttering；　〃I've　trapped　them　all！　Our　wine
is　sold！　The　Dutch　and　the　Belgians　have　gone。　I　walked　about　the
market…place　in　front　of　their　inn；　pretending　to　be　doing　nothing。
That　Belgian　fellowyou　know　who　I　meancame　up　to　me。　The　owners　of
all　the　good　vineyards　have　kept　back　their　vintages；　intending　to
wait；　well；　I　didn't　hinder　them。　The　Belgian　was　in　despair；　I　saw
that。　In　a　minute　the　bargain　was　made。　He　takes　my　vintage　at　two
hundre