eugenie grandet(欧也妮·葛朗台)-第18章

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〃Certainly；〃　said　the　president。　〃I'm　of　opinion　that　in　a　few　months
the　debts　might　be　bought　up　for　a　certain　sum；　and　then　paid　in　full
by　an　agreement。　Ha！　ha！　you　can　coax　a　dog　a　long　way　if　you　show　him
a　bit　of　lard。　If　there　has　been　no　declaration　of　failure；　and　you
hold　a　lien　on　the　debts；　you　come　out　of　the　business　as　white　as　the
driven　snow。〃
〃Sn…n…now；〃　said　Grandet；　putting　his　hand　to　his　ear；　〃wh…wh…what
about　s…now？〃
〃But；〃　cried　the　president；　〃do　pray　attend　to　what　I　am　saying。〃
〃I　am　at…t…tending。〃
〃A　note　is　merchandise；an　article　of　barter　which　rises　and　falls　in
prices。　That　is　a　deduction　from　Jeremy　Bentham's　theory　about　usury。
That　writer　has　proved　that　the　prejudice　which　condemned　usurers　to
reprobation　was　mere　folly。〃
〃Whew！〃　ejaculated　the　goodman。
〃Allowing　that　money；　according　to　Bentham；　is　an　article　of
merchandise；　and　that　whatever　represents　money　is　equally
merchandise；〃　resumed　the　president；　〃allowing　also　that　it　is
notorious　that　the　commercial　note；　bearing　this　or　that　signature；　is
liable　to　the　fluctuation　of　all　commercial　values；　rises　or　falls　in
the　market；　is　dear　at　one　moment；　and　is　worth　nothing　at　another；
the　courts　decideah！　how　stupid　I　am；　I　beg　your　pardonI　am
inclined　to　think　you　could　buy　up　your　brother's　debts　for　twenty…
five　per　cent。〃
〃D…d…did　you　c…c…call　him　Je…Je…Jeremy　B…Ben？〃
〃Bentham；　an　Englishman。'
〃That's　a　Jeremy　who　might　save　us　a　lot　of　lamentations　in　business；〃
said　the　notary；　laughing。
〃Those　Englishmen　s…sometimes　t…t…talk　sense；〃　said　Grandet。　〃So；
ac…c…cording　to　Ben…Bentham；　if　my　b…b…brother's　n…notes　are　worth
n…n…nothing；　if　Je…JeI'm　c…c…correct；　am　I　not？　That　seems　c…c…clear
to　my　m…m…mindthe　c…c…creditors　would　beNo；　would　not　be；　I
understand。〃
〃Let　me　explain　it　all；〃　said　the　president。　〃Legally；　if　you　acquire
a　title　to　all　the　debts　of　the　Maison　Grandet；　your　brother　or　his
heirs　will　owe　nothing　to　any　one。　Very　good。〃
〃Very　g…good；〃　repeated　Grandet。
〃In　equity；　if　your　brother's　notes　are　negotiatednegotiated；　do　you
clearly　understand　the　term？negotiated　in　the　market　at　a　reduction
of　so　much　per　cent　in　value；　and　if　one　of　your　friends　happening　to
be　present　should　buy　them　in；　the　creditors　having　sold　them　of　their
own　free…will　without　constraint；　the　estate　of　the　late　Grandet　is
honorably　released。〃
〃That's　t…true；　b…b…business　is　b…business；〃　said　the　cooper。
〃B…b…but；　st…still；　you　know；　it　is　d…d…difficult。　I　h…have　n…no
m…m…money　and　n…no　t…t…time。〃
〃Yes；　but　you　need　not　undertake　it。　I　am　quite　ready　to　go　to　Paris
（you　may　pay　my　expenses；　they　will　only　be　a　trifle）。　I　will　see　the
creditors　and　talk　with　them　and　get　an　extension　of　time；　and
everything　can　be　arranged　if　you　will　add　something　to　the　assets　so
as　to　buy　up　all　title　to　the　debts。〃
〃We…we'll　see　about　th…that。　I　c…c…can't　and　I　w…w…won't　bind　myself
withoutHe　who　c…c…can't；　can't；　don't　you　see？〃
〃That's　very　true。〃
〃I'm　all　p…p…put　ab…b…bout　by　what　you've　t…t…told　me。　This　is　the
f…first　t…t…time　in　my　life　I　have　b…been　obliged　to　th…th…think〃
〃Yes；　you　are　not　a　lawyer。〃
〃I'm　only　a　p…p…poor　wine…g…grower；　and　know　n…nothing　about　wh…what
you　have　just　t…told　me；　I　m…m…must　th…think　about　it。〃
〃Very　good；〃　said　the　president；　preparing　to　resume　his　argument。
〃Nephew！〃　said　the　notary；　interrupting　him　in　a　warning　tone。
〃Well；　what；　uncle？〃　answered　the　president。
〃Let　Monsieur　Grandet　explain　his　own　intentions。　The　matter　in
question　is　of　the　first　importance。　Our　good　friend　ought　to　define
his　meaning　clearly；　and〃
A　loud　knock；　which　announced　the　arrival　of　the　des　Grassins　family；
succeeded　by　their　entrance　and　salutations；　hindered　Cruchot　from
concluding　his　sentence。　The　notary　was　glad　of　the　interruption；　for
Grandet　was　beginning　to　look　suspiciously　at　him；　and　the　wen　gave
signs　of　a　brewing　storm。　In　the　first　place；　the　notary　did　not　think
it　becoming　in　a　president　of　the　Civil　courts　to　go　to　Paris　and
manipulate　creditors　and　lend　himself　to　an　underhand　job　which
clashed　with　the　laws　of　strict　integrity；　moreover；　never　having
known　old　Grandet　to　express　the　slightest　desire　to　pay　anything；　no
matter　what；　he　instinctively　feared　to　see　his　nephew　taking　part　in
the　affair。　He　therefore　profited　by　the　entrance　of　the　des　Grassins
to　take　the　nephew　by　the　arm　and　lead　him　into　the　embrasure　of　the
window；
〃You　have　said　enough；　nephew；　you've　shown　enough　devotion。　Your
desire　to　win　the　girl　blinds　you。　The　devil！　you　mustn't　go　at　it
tooth　and　nail。　Let　me　sail　the　ship　now；　you　can　haul　on　the　braces。
Do　you　think　it　right　to　compromise　your　dignity　as　a　magistrate　in
such　a〃
He　stopped；　for　he　heard　Monsieur　des　Grassins　saying　to　the　old
cooper　as　they　shook　hands；
〃Grandet；　we　have　heard　of　the　frightful　misfortunes　which　have　just
befallen　your　family；the　failure　of　the　house　of　Guillaume　Grandet
and　the　death　of　your　brother。　We　have　come　to　express　our　grief　at
these　sad　events。〃
〃There　is　but　one　sad　event；〃　said　the　notary；　interrupting　the
banker；〃the　death　of　Monsieur　Grandet；　junior；　and　he　would　never
have　killed　himself　had　he　thought　in　time　of　applying　to　his　brother
for　help。　Our　old　friend；　who　is　honorable　to　his　finger…nails；
intends　to　liquidate　the　debts　of　the　Maison　Grandet　of　Paris。　To　save
him　the　worry　of　legal　proceedings；　my　nephew；　the　president；　has　just
offered　to　go　to　Paris　and　negotiate　with　the　creditors　for　a
satisfactory　settlement。〃
These　words；　corroborated　by　Grandet's　attitude　as　he　stood　silently
nursing　his　chin；　astonished　the　three　des　Grassins；　who　had　been
leisurely　discussing　the　old　man's　avarice　as　they　came　along；　very
nearly　accusing　him　of　fratricide。
〃Ah！　I　was　sure　of　it；〃　cried　the　banker；　looking　at　his　wife。　〃What
did　I　tell　you　just　now；　Madame　des　Grassins？　Grandet　is　honorable　to
the　backbone；　and　would　never　allow　his　name　to　remain　under　the
slightest　cloud！　Money　without　honor　is　a　disease。　There　is　honor　in
the　provinces！　Right；　very　right；　Grandet。　I'm　an　old　soldier；　and　I
can't　disguise　my　thoughts；　I　speak　roughly。　Thunder！　it　is　sublime！〃
〃Th…then　s…s…sublime　th…things　c…c…cost　d…dear；〃　answered　the　goodman；
as　the　banker　warmly　wrung　his　hand。
〃But　this；　my　dear　Grandet；if　the　president　will　excuse　me；is　a
purely　commercial　matter；　and　needs　a　consummate　business　man。　Your
agent　must　be　some　one　fully　acquainted　with　the　markets；with
disbursements；　rebates；　interest　calculations；　and　so　forth。　I　am
going　to　Paris　on　business　of　my　own；　and　I　can　take　charge　of〃
〃We'll　see　about　t…t…trying　to　m…m…manage　it　b…b…between　us；　under　the
p…p…peculiar　c…c…circumstances；　b…b…but　without　b…b…binding　m…m…myself
to　anything　th…that　I　c…c…could　not　do；〃　said　Grandet；　stuttering；
〃because；　you　see；　monsieur　le　president　naturally　expects　me　to　pay
the　expenses　of　his　journey。〃
The　goodman　did　not　stammer　over　the　last　words。
〃Eh！〃　cried　Madame　des　Grassins；　〃why　it　is　a　pleasure　to　go　to　Paris。
I　would　willingly　pay　to　go　myself。〃
She　made　a　sign　to　her　husband；　as　if　to　encourage　him　in　cutting　the
enemy　out　of　the　commission；　/coute　que　coute/；　then　she　glanced
ironically　at　the　two　Cruchots；　who　looked　chap…fallen。　Grandet　seized
the　banker　by　a　button　and　drew　him　into　a　corner　of　the　room。
〃I　have　a　great　deal　more　confidence　in　you　than　in　the　president；〃　he
said；　〃besides；　I've　other　fish　to　fry；〃　he　added；　wriggling　his　wen。
〃I　want　to　buy　a　few　thousand　francs　in　the　Funds　while　they　are　at
eighty。　They　fall；　I'm　told；　at　the　end　of　each　month。　You　know　all
about　these　things；　don't　you？〃
〃Bless　me！　then；　am　I　to　invest　enough　to　give　you　a　few　thousand
francs　a　year？〃
〃That's　not　much　to　begin　with。　Hush！　I　don't　want　any　one　to　know　I
am　going　to　play　that　game。　You　can　make　the　investment　by　the　end　of
the　month。　Say　nothing　to　the　Cruchots；　that'll　annoy　them。　If　you　are
really　going　to　Paris；　we　will　see　if　there　is　anything　to　be　done　for
my　poor　nephew。〃
〃Well；　it's　all　settled。　I'll　start　to…morrow　by　the　mail…post；〃　said
des　Grassins　aloud；　〃and　I　will　come　and　take　your　last　directions　at
what　hour　will　suit　you？〃
〃Five　o'clock；　just　before　dinner；〃　said　Grandet；　rubbing　his　hands。
The　two　parties　stayed　on　for　a　short　time。　Des　Grassins　said；　after　a
pause；　striking　Grandet　on　the　shoulder；
〃It　is　a　good　thing　to　have　a　relation　like　him。〃
〃Yes；　yes；　without　making　a　show；〃　said　Grandet；　〃I　am　a　g…good
relation。　I　loved　my　brother；　and　I　will　prove　it；　unless　it
c…c…costs〃
〃We　must　leave　you；　Grandet；〃　said　the　banker；　interrupting　him
fortunately　before　he　got　to　the　end　of　his　sentence。　〃If　I　hurry　my
departure；　I　must　attend　to　some　matters　at　once。〃
〃Very　good；　very　good！　I　myselfin　c…consequence　of　what　I　t…told　you
I　must　retire　to　my　own　room　and　'd…d…deliberate；'　as　President
Cruchot　says。〃
〃Plague　take　him！　I　am　no　longer　Monsieur　de　Bonfons；〃　thought　the
magistrate　ruefully；　his　face　assuming　the　expression　of　a　judge　bored
by　an　argument。
The　heads　of　the　two　factions　walked　off　together。　Neither　gave　any
further　thought　to　the　treachery　Grandet　had　been　guilty　of　in　the
morning　against　the　whole　wine…growing　community；　each　tried　to　fathom
what　the　other　was　thinking　about　the　real　intentions　of　the　wily　old
man　in　this　new　affair；　but　in　vain。
〃Will　you　go　with　us　to　Madame　Dorsonval's？〃　said　des　Grassins　to　the
notary。
〃We　will　go　there　later；〃　answered　the　president。　〃I　have　promised　to
say　good…evening　to　Mademoiselle　de　Gribeaucourt；　and　we　will　go　there
first；　if　my　uncle　is　willing。〃
〃Farewell　for　the　present！〃　said　Madame　des　Grassins。
When　the　Cruchots　were　a　few　steps　off；　Adolphe　remarked　to　his
father；
〃Are　not　they　fuming；　hein？〃
〃Hold　your　tongue；　my　son！〃　said　his　mother；　〃they　might　hear　you。
Besides；　what　you　say　is　not　in　good　taste；law…school　language。〃
〃Well；　uncle；〃　cried　the　president　when　he　saw　the　des　Grassins
disappearing；　〃I　began　by　being　de　Bonfons；　and　I　have　ended　as
nothing　but　Cruchot。〃
〃I　saw　that　that　annoyed　you；　but　the　wind　has　set　fair　for　the　des
Grassins。　What　a　fool　you　are；　with　all　your　cleverness！　Let　them　sail
off　on　Grandet's　'We'll　see　about　it；'　and　keep　yourself　quiet；　young
man。　Eugenie　will　none　the　less　be　your　wife。〃
In　a　few　moments　the　news　of　Grandet's　magnanimous　resolve　was
disseminated　in　three　houses　at　the　same　moment；　and　the　whole　town
began　to　talk　of　his　fraternal　devotion。　Every　one　forgave　Grandet　for
the　sale　made　in　defiance　of　the　good　faith　pledged　to　the　community；
they　admired　his　sense　of　honor；　and　began　to　laud　a　generosity　of
which　they　had　never　thought　him　capable。　It　is　part　of　the　French
nature　to　grow　enthusiastic；　or　angry；　or　fervent　about　some　meteor　of
the　moment。　Can　it　be　that　collective　beings；　nationalities；　peoples；
are　devoid　of　memory？
When　Pere　Grandet　had　shut　the　door　he　called　Nanon。
〃Don't　let　the　dog　loose；　and　don't　go　to　bed；　we　have　work　to　do
together。　At　eleven　o'clock　Cornoiller　will　be　at　the　door　with　the
chariot　from　Froidfond。　Listen　for　him　and　prevent　his　knocking；　tell
him　to　come　in　softly。　Police　regulations　don't　allow