eugenie grandet(欧也妮·葛朗台)-第23章

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Charles　caught　her　hand　and　drew　her　to　his　heart。　Passing　his　arm
about　her　waist；　he　made　her　lean　gently　upon　him。　Eugenie　no　longer
resisted；　she　received　and　gave　the　purest；　the　sweetest；　and　yet；
withal；　the　most　unreserved　of　kisses。
〃Dear　Eugenie；　a　cousin　is　better　than　a　brother；　for　he　can　marry
you；〃　said　Charles。
〃So　be　it！〃　cried　Nanon；　opening　the　door　of　her　lair。
The　two　lovers；　alarmed；　fled　into　the　hall；　where　Eugenie　took　up　her
work　and　Charles　began　to　read　the　litanies　of　the　Virgin　in　Madame
Grandet's　prayer…book。
〃Mercy！〃　cried　Nanon；　〃now　they're　saying　their　prayers。〃
As　soon　as　Charles　announced　his　immediate　departure；　Grandet
bestirred　himself　to　testify　much　interest　in　his　nephew。　He　became
very　liberal　of　all　that　cost　him　nothing；　took　pains　to　find　a
packer；　declared　the　man　asked　too　much　for　his　cases；　insisted　on
making　them　himself　out　of　old　planks；　got　up　early　in　the　morning　to
fit　and　plane　and　nail　together　the　strips；　out　of　which　he　made；　to
his　own　satisfaction；　some　strong　cases；　in　which　he　packed　all
Charles's　effects；　he　also　took　upon　himself　to　send　them　by　boat　down
the　Loire；　to　insure　them；　and　get　them　to　Nantes　in　proper　time。
After　the　kiss　taken　in　the　passage；　the　hours　fled　for　Eugenie　with
frightful　rapidity。　Sometimes　she　thought　of　following　her　cousin。
Those　who　have　known　that　most　endearing　of　all　passions；the　one
whose　duration　is　each　day　shortened　by　time；　by　age；　by　mortal
illness；　by　human　chances　and　fatalities；they　will　understand　the
poor　girl's　tortures。　She　wept　as　she　walked　in　the　garden；　now　so
narrow　to　her；　as　indeed　the　court；　the　house；　the　town　all　seemed。
She　launched　in　thought　upon　the　wide　expanse　of　the　ocean　he　was
about　to　traverse。　At　last　the　eve　of　his　departure　came。　That
morning；　in　the　absence　of　Grandet　and　of　Nanon；　the　precious　case
which　contained　the　two　portraits　was　solemnly　installed　in　the　only
drawer　of　the　old　cabinet　which　could　be　locked；　where　the　now　empty
velvet　purse　was　lying。　This　deposit　was　not　made　without　a　goodly
number　of　tears　and　kisses。　When　Eugenie　placed　the　key　within　her
bosom　she　had　no　courage　to　forbid　the　kiss　with　which　Charles　sealed
the　act。
〃It　shall　never　leave　that　place；　my　friend；〃　she　said。
〃Then　my　heart　will　be　always　there。〃
〃Ah！　Charles；　it　is　not　right；〃　she　said；　as　though　she　blamed　him。
〃Are　we　not　married？〃　he　said。　〃I　have　thy　promise；then　take　mine。〃
〃Thine；　I　am　thine　forever！〃　they　each　said；　repeating　the　words　twice
over。
No　promise　made　upon　this　earth　was　ever　purer。　The　innocent　sincerity
of　Eugenie　had　sanctified　for　a　moment　the　young　man's　love。
On　the　morrow　the　breakfast　was　sad。　Nanon　herself；　in　spite　of　the
gold…embroidered　robe　and　the　Jeannette　cross　bestowed　by　Charles；　had
tears　in　her　eyes。
〃The　poor　dear　monsieur　who　is　going　on　the　seasoh；　may　God　guide
him！〃
At　half…past　ten　the　whole　family　started　to　escort　Charles　to　the
diligence　for　Nantes。　Nanon　let　loose　the　dog；　locked　the　door；　and
insisted　on　carrying　the　young　man's　carpet…bag。　All　the　tradesmen　in
the　tortuous　old　street　were　on　the　sill　of　their　shop…doors　to　watch
the　procession；　which　was　joined　in　the　market…place　by　Maitre
Cruchot。
〃Eugenie；　be　sure　you　don't　cry；〃　said　her　mother。
〃Nephew；〃　said　Grandet；　in　the　doorway　of　the　inn　from　which　the　coach
started；　kissing　Charles　on　both　cheeks；　〃depart　poor；　return　rich；
you　will　find　the　honor　of　your　father　safe。　I　answer　for　that　myself；
IGrandet；　for　it　will　only　depend　on　you　to〃
〃Ah！　my　uncle；　you　soften　the　bitterness　of　my　departure。　Is　it　not
the　best　gift　that　you　could　make　me？〃
Not　understanding　his　uncle's　words　which　he　had　thus　interrupted；
Charles　shed　tears　of　gratitude　upon　the　tanned　cheeks　of　the　old
miser；　while　Eugenie　pressed　the　hand　of　her　cousin　and　that　of　her
father　with　all　her　strength。　The　notary　smiled；　admiring　the　sly
speech　of　the　old　man；　which　he　alone　had　understood。　The　family　stood
about　the　coach　until　it　started；　then　as　it　disappeared　upon　the
bridge；　and　its　rumble　grew　fainter　in　the　distance；　Grandet　said：
〃Good…by　to　you！〃
Happily　no　one　but　Maitre　Cruchot　heard　the　exclamation。　Eugenie　and
her　mother　had　gone　to　a　corner　of　the　quay　from　which　they　could
still　see　the　diligence　and　wave　their　white　handkerchiefs；　to　which
Charles　made　answer　by　displaying　his。
〃Ah！　mother；　would　that　I　had　the　power　of　God　for　a　single　moment；〃
said　Eugenie；　when　she　could　no　longer　see　her　lover's　handkerchief。
*****
Not　to　interrupt　the　current　of　events　which　are　about　to　take　place
in　the　bosom　of　the　Grandet　family；　it　is　necessary　to　cast　a
forestalling　eye　upon　the　various　operations　which　the　goodman　carried
on　in　Paris　by　means　of　Monsieur　des　Grassins。　A　month　after　the
latter's　departure　from　Saumur；　Grandet；　became　possessed　of　a
certificate　of　a　hundred　thousand　francs　a　year　from　his　investment　in
the　Funds；　bought　at　eighty　francs　net。　The　particulars　revealed　at
his　death　by　the　inventory　of　his　property　threw　no　light　upon　the
means　which　his　suspicious　nature　took　to　remit　the　price　of　the
investment　and　receive　the　certificate　thereof。　Maitre　Cruchot　was　of
opinion　that　Nanon；　unknown　to　herself；　was　the　trusty　instrument　by
which　the　money　was　transported；　for　about　this　time　she　was　absent
five　days；　under　a　pretext　of　putting　things　to　rights　at　Froidfond；
as　if　the　goodman　were　capable　of　leaving　anything　lying　about　or　out
of　order！
In　all　that　concerned　the　business　of　the　house　of　Guillaume　Grandet
the　old　cooper's　intentions　were　fulfilled　to　the　letter。　The　Bank　of
France；　as　everybody　knows；　affords　exact　information　about　all　the
large　fortunes　in　Paris　and　the　provinces。　The　names　of　des　Grassins
and　Felix　Grandet　of　Saumur　were　well　known　there；　and　they　enjoyed
the　esteem　bestowed　on　financial　celebrities　whose　wealth　comes　from
immense　and　unencumbered　territorial　possessions。　The　arrival　of　the
Saumur　banker　for　the　purpose；　it　was　said；　of　honorably　liquidating
the　affairs　of　Grandet　of　Paris；　was　enough　to　avert　the　shame　of
protested　notes　from　the　memory　of　the　defunct　merchant。　The　seals　on
the　property　were　taken　off　in　presence　of　the　creditors；　and　the
notary　employed　by　Grandet　went　to　work　at　once　on　the　inventory　of
the　assets。　Soon　after　this；　des　Grassins　called　a　meeting　of　the
creditors；　who　unanimously　elected　him；　conjointly　with　Francois
Keller；　the　head　of　a　rich　banking…house　and　one　of　those　principally
interested　in　the　affair；　as　liquidators；　with　full　power　to　protect
both　the　honor　of　the　family　and　the　interests　of　the　claimants。　The
credit　of　Grandet　of　Saumur；　the　hopes　he　diffused　by　means　of　des
Grassins　in　the　minds　of　all　concerned；　facilitated　the　transactions。
Not　a　single　creditor　proved　recalcitrant；　no　one　thought　of　passing
his　claim　to　his　profit…and…loss　account；　each　and　all　said
confidently；　〃Grandet　of　Saumur　will　pay。〃
Six　months　went　by。　The　Parisians　had　redeemed　the　notes　in
circulation　as　they　fell　due；　and　held　them　under　lock　and　key　in
their　desks。　First　result　aimed　at　by　the　old　cooper！　Nine　months
after　this　preliminary　meeting；　the　two　liquidators　distributed　forty…
seven　per　cent　to　each　creditor　on　his　claim。　This　amount　was　obtained
by　the　sale　of　the　securities；　property；　and　possessions　of　all　kinds
belonging　to　the　late　Guillaume　Grandet；　and　was　paid　over　with
scrupulous　fidelity。　Unimpeachable　integrity　was　shown　in　the
transaction。　The　creditors　gratefully　acknowledged　the　remarkable　and
incontestable　honor　displayed　by　the　Grandets。　When　these　praises　had
circulated　for　a　certain　length　of　time；　the　creditors　asked　for　the
rest　of　their　money。　It　became　necessary　to　write　a　collective　letter
to　Grandet　of　Saumur。
〃Here　it　comes！〃　said　the　old　man　as　he　threw　the　letter　into　the
fire。　〃Patience；　my　good　friends！〃
In　answer　to　the　proposals　contained　in　the　letter；　Grandet　of　Saumur
demanded　that　all　vouchers　for　claims　against　the　estate　of　his
brother　should　be　deposited　with　a　notary；　together　with　aquittances
for　the　forty…seven　per　cent　already　paid；　he　made　this　demand　under
pretence　of　sifting　the　accounts　and　finding　out　the　exact　condition
of　the　estate。　It　roused　at　once　a　variety　of　difficulties。　Generally
speaking；　the　creditor　is　a　species　of　maniac；　ready　to　agree　to
anything　one　day；　on　the　next　breathing　fire　and　slaughter；　later　on；
he　grows　amicable　and　easy…going。　To…day　his　wife　is　good…humored；　his
last　baby　has　cut　its　first　tooth；　all　is　well　at　home；　and　he　is
determined　not　to　lose　a　sou；　on　the　morrow　it　rains；　he　can't　go　out；
he　is　gloomy；　he　says　yes　to　any　proposal　that　is　made　to　him；　so　long
as　it　will　put　an　end　to　the　affair；　on　the　third　day　he　declares　he
must　have　guarantees；　by　the　end　of　the　month　he　wants　his　debtor's
head；　and　becomes　at　heart　an　executioner。　The　creditor　is　a　good　deal
like　the　sparrow　on　whose　tail　confiding　children　are　invited　to　put
salt；with　this　difference；　that　he　applies　the　image　to　his　claim；
the　proceeds　of　which　he　is　never　able　to　lay　hold　of。　Grandet　had
studied　the　atmospheric　variations　of　creditors；　and　the　creditors　of
his　brother　justified　all　his　calculations。　Some　were　angry；　and
flatly　refused　to　give　in　their　vouchers。
〃Very　good；　so　much　the　better；〃　said　Grandet；　rubbing　his　hands　over
the　letter　in　which　des　Grassins　announced　the　fact。
Others　agreed　to　the　demand；　but　only　on　condition　that　their　rights
should　be　fully　guaranteed；　they　renounced　none；　and　even　reserved　the
power　of　ultimately　compelling　a　failure。　On　this　began　a　long
correspondence；　which　ended　in　Grandet　of　Saumur　agreeing　to　all
conditions。　By　means　of　this　concession　the　placable　creditors　were
able　to　bring　the　dissatisfied　creditors　to　reason。　The　deposit　was
then　made；　but　not　without　sundry　complaints。
〃Your　goodman；〃　they　said　to　des　Grassins；　〃is　tricking　us。〃
Twenty…three　months　after　the　death　of　Guillaume　Grandet　many　of　the
creditors；　carried　away　by　more　pressing　business　in　the　markets　of
Paris；　had　forgotten　their　Grandet　claims；　or　only　thought　of　them　to
say：
〃I　begin　to　believe　that　forty…seven　per　cent　is　all　I　shall　ever　get
out　of　that　affair。〃
The　old　cooper　had　calculated　on　the　power　of　time；　which；　as　he　used
to　say；　is　a　pretty　good　devil　after　all。　By　the　end　of　the　third　year
des　Grassins　wrote　to　Grandet　that　he　had　brought　the　creditors　to
agree　to　give　up　their　claims　for　ten　per　cent　on　the　two　million　four
hundred　thousand　francs　still　due　by　the　house　of　Grandet。　Grandet
answered　that　the　notary　and　the　broker　whose　shameful　failures　had
caused　the　death　of　his　brother　were　still　living；　that　they　might　now
have　recovered　their　credit；　and　that　they　ought　to　be　sued；　so　as　to
get　something　out　of　them　towards　lessening　the　total　of　the　deficit。
By　the　end　of　the　fourth　year　the　liabilities　were　definitely
estimated　at　a　sum　of　twelve　hundred　thousand　francs。　Many
negotiations；　lasting　over　six　months；　took　place　between　the
creditors　and　the　liquidators；　and　between　the　liquidators　and
Grandet。　To　make　a　long　story　short；　Grandet　of　Saumur；　anxious　by
this　time　to　ge