eugenie grandet(欧也妮·葛朗台)-第24章

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creditors　and　the　liquidators；　and　between　the　liquidators　and
Grandet。　To　make　a　long　story　short；　Grandet　of　Saumur；　anxious　by
this　time　to　get　out　of　the　affair；　told　the　liquidators；　about　the
ninth　month　of　the　fourth　year；　that　his　nephew　had　made　a　fortune　in
the　Indies　and　was　disposed　to　pay　his　father's　debts　in　full；　he
therefore　could　not　take　upon　himself　to　make　any　settlement　without
previously　consulting　him；　he　had　written　to　him；　and　was　expecting　an
answer。　The　creditors　were　held　in　check　until　the　middle　of　the　fifth
year　by　the　words；　〃payment　in　full；〃　which　the　wily　old　miser　threw
out　from　time　to　time　as　he　laughed　in　his　beard；　saying　with　a　smile
and　an　oath；　〃Those　Parisians！〃
But　the　creditors　were　reserved　for　a　fate　unexampled　in　the　annals　of
commerce。　When　the　events　of　this　history　bring　them　once　more　into
notice；　they　will　be　found　still　in　the　position　Grandet　had　resolved
to　force　them　into　from　the　first。
As　soon　as　the　Funds　reached　a　hundred　and　fifteen；　Pere　Grandet　sold
out　his　interests　and　withdrew　two　million　four　hundred　thousand
francs　in　gold；　to　which　he　added；　in　his　coffers；　the　six　hundred
thousand　francs　compound　interest　which　he　had　derived　from　the
capital。　Des　Grassins　now　lived　in　Paris。　In　the　first　place　he　had
been　made　a　deputy；　then　he　became　infatuated　（father　of　a　family　as
he　was；　though　horribly　bored　by　the　provincial　life　of　Saumur）　with　a
pretty　actress　at　the　Theatre　de　Madame；　known　as　Florine；　and　he
presently　relapsed　into　the　old　habits　of　his　army　life。　It　is　useless
to　speak　of　his　conduct；　Saumur　considered　it　profoundly　immoral。　His
wife　was　fortunate　in　the　fact　of　her　property　being　settled　upon
herself；　and　in　having　sufficient　ability　to　keep　up　the　banking…house
in　Saumur；　which　was　managed　in　her　name　and　repaired　the　breach　in
her　fortune　caused　by　the　extravagance　of　her　husband。　The　Cruchotines
made　so　much　talk　about　the　false　position　of　the　quasi…widow　that　she
married　her　daughter　very　badly；　and　was　forced　to　give　up　all　hope　of
an　alliance　between　Eugenie　Grandet　and　her　son。　Adolphe　joined　his
father　in　Paris　and　became；　it　was　said；　a　worthless　fellow。　The
Cruchots　triumphed。
〃Your　husband　hasn't　common　sense；〃　said　Grandet　as　he　lent　Madame　des
Grassins　some　money　on　a　note　securely　endorsed。　〃I　am　very　sorry　for
you；　for　you　are　a　good　little　woman。〃
〃Ah；　monsieur；〃　said　the　poor　lady；　〃who　could　have　believed　that　when
he　left　Saumur　to　go　to　Paris　on　your　business　he　was　going　to　his
ruin？〃
〃Heaven　is　my　witness；　madame；　that　up　to　the　last　moment　I　did　all　I
could　to　prevent　him　from　going。　Monsieur　le　president　was　most
anxious　to　take　his　place；　but　he　was　determined　to　go；　and　now　we　all
see　why。〃
In　this　way　Grandet　made　it　quite　plain　that　he　was　under　no
obligation　to　des　Grassins。
*****
In　all　situations　women　have　more　cause　for　suffering　than　men；　and
they　suffer　more。　Man　has　strength　and　the　power　of　exercising　it；　he
acts；　moves；　thinks；　occupies　himself；　he　looks　ahead；　and　sees
consolation　in　the　future。　It　was　thus　with　Charles。　But　the　woman
stays　at　home；　she　is　always　face　to　face　with　the　grief　from　which
nothing　distracts　her；　she　goes　down　to　the　depths　of　the　abyss　which
yawns　before　her；　measures　it；　and　often　fills　it　with　her　tears　and
prayers。　Thus　did　Eugenie。　She　initiated　herself　into　her　destiny。　To
feel；　to　love；　to　suffer；　to　devote　herself；is　not　this　the　sum　of
woman's　life？　Eugenie　was　to　be　in　all　things　a　woman；　except　in　the
one　thing　that　consoles　for　all。　Her　happiness；　picked　up　like　nails
scattered　on　a　wallto　use　the　fine　simile　of　Bossuetwould　never　so
much　as　fill　even　the　hollow　of　her　hand。　Sorrows　are　never　long　in
coming；　for　her　they　came　soon。　The　day　after　Charles's　departure　the
house　of　Monsieur　Grandet　resumed　its　ordinary　aspect　in　the　eyes　of
all；　except　in　those　of　Eugenie；　to　whom　it　grew　suddenly　empty。　She
wished；　if　it　could　be　done　unknown　to　her　father；　that　Charles's　room
might　be　kept　as　he　had　left　it。　Madame　Grandet　and　Nanon　were　willing
accomplices　in　this　/statu　quo/。
〃Who　knows　but　he　may　come　back　sooner　than　we　think　for？〃　she　said。
〃Ah；　don't　I　wish　I　could　see　him　back！〃　answered　Nanon。　〃I　took　to
him！　He　was　such　a　dear；　sweet　young　man；pretty　too；　with　his　curly
hair。〃　Eugenie　looked　at　Nanon。　〃Holy　Virgin！　don't　look　at　me　that
way；　mademoiselle；　your　eyes　are　like　those　of　a　lost　soul。〃
From　that　day　the　beauty　of　Mademoiselle　Grandet　took　a　new　character。
The　solemn　thoughts　of　love　which　slowly　filled　her　soul；　and　the
dignity　of　the　woman　beloved；　gave　to　her　features　an　illumination
such　as　painters　render　by　a　halo。　Before　the　coming　of　her　cousin；
Eugenie　might　be　compared　to　the　Virgin　before　the　conception；　after
he　had　gone；　she　was　like　the　Virgin　Mother；she　had　given　birth　to
love。　These　two　Marys　so　different；　so　well　represented　by　Spanish
art；　embody　one　of　those　shining　symbols　with　which　Christianity
abounds。
Returning　from　Mass　on　the　morning　after　Charles's　departure；having
made　a　vow　to　hear　it　daily；Eugenie　bought　a　map　of　the　world；　which
she　nailed　up　beside　her　looking…glass；　that　she　might　follow　her
cousin　on　his　westward　way；　that　she　might　put　herself；　were　it　ever
so　little；　day　by　day　into　the　ship　that　bore　him；　and　see　him　and　ask
him　a　thousand　questions；〃Art　thou　well？　Dost　thou　suffer？　Dost　thou
think　of　me　when　the　star；　whose　beauty　and　usefulness　thou　hast
taught　me　to　know；　shines　upon　thee？〃　In　the　mornings　she　sat　pensive
beneath　the　walnut…tree；　on　the　worm…eaten　bench　covered　with　gray
lichens；　where　they　had　said　to　each　other　so　many　precious　things；　so
many　trifles；　where　they　had　built　the　pretty　castles　of　their　future
home。　She　thought　of　the　future　now　as　she　looked　upward　to　the　bit　of
sky　which　was　all　the　high　walls　suffered　her　to　see；　then　she　turned
her　eyes　to　the　angle　where　the　sun　crept　on；　and　to　the　roof　above
the　room　in　which　he　had　slept。　Hers　was　the　solitary　love；　the
persistent　love；　which　glides　into　every　thought　and　becomes　the
substance；　or；　as　our　fathers　might　have　said；　the　tissue　of　life。
When　the　would…be　friends　of　Pere　Grandet　came　in　the　evening　for
their　game　at　cards；　she　was　gay　and　dissimulating；　but　all　the
morning　she　talked　of　Charles　with　her　mother　and　Nanon。　Nanon　had
brought　herself　to　see　that　she　could　pity　the　sufferings　of　her　young
mistress　without　failing　in　her　duty　to　the　old　master；　and　she　would
say　to　Eugenie；
〃If　I　had　a　man　for　myself　I'dI'd　follow　him　to　hell；　yes；　I'd
exterminate　myself　for　him；　but　I've　none。　I　shall　die　and　never　know
what　life　is。　Would　you　believe；　mamz'elle；　that　old　Cornoiller　（a
good　fellow　all　the　same）　is　always　round　my　petticoats　for　the　sake
of　my　money；just　for　all　the　world　like　the　rats　who　come　smelling
after　the　master's　cheese　and　paying　court　to　you？　I　see　it　all；　I've
got　a　shrewd　eye；　though　I　am　as　big　as　a　steeple。　Well；　mamz'elle；　it
pleases　me；　but　it　isn't　love。〃

X
Two　months　went　by。　This　domestic　life；　once　so　monotonous；　was　now
quickened　with　the　intense　interest　of　a　secret　that　bound　these　women
intimately　together。　For　them　Charles　lived　and　moved　beneath　the　grim
gray　rafters　of　the　hall。　Night　and　morning　Eugenie　opened　the
dressing…case　and　gazed　at　the　portrait　of　her　aunt。　One　Sunday
morning　her　mother　surprised　her　as　she　stood　absorbed　in　finding　her
cousin's　features　in　his　mother's　face。　Madame　Grandet　was　then　for
the　first　time　admitted　into　the　terrible　secret　of　the　exchange　made
by　Charles　against　her　daughter's　treasure。
〃You　gave　him　all！〃　cried　the　poor　mother；　terrified。　〃What　will　you
say　to　your　father　on　New　Year's　Day　when　he　asks　to　see　your　gold？〃
Eugenie's　eyes　grew　fixed；　and　the　two　women　lived　through　mortal
terror　for　more　than　half　the　morning。　They　were　so　troubled　in　mind
that　they　missed　high　Mass；　and　only　went　to　the　military　service。　In
three　days　the　year　1819　would　come　to　an　end。　In　three　days　a
terrible　drama　would　begin；　a　bourgeois　tragedy；　without　poison；　or
dagger；　or　the　spilling　of　blood；　butas　regards　the　actors　in　it
more　cruel　than　all　the　fabled　horrors　in　the　family　of　the　Atrides。
〃What　will　become　of　us？〃　said　Madame　Grandet　to　her　daughter；　letting
her　knitting　fall　upon　her　knees。
The　poor　mother　had　gone　through　such　anxiety　for　the　past　two　months
that　the　woollen　sleeves　which　she　needed　for　the　coming　winter　were
not　yet　finished。　This　domestic　fact；　insignificant　as　it　seems；　bore
sad　results。　For　want　of　those　sleeves；　a　chill　seized　her　in　the
midst　of　a　sweat　caused　by　a　terrible　explosion　of　anger　on　the　part
of　her　husband。
〃I　have　been　thinking；　my　poor　child；　that　if　you　had　confided　your
secret　to　me　we　should　have　had　time　to　write　to　Monsieur　des　Grassins
in　Paris。　He　might　have　sent　us　gold　pieces　like　yours；　though　Grandet
knows　them　all；　perhaps〃
〃Where　could　we　have　got　the　money？〃
〃I　would　have　pledged　my　own　property。　Besides；　Monsieur　des　Grassins
would　have〃
〃It　is　too　late；〃　said　Eugenie　in　a　broken；　hollow　voice。　〃To…morrow
morning　we　must　go　and　wish　him　a　happy　New　Year　in　his　chamber。〃
〃But；　my　daughter；　why　should　I　not　consult　the　Cruchots？〃
〃No；　no；　it　would　be　delivering　me　up　to　them；　and　putting　ourselves
in　their　power。　Besides；　I　have　chosen　my　course。　I　have　done　right；　I
repent　of　nothing。　God　will　protect　me。　His　will　be　done！　Ah！　mother；
if　you　had　read　his　letter；　you；　too；　would　have　thought　only　of　him。〃
The　next　morning；　January　1；　1820；　the　horrible　fear　to　which　mother
and　daughter　were　a　prey　suggested　to　their　minds　a　natural　excuse　by
which　to　escape　the　solemn　entrance　into　Grandet's　chamber。　The　winter
of　1819…1820　was　one　of　the　coldest　of　that　epoch。　The　snow　encumbered
the　roofs。
Madame　Grandet　called　to　her　husband　as　soon　as　she　heard　him　stirring
in　his　chamber；　and　said；
〃Grandet；　will　you　let　Nanon　light　a　fire　here　for　me？　The　cold　is　so
sharp　that　I　am　freezing　under　the　bedclothes。　At　my　age　I　need　some
comforts。　Besides；〃　she　added；　after　a　slight　pause；　〃Eugenie　shall
come　and　dress　here；　the　poor　child　might　get　an　illness　from　dressing
in　her　cold　room　in　such　weather。　Then　we　will　go　and　wish　you　a　happy
New　Year　beside　the　fire　in　the　hall。〃
〃Ta；　ta；　ta；　ta；　what　a　tongue！　a　pretty　way　to　begin　the　new　year；
Madame　Grandet！　You　never　talked　so　much　before；　but　you　haven't　been
sopping　your　bread　in　wine；　I　know　that。〃
There　was　a　moment's　silence。
〃Well；〃　resumed　the　goodman；　who　no　doubt　had　some　reason　of　his　own
for　agreeing　to　his　wife's　request；　〃I'll　do　what　you　ask；　Madame
Grandet。　You　are　a　good　woman；　and　I　don't　want　any　harm　to　happen　to
you　at　your　time　of　life；though　as　a　general　thing　the　Bertellieres
are　as　sound　as　a　roach。　Hein！　isn't　that　so？〃　he　added　after　a　pause。
〃Well；　I　forgive　them；　we　got　their　property　in　the　end。〃　And　he
coughed。
〃You　are　very　gay　this　morning；　monsieur；〃　said　the　poor　woman
gravely。
〃I'm　always　gay；
　　〃'Gai；　gai；　gai；　le　tonnelier；
　　Raccommodez　votre　cuvier！'〃
he　answered；　entering　his　wife's　room　fully　dressed。　〃Yes；　on　my　word；
it　is　cold　enough　to　freeze　you　solid