eugenie grandet(欧也妮·葛朗台)-第6章

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his　blue　surtout；　then　he　looked　at　the　Cruchots　with　an　air　that
seemed　to　say；　〃Parry　that　thrust　if　you　can！〃　Madame　des　Grassins
cast　her　eyes　on　the　blue　vases　which　held　the　Cruchot　bouquets；
looking　at　the　enemy's　gifts　with　the　pretended　interest　of　a
satirical　woman。　At　this　delicate　juncture　the　Abbe　Cruchot　left　the
company　seated　in　a　circle　round　the　fire　and　joined　Grandet　at　the
lower　end　of　the　hall。　As　the　two　men　reached　the　embrasure　of　the
farthest　window　the　priest　said　in　the　miser's　ear：　〃Those　people
throw　money　out　of　the　windows。〃
〃What　does　that　matter　if　it　gets　into　my　cellar？〃　retorted　the　old
wine…grower。
〃If　you　want　to　give　gilt　scissors　to　your　daughter；　you　have　the
means；〃　said　the　abbe。
〃I　give　her　something　better　than　scissors；〃　answered　Grandet。
〃My　nephew　is　a　blockhead；〃　thought　the　abbe　as　he　looked　at　the
president；　whose　rumpled　hair　added　to　the　ill　grace　of　his　brown
countenance。　〃Couldn't　he　have　found　some　little　trifle　which　cost
money？〃
〃We　will　join　you　at　cards；　Madame　Grandet；〃　said　Madame　des　Grassins。
〃We　might　have　two　tables；　as　we　are　all　here。〃
〃As　it　is　Eugenie's　birthday　you　had　better　play　loto　all　together；〃
said　Pere　Grandet：　〃the　two　young　ones　can　join〃；　and　the　old　cooper；
who　never　played　any　game；　motioned　to　his　daughter　and　Adolphe。
〃Come；　Nanon；　set　the　tables。〃
〃We　will　help　you；　Mademoiselle　Nanon；〃　said　Madame　des　Grassins
gaily；　quite　joyous　at　the　joy　she　had　given　Eugenie。
〃I　have　never　in　my　life　been　so　pleased；〃　the　heiress　said　to　her；　〃I
have　never　seen　anything　so　pretty。〃
〃Adolphe　brought　it　from　Paris；　and　he　chose　it；〃　Madame　des　Grassins
whispered　in　her　ear。
〃Go　on！　go　on！　damned　intriguing　thing！〃　thought　the　president。　〃If
you　ever　have　a　suit　in　court；　you　or　your　husband；　it　shall　go　hard
with　you。〃
The　notary；　sitting　in　his　corner；　looked　calmly　at　the　abbe；　saying
to　himself：　〃The　des　Grassins　may　do　what　they　like；　my　property　and
my　brother's　and　that　of　my　nephew　amount　in　all　to　eleven　hundred
thousand　francs。　The　des　Grassins；　at　the　most；　have　not　half　that；
besides；　they　have　a　daughter。　They　may　give　what　presents　they　like；
heiress　and　presents　too　will　be　ours　one　of　these　days。〃
At　half…past　eight　in　the　evening　the　two　card…tables　were　set　out。
Madame　des　Grassins　succeeded　in　putting　her　son　beside　Eugenie。　The
actors　in　this　scene；　so　full　of　interest；　commonplace　as　it　seems；
were　provided　with　bits　of　pasteboard　striped　in　many　colors　and
numbered；　and　with　counters　of　blue　glass；　and　they　appeared　to　be
listening　to　the　jokes　of　the　notary；　who　never　drew　a　number　without
making　a　remark；　while　in　fact　they　were　all　thinking　of　Monsieur
Grandet's　millions。　The　old　cooper；　with　inward　self…conceit；　was
contemplating　the　pink　feathers　and　the　fresh　toilet　of　Madame　des
Grassins；　the　martial　head　of　the　banker；　the　faces　of　Adolphe；　the
president；　the　abbe；　and　the　notary；　saying　to　himself：
〃They　are　all　after　my　money。　Hey！　neither　the　one　nor　the　other　shall
have　my　daughter；　but　they　are　usefuluseful　as　harpoons　to　fish
with。〃
This　family　gaiety　in　the　old　gray　room　dimly　lighted　by　two　tallow
candles；　this　laughter；　accompanied　by　the　whirr　of　Nanon's　spinning…
wheel；　sincere　only　upon　the　lips　of　Eugenie　or　her　mother；　this
triviality　mingled　with　important　interests；　this　young　girl；　who；
like　certain　birds　made　victims　of　the　price　put　upon　them；　was　now
lured　and　trapped　by　proofs　of　friendship　of　which　she　was　the　dupe；
all　these　things　contributed　to　make　the　scene　a　melancholy　comedy。　Is
it　not；　moreover；　a　drama　of　all　times　and　all　places；　though　here
brought　down　to　its　simplest　expression？　The　figure　of　Grandet；
playing　his　own　game　with　the　false　friendship　of　the　two　families　and
getting　enormous　profits　from　it；　dominates　the　scene　and　throws　light
upon　it。　The　modern　god；the　only　god　in　whom　faith　is　preserved；
money；　is　here；　in　all　its　power；　manifested　in　a　single　countenance。
The　tender　sentiments　of　life　hold　here　but　a　secondary　place；　only
the　three　pure；　simple　hearts　of　Nanon；　of　Eugenie；　and　of　her　mother
were　inspired　by　them。　And　how　much　of　ignorance　there　was　in　the
simplicity　of　these　poor　women！　Eugenie　and　her　mother　knew　nothing　of
Grandet's　wealth；　they　could　only　estimate　the　things　of　life　by　the
glimmer　of　their　pale　ideas；　and　they　neither　valued　nor　despised
money；　because　they　were　accustomed　to　do　without　it。　Their　feelings；
bruised；　though　they　did　not　know　it；　but　ever…living；　were　the　secret
spring　of　their　existence；　and　made　them　curious　exceptions　in　the
midst　of　these　other　people　whose　lives　were　purely　material。
Frightful　condition　of　the　human　race！　there　is　no　one　of　its　joys
that　does　not　come　from　some　species　of　ignorance。
At　the　moment　when　Madame　Grandet　had　won　a　loto　of　sixteen　sous；the
largest　ever　pooled　in　that　house；and　while　la　Grande　Nanon　was
laughing　with　delight　as　she　watched　madame　pocketing　her　riches；　the
knocker　resounded　on　the　house…door　with　such　a　noise　that　the　women
all　jumped　in　their　chairs。
〃There　is　no　man　in　Saumur　who　would　knock　like　that；〃　said　the
notary。
〃How　can　they　bang　in　that　way！〃　exclaimed　Nanon；　〃do　they　want　to
break　in　the　door？〃
〃Who　the　devil　is　it？〃　cried　Grandet。

III
Nanon　took　one　of　the　candles　and　went　to　open　the　door；　followed　by
her　master。
〃Grandet！　Grandet！〃　cried　his　wife；　moved　by　a　sudden　impulse　of　fear；
and　running　to　the　door　of　the　room。
All　the　players　looked　at　each　other。
〃Suppose　we　all　go？〃　said　Monsieur　des　Grassins；　〃that　knock　strikes
me　as　evil…intentioned。〃
Hardly　was　Monsieur　des　Grassins　allowed　to　see　the　figure　of　a　young
man；　accompanied　by　a　porter　from　the　coach…office　carrying　two　large
trunks　and　dragging　a　carpet…bag　after　him；　than　Monsieur　Grandet
turned　roughly　on　his　wife　and　said；
〃Madame　Grandet；　go　back　to　your　loto；　leave　me　to　speak　with
monsieur。〃
Then　he　pulled　the　door　quickly　to；　and　the　excited　players　returned
to　their　seats；　but　did　not　continue　the　game。
〃Is　it　any　one　belonging　to　Saumur；　Monsieur　des　Grassins？〃　asked　his
wife。
〃No；　it　is　a　traveller。〃
〃He　must　have　come　from　Paris。〃
〃Just　so；〃　said　the　notary；　pulling　out　his　watch；　which　was　two
inches　thick　and　looked　like　a　Dutch　man…of…war；　〃it's　nine　o'clock；
the　diligence　of　the　Grand　Bureau　is　never　late。〃
〃Is　the　gentleman　young？〃　inquired　the　Abbe　Cruchot。
〃Yes；〃　answered　Monsieur　des　Grassins；　〃and　he　has　brought　luggage
which　must　weigh　nearly　three　tons。〃
〃Nanon　does　not　come　back；〃　said　Eugenie。
〃It　must　be　one　of　your　relations；〃　remarked　the　president。
〃Let　us　go　on　with　our　game；〃　said　Madame　Grandet　gently。　〃I　know　from
Monsieur　Grandet's　tone　of　voice　that　he　is　annoyed；　perhaps　he　would
not　like　to　find　us　talking　of　his　affairs。〃
〃Mademoiselle；〃　said　Adolphe　to　his　neighbor；　〃it　is　no　doubt　your
cousin　Grandet；a　very　good…looking　young　man；　I　met　him　at　the　ball
of　Monsieur　de　Nucingen。〃　Adolphe　did　not　go　on；　for　his　mother　trod
on　his　toes；　and　then；　asking　him　aloud　for　two　sous　to　put　on　her
stake；　she　whispered：　〃Will　you　hold　your　tongue；　you　great　goose！〃
At　this　moment　Grandet　returned；　without　la　Grande　Nanon；　whose　steps；
together　with　those　of　the　porter；　echoed　up　the　staircase；　and　he　was
followed　by　the　traveller　who　had　excited　such　curiosity　and　so　filled
the　lively　imaginations　of　those　present　that　his　arrival　at　this
dwelling；　and　his　sudden　fall　into　the　midst　of　this　assembly；　can
only　be　likened　to　that　of　a　snail　into　a　beehive；　or　the　introduction
of　a　peacock　into　some　village　poultry…yard。
〃Sit　down　near　the　fire；〃　said　Grandet。
Before　seating　himself；　the　young　stranger　saluted　the　assembled
company　very　gracefully。　The　men　rose　to　answer　by　a　courteous
inclination；　and　the　women　made　a　ceremonious　bow。
〃You　are　cold；　no　doubt；　monsieur；〃　said　Madame　Grandet；　〃you　have；
perhaps；　travelled　from〃
〃Just　like　all　women！〃　said　the　old　wine…grower；　looking　up　from　a
letter　he　was　reading。　〃Do　let　monsieur　rest　himself！〃
〃But；　father；　perhaps　monsieur　would　like　to　take　something；〃　said
Eugenie。
〃He　has　got　a　tongue；〃　said　the　old　man　sternly。
The　stranger　was　the　only　person　surprised　by　this　scene；　all　the
others　were　well…used　to　the　despotic　ways　of　the　master。　However；
after　the　two　questions　and　the　two　replies　had　been　exchanged；　the
newcomer　rose；　turned　his　back　towards　the　fire；　lifted　one　foot　so　as
to　warm　the　sole　of　its　boot；　and　said　to　Eugenie；
〃Thank　you；　my　cousin；　but　I　dined　at　Tours。　And；〃　he　added；　looking
at　Grandet；　〃I　need　nothing；　I　am　not　even　tired。〃
〃Monsieur　has　come　from　the　capital？〃　asked　Madame　des　Grassins。
Monsieur　Charles；such　was　the　name　of　the　son　of　Monsieur　Grandet　of
Paris；hearing　himself　addressed；　took　a　little　eye…glass；　suspended
by　a　chain　from　his　neck；　applied　it　to　his　right　eye　to　examine　what
was　on　the　table；　and　also　the　persons　sitting　round　it。　He　ogled
Madame　des　Grassins　with　much　impertinence；　and　said　to　her；　after　he
had　observed　all　he　wished；
〃Yes；　madame。　You　are　playing　at　loto；　aunt；〃　he　added。　〃Do　not　let　me
interrupt　you；　I　beg；　go　on　with　your　game：　it　is　too　amusing　to
leave。〃
〃I　was　certain　it　was　the　cousin；〃　thought　Madame　des　Grassins；
casting　repeated　glances　at　him。
〃Forty…seven！〃　cried　the　old　abbe。　〃Mark　it　down；　Madame　des　Grassins。
Isn't　that　your　number？〃
Monsieur　des　Grassins　put　a　counter　on　his　wife's　card；　who　sat
watching　first　the　cousin　from　Paris　and　then　Eugenie；　without
thinking　of　her　loto；　a　prey　to　mournful　presentiments。　From　time　to
time　the　young　the　heiress　glanced　furtively　at　her　cousin；　and　the
banker's　wife　easily　detected　a　/crescendo/　of　surprise　and　curiosity
in　her　mind。
Monsieur　Charles　Grandet；　a　handsome　young　man　of　twenty…two；
presented　at　this　moment　a　singular　contrast　to　the　worthy
provincials；　who；　considerably　disgusted　by　his　aristocratic　manners；
were　all　studying　him　with　sarcastic　intent。　This　needs　an
explanation。　At　twenty…two；　young　people　are　still　so　near　childhood
that　they　often　conduct　themselves　childishly。　In　all　probability；　out
of　every　hundred　of　them　fully　ninety…nine　would　have　behaved
precisely　as　Monsieur　Charles　Grandet　was　now　behaving。
Some　days　earlier　than　this　his　father　had　told　him　to　go　and　spend
several　months　with　his　uncle　at　Saumur。　Perhaps　Monsieur　Grandet　was
thinking　of　Eugenie。　Charles；　sent　for　the　first　time　in　his　life　into
the　provinces；　took　a　fancy　to　make　his　appearance　with　the
superiority　of　a　man　of　fashion；　to　reduce　the　whole　arrondissement　to
despair　by　his　luxury；　and　to　make　his　visit　an　epoch；　importing　into
those　country　regions　all　the　refinements　of　Parisian　life。　In　short；
to　explain　it　in　one　word；　he　mean　to　pass　more　time　at　Saumur　in
brushing　his　nails　than　he　ever　thought　of　doing　in　Paris；　and　to
assume　the　extra　nicety　and　elegance　of　dress　which　a　young　man　of
fashion　often　lays　aside　for　a　certain　negligence　which　in　itself　is
not　devoid　of　grace。　Charles　therefore　brought　with　him　a　complete
hunting…costume；　the　finest　gun；　the　best　hunting…knife　in　the
prettiest　sheath　to　be　found　in　all　Paris。　He　brought　his　whole
co