father goriot(高老头)-第13章

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Eugene　had　yet　to　learn　that　no　one　in　Paris　should　present　himself　in　any　house　without　first　making　himself　acquainted　with　the　whole　history　of　its　owner；　and　of　its　owner's　wife　and　family；　so　that　he　may　avoid　making　any　of　the　terrible　blunders　which　in　Poland　draw　forth　the　picturesque　exclamation；　〃Harness　five　bullocks　to　your　cart！〃　probably　because　you　will　need　them　all　to　pull　you　out　of　the　quagmire　into　which　a　false　step　has　plunged　you。　If；　down　to　the　present　day；　our　language　has　no　name　for　these　conversational　disasters；　it　is　probably　because　they　are　believed　to　be　impossible；　the　publicity　given　in　Paris　to　every　scandal　is　so　prodigious。　After　the　awkward　incident　at　Mme。　de　Restaud's；　no　one　but　Eugene　could　have　reappeared　in　his　character　of　bullock…driver　in　Mme。　de　Beauseant's　drawing…room。　But　if　Mme。　de　Restaud　and　M。　de　Trailles　had　found　him　horribly　in　the　way；　M。　d'Ajuda　hailed　his　coming　with　relief。

〃Good…bye；〃　said　the　Portuguese；　hurrying　to　the　door；　as　Eugene　made　his　entrance　into　a　dainty　little　pink…and…gray　drawing…　room；　where　luxury　seemed　nothing　more　than　good　taste。

〃Until　this　evening；〃　said　Mme。　de　Beauseant；　turning　her　head　to　give　the　Marquis　a　glance。　〃We　are　going　to　the　Bouffons；　are　we　not？〃

〃I　cannot　go；〃　he　said；　with　his　fingers　on　the　door　handle。

Mme。　de　Beauseant　rose　and　beckoned　to　him　to　return。　She　did　not　pay　the　slightest　attention　to　Eugene；　who　stood　there　dazzled　by　the　sparkling　marvels　around　him；　he　began　to　think　that　this　was　some　story　out　of　the　Arabian　Nights　made　real；　and　did　not　know　where　to　hide　himself；　when　the　woman　before　him　seemed　to　be　unconscious　of　his　existence。　The　Vicomtesse　had　raised　the　forefinger　of　her　right　hand；　and　gracefully　signed　to　the　Marquis　to　seat　himself　beside　her。　The　Marquis　felt　the　imperious　sway　of　passion　in　her　gesture；　he　came　back　towards　her。　Eugene　watched　him；　not　without　a　feeling　of　envy。

〃That　is　the　owner　of　the　brougham！〃　he　said　to　himself。　〃But　is　it　necessary　to　have　a　pair　of　spirited　horses；　servants　in　livery；　and　torrents　of　gold　to　draw　a　glance　from　a　woman　here　in　Paris？〃

The　demon　of　luxury　gnawed　at　his　heart；　greed　burned　in　his　veins；　his　throat　was　parched　with　the　thirst　of　gold。

He　had　a　hundred　and　thirty　francs　every　quarter。　His　father；　mother；　brothers；　sisters；　and　aunt　did　not　spend　two　hundred　francs　a　month　among　them。　This　swift　comparison　between　his　present　condition　and　the　aims　he　had　in　view　helped　to　benumb　his　faculties。

〃Why　not？〃　the　Vicomtesse　was　saying；　as　she　smiled　at　the　Portuguese。　〃Why　cannot　you　come　to　the　Italiens？〃

〃Affairs！　I　am　to　dine　with　the　English　Ambassador。〃

〃Throw　him　over。〃

When　a　man　once　enters　on　a　course　of　deception；　he　is　compelled　to　add　lie　to　lie。　M。　d'Ajuda　therefore　said；　smiling；　〃Do　you　lay　your　commands　on　me？〃

〃Yes；　certainly。〃

〃That　was　what　I　wanted　to　have　you　say　to　me；〃　he　answered；　dissembling　his　feelings　in　a　glance　which　would　have　reassured　any　other　woman。

He　took　the　Vicomtesse's　hand；　kissed　it；　and　went。

Eugene　ran　his　fingers　through　his　hair；　and　constrained　himself　to　bow。　He　thought　that　now　Mme。　de　Beauseant　would　give　him　her　attention；　but　suddenly　she　sprang　forward；　rushed　to　a　window　in　the　gallery；　and　watched　M。　d'Ajuda　step　into　his　carriage；　she　listened　to　the　order　that　he　gave；　and　heard　the　Swiss　repeat　it　to　the　coachman：

〃To　M。　de　Rochefide's　house。〃

Those　words；　and　the　way　in　which　M。　d'Ajuda　flung　himself　back　in　the　carriage；　were　like　a　lightning　flash　and　a　thunderbolt　for　her；　she　walked　back　again　with　a　deadly　fear　gnawing　at　her　heart。　The　most　terrible　catastrophes　only　happen　among　the　heights。　The　Vicomtesse　went　to　her　own　room；　sat　down　at　a　table；　and　took　up　a　sheet　of　dainty　notepaper。

　　〃When；　instead　of　dining　with　the　English　Ambassador；〃　　　she　wrote；　〃you　go　to　the　Rochefides；　you　owe　me　an　　　explanation；　which　I　am　waiting　to　hear。〃

She　retraced　several　of　the　letters；　for　her　hand　was　trembling　so　that　they　were　indistinct；　then　she　signed　the　note　with　an　initial　C　for　〃Claire　de　Bourgogne；〃　and　rang　the　bell。

〃Jacques；〃　she　said　to　the　servant；　who　appeared　immediately；　〃take　this　note　to　M。　de　Rochefide's　house　at　half…past　seven　and　ask　for　the　Marquis　d'Ajuda。　If　M。　d'Ajuda　is　there；　leave　the　note　without　waiting　for　an　answer；　if　he　is　not　there；　bring　the　note　back　to　me。〃

〃Madame　la　Vicomtess；　there　is　a　visitor　in　the　drawing…room。〃

〃Ah！　yes；　of　course；〃　she　said；　opening　the　door。

Eugene　was　beginning　to　feel　very　uncomfortable；　but　at　last　the　Vicomtesse　appeared；　she　spoke　to　him；　and　the　tremulous　tones　of　her　voice　vibrated　through　his　heart。

〃Pardon　me；　monsieur；〃　she　said；　〃I　had　a　letter　to　write。　Now　I　am　quite　at　liberty。〃

She　scarcely　knew　what　she　was　saying；　for　even　as　she　spoke　she　thought；　〃Ah！　he　means　to　marry　Mlle。　de　Rochefide？　But　is　he　still　free？　This　evening　the　marriage　shall　be　broken　off；　or　else　。　。　。　But　before　to…morrow　I　shall　know。〃

〃Cousin　。　。　。〃　the　student　replied。

〃Eh？〃　said　the　Countess；　with　an　insolent　glance　that　sent　a　cold　shudder　through　Eugene；　he　understood　what　that　〃Eh？〃　meant；　he　had　learned　a　great　deal　in　three　hours；　and　his　wits　were　on　the　alert。　He　reddened：

〃Madame　。　。　。〃　he　began；　he　hesitated　a　moment；　and　then　went　on。　〃Pardon　me；　I　am　in　such　need　of　protection　that　the　nearest　scrap　of　relationship　could　do　me　no　harm。〃

Mme。　de　Beauseant　smiled　but　there　was　sadness　in　her　smile；　even　now　she　felt　forebodings　of　the　coming　pain；　the　air　she　breathed　was　heavy　with　the　storm　that　was　about　to　burst。

〃If　you　knew　how　my　family　are　situated；〃　he　went　on；　〃you　would　love　to　play　the　part　of　a　beneficent　fairy　godmother　who　graciously　clears　the　obstacles　from　the　path　of　her　protege。〃

〃Well；　cousin；〃　she　said；　laughing；　〃and　how　can　I　be　of　service　to　you？〃

〃But　do　I　know　even　that？　I　am　distantly　related　to　you；　and　this　obscure　and　remote　relationship　is　even　now　a　perfect　godsend　to　me。　You　have　confused　my　ideas；　I　cannot　remember　the　things　that　I　meant　to　say　to　you。　I　know　no　one　else　here　in　Paris。　。　。　。　Ah！　if　I　could　only　ask　you　to　counsel　me；　ask　you　to　look　upon　me　as　a　poor　child　who　would　fain　cling　to　the　hem　of　your　dress；　who　would　lay　down　his　life　for　you。〃

〃Would　you　kill　a　man　for　me？〃

〃Two；〃　said　Eugene。

〃You；　child。　Yes；　you　are　a　child；〃　she　said；　keeping　back　the　tears　that　came　to　her　eyes；　〃you　would　love　sincerely。〃

〃Oh！〃　he　cried；　flinging　up　his　head。

The　audacity　of　the　student's　answer　interested　the　Vicomtesse　in　him。　The　southern　brain　was　beginning　to　scheme　for　the　first　time。　Between　Mme。　de　Restaud's　blue　boudoir　and　Mme。　de　Beauseant's　rose…colored　drawing…room　he　had　made　a　three　years'　advance　in　a　kind　of　law　which　is　not　a　recognized　study　in　Paris；　although　it　is　a　sort　of　higher　jurisprudence；　and；　when　well　understood；　is　a　highroad　to　success　of　every　kind。

〃Ah！　that　is　what　I　meant　to　say！〃　said　Eugene。　〃I　met　Mme。　de　Restaud　at　your　ball；　and　this　morning　I　went　to　see　her。

〃You　must　have　been　very　much　in　the　way；〃　said　Mme。　de　Beauseant；　smiling　as　she　spoke。

〃Yes；　indeed。　I　am　a　novice；　and　my　blunders　will　set　every　one　against　me；　if　you　do　not　give　me　your　counsel。　I　believe　that　in　Paris　it　is　very　difficult　to　meet　with　a　young；　beautiful；　and　wealthy　woman　of　fashion　who　would　be　willing　to　teach　me；　what　you　women　can　explain　so　welllife。　I　shall　find　a　M。　de　Trailles　everywhere。　So　I　have　come　to　you　to　ask　you　to　give　me　a　key　to　a　puzzle；　to　entreat　you　to　tell　me　what　sort　of　blunder　I　made　this　morning。　I　mentioned　an　old　man〃

〃Madame　la　Duchess　de　Langeais；〃　Jacques　cut　the　student　short；　Eugene　gave　expression　to　his　intense　annoyance　by　a　gesture。

〃If　you　mean　to　succeed；〃　said　the　Vicomtesse　in　a　low　voice；　〃in　the　first　place　you　must　not　be　so　demonstrative。〃

〃Ah！　good　morning；　dear；〃　she　continued；　and　rising　and　crossing　the　room；　she　grasped　the　Duchess'　hands　as　affectionately　as　if　they　had　been　sisters；　the　Duchess　responded　in　the　prettiest　and　most　gracious　way。

〃Two　intimate　friends！〃　said　Rastignac　to　himself。　〃Henceforward　I　shall　have　two　protectresses；　those　two　women　are　great　friends；　no　doubt；　and　this　newcomer　will　doubtless　interest　herself　in　her　friend's　cousin。〃

〃To　what　happy　inspiration　do　I　owe　this　piece　of　good　fortune；　dear　Antoinette？〃　asked　Mme。　de　Beauseant。

〃Well；　I　saw　M。　d'Ajuda…Pinto　at　M。　de　Rochefide's　door；　so　I　thought　that　if　I　came　I　should　find　you　alone。〃

Mme。　de　Beauseant's　mouth　did　not　tighten；　her　color　did　not　rise；　her　expression　did　not　alter；　or　rather；　her　brow　seemed　to　clear　as　the　Duchess　uttered　those　deadly　words。

〃If　I　had　known　that　you　were　engaged〃　the　speaker　added；　glancing　at　Eugene。

〃This　gentleman　is　M。　Eugene　de　Rastignac；　one　of　my　cousins；〃　said　the　Vicomtesse。　〃Have　you　any　news　of　General　de　Montriveau？〃　she　continued。　〃Serizy　told　me　yesterday　that　he　never　goes　anywhere　now；　has　he　been　to　see　you　to…day？〃

It　was　believed　that　the　Duchess　was　desperately　in　love　with　M。　de　Montriveau；　and　that　he　was　a　faithless　lover；　she　felt　the　question　in　her　very　heart；　and　her　face　flushed　as　she　answered：

〃He　was　at　the　Elysee　yesterday。〃

〃In　attendance？〃

〃Claire；〃　returned　the　Duchess；　and　hatred　overflowed　in　the　glances　she　threw　at　Mme。　de　Beauseant；　〃of　course　you　know　that　M。　d'Ajuda…Pinto　is　going　to　marry　Mlle。　de　Rochefide；　the　bans　will　be　published　to…morrow。〃

This　thrust　was　too　cruel；　the　Vicomtesse's　face　grew　white；　but　she　answered；　laughing；　〃One　of　those　rumors　that　fools　amuse　themselves　with。　What　should　induce　M。　d'Ajuda　to　take　one　of　the　noblest　names　in　Portugal　to　the　Rochefides？　The　Rochefides　were　only　ennobled　yesterday。〃

〃But　Bertha　will　have　two　hundred　thousand　livres　a　year；　they　say。〃

〃M。　d'Ajuda　is　too　wealthy　to　marry　for　money。〃

〃But；　my　dear；　Mlle。　de　Rochefide　is　a　charming　girl。〃

〃Indeed？〃

〃And；　as　a　matter　of　fact；　he　is　dining　with　them　to…day；　the　thing　is　settled。　It　is　very　surprising　to　me　that　you　should　know　so　little　about　it。〃

Mme。　de　Beauseant　turned　to　Rastignac。　〃What　was　the　blunder　that　you　made；　monsieur？〃　she　asked。　〃The　poor　boy　is　only　just　launched　into　the　world；　Antoinette；　so　that　he　understands　nothing　of　all　this　that　we　are　speaking　of。　Be　merciful　to　him；　and　let　us　finish　our　talk　to…morrow。　Everything　will　be　announced　to…morrow；　you　know；　and　your　kind　informal　communication　can　be　accompanied　by　official　confirmation。〃

The　Duchess　gave　Eugene　one　of　those　insolent　glances　that　measure　a　man　from　head　to　foot；　and　leave　him　crushed　and　annihilated。

〃Madame；　I　have　unwittingly　plunged　a　dagger　into　Mme。　de　Restaud's　heart；　unwittinglytherein　lies　my　offence；〃　said　the　student　of　law；　whose　keen　brain　had　served　him　sufficiently　well；　for　he　had　detected　the　biting　epigrams　that　lurked　beneath　this　friendly　talk。　〃You　continue　to　receive；　possibly　you　fear；　those　who　know　the　amount　of　pain　that　they　deliberately　inflict；　but　a　clumsy　blunderer　who　has　no　idea　how　deeply　he　wounds　is　looked　upon　as　a　fool　who　does　not　know　how　to　make　use