father goriot(高老头)-第18章

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of　the　reddest。　The　two　young　Princes；　Don　Henri　and　Don　Gabriel；　retain　their　fatal　habits　of　stuffing　themselves　with　grape…jelly；　of　teasing　their　sisters；　of　taking　their　pleasure　by　going　a…bird…nesting；　and　of　cutting　switches　for　themselves　from　the　osier…beds；　maugre　the　laws　of　the　realm。　Moreover；　they　list　not　to　learn　naught；　wherefore　the　Papal　Nuncio　（called　of　the　commonalty；　M。　le　Cure）　threateneth　them　with　excommunication；　since　that　they　neglect　the　sacred　canons　of　grammatical　construction　for　the　construction　of　other　canon；　deadly　engines　made　of　the　stems　of　elder。

〃Farewell；　dear　brother；　never　did　letter　carry　so　many　wishes　for　your　success；　so　much　love　fully　satisfied。　You　will　have　a　great　deal　to　tell　us　when　you　come　home！　You　will　tell　me　everything；　won't　you？　I　am　the　oldest。　From　something　the　aunt　let　fall；　we　think　you　must　have　had　some　success。

〃Something　was　said　of　a　lady；　but　nothing　more　was　said　。　。　。

〃Of　course　not；　in　our　family！　Oh；　by…the…by；　Eugene；　would　you　rather　that　we　made　that　piece　of　cambric　into　shirts　for　you　instead　of　pocket…handkerchiefs？　If　you　want　some　really　nice　shirts　at　once；　we　ought　to　lose　no　time　in　beginning　upon　them；　and　if　the　fashion　is　different　now　in　Paris；　send　us　one　for　a　pattern；　we　want　more　particularly　to　know　about　the　cuffs。　Good…　bye！　Good…bye！　Take　my　kiss　on　the　left　side　of　your　forehead；　on　the　temple　that　belongs　to　me；　and　to　no　one　else　in　the　world。　I　am　leaving　the　other　side　of　the　sheet　for　Agathe；　who　has　solemnly　promised　not　to　read　a　word　that　I　have　written；　but；　all　the　same；　I　mean　to　sit　by　her　side　while　she　writes；　so　as　to　be　quite　sure　that　she　keeps　her　word。Your　loving　sister；　〃Laure　de　Rastignac。〃

〃Yes！〃　said　Eugene　to　himself。　〃Yes！　Success　at　all　costs　now！　Riches　could　not　repay　such　devotion　as　this。　I　wish　I　could　give　them　every　sort　of　happiness！　Fifteen　hundred　and　fifty　francs；〃　he　went　on　after　a　pause。　〃Every　shot　must　go　to　the　mark！　Laure　is　right。　Trust　a　woman！　I　have　only　calico　shirts。　Where　some　one　else's　welfare　is　concerned；　a　young　girl　becomes　as　ingenious　as　a　thief。　Guileless　where　she　herself　is　in　question；　and　full　of　foresight　for　me；she　is　like　a　heavenly　angel　forgiving　the　strange　incomprehensible　sins　of　earth。〃

The　world　lay　before　him。　His　tailor　had　been　summoned　and　sounded；　and　had　finally　surrendered。　When　Rastignac　met　M。　de　Trailles；　he　had　seen　at　once　how　great　a　part　the　tailor　plays　in　a　young　man's　career；　a　tailor　is　either　a　deadly　enemy　or　a　staunch　friend；　with　an　invoice　for　a　bond　of　friendship；　between　these　two　extremes　there　is；　alack！　no　middle　term。　In　this　representative　of　his　craft　Eugene　discovered　a　man　who　understood　that　his　was　a　sort　of　paternal　function　for　young　men　at　their　entrance　into　life；　who　regarded　himself　as　a　stepping…　stone　between　a　young　man's　present　and　future。　And　Rastignac　in　gratitude　made　the　man's　fortune　by　an　epigram　of　a　kind　in　which　he　excelled　at　a　later　period　of　his　life。

〃I　have　twice　known　a　pair　of　trousers　turned　out　by　him　make　a　match　of　twenty　thousand　livres　a　year！〃

Fifteen　hundred　francs；　and　as　many　suits　of　clothes　as　he　chose　to　order！　At　that　moment　the　poor　child　of　the　South　felt　no　more　doubts　of　any　kind。　The　young　man　went　down　to　breakfast　with　the　indefinable　air　which　the　consciousness　of　the　possession　of　money　gives　to　youth。　No　sooner　are　the　coins　slipped　into　a　student's　pocket　than　his　wealth；　in　imagination　at　least；　is　piled　into　a　fantastic　column；　which　affords　him　a　moral　support。　He　begins　to　hold　up　his　head　as　he　walks；　he　is　conscious　that　he　has　a　means　of　bringing　his　powers　to　bear　on　a　given　point；　he　looks　you　straight　in　the　face；　his　gestures　are　quick　and　decided；　only　yesterday　he　was　diffident　and　shy；　any　one　might　have　pushed　him　aside；　to…morrow；　he　will　take　the　wall　of　a　prime　minister。　A　miracle　has　been　wrought　in　him。　Nothing　is　beyond　the　reach　of　his　ambition；　and　his　ambition　soars　at　random；　he　is　light…hearted；　generous；　and　enthusiastic；　in　short；　the　fledgling　bird　has　discovered　that　he　has　wings。　A　poor　student　snatches　at　every　chance　pleasure　much　as　a　dog　runs　all　sorts　of　risks　to　steal　a　bone；　cracking　it　and　sucking　the　marrow　as　he　flies　from　pursuit；　but　a　young　man　who　can　rattle　a　few　runaway　gold　coins　in　his　pocket　can　take　his　pleasure　deliberately；　can　taste　the　whole　of　the　sweets　of　secure　possession；　he　soars　far　above　earth；　he　has　forgotten　what　the　word　POVERTY　means；　all　Paris　is　his。　Those　are　days　when　the　whole　world　shines　radiant　with　light；　when　everything　glows　and　sparkles　before　the　eyes　of　youth；　days　that　bring　joyous　energy　that　is　never　brought　into　harness；　days　of　debts　and　of　painful　fears　that　go　hand　in　hand　with　every　delight。　Those　who　do　not　know　the　left　bank　of　the　Seine　between　the　Rue　Saint…Jacques　and　the　Rue　des　Saints…Peres　know　nothing　of　life。

〃Ah！　if　the　women　of　Paris　but　knew；〃　said　Rastignac；　as　he　devoured　Mme。　Vauquer's　stewed　pears　（at　five　for　a　penny）；　〃they　would　come　here　in　search　of　a　lover。〃

Just　then　a　porter　from　the　Messageries　Royales　appeared　at　the　door　of　the　room；　they　had　previously　heard　the　bell　ring　as　the　wicket　opened　to　admit　him。　The　man　asked　for　M。　Eugene　de　Rastignac；　holding　out　two　bags　for　him　to　take；　and　a　form　of　receipt　for　his　signature。　Vautrin's　keen　glance　cut　Eugene　like　a　lash。

〃Now　you　will　be　able　to　pay　for　those　fencing　lessons　and　go　to　the　shooting　gallery；〃　he　said。

〃Your　ship　has　come　in；〃　said　Mme。　Vauquer；　eyeing　the　bags。

Mlle。　Michonneau　did　not　dare　to　look　at　the　money；　for　fear　her　eyes　should　betray　her　cupidity。

〃You　have　a　kind　mother；〃　said　Mme。　Couture。

〃You　have　a　kind　mother；　sir；〃　echoed　Poiret。

〃Yes；　mamma　has　been　drained　dry；〃　said　Vautrin；　〃and　now　you　can　have　your　fling；　go　into　society；　and　fish　for　heiresses；　and　dance　with　countesses　who　have　peach　blossom　in　their　hair。　But　take　my　advice；　young　man；　and　don't　neglect　your　pistol　practice。〃

Vautrin　struck　an　attitude；　as　if　he　were　facing　an　antagonist。　Rastignac；　meaning　to　give　the　porter　a　tip；　felt　in　his　pockets　and　found　nothing。　Vautrin　flung　down　a　franc　piece　on　the　table。

〃Your　credit　is　good；〃　he　remarked；　eyeing　the　student；　and　Rastignac　was　forced　to　thank　him；　though；　since　the　sharp　encounter　of　wits　at　dinner　that　day；　after　Eugene　came　in　from　calling　on　Mme。　de　Beauseant；　he　had　made　up　his　mind　that　Vautrin　was　insufferable。　For　a　week；　in　fact；　they　had　both　kept　silence　in　each　other's　presence；　and　watched　each　other。　The　student　tried　in　vain　to　account　to　himself　for　this　attitude。

An　idea；　of　course；　gains　in　force　by　the　energy　with　which　it　is　expressed；　it　strikes　where　the　brain　sends　it；　by　a　law　as　mathematically　exact　as　the　law　that　determines　the　course　of　a　shell　from　a　mortar。　The　amount　of　impression　it　makes　is　not　to　be　determined　so　exactly。　Sometimes；　in　an　impressible　nature；　the　idea　works　havoc；　but　there　are；　no　less；　natures　so　robustly　protected；　that　this　sort　of　projectile　falls　flat　and　harmless　on　skulls　of　triple　brass；　as　cannon…shot　against　solid　masonry；　then　there　are　flaccid　and　spongy…fibred　natures　into　which　ideas　from　without　sink　like　spent　bullets　into　the　earthworks　of　a　redoubt。　Rastignac's　head　was　something　of　the　powder…magazine　order；　the　least　shock　sufficed　to　bring　about　an　explosion。　He　was　too　quick；　too　young；　not　to　be　readily　accessible　to　ideas；　and　open　to　that　subtle　influence　of　thought　and　feeling　in　others　which　causes　so　many　strange　phenomena　that　make　an　impression　upon　us　of　which　we　are　all　unconscious　at　the　time。　Nothing　escaped　his　mental　vision；　he　was　lynx…eyed；　in　him　the　mental　powers　of　perception；　which　seem　like　duplicates　of　the　senses；　had　the　mysterious　power　of　swift　projection　that　astonishes　us　in　intellects　of　a　high　orderslingers　who　are　quick　to　detect　the　weak　spot　in　any　armor。

In　the　past　month　Eugene's　good　qualities　and　defects　had　rapidly　developed　with　his　character。　Intercourse　with　the　world　and　the　endeavor　to　satisfy　his　growing　desires　had　brought　out　his　defects。　But　Rastignac　came　from　the　South　side　of　the　Loire；　and　had　the　good　qualities　of　his　countrymen。　He　had　the　impetuous　courage　of　the　South；　that　rushes　to　the　attack　of　a　difficulty；　as　well　as　the　southern　impatience　of　delay　or　suspense。　These　traits　are　held　to　be　defects　in　the　North；　they　made　the　fortune　of　Murat；　but　they　likewise　cut　short　his　career。　The　moral　would　appear　to　be　that　when　the　dash　and　boldness　of　the　South　side　of　the　Loire　meets；　in　a　southern　temperament；　with　the　guile　of　the　North；　the　character　is　complete；　and　such　a　man　will　gain　（and　keep）　the　crown　of　Sweden。

Rastignac；　therefore；　could　not　stand　the　fire　from　Vautrin's　batteries　for　long　without　discovering　whether　this　was　a　friend　or　a　foe。　He　felt　as　if　this　strange　being　was　reading　his　inmost　soul；　and　dissecting　his　feelings；　while　Vautrin　himself　was　so　close　and　secretive　that　he　seemed　to　have　something　of　the　profound　and　unmoved　serenity　of　a　sphinx；　seeing　and　hearing　all　things　and　saying　nothing。　Eugene；　conscious　of　that　money　in　his　pocket；　grew　rebellious。

〃Be　so　good　as　to　wait　a　moment；〃　he　said　to　Vautrin；　as　the　latter　rose；　after　slowly　emptying　his　coffee…cup；　sip　by　sip。

〃What　for？〃　inquired　the　older　man；　as　he　put　on　his　large…　brimmed　hat　and　took　up　the　sword…cane　that　he　was　wont　to　twirl　like　a　man　who　will　face　three　or　four　footpads　without　flinching。

〃I　will　repay　you　in　a　minute；〃　returned　Eugene。　He　unsealed　one　of　the　bags　as　he　spoke；　counted　out　a　hundred　and　forty　francs；　and　pushed　them　towards　Mme。　Vauquer。　〃Short　reckonings　make　good　friends〃　he　added；　turning　to　the　widow；　〃that　clears　our　accounts　till　the　end　of　the　year。　Can　you　give　me　change　for　a　five…franc　piece？〃

〃Good　friends　make　short　reckonings；〃　echoed　Poiret；　with　a　glance　at　Vautrin。

〃Here　is　your　franc；〃　said　Rastignac；　holding　out　the　coin　to　the　sphinx　in　the　black　wig。

〃Any　one　might　think　that　you　were　afraid　to　owe　me　a　trifle；〃　exclaimed　this　latter；　with　a　searching　glance　that　seemed　to　read　the　young　man's　inmost　thoughts；　there　was　a　satirical　and　cynical　smile　on　Vautrin's　face　such　as　Eugene　had　seen　scores　of　times　already；　every　time　he　saw　it；　it　exasperated　him　almost　beyond　endurance。

〃Well　。　。　。　so　I　am；〃　he　answered。　He　held　both　the　bags　in　his　hand；　and　had　risen　to　go　up　to　his　room。

Vautrin　made　as　if　he　were　going　out　through　the　sitting…room；　and　the　student　turned　to　go　through　the　second　door　that　opened　into　the　square　lobby　at　the　foot　of　the　staircase。

〃Do　you　know；　Monsieur　le　Marquis　de　Rastignacorama；　that　what　you　were　saying　just　now　was　not　exactly　polite？〃　Vautrin　remarked；　as　he　rattled　his　sword…cane　across　the　panels　of　the　sitting…room　door；　and　came　up　to　the　student。

Rastignac　looked　coolly　at　Vautrin；　drew　him　to　the　foot　of　the　staircase；　and　shut　the　dining…room　door。　They　were　standing　in　the　little　square　lobby　between　the　kitchen　and　the　dining…room；　the　place　was　lighted　by　an　iron…barred　fanlight　above　a　door　that　gave　access　into　the　garden。　Sylvie　came　out　of　her　kitchen；　and　Eugene