father goriot(高老头)-第20章

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ged　in　the　process；　and　that　we　shall　endure　twenty　years　of　drudgery　and　hidden　poverty；　and　that　our　sisters　are　wearing　Dian's　livery。　I　have　the　honor　to　call　your　attention　to　another　fact：　to　wit；　that　there　are　but　twenty　Procureurs　Generaux　at　a　time　in　all　France；　while　there　are　some　twenty　thousand　of　you　young　men　who　aspire　to　that　elevated　position；　that　there　are　some　mountebanks　among　you　who　would　sell　their　family　to　screw　their　fortunes　a　peg　higher。　If　this　sort　of　thing　sickens　you；　try　another　course。　The　Baron　de　Rastignac　thinks　of　becoming　an　advocate；　does　he？　There's　a　nice　prospect　for　you！　Ten　years　of　drudgery　straight　away。　You　are　obliged　to　live　at　the　rate　of　a　thousand　francs　a　month；　you　must　have　a　library　of　law　books；　live　in　chambers；　go　into　society；　go　down　on　your　knees　to　ask　a　solicitor　for　briefs；　lick　the　dust　off　the　floor　of　the　Palais　de　Justice。　If　this　kind　of　business　led　to　anything；　I　should　not　say　no；　but　just　give　me　the　names　of　five　advocates　here　in　Paris　who　by　the　time　that　they　are　fifty　are　making　fifty　thousand　francs　a　year！　Bah！　I　would　sooner　turn　pirate　on　the　high　seas　than　have　my　soul　shrivel　up　inside　me　like　that。　How　will　you　find　the　capital？　There　is　but　one　way；　marry　a　woman　who　has　money。　There　is　no　fun　in　it。　Have　you　a　mind　to　marry？　You　hang　a　stone　around　your　neck；　for　if　you　marry　for　money；　what　becomes　of　our　exalted　notions　of　honor　and　so　forth？　You　might　as　well　fly　in　the　face　of　social　conventions　at　once。　Is　it　nothing　to　crawl　like　a　serpent　before　your　wife；　to　lick　her　mother's　feet；　to　descend　to　dirty　actions　that　would　sicken　swinefaugh！never　mind　if　you　at　least　make　your　fortune。　But　you　will　be　as　doleful　as　a　dripstone　if　you　marry　for　money。　It　is　better　to　wrestle　with　men　than　to　wrangle　at　home　with　your　wife。　You　are　at　the　crossway　of　the　roads　of　life；　my　boy；　choose　your　way。

〃But　you　have　chosen　already。　You　have　gone　to　see　your　cousin　of　Beauseant；　and　you　have　had　an　inkling　of　luxury；　you　have　been　to　Mme。　de　Restaud's　house；　and　in　Father　Goriot's　daughter　you　have　seen　a　glimpse　of　the　Parisienne　for　the　first　time。　That　day　you　came　back　with　a　word　written　on　your　forehead。　I　knew　it；　I　could　read　it'SUCCESS！'　Yes；　success　at　any　price。　'Bravo；'　said　I　to　myself；　'here　is　the　sort　of　fellow　for　me。'　You　wanted　money。　Where　was　it　all　to　come　from？　You　have　drained　your　sisters'　little　hoard　（all　brothers　sponge　more　or　less　on　their　sisters）。　Those　fifteen　hundred　francs　of　yours　（got　together；　God　knows　how！　in　a　country　where　there　are　more　chestnuts　than　five…franc　pieces）　will　slip　away　like　soldiers　after　pillage。　And；　then；　what　will　you　do？　Shall　you　begin　to　work？　Work；　or　what　you　understand　by　work　at　this　moment；　means；　for　a　man　of　Poiret's　calibre；　an　old　age　in　Mamma　Vauquer's　lodging…house。　There　are　fifty　thousand　young　men　in　your　position　at　this　moment；　all　bent　as　you　are　on　solving　one　and　the　same　problemhow　to　acquire　a　fortune　rapidly。　You　are　but　a　unit　in　that　aggregate。　You　can　guess；　therefore；　what　efforts　you　must　make；　how　desperate　the　struggle　is。　There　are　not　fifty　thousand　good　positions　for　you；　you　must　fight　and　devour　one　another　like　spiders　in　a　pot。　Do　you　know　how　a　man　makes　his　way　here？　By　brilliant　genius　or　by　skilful　corruption。　You　must　either　cut　your　way　through　these　masses　of　men　like　a　cannon　ball；　or　steal　among　them　like　a　plague。　Honesty　is　nothing　to　the　purpose。　Men　bow　before　the　power　of　genius；　they　hate　it；　and　try　to　slander　it；　because　genius　does　not　divide　the　spoil；　but　if　genius　persists；　they　bow　before　it。　To　sum　it　all　up　in　a　phrase；　if　they　fail　to　smother　genius　in　the　mud；　they　fall　on　their　knees　and　worship　it。　Corruption　is　a　great　power　in　the　world；　and　talent　is　scarce。　So　corruption　is　the　weapon　of　superfluous　mediocrity；　you　will　be　made　to　feel　the　point　of　it　everywhere。　You　will　see　women　who　spend　more　than　ten　thousand　francs　a　year　on　dress；　while　their　husband's　salary　（his　whole　income）　is　six　thousand　francs。　You　will　see　officials　buying　estates　on　twelve　thousand　francs　a　year。　You　will　see　women　who　sell　themselves　body　and　soul　to　drive　in　a　carriage　belonging　to　the　son　of　a　peer　of　France；　who　has　a　right　to　drive　in　the　middle　rank　at　Longchamp。　You　have　seen　that　poor　simpleton　of　a　Goriot　obliged　to　meet　a　bill　with　his　daughter's　name　at　the　back　of　it；　though　her　husband　has　fifty　thousand　francs　a　year。　I　defy　you　to　walk　a　couple　of　yards　anywhere　in　Paris　without　stumbling　on　some　infernal　complication。　I'll　bet　my　head　to　a　head　of　that　salad　that　you　will　stir　up　a　hornet's　nest　by　taking　a　fancy　to　the　first　young；　rich；　and　pretty　woman　you　meet。　They　are　all　dodging　the　law；　all　at　loggerheads　with　their　husbands。　If　I　were　to　begin　to　tell　you　all　that　vanity　or　necessity　（virtue　is　not　often　mixed　up　in　it；　you　may　be　sure）；　all　that　vanity　and　necessity　drive　them　to　do　for　lovers；　finery；　housekeeping；　or　children；　I　should　never　come　to　an　end。　So　an　honest　man　is　the　common　enemy。

〃But　do　you　know　what　an　honest　man　is？　Here；　in　Paris；　an　honest　man　is　the　man　who　keeps　his　own　counsel；　and　will　not　divide　the　plunder。　I　am　not　speaking　now　of　those　poor　bond…slaves　who　do　the　work　of　the　world　without　a　reward　for　their　toilGod　Almighty's　outcasts；　I　call　them。　Among　them；　I　grant　you；　is　virtue　in　all　the　flower　of　its　stupidity；　but　poverty　is　no　less　their　portion。　At　this　moment；　I　think　I　see　the　long　faces　those　good　folk　would　pull　if　God　played　a　practical　joke　on　them　and　stayed　away　at　the　Last　Judgment。

〃Well；　then；　if　you　mean　to　make　a　fortune　quickly；　you　must　either　be　rich　to　begin　with；　or　make　people　believe　that　you　are　rich。　It　is　no　use　playing　here　except　for　high　stakes；　once　take　to　low　play；　it　is　all　up　with　you。　If　in　the　scores　of　professions　that　are　open　to　you；　there　are　ten　men　who　rise　very　rapidly；　people　are　sure　to　call　them　thieves。　You　can　draw　your　own　conclusions。　Such　is　life。　It　is　no　cleaner　than　a　kitchen；　it　reeks　like　a　kitchen；　and　if　you　mean　to　cook　your　dinner；　you　must　expect　to　soil　your　hands；　the　real　art　is　in　getting　them　clean　again；　and　therein　lies　the　whole　morality　of　our　epoch。　If　I　take　this　tone　in　speaking　of　the　world　to　you；　I　have　the　right　to　do　so；　I　know　it　well。　Do　you　think　that　I　am　blaming　it？　Far　from　it；　the　world　has　always　been　as　it　is　now。　Moralists'　strictures　will　never　change　it。　Mankind　are　not　perfect；　but　one　age　is　more　or　less　hypocritical　than　another；　and　then　simpletons　say　that　its　morality　is　high　or　low。　I　do　not　think　that　the　rich　are　any　worse　than　the　poor；　man　is　much　the　same；　high　or　low；　or　wherever　he　is。　In　a　million　of　these　human　cattle　there　may　be　half　a　score　of　bold　spirits　who　rise　above　the　rest；　above　the　laws；　I　am　one　of　them。　And　you；　if　you　are　cleverer　than　your　fellows；　make　straight　to　your　end；　and　hold　your　head　high。　But　you　must　lay　your　account　with　envy　and　slander　and　mediocrity；　and　every　man's　hand　will　be　against　you。　Napoleon　met　with　a　Minister　of　War；　Aubry　by　name；　who　all　but　sent　him　to　the　colonies。

〃Feel　your　pulse。　Think　whether　you　can　get　up　morning　after　morning；　strengthened　in　yesterday's　purpose。　In　that　case　I　will　make　you　an　offer　that　no　one　would　decline。　Listen　attentively。　You　see；　I　have　an　idea　of　my　own。　My　idea　is　to　live　a　patriarchal　life　on　a　vast　estate；　say　a　hundred　thousand　acres；　somewhere　in　the　Southern　States　of　America。　I　mean　to　be　a　planter；　to　have　slaves；　to　make　a　few　snug　millions　by　selling　my　cattle；　timber；　and　tobacco；　I　want　to　live　an　absolute　monarch；　and　to　do　just　as　I　please；　to　lead　such　a　life　as　no　one　here　in　these　squalid　dens　of　lath　and　plaster　ever　imagines。　I　am　a　great　poet；　I　do　not　write　my　poems；　I　feel　them；　and　act　them。　At　this　moment　I　have　fifty　thousand　francs；　which　might　possibly　buy　forty　negroes。　I　want　two　hundred　thousand　francs；　because　I　want　to　have　two　hundred　negroes　to　carry　out　my　notions　of　the　patriarachal　life　properly。　Negroes；　you　see；　are　like　a　sort　of　family　ready　grown；　and　there　are　no　inquisitive　public　prosecutors　out　there　to　interfere　with　you。　That　investment　in　ebony　ought　to　mean　three　or　four　million　francs　in　ten　years'　time。　If　I　am　successful；　no　one　will　ask　me　who　I　am。　I　shall　be　Mr。　Four　Millions；　an　American　citizen。　I　shall　be　fifty　years　old　by　then；　and　sound　and　hearty　still；　I　shall　enjoy　life　after　my　own　fashion。　In　two　words；　if　I　find　you　an　heiress　with　a　million；　will　you　give　me　two　hundred　thousand　francs？　Twenty　per　cent　commission；　eh？　Is　that　too　much？　Your　little　wife　will　be　very　much　in　love　with　you。　Once　married；　you　will　show　signs　of　uneasiness　and　remorse；　for　a　couple　of　weeks　you　will　be　depressed。　Then；　some　night　after　sundry　grimacings；　comes　the　confession；　between　two　kisses；　'Two　hundred　thousand　francs　of　debts；　my　darling！'　This　sort　of　farce　is　played　every　day　in　Paris；　and　by　young　men　of　the　highest　fashion。　When　a　young　wife　has　given　her　heart；　she　will　not　refuse　her　purse。　Perhaps　you　are　thinking　that　you　will　lose　the　money　for　good？　Not　you。　You　will　make　two　hundred　thousand　francs　again　by　some　stroke　of　business。　With　your　capital　and　your　brains　you　should　be　able　to　accumulate　as　large　a　fortune　as　you　could　wish。　ERGO；　in　six　months　you　will　have　made　your　own　fortune；　and　our　old　friend　Vautrin's；　and　made　an　amiable　woman　very　happy；　to　say　nothing　of　your　people　at　home；　who　must　blow　on　their　fingers　to　warm　them；　in　the　winter；　for　lack　of　firewood。　You　need　not　be　surprised　at　my　proposal；　nor　at　the　demand　I　make。　Forty…seven　out　of　every　sixty　great　matches　here　in　Paris　are　made　after　just　such　a　bargain　as　this。　The　Chamber　of　Notaries　compels　my　gentleman　to〃

〃What　must　I　do？〃　said　Rastignac；　eagerly　interrupting　Vautrin's　speech。

〃Next　to　nothing；〃　returned　the　other；　with　a　slight　involuntary　movement；　the　suppressed　exultation　of　the　angler　when　he　feels　a　bite　at　the　end　of　his　line。　〃Follow　me　carefully！　The　heart　of　a　girl　whose　life　is　wretched　and　unhappy　is　a　sponge　that　will　thirstily　absorb　love；　a　dry　sponge　that　swells　at　the　first　drop　of　sentiment。　If　you　pay　court　to　a　young　girl　whose　existence　is　a　compound　of　loneliness；　despair；　and　poverty；　and　who　has　no　suspicion　that　she　will　come　into　a　fortune；　good　Lord！　it　is　quint　and　quatorze　at　piquet；　it　is　knowing　the　numbers　of　the　lottery　before…hand；　it　is　speculating　in　the　funds　when　you　have　news　from　a　sure　source；　it　is　building　up　a　marriage　on　an　indestructible　foundation。　The　girl　may　come　in　for　millions；　and　she　will　fling　them；　as　if　they　were　so　many　pebbles；　at　your　feet。　'Take　it；　my　beloved！　Take　it；　Alfred；　Adolphe；　Eugene！'　or　whoever　it　was　that　showed　his　sense　by　sacrificing　himself　for　her。　And　as　for　sacrificing　himself；　this　is　how　I　understand　it。　You　sell　a　coat　that　is　getting　shabby；　so　that　you　can　take　her　to　the　Cadran　bleu；　treat　her　to　mushrooms　on　toast；　and　then　go　to　the　Ambigu…Comique　in　the　evening；　you　pawn　your　watch　to　buy　her　a　shawl。　I　need　not　remind　you　of　the　fiddle…faddle　sentimentality　that　goes　down　so　well　with　all　women；　you　spill　a　few　drops　of　water　on　your　stationery；