father goriot(高老头)-第21章

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mentality　that　goes　down　so　well　with　all　women；　you　spill　a　few　drops　of　water　on　your　stationery；　for　instance；　those　are　the　tears　you　shed　while　far　away　from　her。　You　look　to　me　as　if　you　were　perfectly　acquainted　with　the　argot　of　the　heart。　Paris；　you　see；　is　like　a　forest　in　the　New　World；　where　you　have　to　deal　with　a　score　of　varieties　of　savagesIllinois　and　Hurons；　who　live　on　the　proceed　of　their　social　hunting。　You　are　a　hunter　of　millions；　you　set　your　snares；　you　use　lures　and　nets；　there　are　many　ways　of　hunting。　Some　hunt　heiresses；　others　a　legacy；　some　fish　for　souls；　yet　others　sell　their　clients；　bound　hand　and　foot。　Every　one　who　comes　back　from　the　chase　with　his　game…　bag　well　filled　meets　with　a　warm　welcome　in　good　society。　In　justice　to　this　hospitable　part　of　the　world；　it　must　be　said　that　you　have　to　do　with　the　most　easy　and　good…natured　of　great　cities。　If　the　proud　aristocracies　of　the　rest　of　Europe　refuse　admittance　among　their　ranks　to　a　disreputable　millionaire；　Paris　stretches　out　a　hand　to　him；　goes　to　his　banquets；　eats　his　dinners；　and　hobnobs　with　his　infamy。〃

〃But　where　is　such　a　girl　to　be　found？〃　asked　Eugene。

〃Under　your　eyes；　she　is　yours　already。〃

〃Mlle。　Victorine？〃

〃Precisely。〃

〃And　what　was　that　you　said？〃

〃She　is　in　love　with　you　already；　your　little　Baronne　de　Rastignac！〃

〃She　has　not　a　penny；〃　Eugene　continued；　much　mystified。

〃Ah！　now　we　are　coming　to　it！　Just　another　word　or　two；　and　it　will　all　be　clear　enough。　Her　father；　Taillefer；　is　an　old　scoundrel；　it　is　said　that　he　murdered　one　of　his　friends　at　the　time　of　the　Revolution。　He　is　one　of　your　comedians　that　sets　up　to　have　opinions　of　his　own。　He　is　a　bankersenior　partner　in　the　house　of　Frederic　Taillefer　and　Company。　He　has　one　son；　and　means　to　leave　all　he　has　to　the　boy；　to　the　prejudice　of　Victorine。　For　my　part；　I　don't　like　to　see　injustice　of　this　sort。　I　am　like　Don　Quixote；　I　have　a　fancy　for　defending　the　weak　against　the　strong。　If　it　should　please　God　to　take　that　youth　away　from　him；　Taillefer　would　have　only　his　daughter　left；　he　would　want　to　leave　his　money　to　some　one　or　other；　an　absurd　notion；　but　it　is　only　human　nature；　and　he　is　not　likely　to　have　any　more　children；　as　I　know。　Victorine　is　gentle　and　amiable；　she　will　soon　twist　her　father　round　her　fingers；　and　set　his　head　spinning　like　a　German　top　by　plying　him　with　sentiment！　She　will　be　too　much　touched　by　your　devotion　to　forget　you；　you　will　marry　her。　I　mean　to　play　Providence　for　you；　and　Providence　is　to　do　my　will。　I　have　a　friend　whom　I　have　attached　closely　to　myself；　a　colonel　in　the　Army　of　the　Loire；　who　has　just　been　transferred　into　the　garde　royale。　He　has　taken　my　advice　and　turned　ultra…royalist；　he　is　not　one　of　those　fools　who　never　change　their　opinions。　Of　all　pieces　of　advice；　my　cherub；　I　would　give　you　thisdon't　stick　to　your　opinions　any　more　than　to　your　words。　If　any　one　asks　you　for　them；　let　him　have　them　at　a　price。　A　man　who　prides　himself　on　going　in　a　straight　line　through　life　is　an　idiot　who　believes　in　infallibility。　There　are　no　such　things　as　principles；　there　are　only　events；　and　there　are　no　laws　but　those　of　expediency：　a　man　of　talent　accepts　events　and　the　circumstances　in　which　he　finds　himself；　and　turns　everything　to　his　own　ends。　If　laws　and　principles　were　fixed　and　invariable；　nations　would　not　change　them　as　readily　as　we　change　our　shirts。　The　individual　is　not　obliged　to　be　more　particular　than　the　nation。　A　man　whose　services　to　France　have　been　of　the　very　slightest　is　a　fetich　looked　on　with　superstitious　awe　because　he　has　always　seen　everything　in　red；　but　he　is　good；　at　the　most；　to　be　put　into　the　Museum　of　Arts　and　Crafts；　among　the　automatic　machines；　and　labeled　La　Fayette；　while　the　prince　at　whom　everybody　flings　a　stone；　the　man　who　despises　humanity　so　much　that　he　spits　as　many　oaths　as　he　is　asked　for　in　the　face　of　humanity；　saved　France　from　being　torn　in　pieces　at　the　Congress　of　Vienna；　and　they　who　should　have　given　him　laurels　fling　mud　at　him。　Oh！　I　know　something　of　affairs；　I　can　tell　you；　I　have　the　secrets　of　many　men！　Enough。　When　I　find　three　minds　in　agreement　as　to　the　application　of　a　principle；　I　shall　have　a　fixed　and　immovable　opinionI　shall　have　to　wait　a　long　while　first。　In　the　Tribunals　you　will　not　find　three　judges　of　the　same　opinion　on　a　single　point　of　law。　To　return　to　the　man　I　was　telling　you　of。　He　would　crucify　Jesus　Christ　again；　if　I　bade　him。　At　a　word　from　his　old　chum　Vautrin　he　will　pick　a　quarrel　with　a　scamp　that　will　not　send　so　much　as　five　francs　to　his　sister；　poor　girl；　and〃　（here　Vautrin　rose　to　his　feet　and　stood　like　a　fencing…master　about　to　lunge）〃turn　him　off　into　the　dark！〃　he　added。

〃How　frightful！〃　said　Eugene。　〃You　do　not　really　mean　it？　M。　Vautrin；　you　are　joking！〃

〃There！　there！　Keep　cool！〃　said　the　other。　〃Don't　behave　like　a　baby。　But　if　you　find　any　amusement　in　it；　be　indignant；　flare　up！　Say　that　I　am　a　scoundrel；　a　rascal；　a　rogue；　a　bandit；　but　do　not　call　me　a　blackleg　nor　a　spy！　There；　out　with　it；　fire　away！　I　forgive　you；　it　is　quite　natural　at　your　age。　I　was　like　that　myself　once。　Only　remember　this；　you　will　do　worse　things　yourself　some　day。　You　will　flirt　with　some　pretty　woman　and　take　her　money。　You　have　thought　of　that；　of　course；〃　said　Vautrin；　〃for　how　are　you　to　succeed　unless　love　is　laid　under　contribution？　There　are　no　two　ways　about　virtue；　my　dear　student；　it　either　is；　or　it　is　not。　Talk　of　doing　penance　for　your　sins！　It　is　a　nice　system　of　business；　when　you　pay　for　your　crime　by　an　act　of　contrition！　You　seduce　a　woman　that　you　may　set　your　foot　on　such　and　such　a　rung　of　the　social　ladder；　you　sow　dissension　among　the　children　of　a　family；　you　descend；　in　short；　to　every　base　action　that　can　be　committed　at　home　or　abroad；　to　gain　your　own　ends　for　your　own　pleasure　or　your　profit；　and　can　you　imagine　that　these　are　acts　of　faith；　hope；　or　charity？　How　is　it　that　a　dandy；　who　in　a　night　has　robbed　a　boy　of　half　his　fortune；　gets　only　a　couple　of　months　in　prison；　while　a　poor　devil　who　steals　a　banknote　for　a　thousand　francs；　with　aggravating　circumstances；　is　condemned　to　penal　servitude？　Those　are　your　laws。　Not　a　single　provision　but　lands　you　in　some　absurdity。　That　man　with　yellow　gloves　and　a　golden　tongue　commits　many　a　murder；　he　sheds　no　blood；　but　he　drains　his　victim's　veins　as　surely；　a　desperado　forces　open　a　door　with　a　crowbar；　dark　deeds　both　of　them！　You　yourself　will　do　every　one　of　those　things　that　I　suggest　to　you　to…day；　bar　the　bloodshed。　Do　you　believe　that　there　is　any　absolute　standard　in　this　world？　Despise　mankind　and　find　out　the　meshes　that　you　can　slip　through　in　the　net　of　the　Code。　The　secret　of　a　great　success　for　which　you　are　at　a　loss　to　account　is　a　crime　that　has　never　been　found　out；　because　it　was　properly　executed。〃

〃Silence；　sir！　I　will　not　hear　any　more；　you　make　me　doubt　myself。　At　this　moment　my　sentiments　are　all　my　science。〃

〃Just　as　you　please；　my　fine　fellow；　I　did　think　you　were　so　weak…minded；〃　said　Vautrin；　〃I　shall　say　no　more　about　it。　One　last　word；　however；〃　and　he　looked　hard　at　the　student〃you　have　my　secret；〃　he　said。

〃A　young　man　who　refuses　your　offer　knows　that　he　must　forget　it。〃

〃Quite　right；　quite　right；　I　am　glad　to　hear　you　say　so。　Somebody　else　might　not　be　so　scrupulous；　you　see。　Keep　in　mind　what　I　want　to　do　for　you。　I　will　give　you　a　fortnight。　The　offer　is　still　open。〃

〃What　a　head　of　iron　the　man　has！〃　said　Eugene　to　himself；　as　he　watched　Vautrin　walk　unconcernedly　away　with　his　cane　under　his　arm。　〃Yet　Mme。　de　Beauseant　said　as　much　more　gracefully；　he　has　only　stated　the　case　in　cruder　language。　He　would　tear　my　heart　with　claws　of　steel。　What　made　me　think　of　going　to　Mme。　de　Nucingen？　He　guessed　my　motives　before　I　knew　them　myself。　To　sum　it　up；　that　outlaw　has　told　me　more　about　virtue　than　all　I　have　learned　from　men　and　books。　If　virtue　admits　of　no　compromises；　I　have　certainly　robbed　my　sisters；〃　he　said；　throwing　down　the　bags　on　the　table。

He　sat　down　again　and　fell；　unconscious　of　his　surroundings；　into　deep　thought。

〃To　be　faithful　to　an　ideal　of　virtue！　A　heroic　martyrdom！　Pshaw！　every　one　believes　in　virtue；　but　who　is　virtuous？　Nations　have　made　an　idol　of　Liberty；　but　what　nation　on　the　face　of　the　earth　is　free？　My　youth　is　still　like　a　blue　and　cloudless　sky。　If　I　set　myself　to　obtain　wealth　or　power；　does　it　mean　that　I　must　make　up　my　mind　to　lie；　and　fawn；　and　cringe；　and　swagger；　and　flatter；　and　dissemble？　To　consent　to　be　the　servant　of　others　who　have　likewise　fawned；　and　lied；　and　flattered？　Must　I　cringe　to　them　before　I　can　hope　to　be　their　accomplice？　Well；　then；　I　decline。　I　mean　to　work　nobly　and　with　a　single　heart。　I　will　work　day　and　night；　I　will　owe　my　fortune　to　nothing　but　my　own　exertions。　It　may　be　the　slowest　of　all　roads　to　success；　but　I　shall　lay　my　head　on　the　pillow　at　night　untroubled　by　evil　thoughts。　Is　there　a　greater　thing　than　thisto　look　back　over　your　life　and　know　that　it　is　stainless　as　a　lily？　I　and　my　life　are　like　a　young　man　and　his　betrothed。　Vautrin　has　put　before　me　all　that　comes　after　ten　years　of　marriage。　The　devil！　my　head　is　swimming。　I　do　not　want　to　think　at　all；　the　heart　is　a　sure　guide。〃

Eugene　was　roused　from　his　musings　by　the　voice　of　the　stout　Sylvie；　who　announced　that　the　tailor　had　come；　and　Eugene　therefore　made　his　appearance　before　the　man　with　the　two　money　bags；　and　was　not　ill　pleased　that　it　should　be　so。　When　he　had　tried　on　his　dress　suit；　he　put　on　his　new　morning　costume；　which　completely　metamorphosed　him。

〃I　am　quite　equal　to　M。　de　Trailles；〃　he　said　to　himself。　〃In　short；　I　look　like　a　gentleman。〃

〃You　asked　me；　sir；　if　I　knew　the　houses　where　Mme。　de　Nucingen　goes；〃　Father　Goriot's　voice　spoke　from　the　doorway　of　Eugene's　room。〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Very　well　then；　she　is　going　to　the　Marechale　Carigliano's　ball　on　Monday。　If　you　can　manage　to　be　there；　I　shall　hear　from　you　whether　my　two　girls　enjoyed　themselves；　and　how　they　were　dressed；　and　all　about　it　in　fact。〃

〃How　did　you　find　that　out；　my　good　Goriot？〃　said　Eugene；　putting　a　chair　by　the　fire　for　his　visitor。

〃Her　maid　told　me。　I　hear　all　about　their　doings　from　Therese　and　Constance；〃　he　added　gleefully。

The　old　man　looked　like　a　lover　who　is　still　young　enough　to　be　made　happy　by　the　discovery　of　some　little　stratagem　which　brings　him　information　of　his　lady…love　without　her　knowledge。

〃YOU　will　see　them　both！〃　he　said；　giving　artless　expression　to　a　pang　of　jealousy。

〃I　do　not　know；〃　answered　Eugene。　〃I　will　go　to　Mme。　de　Beauseant　and　ask　her　for　an　introduction　to　the　Marechale。〃

Eugene　felt　a　thrill　of　pleasure　at　the　thought　of　appearing　before　the　Vicomtesse；　dressed　as　henceforward　he　always　meant　to　be。　The　〃abysses　of　the　human　heart；〃　in　the　moralists'　phrase；　are　only　insidious　thoughts；　involuntary　promptings　of　personal　interest。　The　instinct　of　enjoyment　turns　the　scale；　those　rapid　changes　of　purpose　which　have　furnished　the　text　for　so　much　rhetoric　are　calculations　prompted　by　the　hope　of　pleasure。　Rastignac　beholding　himself　well　dressed　and　impeccable　as　to　gloves　and　boots；　forgot