father goriot(高老头)-第26章

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Eugene　lingered　over　his　toilette　with　an　enjoyment　of　all　its　little　details　that　is　grateful　to　a　young　man's　self…love；　though　he　will　not　own　to　it　for　fear　of　being　laughed　at。　He　thought；　as　he　arranged　his　hair；　that　a　pretty　woman's　glances　would　wander　through　the　dark　curls。　He　indulged　in　childish　tricks　like　any　young　girl　dressing　for　a　dance；　and　gazed　complacently　at　his　graceful　figure　while　he　smoothed　out　the　creases　of　his　coat。

〃There　are　worse　figures；　that　is　certain；〃　he　said　to　himself。

Then　he　went　downstairs；　just　as　the　rest　of　the　household　were　sitting　down　to　dinner；　and　took　with　good　humor　the　boisterous　applause　excited　by　his　elegant　appearance。　The　amazement　with　which　any　attention　to　dress　is　regarded　in　a　lodging…house　is　a　very　characteristic　trait。　No　one　can　put　on　a　new　coat　but　every　one　else　must　say　his　say　about　it。

〃Clk！　clk！　clk！〃　cried　Bianchon；　making　the　sound　with　his　tongue　against　the　roof　of　his　mouth；　like　a　driver　urging　on　a　horse。

〃He　holds　himself　like　a　duke　and　a　peer　of　France；〃　said　Mme。　Vauquer。

〃Are　you　going　a…courting？〃　inquired　Mlle。　Michonneau。

〃Cock…a…doodle…doo！〃　cried　the　artist。

〃My　compliments　to　my　lady　your　wife；〃　from　the　employe　at　the　Museum。

〃Your　wife；　have　you　a　wife？〃　asked　Poiret。

〃Yes；　in　compartments；　water…tight　and　floats；　guaranteed　fast　color；　all　prices　from　twenty…five　to　forty　sous；　neat　check　patterns　in　the　latest　fashion　and　best　taste；　will　wash；　half…　linen；　half…cotton；　half…wool；　a　certain　cure　for　toothache　and　other　complaints　under　the　patronage　of　the　Royal　College　of　Physicians！　children　like　it！　a　remedy　for　headache；　indigestion；　and　all　other　diseases　affecting　the　throat；　eyes；　and　ears！〃　cried　Vautrin；　with　a　comical　imitation　of　the　volubility　of　a　quack　at　a　fair。　〃And　how　much　shall　we　say　for　this　marvel；　gentlemen？　Twopence？　No。　Nothing　of　the　sort。　All　that　is　left　in　stock　after　supplying　the　Great　Mogul。　All　the　crowned　heads　of　Europe；　including　the　Gr…r…rand　Duke　of　Baden；　have　been　anxious　to　get　a　sight　of　it。　Walk　up！　walk　up！　gentlemen！　Pay　at　the　desk　as　you　go　in！　Strike　up　the　music　there！　Brooum；　la；　la；　trinn！　la；　la；　boum！　boum！　Mister　Clarinette；　there　you　are　out　of　tune！〃　he　added　gruffly；　〃I　will　rap　your　knuckles　for　you！〃

〃Goodness！　what　an　amusing　man！〃　said　Mme。　Vauquer　to　Mme。　Couture；　〃I　should　never　feel　dull　with　him　in　the　house。〃

This　burlesque　of　Vautrin's　was　the　signal　for　an　outburst　of　merriment；　and　under　cover　of　jokes　and　laughter　Eugene　caught　a　glance　from　Mlle。　Taillefer；　she　had　leaned　over　to　say　a　few　words　in　Mme。　Couture's　ear。

〃The　cab　is　at　the　door；〃　announced　Sylvie。

〃But　where　is　he　going　to　dine？〃　asked　Bianchon。

〃With　Madame　la　Baronne　de　Nucingen。〃

〃M。　Goriot's　daughter；〃　said　the　law　student。

At　this；　all　eyes　turned　to　the　old　vermicelli　maker；　he　was　gazing　at　Eugene　with　something　like　envy　in　his　eyes。

Rastignac　reached　the　house　in　the　Rue　Saint…Lazare；　one　of　those　many…windowed　houses　with　a　mean…looking　portico　and　slender　columns；　which　are　considered　the　thing　in　Paris；　a　typical　banker's　house；　decorated　in　the　most　ostentatious　fashion；　the　walls　lined　with　stucco；　the　landings　of　marble　mosaic。　Mme。　de　Nucingen　was　sitting　in　a　little　drawing…room；　the　room　was　painted　in　the　Italian　fashion；　and　decorated　like　a　restaurant。　The　Baroness　seemed　depressed。　The　effort　that　she　made　to　hide　her　feelings　aroused　Eugene's　interest；　it　was　plain　that　she　was　not　playing　a　part。　He　had　expected　a　little　flutter　of　excitement　at　his　coming；　and　he　found　her　dispirited　and　sad。　The　disappointment　piqued　his　vanity。

〃My　claim　to　your　confidence　is　very　small；　madame；〃　he　said；　after　rallying　her　on　her　abstracted　mood；　〃but　if　I　am　in　the　way；　please　tell　me　so　frankly；　I　count　on　your　good　faith。〃

〃No；　stay　with　me；〃　she　said；　〃I　shall　be　all　alone　if　you　go。　Nucingen　is　dining　in　town；　and　I　do　not　want　to　be　alone；　I　want　to　be　taken　out　of　myself。〃

〃But　what　is　the　matter？〃

〃You　are　the　very　last　person　whom　I　should　tell；〃　she　exclaimed。

〃Then　I　am　connected　in　some　way　in　this　secret。　I　wonder　what　it　is？〃

〃Perhaps。　Yet；　no；〃　she　went　on；　〃it　is　a　domestic　quarrel；　which　ought　to　be　buried　in　the　depths　of　the　heart。　I　am　very　unhappy；　did　I　not　tell　you　so　the　day　before　yesterday？　Golden　chains　are　the　heaviest　of　all　fetters。〃

When　a　woman　tells　a　young　man　that　she　is　very　unhappy；　and　when　the　young　man　is　clever；　and　well　dressed；　and　has　fifteen　hundred　francs　lying　idle　in　his　pocket；　he　is　sure　to　think　as　Eugene　said；　and　he　becomes　a　coxcomb。

〃What　can　you　have　left　to　wish　for？〃　he　answered。　〃You　are　young；　beautiful；　beloved；　and　rich。〃

〃Do　not　let　us　talk　of　my　affairs；〃　she　said　shaking　her　head　mournfully。　〃We　will　dine　together　tete…a…tete；　and　afterwards　we　will　go　to　hear　the　most　exquisite　music。　Am　I　to　your　taste？〃　she　went　on；　rising　and　displaying　her　gown　of　white　cashmere；　covered　with　Persian　designs　in　the　most　superb　taste。

〃I　wish　that　you　were　altogether　mine；〃　said　Eugene；　〃you　are　charming。〃

〃You　would　have　a　forlorn　piece　of　property；〃　she　said；　smiling　bitterly。　〃There　is　nothing　about　me　that　betrays　my　wretchedness；　and　yet；　in　spite　of　appearances；　I　am　in　despair。　I　cannot　sleep；　my　troubles　have　broken　my　night's　rest；　I　shall　grow　ugly。〃

〃Oh！　that　is　impossible；〃　cried　the　law　student；　〃but　I　am　curious　to　know　what　these　troubles　can　be　that　a　devoted　love　cannot　efface。〃

〃Ah！　if　I　were　to　tell　you　about　them；　you　would　shun　me；〃　she　said。　〃Your　love　for　me　is　as　yet　only　the　conventional　gallantry　that　men　use　to　masquerade　in；　and；　if　you　really　loved　me；　you　would　be　driven　to　despair。　I　must　keep　silence；　you　see。　Let　us　talk　of　something　else；　for　pity's　sake；〃　she　added。　〃Let　me　show　you　my　rooms。〃

〃No；　let　us　stay　here；〃　answered　Eugene；　he　sat　down　on　the　sofa　before　the　fire；　and　boldly　took　Mme。　de　Nucingen's　hand　in　his。　She　surrendered　it　to　him；　he　even　felt　the　pressure　of　her　fingers　in　one　of　the　spasmodic　clutches　that　betray　terrible　agitation。

〃Listen；〃　said　Rastignac；　〃if　you　are　in　trouble；　you　ought　to　tell　me　about　it。　I　want　to　prove　to　you　that　I　love　you　for　yourself　alone。　You　must　speak　to　me　frankly　about　your　troubles；　so　that　I　can　put　an　end　to　them；　even　if　I　have　to　kill　half…a…　dozen　men；　or　I　shall　go；　never　to　return。〃

〃Very　well；〃　she　cried；　putting　her　hand　to　her　forehead　in　an　agony　of　despair；　〃I　will　put　you　to　the　proof；　and　this　very　moment。　Yes；〃　she　said　to　herself；　〃I　have　no　other　resource　left。〃

She　rang　the　bell。

〃Are　the　horses　put　in　for　the　master？〃　she　asked　of　the　servant。

〃Yes；　madame。〃

〃I　shall　take　his　carriage　myself。　He　can　have　mine　and　my　horses。　Serve　dinner　at　seven　o'clock。〃

〃Now；　come　with　me；〃　she　said　to　Eugene；　who　thought　as　he　sat　in　the　banker's　carriage　beside　Mme。　de　Nucingen　that　he　must　surely　be　dreaming。

〃To　the　Palais…Royal；〃　she　said　to　the　coachman；　〃stop　near　the　Theatre…Francais。〃

She　seemed　to　be　too　troubled　and　excited　to　answer　the　innumerable　questions　that　Eugene　put　to　her。　He　was　at　a　loss　what　to　think　of　her　mute　resistance；　her　obstinate　silence。

〃Another　moment　and　she　will　escape　me；〃　he　said　to　himself。

When　the　carriage　stopped　at　last；　the　Baroness　gave　the　law　student　a　glance　that　silenced　his　wild　words；　for　he　was　almost　beside　himself。

〃Is　it　true　that　you　love　me？〃　she　asked。

〃Yes；〃　he　answered；　and　in　his　manner　and　tone　there　was　no　trace　of　the　uneasiness　that　he　felt。

〃You　will　not　think　ill　of　me；　will　you；　whatever　I　may　ask　of　you？〃

〃No。〃

〃Are　you　ready　to　do　my　bidding？〃

〃Blindly。〃

〃Have　you　ever　been　to　a　gaming…house？〃　she　asked　in　a　tremulous　voice。

〃Never。〃

〃Ah！　now　I　can　breathe。　You　will　have　luck。　Here　is　my　purse；〃　she　said。　〃Take　it！　there　are　a　hundred　francs　in　it；　all　that　such　a　fortunate　woman　as　I　can　call　her　own。　Go　up　into　one　of　the　gaming…housesI　do　not　know　where　they　are；　but　there　are　some　near　the　Palais…Royal。　Try　your　luck　with　the　hundred　francs　at　a　game　they　call　roulette；　lose　it　all　or　bring　me　back　six　thousand　francs。　I　will　tell　you　about　my　troubles　when　you　come　back。〃

〃Devil　take　me；　I'm　sure；　if　I　have　a　glimmer　of　a　notion　of　what　I　am　about；　but　I　will　obey　you；〃　he　added；　with　inward　exultation；　as　he　thought；　〃She　has　gone　too　far　to　draw　back　she　can　refuse　me　nothing　now！〃

Eugene　took　the　dainty　little　purse；　inquired　the　way　of　a　second…hand　clothes…dealer；　and　hurried　to　number　9；　which　happened　to　be　the　nearest　gaming…house。　He　mounted　the　staircase；　surrendered　his　hat；　and　asked　the　way　to　the　roulette…table；　whither　the　attendant　took　him；　not　a　little　to　the　astonishment　of　the　regular　comers。　All　eyes　were　fixed　on　Eugene　as　he　asked；　without　bashfulness；　where　he　was　to　deposit　his　stakes。

〃If　you　put　a　louis　on　one　only　of　those　thirty…six　numbers；　and　it　turns　up；　you　will　win　thirty…six　louis；〃　said　a　respectable…　looking；　white…haired　old　man　in　answer　to　his　inquiry。

Eugene　staked　the　whole　of　his　money　on　the　number　21　（his　own　age）。　There　was　a　cry　of　surprise；　before　he　knew　what　he　had　done；　he　had　won。

〃Take　your　money　off；　sir；〃　said　the　old　gentleman；　〃you　don't　often　win　twice　running　by　that　system。〃

Eugene　took　the　rake　that　the　old　man　handed　to　him；　and　drew　in　his　three　thousand　six　hundred　francs；　and；　still　perfectly　ignorant　of　what　he　was　about；　staked　again　on　the　red。　The　bystanders　watched　him　enviously　as　they　saw　him　continue　to　play。　The　disc　turned；　and　again　he　won；　the　banker　threw　him　three　thousand　six　hundred　francs　once　more。

〃You　have　seven　thousand；　two　hundred　francs　of　your　own；〃　the　old　gentleman　said　in　his　ear。　〃Take　my　advice　and　go　away　with　your　winnings；　red　has　turned　up　eight　times　already。　If　you　are　charitable；　you　will　show　your　gratitude　for　sound　counsel　by　giving　a　trifle　to　an　old　prefect　of　Napoleon　who　is　down　on　his　luck。〃

Rastignac's　head　was　swimming；　he　saw　ten　of　his　louis　pass　into　the　white…haired　man's　possession；　and　went　down…stairs　with　his　seven　thousand　francs；　he　was　still　ignorant　of　the　game；　and　stupefied　by　his　luck。

〃So；　that　is　over；　and　now　where　will　you　take　me？〃　he　asked；　as　soon　as　the　door　was　closed；　and　he　showed　the　seven　thousand　francs　to　Mme。　de　Nucingen。

Delphine　flung　her　arms　about　him；　but　there　was　no　passion　in　that　wild　embrace。

〃You　have　saved　me！〃　she　cried；　and　tears　of　joy　flowed　fast。

〃I　will　tell　you　everything；　my　friend。　For　you　will　be　my　friend；　will　you　not？　I　am　rich；　you　think；　very　rich；　I　have　everything　I　want；　or　I　seem　as　if　I　had　everything。　Very　well；　you　must　know　that　M。　de　Nucingen　does　not　allow　me　the　control　of　a　single　penny；　he　pays　all　the　bills　for　the　house　expenses；　he　pays　for　my　carriages　and　opera　box；　he　does　not　give　me　enough　to　pay　for　my　dress；　and　he　reduces　me　to　poverty　in　secret　on　purpose。　I　am　too　proud　to　beg　from　him。　I　should　be　the　vilest　of　women　if　I　could　take　his　money　at　the　price　at　which　he　offers　it。　Do　you　ask　how　I；　with　seven　hundred　thousand　francs　of　my　own；　could　let　myself　be　robbed？　It　is　because　I　was　proud；　and　scorn