father goriot(高老头)-第34章

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ess　them。

〃Well；〃　he　remarked；　folding　his　arms；　〃here　is　a　picture！　It　would　have　suggested　some　pleasing　pages　to　Bernardin　de　Saint…　Pierre　（good　soul）；　who　wrote　Paul　et　Virginie。　Youth　is　very　charming；　Mme。　Couture！Sleep　on；　poor　boy；〃　he　added；　looking　at　Eugene；　〃luck　sometimes　comes　while　you　are　sleeping。There　is　something　touching　and　attractive　to　me　about　this　young　man；　madame；〃　he　continued；　〃I　know　that　his　nature　is　in　harmony　with　his　face。　Just　look；　the　head　of　a　cherub　on　an　angel's　shoulder！　He　deserves　to　be　loved。　If　I　were　a　woman；　I　would　die　（nonot　such　a　fool）；　I　would　live　for　him。〃　He　bent　lower　and　spoke　in　the　widow's　ear。　〃When　I　see　those　two　together；　madame；　I　cannot　help　thinking　that　Providence　meant　them　for　each　other；　He　works　by　secret　ways；　and　tries　the　reins　and　the　heart；〃　he　said　in　a　loud　voice。　〃And　when　I　see　you；　my　children；　thus　united　by　a　like　purity　and　by　all　human　affections；　I　say　to　myself　that　it　is　quite　impossible　that　the　future　should　separate　you。　God　is　just。〃He　turned　to　Victorine。　〃It　seems　to　me；〃　he　said；　〃that　I　have　seen　the　line　of　success　in　your　hand。　Let　me　look　at　it；　Mlle。　Victorine；　I　am　well　up　in　palmistry；　and　I　have　told　fortunes　many　a　time。　Come；　now；　don't　be　frightened。　Ah！　what　do　I　see？　Upon　my　word；　you　will　be　one　of　the　richest　heiresses　in　Paris　before　very　long。　You　will　heap　riches　on　the　man　who　loves　you。　Your　father　will　want　you　to　go　and　live　with　him。　You　will　marry　a　young　and　handsome　man　with　a　title；　and　he　will　idolize　you。〃

The　heavy　footsteps　of　the　coquettish　widow；　who　was　coming　down　the　stairs；　interrupted　Vautrin's　fortune…telling。　〃Here　is　Mamma　Vauquerre；　fair　as　a　starr…r…r；　dressed　within　an　inch　of　her　life。Aren't　we　a　trifle　pinched　for　room？〃　he　inquired；　with　his　arm　round　the　lady；　〃we　are　screwed　up　very　tightly　about　the　bust；　mamma！　If　we　are　much　agitated；　there　may　be　an　explosion；　but　I　will　pick　up　the　fragments　with　all　the　care　of　an　antiquary。〃

〃There　is　a　man　who　can　talk　the　language　of　French　gallantry！〃　said　the　widow；　bending　to　speak　in　Mme。　Couture's　ear。

〃Good…bye；　little　ones！〃　said　Vautrin；　turning　to　Eugene　and　Victorine。　〃Bless　you　both！〃　and　he　laid　a　hand　on　either　head。　〃Take　my　word　for　it；　young　lady；　an　honest　man's　prayers　are　worth　something；　they　should　bring　you　happiness；　for　God　hears　them。〃

〃Good…bye；　dear；〃　said　Mme。　Vauquer　to　her　lodger。　〃Do　you　think　that　M。　Vautrin　means　to　run　away　with　me？〃　she　added；　lowering　her　voice。

〃Lack…a…day！〃　said　the　widow。

〃Oh！　mamma　dear；　suppose　it　should　really　happen　as　that　kind　M。　Vautrin　said！〃　said　Victorine　with　a　sigh　as　she　looked　at　her　hands。　The　two　women　were　alone　together。

〃Why；　it　wouldn't　take　much　to　bring　it　to　pass；〃　said　the　elderly　lady；　〃just　a　fall　from　his　horse；　and　your　monster　of　a　brother〃

〃Oh！　mamma。〃

〃Good　Lord！　Well；　perhaps　it　is　a　sin　to　wish　bad　luck　to　an　enemy；〃　the　widow　remarked。　〃I　will　do　penance　for　it。　Still；　I　would　strew　flowers　on　his　grave　with　the　greatest　pleasure；　and　that　is　the　truth。　Black…hearted；　that　he　is！　The　coward　couldn't　speak　up　for　his　own　mother；　and　cheats　you　out　of　your　share　by　deceit　and　trickery。　My　cousin　had　a　pretty　fortune　of　her　own；　but　unluckily　for　you；　nothing　was　said　in　the　marriage…contract　about　anything　that　she　might　come　in　for。〃

〃It　would　be　very　hard　if　my　fortune　is　to　cost　some　one　else　his　life；〃　said　Victorine。　〃If　I　cannot　be　happy　unless　my　brother　is　to　be　taken　out　of　the　world；　I　would　rather　stay　here　all　my　life。〃

〃MON　DIEU！　it　is　just　as　that　good　M。　Vautrin　says；　and　he　is　full　of　piety；　you　see；〃　Mme。　Couture　remarked。　〃I　am　very　glad　to　find　that　he　is　not　an　unbeliever　like　the　rest　of　them　that　talk　of　the　Almighty　with　less　respect　than　they　do　of　the　Devil。　Well；　as　he　was　saying；　who　can　know　the　ways　by　which　it　may　please　Providence　to　lead　us？〃

With　Sylvie's　help　the　two　women　at　last　succeeded　in　getting　Eugene　up　to　his　room；　they　laid　him　on　the　bed；　and　the　cook　unfastened　his　clothes　to　make　him　more　comfortable。　Before　they　left　the　room；　Victorine　snatched　an　opportunity　when　her　guardian's　back　was　turned；　and　pressed　a　kiss　on　Eugene's　forehead；　feeling　all　the　joy　that　this　stolen　pleasure　could　give　her。　Then　she　looked　round　the　room；　and　gathering　up；　as　it　were；　into　one　single　thought　all　the　untold　bliss　of　that　day；　she　made　a　picture　of　her　memories；　and　dwelt　upon　it　until　she　slept；　the　happiest　creature　in　Paris。

That　evening's　merry…making；　in　the　course　of　which　Vautrin　had　given　the　drugged　wine　to　Eugene　and　Father　Goriot；　was　his　own　ruin。　Bianchon；　flustered　with　wine；　forgot　to　open　the　subject　of　Trompe…la…Mort　with　Mlle。　Michonneau。　The　mere　mention　of　the　name　would　have　set　Vautrin　on　his　guard；　for　Vautrin；　or；　to　give　him　his　real　name；　Jacques　Collin；　was　in　fact　the　notorious　escaped　convict。

But　it　was　the　joke　about　the　Venus　of　Pere…Lachaise　that　finally　decided　his　fate。　Mlle。　Michonneau　had　very　nearly　made　up　her　mind　to　warn　the　convict　and　to　throw　herself　on　his　generosity；　with　the　idea　of　making　a　better　bargain　for　herself　by　helping　him　to　escape　that　night；　but　as　it　was；　she　went　out　escorted　by　Poiret　in　search　of　the　famous　chief　of　detectives　in　the　Petite　Rue　Saint…Anne；　still　thinking　that　it　was　the　district　superintendentone　Gondureauwith　whom　she　had　to　do。　The　head　of　the　department　received　his　visitors　courteously。　There　was　a　little　talk；　and　the　details　were　definitely　arranged。　Mlle。　Michonneau　asked　for　the　draught　that　she　was　to　administer　in　order　to　set　about　her　investigation。　But　the　great　man's　evident　satisfaction　set　Mlle。　Michonneau　thinking；　and　she　began　to　see　that　this　business　involved　something　more　than　the　mere　capture　of　a　runaway　convict。　She　racked　her　brains　while　he　looked　in　a　drawer　in　his　desk　for　the　little　phial；　and　it　dawned　upon　her　that　in　consequence　of　treacherous　revelations　made　by　the　prisoners　the　police　were　hoping　to　lay　their　hands　on　a　considerable　sum　of　money。　But　on　hinting　her　suspicions　to　the　old　fox　of　the　Petite　Rue　Saint…Anne；　that　officer　began　to　smile；　and　tried　to　put　her　off　the　scent。

〃A　delusion；〃　he　said。　〃Collin's　sorbonne　is　the　most　dangerous　that　has　yet　been　found　among　the　dangerous　classes。　That　is　all；　and　the　rascals　are　quite　aware　of　it。　They　rally　round　him；　he　is　the　backbone　of　the　federation；　its　Bonaparte；　in　short；　he　is　very　popular　with　them　all。　The　rogue　will　never　leave　his　chump　in　the　Place　de　Greve。〃

As　Mlle。　Michonneau　seemed　mystified；　Gondureau　explained　the　two　slang　words　for　her　benefit。　Sorbonne　and　chump　are　two　forcible　expressions　borrowed　from　thieves'　Latin；　thieves；　of　all　people；　being　compelled　to　consider　the　human　head　in　its　two　aspects。　A　sorbonne　is　the　head　of　a　living　man；　his　faculty　of　thinking　his　council；　a　chump　is　a　contemptuous　epithet　that　implies　how　little　a　human　head　is　worth　after　the　axe　has　done　its　work。

〃Collin　is　playing　us　off；〃　he　continued。　〃When　we　come　across　a　man　like　a　bar　of　steel　tempered　in　the　English　fashion；　there　is　always　one　resource　leftwe　can　kill　him　if　he　takes　it　into　his　head　to　make　the　least　resistance。　We　are　reckoning　on　several　methods　of　killing　Collin　to…morrow　morning。　It　saves　a　trial；　and　society　is　rid　of　him　without　all　the　expense　of　guarding　and　feeding　him。　What　with　getting　up　the　case；　summoning　witnesses；　paying　their　expenses；　and　carrying　out　the　sentence；　it　costs　a　lot　to　go　through　all　the　proper　formalities　before　you　can　get　quit　of　one　of　these　good…for…nothings；　over　and　above　the　three　thousand　francs　that　you　are　going　to　have。　There　is　a　saving　in　time　as　well。　One　good　thrust　of　the　bayonet　into　Trompe…la…　Mort's　paunch　will　prevent　scores　of　crimes；　and　save　fifty　scoundrels　from　following　his　example；　they　will　be　very　careful　to　keep　themselves　out　of　the　police　courts。　That　is　doing　the　work　of　the　police　thoroughly；　and　true　philanthropists　will　tell　you　that　it　is　better　to　prevent　crime　than　to　punish　it。〃

〃And　you　do　a　service　to　our　country；〃　said　Poiret。

〃Really；　you　are　talking　in　a　very　sensible　manner　tonight；　that　you　are；〃　said　the　head　of　the　department。　〃Yes；　of　course；　we　are　serving　our　country；　and　we　are　very　hardly　used　too。　We　do　society　very　great　services　that　are　not　recognized。　In　fact；　a　superior　man　must　rise　above　vulgar　prejudices；　and　a　Christian　must　resign　himself　to　the　mishaps　that　doing　right　entails；　when　right　is　done　in　an　out…of…the…way　style。　Paris　is　Paris；　you　see！　That　is　the　explanation　of　my　life。I　have　the　honor　to　wish　you　a　good…evening；　mademoiselle。　I　shall　bring　my　men　to　the　Jardin　du　Roi　in　the　morning。　Send　Christophe　to　the　Rue　du　Buffon；　tell　him　to　ask　for　M。　Gondureau　in　the　house　where　you　saw　me　before。Your　servant；　sir。　If　you　should　ever　have　anything　stolen　from　you；　come　to　me；　and　I　will　do　my　best　to　get　it　back　for　you。〃

〃Well；　now；〃　Poiret　remarked　to　Mlle。　Michonneau；　〃there　are　idiots　who　are　scared　out　of　their　wits　by　the　word　police。　That　was　a　very　pleasant…spoken　gentleman；　and　what　he　wants　you　to　do　is　as　easy　as　saying　'Good…day。'　〃



The　next　day　was　destined　to　be　one　of　the　most　extraordinary　in　the　annals　of　the　Maison　Vauquer。　Hitherto　the　most　startling　occurrence　in　its　tranquil　existence　had　been　the　portentous；　meteor…like　apparition　of　the　sham　Comtesse　de　l'Ambermesnil。　But　the　catastrophes　of　this　great　day　were　to　cast　all　previous　events　into　the　shade；　and　supply　an　inexhaustible　topic　of　conversation　for　Mme。　Vauquer　and　her　boarders　so　long　as　she　lived。

In　the　first　place；　Goriot　and　Eugene　de　Rastignac　both　slept　till　close　upon　eleven　o'clock。　Mme。　Vauquer；　who　came　home　about　midnight　from　the　Gaite；　lay　a…bed　till　half…past　ten。　Christophe；　after　a　prolonged　slumber　（he　had　finished　Vautrin's　first　bottle　of　wine）；　was　behindhand　with　his　work；　but　Poiret　and　Mlle。　Michonneau　uttered　no　complaint；　though　breakfast　was　delayed。　As　for　Victorine　and　Mme。　Couture；　they　also　lay　late。　Vautrin　went　out　before　eight　o'clock；　and　only　came　back　just　as　breakfast　was　ready。　Nobody　protested；　therefore；　when　Sylvie　and　Christophe　went　up　at　a　quarter　past　eleven；　knocked　at　all　the　doors；　and　announced　that　breakfast　was　waiting。　While　Sylvie　and　the　man　were　upstairs；　Mlle。　Michonneau；　who　came　down　first；　poured　the　contents　of　the　phial　into　the　silver　cup　belonging　to　Vautrinit　was　standing　with　the　others　in　the　bain…marie　that　kept　the　cream　hot　for　the　morning　coffee。　The　spinster　had　reckoned　on　this　custom　of　the　house　to　do　her　stroke　of　business。　The　seven　lodgers　were　at　last　collected　together；　not　without　some　difficulty。　Just　as　Eugene　came　downstairs；　stretching　himself　and　yawning；　a　commissionaire　handed　him　a　letter　from　Mme。　de　Nucingen。　It　ran　thus：

〃I　feel　neither　false　vanity　nor　anger　where　you　are　concerned；　my　friend。　Till　two　o'clock　this　morning　I　waited　for　you。　Oh；　that　waiting　for　one　whom　you　love！　No　one　that　had　passed　through　that　torture　could　inflict　it　on　another。　I　know　now　that　you　have　never　loved　before。　What　can　have　happened？　Anxiety　has　taken　hold　of　me。　I　would　have　come　myself　to　find　out　what　ha