father goriot(高老头)-第35章

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。　What　can　have　happened？　Anxiety　has　taken　hold　of　me。　I　would　have　come　myself　to　find　out　what　had　happened；　if　I　had　not　feared　to　betray　the　secrets　of　my　heart。　How　can　I　walk　out　or　drive　out　at　this　time　of　day？　Would　it　not　be　ruin？　I　have　felt　to　the　full　how　wretched　it　is　to　be　a　woman。　Send　a　word　to　reassure　me；　and　explain　how　it　is　that　you　have　not　come　after　what　my　father　told　you。　I　shall　be　angry；　but　I　will　forgive　you。　One　word；　for　pity's　sake。　You　will　come　to　me　soon；　will　you　not？　If　you　are　busy；　a　line　will　be　enough。　Say；　'I　will　hasten　to　you；'　or　else；　'I　am　ill。'　But　if　you　were　ill　my　father　would　have　come　to　tell　me　so。　What　can　have　happened？　。　。　。〃

〃Yes；　indeed；　what　has　happened？〃　exclaimed　Eugene；　and；　hurrying　down　to　the　dining…room；　he　crumpled　up　the　letter　without　reading　any　more。　〃What　time　is　it？〃

〃Half…past　eleven；〃　said　Vautrin；　dropping　a　lump　of　sugar　into　his　coffee。

The　escaped　convict　cast　a　glance　at　Eugene；　a　cold　and　fascinating　glance；　men　gifted　with　this　magnetic　power　can　quell　furious　lunatics　in　a　madhouse　by　such　a　glance；　it　is　said。　Eugene　shook　in　every　limb。　There　was　the　sound　of　wheels　in　the　street；　and　in　another　moment　a　man　with　a　scared　face　rushed　into　the　room。　It　was　one　of　M。　Taillefer's　servants；　Mme。　Couture　recognized　the　livery　at　once。

〃Mademoiselle；〃　he　cried；　〃your　father　is　asking　for　you　something　terrible　has　happened！　M。　Frederic　has　had　a　sword　thrust　in　the　forehead　in　a　duel；　and　the　doctors　have　given　him　up。　You　will　scarcely　be　in　time　to　say　good…bye　to　him！　he　is　unconscious。〃

〃Poor　young　fellow！〃　exclaimed　Vautrin。　〃How　can　people　brawl　when　they　have　a　certain　income　of　thirty　thousand　livres？　Young　people　have　bad　manners；　and　that　is　a　fact。〃

〃Sir！〃　cried　Eugene。

〃Well；　what　then；　you　big　baby！〃　said　Vautrin；　swallowing　down　his　coffee　imperturbably；　an　operation　which　Mlle。　Michonneau　watched　with　such　close　attention　that　she　had　no　emotion　to　spare　for　the　amazing　news　that　had　struck　the　others　dumb　with　amazement。　〃Are　there　not　duels　every　morning　in　Paris？〃　added　Vautrin。

〃I　will　go　with　you；　Victorine；〃　said　Mme。　Couture；　and　the　two　women　hurried　away　at　once　without　either　hats　or　shawls。　But　before　she　went；　Victorine；　with　her　eyes　full　of　tears；　gave　Eugene　a　glance　that　said〃How　little　I　thought　that　our　happiness　should　cost　me　tears！〃

〃Dear　me；　you　are　a　prophet；　M。　Vautrin；〃　said　Mme。　Vauquer。

〃I　am　all　sorts　of　things；〃　said　Vautrin。

〃Queer；　isn't　it？〃　said　Mme。　Vauquer；　stringing　together　a　succession　of　commonplaces　suited　to　the　occasion。　〃Death　takes　us　off　without　asking　us　about　it。　The　young　often　go　before　the　old。　It　is　a　lucky　thing　for　us　women　that　we　are　not　liable　to　fight　duels；　but　we　have　other　complaints　that　men　don't　suffer　from。　We　bear　children；　and　it　takes　a　long　time　to　get　over　it。　What　a　windfall　for　Victorine！　Her　father　will　have　to　acknowledge　her　now！〃

〃There！〃　said　Vautrin；　looking　at　Eugene；　〃yesterday　she　had　not　a　penny；　this　morning　she　has　several　millions　to　her　fortune。〃

〃I　say；　M。　Eugene！〃　cried　Mme。　Vauquer；　〃you　have　landed　on　your　feet！〃

At　this　exclamation；　Father　Goriot　looked　at　the　student；　and　saw　the　crumpled　letter　still　in　his　hand。

〃You　have　not　read　it　through！　What　does　this　mean？　Are　you　going　to　be　like　the　rest　of　them？〃　he　asked。

〃Madame；　I　shall　never　marry　Mlle。　Victorine；〃　said　Eugene；　turning　to　Mme。　Vauquer　with　an　expression　of　terror　and　loathing　that　surprised　the　onlookers　at　this　scene。

Father　Goriot　caught　the　student's　hand　and　grasped　it　warmly。　He　could　have　kissed　it。

〃Oh；　ho！〃　said　Vautrin；　〃the　Italians　have　a　good　proverbCol　tempo。〃

〃Is　there　any　answer？〃　said　Mme。　de　Nucingen's　messenger；　addressing　Eugene。

〃Say　that　I　will　come　directly。〃

The　man　went。　Eugene　was　in　a　state　of　such　violent　excitement　that　he　could　not　be　prudent。

〃What　is　to　be　done？〃　he　exclaimed　aloud。　〃There　are　no　proofs！〃

Vautrin　began　to　smile。　Though　the　drug　he　had　taken　was　doing　its　work；　the　convict　was　so　vigorous　that　he　rose　to　his　feet；　gave　Rastignac　a　look；　and　said　in　hollow　tones；　〃Luck　comes　to　us　while　we　sleep；　young　man；〃　and　fell　stiff　and　stark；　as　if　he　were　struck　dead。

〃So　there　is　a　Divine　Justice！〃　said　Eugene。

〃Well；　if　ever！　What　has　come　to　that　poor　dear　M。　Vautrin？〃

〃A　stroke！〃　cried　Mlle。　Michonneau。

〃Here；　Sylvie！　girl；　run　for　the　doctor；〃　called　the　widow。　〃Oh；　M。　Rastignac；　just　go　for　M。　Bianchon；　and　be　as　quick　as　you　can；　Sylvie　might　not　be　in　time　to　catch　our　doctor；　M。　Grimprel。〃

Rastignac　was　glad　of　an　excuse　to　leave　that　den　of　horrors；　his　hurry　for　the　doctor　was　nothing　but　a　flight。

〃Here；　Christophe；　go　round　to　the　chemist's　and　ask　for　something　that's　good　for　the　apoplexy。〃

Christophe　likewise　went。

〃Father　Goriot；　just　help　us　to　get　him　upstairs。〃

Vautrin　was　taken　up　among　them；　carried　carefully　up　the　narrow　staircase；　and　laid　upon　his　bed。

〃I　can　do　no　good　here；　so　I　shall　go　to　see　my　daughter；〃　said　M。　Goriot。

〃Selfish　old　thing！〃　cried　Mme。　Vauquer。　〃Yes；　go；　I　wish　you　may　die　like　a　dog。〃

〃Just　go　and　see　if　you　can　find　some　ether；〃　said　Mlle。　Michonneau　to　Mme。　Vauquer；　the　former；　with　some　help　from　Poiret；　had　unfastened　the　sick　man's　clothes。

Mme。　Vauquer　went　down　to　her　room；　and　left　Mlle。　Michonneau　mistress　of　the　situation。

〃Now！　just　pull　down　his　shirt　and　turn　him　over；　quick！　You　might　be　of　some　use　in　sparing　my　modesty；〃　she　said　to　Poiret；　〃instead　of　standing　there　like　a　stock。〃

Vautrin　was　turned　over；　Mlle。　Michonneau　gave　his　shoulder　a　sharp　slap；　and　the　two　portentous　letters　appeared；　white　against　the　red。

〃There；　you　have　earned　your　three　thousand　francs　very　easily；〃　exclaimed　Poiret；　supporting　Vautrin　while　Mlle。　Michonneau　slipped　on　the　shirt　again。〃Ouf！　How　heavy　he　is；〃　he　added；　as　he　laid　the　convict　down。



〃Hush！　Suppose　there　is　a　strong…box　here！〃　said　the　old　maid　briskly；　her　glances　seemed　to　pierce　the　walls；　she　scrutinized　every　article　of　the　furniture　with　greedy　eyes。　〃Could　we　find　some　excuse　for　opening　that　desk？〃

〃It　mightn't　be　quite　right；〃　responded　Poiret　to　this。

〃Where　is　the　harm？　It　is　money　stolen　from　all　sorts　of　people；　so　it　doesn't　belong　to　any　one　now。　But　we　haven't　time；　there　is　the　Vauquer。〃

〃Here　is　the　ether；〃　said　that　lady。　〃I　must　say　that　this　is　an　eventful　day。　Lord！　that　man　can't　have　had　a　stroke；　he　is　as　white　as　curds。〃

〃White　as　curds？〃　echoed　Poiret。

〃And　his　pulse　is　steady；〃　said　the　widow；　laying　her　hand　on　his　breast。

〃Steady？〃　said　the　astonished　Poiret。

〃He　is　all　right。〃

〃Do　you　think　so？〃　asked　Poiret。

〃Lord！　Yes；　he　looks　as　if　he　were　sleeping。　Sylvie　has　gone　for　a　doctor。　I　say；　Mlle。　Michonneau；　he　is　sniffing　the　ether。　Pooh！　it　is　only　a　spasm。　His　pulse　is　good。　He　is　as　strong　as　a　Turk。　Just　look；　mademoiselle；　what　a　fur　tippet　he　has　on　his　chest；　that　is　the　sort　of　man　to　live　till　he　is　a　hundred。　His　wig　holds　on　tightly；　however。　Dear　me！　it　is　glued　on；　and　his　own　hair　is　red；　that　is　why　he　wears　a　wig。　They　say　that　red…　haired　people　are　either　the　worst　or　the　best。　Is　he　one　of　the　good　ones；　I　wonder？〃

〃Good　to　hang；〃　said　Poiret。

〃Round　a　pretty　woman's　neck；　you　mean；〃　said　Mlle　Michonneau；　hastily。　〃Just　go　away；　M。　Poiret。　It　is　a　woman's　duty　to　nurse　you　men　when　you　are　ill。　Besides；　for　all　the　good　you　are　doing；　you　may　as　well　take　yourself　off；〃　she　added。　〃Mme。　Vauquer　and　I　will　take　great　care　of　dear　M。　Vautrin。

Poiret　went　out　on　tiptoe　without　a　murmur；　like　a　dog　kicked　out　of　the　room　by　his　master。

Rastignac　had　gone　out　for　the　sake　of　physical　exertion；　he　wanted　to　breathe　the　air；　he　felt　stifled。　Yesterday　evening　he　had　meant　to　prevent　the　murder　arranged　for　half…past　eight　that　morning。　What　had　happened？　What　ought　he　to　do　now？　He　trembled　to　think　that　he　himself　might　be　implicated。　Vautrin's　coolness　still　further　dismayed　him。

〃Yet；　how　if　Vautrin　should　die　without　saying　a　word？〃　Rastignac　asked　himself。

He　hurried　along　the　alleys　of　the　Luxembourg　Gardens　as　if　the　hounds　of　justice　were　after　him；　and　he　already　heard　the　baying　of　the　pack。

〃Well？〃　shouted　Bianchon；　〃you　have　seen　the　Pilote？〃

The　Pilote　was　a　Radical　sheet；　edited　by　M。　Tissot。　It　came　out　several　hours　later　than　the　morning　papers；　and　was　meant　for　the　benefit　of　country　subscribers；　for　it　brought　the　morning　news　into　provincial　districts　twenty…four　hours　sooner　than　the　ordinary　local　journals。

〃There　is　a　wonderful　history　in　it；〃　said　the　house　student　of　the　Hopital　Cochin。　〃Young　Taillefer　called　out　Count　Franchessini；　of　the　Old　Guard；　and　the　Count　put　a　couple　of　inches　of　steel　into　his　forehead。　And　here　is　little　Victorine　one　of　the　richest　heiresses　in　Paris！　If　we　had　known　that；　eh？　What　a　game　of　chance　death　is！　They　say　Victorine　was　sweet　on　you；　was　there　any　truth　in　it？〃

〃Shut　up；　Bianchon；　I　shall　never　marry　her。　I　am　in　love　with　a　charming　woman；　and　she　is　in　love　with　me；　so〃

〃You　said　that　as　if　you　were　screwing　yourself　up　to　be　faithful　to　her。　I　should　like　to　see　the　woman　worth　the　sacrifice　of　Master　Taillefer's　money！〃

〃Are　all　the　devils　of　hell　at　my　heels？〃　cried　Rastignac。

〃What　is　the　matter　with　you？　Are　you　mad？　Give　us　your　hand；〃　said　Bianchon；　〃and　let　me　feel　your　pulse。　You　are　feverish。〃

〃Just　go　to　Mother　Vauquer's；〃　said　Rastignac；　〃that　scoundrel　Vautrin　has　dropped　down　like　one　dead。〃

〃Aha！〃　said　Bianchon；　leaving　Rastignac　to　his　reflections；　〃you　confirm　my　suspicions；　and　now　I　mean　to　make　sure　for　myself。〃

The　law　student's　long　walk　was　a　memorable　one　for　him。　He　made　in　some　sort　a　survey　of　his　conscience。　After　a　close　scrutiny；　after　hesitation　and　self…examination；　his　honor　at　any　rate　came　out　scatheless　from　this　sharp　and　terrible　ordeal；　like　a　bar　of　iron　tested　in　the　English　fashion。　He　remembered　Father　Goriot's　confidences　of　the　evening　before；　he　recollected　the　rooms　taken　for　him　in　the　Rue　d'Artois；　so　that　he　might　be　near　Delphine；　and　then　he　thought　of　his　letter；　and　read　it　again　and　kissed　it。

〃Such　a　love　is　my　anchor　of　safety；〃　he　said　to　himself。　〃How　the　old　man's　heart　must　have　been　wrung！　He　says　nothing　about　all　that　he　has　been　through；　but　who　could　not　guess？　Well；　then；　I　will　be　like　a　son　to　him；　his　life　shall　be　made　happy。　If　she　cares　for　me；　she　will　often　come　to　spend　the　day　with　him。　That　grand　Comtesse　de　Restaud　is　a　heartless　thing；　she　would　make　her　father　into　her　hall　porter。　Dear　Delphine！　she　is　kinder　to　the　old　man；　she　is　worthy　to　be　loved。　Ah！　this　evening　I　shall　be　very　happy！〃

He　took　out　his　watch　and　admired　it。

〃I　have　had　nothing　but　success！　If　two　people　mean　to　love　each　other　for　ever；　they　may　help　each　other；　and　I　can　take　this。　Besides；　I　shall　succeed；　and　I　will　pay　her　a　hundredfold。　There　is　nothing　criminal　in　this　liaison；　nothing　that　could　cause　the　most　austere　moralist　to　frown。　How　many　respectable　people　contract　similar　unions！　We　deceive　nobody；　it　is　deception　that　makes　a　position　humiliating。　If　you　lie；　you　l