father goriot(高老头)-第41章

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I　leave　him　to　carry　on　my　business　in　my　name。　To　prove　his　sincerity；　he　promised　that　M。　Derville　might　inspect　the　accounts　as　often　as　I　pleased；　so　that　I　might　be　assured　that　everything　was　being　conducted　properly。　In　short；　he　put　himself　in　my　power；　bound　hand　and　foot。　He　wishes　the　present　arrangements　as　to　the　expenses　of　housekeeping　to　continue　for　two　more　years；　and　entreated　me　not　to　exceed　my　allowance。　He　showed　me　plainly　that　it　was　all　that　he　could　do　to　keep　up　appearances；　he　has　broken　with　his　opera　dancer；　he　will　be　compelled　to　practise　the　most　strict　economy　（in　secret）　if　he　is　to　bide　his　time　with　unshaken　credit。　I　scolded；　I　did　all　I　could　to　drive　him　to　desperation；　so　as　to　find　out　more。　He　showed　me　his　ledgershe　broke　down　and　cried　at　last。　I　never　saw　a　man　in　such　a　state。　He　lost　his　head　completely；　talked　of　killing　himself；　and　raved　till　I　felt　quite　sorry　for　him。〃

〃Do　you　really　believe　that　silly　rubbish？〃　。　。　。　cried　her　father。　〃It　was　all　got　up　for　your　benefit！　I　have　had　to　do　with　Germans　in　the　way　of　business；　honest　and　straightforward　they　are　pretty　sure　to　be；　but　when　with　their　simplicity　and　frankness　they　are　sharpers　and　humbugs　as　well；　they　are　the　worst　rogues　of　all。　Your　husband　is　taking　advantage　of　you。　As　soon　as　pressure　is　brought　to　bear　on　him　he　shams　dead；　he　means　to　be　more　the　master　under　your　name　than　in　his　own。　He　will　take　advantage　of　the　position　to　secure　himself　against　the　risks　of　business。　He　is　as　sharp　as　he　is　treacherous；　he　is　a　bad　lot！　No；　no；　I　am　not　going　to　leave　my　girls　behind　me　without　a　penny　when　I　go　to　Pere…Lachaise。　I　know　something　about　business　still。　He　has　sunk　his　money　in　speculation；　he　says；　very　well　then；　there　is　something　to　show　for　itbills；　receipts；　papers　of　some　sort。　Let　him　produce　them；　and　come　to　an　arrangement　with　you。　We　will　choose　the　most　promising　of　his　speculations；　take　them　over　at　our　own　risk；　and　have　the　securities　transferred　into　your　name；　they　shall　represent　the　separate　estate　of　Delphine　Goriot；　wife　of　the　Baron　de　Nucingen。　Does　that　fellow　really　take　us　for　idiots？　Does　he　imagine　that　I　could　stand　the　idea　of　your　being　without　fortune；　without　bread；　for　forty…eight　hours？　I　would　not　stand　it　a　dayno；　not　a　night；　not　a　couple　of　hours！　If　there　had　been　any　foundation　for　the　idea；　I　should　never　get　over　it。　What！　I　have　worked　hard　for　forty　years；　carried　sacks　on　my　back；　and　sweated　and　pinched　and　saved　all　my　life　for　you；　my　darlings；　for　you　who　made　the　toil　and　every　burden　borne　for　you　seem　light；　and　now；　my　fortune；　my　whole　life；　is　to　vanish　in　smoke！　I　should　die　raving　mad　if　I　believed　a　word　of　it。　By　all　that's　holiest　in　heaven　and　earth；　we　will　have　this　cleared　up　at　once；　go　through　the　books；　have　the　whole　business　looked　thoroughly　into！　I　will　not　sleep；　nor　rest；　nor　eat　until　I　have　satisfied　myself　that　all　your　fortune　is　in　existence。　Your　money　is　settled　upon　you；　God　be　thanked！　and；　luckily；　your　attorney；　Maitre　Derville；　is　an　honest　man。　Good　Lord！　you　shall　have　your　snug　little　million；　your　fifty　thousand　francs　a　year；　as　long　as　you　live；　or　I　will　raise　a　racket　in　Paris；　I　will　so！　If　the　Tribunals　put　upon　us；　I　will　appeal　to　the　Chambers。　If　I　knew　that　you　were　well　and　comfortably　off　as　far　as　money　is　concerned；　that　thought　would　keep　me　easy　in　spite　of　bad　health　and　troubles。　Money？　why；　it　is　life！　Money　does　everything。　That　great　dolt　of　an　Alsatian　shall　sing　to　another　tune！　Look　here；　Delphine；　don't　give　way；　don't　make　a　concession　of　half　a　quarter　of　a　farthing　to　that　fathead；　who　has　ground　you　down　and　made　you　miserable。　If　he　can't　do　without　you；　we　will　give　him　a　good　cudgeling；　and　keep　him　in　order。　Great　heavens！　my　brain　is　on　fire；　it　is　as　if　there　were　something　redhot　inside　my　head。　My　Delphine　lying　on　straw！　You！　my　Fifine！　Good　gracious！　Where　are　my　gloves？　Come；　let　us　go　at　once；　I　mean　to　see　everything　with　my　own　eyesbooks；　cash；　and　correspondence；　the　whole　business。　I　shall　have　no　peace　until　I　know　for　certain　that　your　fortune　is　secure。〃

〃Oh！　father　dear；　be　careful　how　you　set　about　it！　If　there　is　the　least　hint　of　vengeance　in　the　business；　if　you　show　yourself　openly　hostile；　it　will　be　all　over　with　me。　He　knows　whom　he　has　to　deal　with；　he　thinks　it　quite　natural　that　if　you　put　the　idea　into　my　head；　I　should　be　uneasy　about　my　money；　but　I　swear　to　you　that　he　has　it　in　his　own　hands；　and　that　he　had　meant　to　keep　it。　He　is　just　the　man　to　abscond　with　all　the　money　and　leave　us　in　the　lurch；　the　scoundrel！　He　knows　quite　well　that　I　will　not　dishonor　the　name　I　bear　by　bringing　him　into　a　court　of　law。　His　position　is　strong　and　weak　at　the　same　time。　If　we　drive　him　to　despair；　I　am　lost。〃

〃Why；　then；　the　man　is　a　rogue？〃

〃Well；　yes；　father；〃　she　said；　flinging　herself　into　a　chair；　〃I　wanted　to　keep　it　from　you　to　spare　your　feelings；〃　and　she　burst　into　tears；　〃I　did　not　want　you　to　know　that　you　had　married　me　to　such　a　man　as　he　is。　He　is　just　the　same　in　private　lifebody　and　soul　and　consciencethe　same　through　and　throughhideous！　I　hate　him；　I　despise　him！　Yes；　after　all　that　that　despicable　Nucingen　has　told　me；　I　cannot　respect　him　any　longer。　A　man　capable　of　mixing　himself　up　in　such　affairs；　and　of　talking　about　them　to　me　as　he　did；　without　the　slightest　scruple；it　is　because　I　have　read　him　through　and　through　that　I　am　afraid　of　him。　He；　my　husband；　frankly　proposed　to　give　me　my　liberty；　and　do　you　know　what　that　means？　It　means　that　if　things　turn　out　badly　for　him；　I　am　to　play　into　his　hands；　and　be　his　stalking…　horse。〃

〃But　there　is　law　to　be　had！　There　is　a　Place　de　Greve　for　sons…　in…law　of　that　sort；〃　cried　her　father；　〃why；　I　would　guillotine　him　myself　if　there　was　no　headsman　to　do　it。〃

〃No；　father；　the　law　cannot　touch　him。　Listen；　this　is　what　he　says；　stripped　of　all　his　circumlocutions'Take　your　choice；　you　and　no　one　else　can　be　my　accomplice；　either　everything　is　lost；　you　are　ruined　and　have　not　a　farthing；　or　you　will　let　me　carry　this　business　through　myself。'　Is　that　plain　speaking？　He　MUST　have　my　assistance。　He　is　assured　that　his　wife　will　deal　fairly　by　him；　he　knows　that　I　shall　leave　his　money　to　him　and　be　content　with　my　own。　It　is　an　unholy　and　dishonest　compact；　and　he　holds　out　threats　of　ruin　to　compel　me　to　consent　to　it。　He　is　buying　my　conscience；　and　the　price　is　liberty　to　be　Eugene's　wife　in　all　but　name。　'I　connive　at　your　errors；　and　you　allow　me　to　commit　crimes　and　ruin　poor　families！'　Is　that　sufficiently　explicit？　Do　you　know　what　he　means　by　speculations？　He　buys　up　land　in　his　own　name；　then　he　finds　men　of　straw　to　run　up　houses　upon　it。　These　men　make　a　bargain　with　a　contractor　to　build　the　houses；　paying　them　by　bills　at　long　dates；　then　in　consideration　of　a　small　sum　they　leave　my　husband　in　possession　of　the　houses；　and　finally　slip　through　the　fingers　of　the　deluded　contractors　by　going　into　bankruptcy。　The　name　of　the　firm　of　Nucingen　has　been　used　to　dazzle　the　poor　contractors。　I　saw　that。　I　noticed；　too；　that　Nucingen　had　sent　bills　for　large　amounts　to　Amsterdam；　London；　Naples；　and　Vienna；　in　order　to　prove　if　necessary　that　large　sums　had　been　paid　away　by　the　firm。　How　could　we　get　possession　of　those　bills？〃

Eugene　heard　a　dull　thud　on　the　floor；　Father　Goriot　must　have　fallen　on　his　knees。

〃Great　heavens！　what　have　I　done　to　you？　Bound　my　daughter　to　this　scoundrel　who　does　as　he　likes　with　her！Oh！　my　child；　my　child！　forgive　me！〃　cried　the　old　man。

〃Yes；　if　I　am　in　the　depths　of　despair；　perhaps　you　are　to　blame；〃　said　Delphine。　〃We　have　so　little　sense　when　we　marry！　What　do　we　know　of　the　world；　of　business；　or　men；　or　life？　Our　fathers　should　think　for　us！　Father　dear；　I　am　not　blaming　you　in　the　least；　forgive　me　for　what　I　said。　This　is　all　my　own　fault。　Nay；　do　not　cry；　papa；〃　she　said；　kissing　him。

〃Do　not　cry　either；　my　little　Delphine。　Look　up　and　let　me　kiss　away　the　tears。　There！　I　shall　find　my　wits　and　unravel　this　skein　of　your　husband's　winding。〃

〃No；　let　me　do　that；　I　shall　be　able　to　manage　him。　He　is　fond　of　me；　well　and　good；　I　shall　use　my　influence　to　make　him　invest　my　money　as　soon　as　possible　in　landed　property　in　my　own　name。　Very　likely　I　could　get　him　to　buy　back　Nucingen　in　Alsace　in　my　name；　that　has　always　been　a　pet　idea　of　his。　Still；　come　to…morrow　and　go　through　the　books；　and　look　into　the　business。　M。　Derville　knows　little　of　mercantile　matters。　No；　not　to…morrow　though。　I　do　not　want　to　be　upset。　Mme。　de　Beauseant's　ball　will　be　the　day　after　to…morrow；　and　I　must　keep　quiet；　so　as　to　look　my　best　and　freshest；　and　do　honor　to　my　dear　Eugene！　。　。　。　Come；　let　us　see　his　room。〃

But　as　she　spoke　a　carriage　stopped　in　the　Rue　Nueve…Sainte…　Genevieve；　and　the　sound　of　Mme。　de　Restaud's　voice　came　from　the　staircase。　〃Is　my　father　in？〃　she　asked　of　Sylvie。

This　accident　was　luckily　timed　for　Eugene；　whose　one　idea　had　been　to　throw　himself　down　on　the　bed　and　pretend　to　be　asleep。

〃Oh；　father；　have　you　heard　about　Anastasie？〃　said　Delphine；　when　she　heard　her　sister　speak。　〃It　looks　as　though　some　strange　things　had　happened　in　that　family。〃

〃What　sort　of　things？〃　asked　Goriot。　〃This　is　like　to　be　the　death　of　me。　My　poor　head　will　not　stand　a　double　misfortune。〃

〃Good…morning；　father；〃　said　the　Countess　from　the　threshold。　〃Oh！　Delphine；　are　you　here？〃

Mme。　de　Restaud　seemed　taken　aback　by　her　sister's　presence。

〃Good…morning；　Nasie；〃　said　the　Baroness。　〃What　is　there　so　extraordinary　in　my　being　here？　_I_　see　our　father　every　day。〃

〃Since　when？〃

〃If　you　came　yourself　you　would　know。〃

〃Don't　tease；　Delphine；〃　said　the　Countess　fretfully。　〃I　am　very　miserable；　I　am　lost。　Oh！　my　poor　father；　it　is　hopeless　this　time！〃

〃What　is　it；　Nasie？〃　cried　Goriot。　〃Tell　us　all　about　it；　child！　How　white　she　is！　Quick；　do　something；　Delphine；　be　kind　to　her；　and　I　will　love　you　even　better；　if　that　were　possible。〃

〃Poor　Nasie！〃　said　Mme。　de　Nucingen；　drawing　her　sister　to　a　chair。　〃We　are　the　only　two　people　in　the　world　whose　love　is　always　sufficient　to　forgive　you　everything。　Family　affection　is　the　surest；　you　see。〃

The　Countess　inhaled　the　salts　and　revived。

〃This　will　kill　me！〃　said　their　father。　〃There；〃　he　went　on；　stirring　the　smouldering　fire；　〃come　nearer；　both　of　you。　It　is　cold。　What　is　it；　Nasie？　Be　quick　and　tell　me；　this　is　enough　to〃

〃Well；　then；　my　husband　knows　everything；〃　said　the　Countess。　〃Just　imagine　it；　do　you　remember；　father；　that　bill　of　Maxime's　some　time　ago？　Well；　that　was　not　the　first。　I　had　paid　ever　so　many　before　that。　About　the　beginning　of　January　M。　de　Trailles　seemed　very　much　troubled。　He　said　nothing　to　me；　but　it　is　so　easy　to　read　the　hearts　of　those　you　love；　a　mere　trifle　is　enough；　and　then　you　feel　things　instinctively。　Indeed；　he　was　more　tender　and　affectionate　than　ever；　and　I　was　happier　than　I　had　ever　been　before。　Poor　Maxime！　in　himself　he　was　really　saying　good…bye　to　me；　so　he　has　told　me　since；　he　meant　to　blow　his　brains　out！　At　last　I　worried　him　so；　and　begged　and　implored　so　hard；　for　two　hours　I　knelt　at　his　knees　and　pr