father goriot(高老头)-第50章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


ied　to　clutch　something　to　his　breast；　uttering　a　low　inarticulate　moaning　the　while；　like　some　dumb　animal　in　mortal　pain。

〃Ah！　yes！〃　cried　Bianchon。　〃It　is　the　little　locket　and　the　chain　made　of　hair　that　he　wants；　we　took　it　off　a　while　ago　when　we　put　the　blisters　on　him。　Poor　fellow！　he　must　have　it　again。　There　it　lies　on　the　chimney…piece。〃

Eugene　went　to　the　chimney…piece　and　found　the　little　plait　of　faded　golden　hairMme。　Goriot's　hair；　no　doubt。　He　read　the　name　on　the　little　round　locket；　ANASTASIE　on　the　one　side；　DELPHINE　on　the　other。　It　was　the　symbol　of　his　own　heart　that　the　father　always　wore　on　his　breast。　The　curls　of　hair　inside　the　locket　were　so　fine　and　soft　that　is　was　plain　they　had　been　taken　from　two　childish　heads。　When　the　old　man　felt　the　locket　once　more；　his　chest　heaved　with　a　long　deep　sigh　of　satisfaction；　like　a　groan。　It　was　something　terrible　to　see；　for　it　seemed　as　if　the　last　quiver　of　the　nerves　were　laid　bare　to　their　eyes；　the　last　communication　of　sense　to　the　mysterious　point　within　whence　our　sympathies　come　and　whither　they　go。　A　delirious　joy　lighted　up　the　distorted　face。　The　terrific　and　vivid　force　of　the　feeling　that　had　survived　the　power　of　thought　made　such　an　impression　on　the　students；　that　the　dying　man　felt　their　hot　tears　falling　on　him；　and　gave　a　shrill　cry　of　delight。

〃Nasie！　Fifine！〃

〃There　is　life　in　him　yet；〃　said　Bianchon。

〃What　does　he　go　on　living　for？〃　said　Sylvie。

〃To　suffer；〃　answered　Rastignac。

Bianchon　made　a　sign　to　his　friend　to　follow　his　example；　knelt　down　and　pressed　his　arms　under　the　sick　man；　and　Rastignac　on　the　other　side　did　the　same；　so　that　Sylvie；　standing　in　readiness；　might　draw　the　sheet　from　beneath　and　replace　it　with　the　one　that　she　had　brought。　Those　tears；　no　doubt；　had　misled　Goriot；　for　he　gathered　up　all　his　remaining　strength　in　a　last　effort；　stretched　out　his　hands；　groped　for　the　students'　heads；　and　as　his　fingers　caught　convulsively　at　their　hair；　they　heard　a　faint　whisper：

〃Ah！　my　angels！〃

Two　words；　two　inarticulate　murmurs；　shaped　into　words　by　the　soul　which　fled　forth　with　them　as　they　left　his　lips。

〃Poor　dear！〃　cried　Sylvie；　melted　by　that　exclamation；　the　expression　of　the　great　love　raised　for　the　last　time　to　a　sublime　height　by　that　most　ghastly　and　involuntary　of　lies。

The　father's　last　breath　must　have　been　a　sigh　of　joy；　and　in　that　sigh　his　whole　life　was　summed　up；　he　was　cheated　even　at　the　last。　They　laid　Father　Goriot　upon　his　wretched　bed　with　reverent　hands。　Thenceforward　there　was　no　expression　on　his　face；　only　the　painful　traces　of　the　struggle　between　life　and　death　that　was　going　on　in　the　machine；　for　that　kind　of　cerebral　consciousness　that　distinguishes　between　pleasure　and　pain　in　a　human　being　was　extinguished；　it　was　only　a　question　of　timeand　the　mechanism　itself　would　be　destroyed。

〃He　will　lie　like　this　for　several　hours；　and　die　so　quietly　at　last；　that　we　shall　not　know　when　he　goes；　there　will　be　no　rattle　in　the　throat。　The　brain　must　be　completely　suffused。〃

As　he　spoke　there　was　a　footstep　on　the　staircase；　and　a　young　woman　hastened　up；　panting　for　breath。

〃She　has　come　too　late；〃　said　Rastignac。

But　it　was　not　Delphine；　it　was　Therese；　her　waiting…woman；　who　stood　in　the　doorway。

〃Monsieur　Eugene；〃　she　said；　〃monsieur　and　madame　have　had　a　terrible　scene　about　some　money　that　Madame　（poor　thing！）　wanted　for　her　father。　She　fainted；　and　the　doctor　came；　and　she　had　to　be　bled；　calling　out　all　the　while；　'My　father　is　dying；　I　want　to　see　papa！'　It　was　heartbreaking　to　hear　her〃

〃That　will　do；　Therese。　If　she　came　now；　it　would　be　trouble　thrown　away。　M。　Goriot　cannot　recognize　any　one　now。〃

〃Poor；　dear　gentleman；　is　he　as　bad　at　that？〃　said　Therese。

〃You　don't　want　me　now；　I　must　go　and　look　after　my　dinner；　it　is　half…past　four；〃　remarked　Sylvie。　The　next　instant　she　all　but　collided　with　Mme。　de　Restaud　on　the　landing　outside。

There　was　something　awful　and　appalling　in　the　sudden　apparition　of　the　Countess。　She　saw　the　bed　of　death　by　the　dim　light　of　the　single　candle；　and　her　tears　flowed　at　the　sight　of　her　father's　passive　features；　from　which　the　life　had　almost　ebbed。　Bianchon　with　thoughtful　tact　left　the　room。

〃I　could　not　escape　soon　enough；〃　she　said　to　Rastignac。

The　student　bowed　sadly　in　reply。　Mme。　de　Restaud　took　her　father's　hand　and　kissed　it。

〃Forgive　me；　father！　You　used　to　say　that　my　voice　would　call　you　back　from　the　grave；　ah！　come　back　for　one　moment　to　bless　your　penitent　daughter。　Do　you　hear　me？　Oh！　this　is　fearful！　No　one　on　earth　will　ever　bless　me　henceforth；　every　one　hates　me；　no　one　loves　me　but　you　in　all　the　world。　My　own　children　will　hate　me。　Take　me　with　you；　father；　I　will　love　you；　I　will　take　care　of　you。　He　does　not　hear　me　。　。　。　I　am　mad　。　。　。〃

She　fell　on　her　knees；　and　gazed　wildly　at　the　human　wreck　before　her。

〃My　cup　of　misery　is　full；〃　she　said；　turning　her　eyes　upon　Eugene。　〃M。　de　Trailles　has　fled；　leaving　enormous　debts　behind　him；　and　I　have　found　out　that　he　was　deceiving　me。　My　husband　will　never　forgive　me；　and　I　have　left　my　fortune　in　his　hands。　I　have　lost　all　my　illusions。　Alas！　I　have　forsaken　the　one　heart　that　loved　me　（she　pointed　to　her　father　as　she　spoke）；　and　for　whom？　I　have　held　his　kindness　cheap；　and　slighted　his　affection；　many　and　many　a　time　I　have　given　him　pain；　ungrateful　wretch　that　I　am！〃

〃He　knew　it；〃　said　Rastignac。

Just　then　Goriot's　eyelids　unclosed；　it　was　only　a　muscular　contraction；　but　the　Countess'　sudden　start　of　reviving　hope　was　no　less　dreadful　than　the　dying　eyes。

〃Is　it　possible　that　he　can　hear　me？〃　cried　the　Countess。　〃No；〃　she　answered　herself；　and　sat　down　beside　the　bed。　As　Mme。　de　Restaud　seemed　to　wish　to　sit　by　her　father；　Eugene　went　down　to　take　a　little　food。　The　boarders　were　already　assembled。

〃Well；〃　remarked　the　painter；　as　he　joined　them；　〃it　seems　that　there　is　to　be　a　death…orama　upstairs。〃

〃Charles；　I　think　you　might　find　something　less　painful　to　joke　about；〃　said　Eugene。

〃So　we　may　not　laugh　here？〃　returned　the　painter。　〃What　harm　does　it　do？　Bianchon　said　that　the　old　man　was　quite　insensible。〃

〃Well；　then；〃　said　the　employe　from　the　Museum；　〃he　will　die　as　he　has　lived。〃

〃My　father　is　dead！〃　shrieked　the　Countess。

The　terrible　cry　brought　Sylvie；　Rastignac；　and　Bianchon；　Mme。　de　Restaud　had　fainted　away。　When　she　recovered　they　carried　her　downstairs；　and　put　her　into　the　cab　that　stood　waiting　at　the　door。　Eugene　sent　Therese　with　her；　and　bade　the　maid　take　the　Countess　to　Mme。　de　Nucingen。

Bianchon　came　down　to　them。

〃Yes；　he　is　dead；〃　he　said。

〃Come；　sit　down　to　dinner；　gentlemen；〃　said　Mme。　Vauquer；　〃or　the　soup　will　be　cold。〃

The　two　students　sat　down　together。

〃What　is　the　next　thing　to　be　done？〃　Eugene　asked　of　Bianchon。

〃I　have　closed　his　eyes　and　composed　his　limbs；〃　said　Bianchon。　〃When　the　certificate　has　been　officially　registered　at　the　Mayor's　office；　we　will　sew　him　in　his　winding　sheet　and　bury　him　somewhere。　What　do　you　think　we　ought　to　do？〃

〃He　will　not　smell　at　his　bread　like　this　any　more；〃　said　the　painter；　mimicking　the　old　man's　little　trick。

〃Oh；　hang　it　all！〃　cried　the　tutor；　〃let　Father　Goriot　drop；　and　let　us　have　something　else　for　a　change。　He　is　a　standing　dish；　and　we　have　had　him　with　every　sauce　this　hour　or　more。　It　is　one　of　the　privileges　of　the　good　city　of　Paris　that　anybody　may　be　born；　or　live；　or　die　there　without　attracting　any　attention　whatsoever。　Let　us　profit　by　the　advantages　of　civilization。　There　are　fifty　or　sixty　deaths　every　day；　if　you　have　a　mind　to　do　it；　you　can　sit　down　at　any　time　and　wail　over　whole　hecatombs　of　dead　in　Paris。　Father　Goriot　has　gone　off　the　hooks；　has　he？　So　much　the　better　for　him。　If　you　venerate　his　memory；　keep　it　to　yourselves；　and　let　the　rest　of　us　feed　in　peace。〃

〃Oh；　to　be　sure；〃　said　the　widow；　〃it　is　all　the　better　for　him　that　he　is　dead。　It　looks　as　though　he　had　had　trouble　enough；　poor　soul；　while　he　was　alive。〃

And　this　was　all　the　funeral　oration　delivered　over　him　who　had　been　for　Eugene　the　type　and　embodiment　of　Fatherhood。

The　fifteen　lodgers　began　to　talk　as　usual。　When　Bianchon　and　Eugene　had　satisfied　their　hunger；　the　rattle　of　spoons　and　forks；　the　boisterous　conversation；　the　expressions　on　the　faces　that　bespoke　various　degrees　of　want　of　feeling；　gluttony；　or　indifference；　everything　about　them　made　them　shiver　with　loathing。　They　went　out　to　find　a　priest　to　watch　that　night　with　the　dead。　It　was　necessary　to　measure　their　last　pious　cares　by　the　scanty　sum　of　money　that　remained。　Before　nine　o'clock　that　evening　the　body　was　laid　out　on　the　bare　sacking　of　the　bedstead　in　the　desolate　room；　a　lighted　candle　stood　on　either　side；　and　the　priest　watched　at　the　foot。　Rastignac　made　inquiries　of　this　latter　as　to　the　expenses　of　the　funeral；　and　wrote　to　the　Baron　de　Nucingen　and　the　Comte　de　Restaud；　entreating　both　gentlemen　to　authorize　their　man　of　business　to　defray　the　charges　of　laying　their　father…in…law　in　the　grave。　He　sent　Christophe　with　the　letters；　then　he　went　to　bed；　tired　out；　and　slept。

Next　day　Bianchon　and　Rastignac　were　obliged　to　take　the　certificate　to　the　registrar　themselves；　and　by　twelve　o'clock　the　formalities　were　completed。　Two　hours　went　by；　no　word　came　from　the　Count　nor　from　the　Baron；　nobody　appeared　to　act　for　them；　and　Rastignac　had　already　been　obliged　to　pay　the　priest。　Sylvie　asked　ten　francs　for　sewing　the　old　man　in　his　winding…　sheet　and　making　him　ready　for　the　grave；　and　Eugene　and　Bianchon　calculated　that　they　had　scarcely　sufficient　to　pay　for　the　funeral；　if　nothing　was　forthcoming　from　the　dead　man's　family。　So　it　was　the　medical　student　who　laid　him　in　a　pauper's　coffin；　despatched　from　Bianchon's　hospital；　whence　he　obtained　it　at　a　cheaper　rate。

〃Let　us　play　those　wretches　a　trick；〃　said　he。　〃Go　to　the　cemetery；　buy　a　grave　for　five　years　at　Pere…Lachaise；　and　arrange　with　the　Church　and　the　undertaker　to　have　a　third…class　funeral。　If　the　daughters　and　their　husbands　decline　to　repay　you；　you　can　carve　this　on　the　headstone'HERE　LIES　M。　GORIOT；　FATHER　OF　THE　COMTESSE　DE　RESTAUD　AND　THE　BARONNE　DE　NUCINGEN；　INTERRED　AT　THE　EXPENSE　OF　TWO　STUDENTS。'　〃

Eugene　took　part　of　his　friend's　advice；　but　only　after　he　had　gone　in　person　first　to　M。　and　Mme。　de　Nucingen；　and　then　to　M。　and　Mme。　de　Restauda　fruitless　errand。　He　went　no　further　than　the　doorstep　in　either　house。　The　servants　had　received　strict　orders　to　admit　no　one。

〃Monsieur　and　Madame　can　see　no　visitors。　They　have　just　lost　their　father；　and　are　in　deep　grief　over　their　loss。〃

Eugene's　Parisian　experience　told　him　that　it　was　idle　to　press　the　point。　Something　clutched　strangely　at　his　heart　when　he　saw　that　it　was　impossible　to　reach　Delphine。

〃Sell　some　of　your　ornaments；〃　he　wrote　hastily　in　the　porter's　room；　〃so　that　your　father　may　be　decently　laid　in　his　last　resting…place。〃

He　sealed　the　note；　and　begged　the　porter　to　give　it　to　Therese　for　her　mistress；　but　the　man　took　it　to　the　Baron　de　Nucingen；　who　flung　the　note　into　the　fire。　Eugene；　having　finished　his　errands；　returned　to　the　lodging…house　about