father goriot(高老头)-第8章

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〃Pooh！〃　said　Sylvie；　sipping　her　coffee；　〃our　places　are　the　best　in　the　Quarter；　that　I　know。　But　about　that　great　big　chap　Vautrin；　Christophe；　has　any　one　told　you　anything　about　him？〃

〃Yes。　I　met　a　gentleman　in　the　street　a　few　days　ago；　he　said　to　me；　'There's　a　gentleman　in　your　place；　isn't　there？　a　tall　man　that　dyes　his　whiskers？'　I　told　him；　'No；　sir；　they　aren't　dyed。　A　gay　fellow　like　him　hasn't　the　time　to　do　it。'　And　when　I　told　M。　Vautrin　about　it　afterwards；　he　said；　'Quite　right；　my　boy。　That　is　the　way　to　answer　them。　There　is　nothing　more　unpleasant　than　to　have　your　little　weaknesses　known；　it　might　spoil　many　a　match。'　〃

〃Well；　and　for　my　part；〃　said　Sylvie；　〃a　man　tried　to　humbug　me　at　the　market　wanting　to　know　if　I　had　seen　him　put　on　his　shirt。　Such　bosh！　There；〃　she　cried；　interrupting　herself；　〃that's　a　quarter　to　ten　striking　at　the　Val…de…Grace；　and　not　a　soul　stirring！〃

〃Pooh！　they　are　all　gone　out。　Mme。　Couture　and　the　girl　went　out　at　eight　o'clock　to　take　the　wafer　at　Saint…Etienne。　Father　Goriot　started　off　somewhere　with　a　parcel；　and　the　student　won't　be　back　from　his　lecture　till　ten　o'clock。　I　saw　them　go　while　I　was　sweeping　the　stairs；　Father　Goriot　knocked　up　against　me；　and　his　parcel　was　as　hard　as　iron。　What　is　the　old　fellow　up　to；　I　wonder？　He　is　as　good　as　a　plaything　for　the　rest　of　them；　they　can　never　let　him　alone；　but　he　is　a　good　man；　all　the　same；　and　worth　more　than　all　of　them　put　together。　He　doesn't　give　you　much　himself；　but　he　sometimes　sends　you　with　a　message　to　ladies　who　fork　out　famous　tips；　they　are　dressed　grandly；　too。〃

〃His　daughters；　as　he　calls　them；　eh？　There　are　a　dozen　of　them。〃

〃I　have　never　been　to　more　than　twothe　two　who　came　here。〃

〃There　is　madame　moving　overhead；　I　shall　have　to　go；　or　she　will　raise　a　fine　racket。　Just　keep　an　eye　on　the　milk；　Christophe；　don't　let　the　cat　get　at　it。〃

Sylvie　went　up　to　her　mistress'　room。

〃Sylvie！　How　is　this？　It's　nearly　ten　o'clock；　and　you　let　me　sleep　like　a　dormouse！　Such　a　thing　has　never　happened　before。〃

〃It's　the　fog；　it　is　that　thick；　you　could　cut　it　with　a　knife。〃

〃But　how　about　breakfast？〃

〃Bah！　the　boarders　are　possessed；　I'm　sure。　They　all　cleared　out　before　there　was　a　wink　of　daylight。〃

〃Do　speak　properly；　Sylvie；〃　Mme。　Vauquer　retorted；　〃say　a　blink　of　daylight。〃

〃Ah；　well；　madame；　whichever　you　please。　Anyhow；　you　can　have　breakfast　at　ten　o'clock。　La　Michonnette　and　Poiret　have　neither　of　them　stirred。　There　are　only　those　two　upstairs；　and　they　are　sleeping　like　the　logs　they　are。〃

〃But；　Sylvie；　you　put　their　names　together　as　if〃

〃As　if　what？〃　said　Sylvie；　bursting　into　a　guffaw。　〃The　two　of　them　make　a　pair。〃

〃It　is　a　strange　thing；　isn't　it；　Sylvie；　how　M。　Vautrin　got　in　last　night　after　Christophe　had　bolted　the　door？〃

〃Not　at　all；　madame。　Christophe　heard　M。　Vautrin；　and　went　down　and　undid　the　door。　And　here　are　you　imagining　that？〃

〃Give　me　my　bodice；　and　be　quick　and　get　breakfast　ready。　Dish　up　the　rest　of　the　mutton　with　the　potatoes；　and　you　can　put　the　stewed　pears　on　the　table；　those　at　five　a　penny。〃

A　few　moments　later　Mme。　Vauquer　came　down；　just　in　time　to　see　the　cat　knock　down　a　plate　that　covered　a　bowl　of　milk；　and　begin　to　lap　in　all　haste。

〃Mistigris！〃　she　cried。

The　cat　fled；　but　promptly　returned　to　rub　against　her　ankles。

〃Oh！　yes；　you　can　wheedle；　you　old　hypocrite！〃　she　said。　〃Sylvie！　Sylvie！〃

〃Yes；　madame；　what　is　it？〃

〃Just　see　what　the　cat　has　done！〃

〃It　is　all　that　stupid　Christophe's　fault。　I　told　him　to　stop　and　lay　the　table。　What　has　become　of　him？　Don't　you　worry；　madame；　Father　Goriot　shall　have　it。　I　will　fill　it　up　with　water；　and　he　won't　know　the　difference；　he　never　notices　anything；　not　even　what　he　eats。〃

〃I　wonder　where　the　old　heathen　can　have　gone？〃　said　Mme。　Vauquer；　setting　the　plates　round　the　table。

〃Who　knows？　He　is　up　to　all　sorts　of　tricks。〃

〃I　have　overslept　myself；〃　said　Mme。　Vauquer。

〃But　madame　looks　as　fresh　as　a　rose；　all　the　same。〃

The　door　bell　rang　at　that　moment；　and　Vautrin　came　through　the　sitting…room；　singing　loudly：

　　〃　'Tis　the　same　old　story　everywhere；　　　A　roving　heart　and　a　roving　glance　。　。

〃Oh！　Mamma　Vauquer！　good…morning！〃　he　cried　at　the　sight　of　his　hostess；　and　he　put　his　arm　gaily　round　her　waist。

〃There！　have　done〃

〃　'Impertinence！'　Say　it！〃　he　answered。　〃Come；　say　it！　Now；　isn't　that　what　you　really　mean？　Stop　a　bit；　I　will　help　you　to　set　the　table。　Ah！　I　am　a　nice　man；　am　I　not？

　　〃For　the　locks　of　brown　and　the　golden　hair　　　A　sighing　lover　。　。　。

〃Oh！　I　have　just　seen　something　so　funny

　　。　。　。　。　led　by　chance。〃

〃What？〃　asked　the　widow。

〃Father　Goriot　in　the　goldsmith's　shop　in　the　Rue　Dauphine　at　half…past　eight　this　morning。　They　buy　old　spoons　and　forks　and　gold　lace　there；　and　Goriot　sold　a　piece　of　silver　plate　for　a　good　round　sum。　It　had　been　twisted　out　of　shape　very　neatly　for　a　man　that's　not　used　to　the　trade。〃

〃Really？　You　don't　say　so？〃

〃Yes。　One　of　my　friends　is　expatriating　himself；　I　had　been　to　see　him　off　on　board　the　Royal　Mail　steamer；　and　was　coming　back　here。　I　waited　after　that　to　see　what　Father　Goriot　would　do；　it　is　a　comical　affair。　He　came　back　to　this　quarter　of　the　world；　to　the　Rue　des　Gres；　and　went　into　a　money…lender's　house；　everybody　knows　him；　Gobseck；　a　stuck…up　rascal；　that　would　make　dominoes　out　of　his　father's　bones；　a　Turk；　a　heathen；　an　old　Jew；　a　Greek；　it　would　be　a　difficult　matter　to　rob　HIM；　for　he　puts　all　his　coin　into　the　Bank。〃

〃Then　what　was　Father　Goriot　doing　there？〃

〃Doing？〃　said　Vautrin。　〃Nothing；　he　was　bent　on　his　own　undoing。　He　is　a　simpleton；　stupid　enough　to　ruin　himself　by　running　after〃

〃There　he　is！〃　cried　Sylvie。

〃Christophe；〃　cried　Father　Goriot's　voice；　〃come　upstairs　with　me。〃

Christophe　went　up；　and　shortly　afterwards　came　down　again。

〃Where　are　you　going？〃　Mme。　Vauquer　asked　of　her　servant。

〃Out　on　an　errand　for　M。　Goriot。〃

〃What　may　that　be？〃　said　Vautrin；　pouncing　on　a　letter　in　Christophe's　hand。　〃Mme。　la　Comtesse　Anastasie　de　Restaud；〃　he　read。　〃Where　are　you　going　with　it？〃　he　added；　as　he　gave　the　letter　back　to　Christophe。

〃To　the　Rue　du　Helder。　I　have　orders　to　give　this　into　her　hands　myself。〃

〃What　is　there　inside　it？〃　said　Vautrin；　holding　the　letter　up　to　the　light。　〃A　banknote？　No。〃　He　peered　into　the　envelope。　〃A　receipted　account！〃　he　cried。　〃My　word！　'tis　a　gallant　old　dotard。　Off　with　you；　old　chap；〃　he　said；　bringing　down　a　hand　on　Christophe's　head；　and　spinning　the　man　round　like　a　thimble；　〃you　will　have　a　famous　tip。〃

By　this　time　the　table　was　set。　Sylvie　was　boiling　the　milk；　Mme。　Vauquer　was　lighting　a　fire　in　the　stove　with　some　assistance　from　Vautrin；　who　kept　humming　to　himself：

　　〃The　same　old　story　everywhere；　　　A　roving　heart　and　a　roving　glance。〃

When　everything　was　ready；　Mme。　Couture　and　Mlle。　Taillefer　came　in。

〃Where　have　you　been　this　morning；　fair　lady？〃　said　Mme。　Vauquer；　turning　to　Mme。　Couture。

〃We　have　just　been　to　say　our　prayers　at　Saint…Etienne　du　Mont。　To…day　is　the　day　when　we　must　go　to　see　M。　Taillefer。　Poor　little　thing！　She　is　trembling　like　a　leaf；〃　Mme。　Couture　went　on；　as　she　seated　herself　before　the　fire　and　held　the　steaming　soles　of　her　boots　to　the　blaze。

〃Warm　yourself；　Victorine；〃　said　Mme。　Vauquer。

〃It　is　quite　right　and　proper；　mademoiselle；　to　pray　to　Heaven　to　soften　your　father's　heart；〃　said　Vautrin；　as　he　drew　a　chair　nearer　to　the　orphan　girl；　〃but　that　is　not　enough。　What　you　want　is　a　friend　who　will　give　the　monster　a　piece　of　his　mind；　a　barbarian　that　has　three　millions　（so　they　say）；　and　will　not　give　you　a　dowry；　and　a　pretty　girl　needs　a　dowry　nowadays。〃

〃Poor　child！〃　said　Mme。　Vauquer。　〃Never　mind；　my　pet；　your　wretch　of　a　father　is　going　just　the　way　to　bring　trouble　upon　himself。〃

Victorine's　eyes　filled　with　tears　at　the　words；　and　the　widow　checked　herself　at　a　sign　from　Mme。　Couture。

〃If　we　could　only　see　him！〃　said　the　Commissary…General's　widow；　〃if　I　could　speak　to　him　myself　and　give　him　his　wife's　last　letter！　I　have　never　dared　to　run　the　risk　of　sending　it　by　post；　he　knew　my　handwriting〃

〃　'Oh　woman；　persecuted　and　injured　innocent！'　〃　exclaimed　Vautrin；　breaking　in　upon　her。　〃So　that　is　how　you　are；　is　it？　In　a　few　days'　time　I　will　look　into　your　affairs；　and　it　will　be　all　right；　you　shall　see。〃

〃Oh！　sir；〃　said　Victorine；　with　a　tearful　but　eager　glance　at　Vautrin；　who　showed　no　sign　of　being　touched　by　it；　〃if　you　know　of　any　way　of　communicating　with　my　father；　please　be　sure　and　tell　him　that　his　affection　and　my　mother's　honor　are　more　to　me　than　all　the　money　in　the　world。　If　you　can　induce　him　to　relent　a　little　towards　me；　I　will　pray　to　God　for　you。　You　may　be　sure　of　my　gratitude〃

〃The　same　old　story　everywhere；〃　sang　Vautrin；　with　a　satirical　intonation。　At　this　juncture；　Goriot；　Mlle。　Michonneau；　and　Poiret　came　downstairs　together；　possibly　the　scent　of　the　gravy　which　Sylvie　was　making　to　serve　with　the　mutton　had　announced　breakfast。　The　seven　people　thus　assembled　bade　each　other　good…　morning；　and　took　their　places　at　the　table；　the　clock　struck　ten；　and　the　student's　footstep　was　heard　outside。

〃Ah！　here　you　are；　M。　Eugene；〃　said　Sylvie；　〃every　one　is　breakfasting　at　home　to…day。〃

The　student　exchanged　greetings　with　the　lodgers；　and　sat　down　beside　Goriot。

〃I　have　just　met　with　a　queer　adventure；〃　he　said；　as　he　helped　himself　abundantly　to　the　mutton；　and　cut　a　slice　of　bread；　which　Mme。　Vauquer's　eyes　gauged　as　usual。

〃An　adventure？〃　queried　Poiret。

〃Well；　and　what　is　there　to　astonish　you　in　that；　old　boy？〃　Vautrin　asked　of　Poiret。　〃M。　Eugene　is　cut　out　for　that　kind　of　thing。〃

Mlle。　Taillefer　stole　a　timid　glance　at　the　young　student。

〃Tell　us　about　your　adventure！〃　demanded　M。　Vautrin。

〃Yesterday　evening　I　went　to　a　ball　given　by　a　cousin　of　mine；　the　Vicomtesse　de　Beauseant。　She　has　a　magnificent　house；　the　rooms　are　hung　with　silkin　short；　it　was　a　splendid　affair；　and　I　was　as　happy　as　a　king…〃

〃Fisher；〃　put　in　Vautrin；　interrupting。

〃What　do　you　mean；　sir？〃　said　Eugene　sharply。

〃I　said　'fisher；'　because　kingfishers　see　a　good　deal　more　fun　than　kings。〃

〃Quite　true；　I　would　much　rather　be　the　little　careless　bird　than　a　king；〃　said　Poiret　the　ditto…ist；　〃because〃

〃In　fact〃the　law…student　cut　him　short〃I　danced　with　one　of　the　handsomest　women　in　the　room；　a　charming　countess；　the　most　exquisite　creature　I　have　ever　seen。　There　was　peach　blossom　in　her　hair；　and　she　had　the　loveliest　bouquet　of　flowersreal　flowers；　that　scented　the　airbut　there！　it　is　no　use　trying　to　describe　a　woman　glowing　with　the　dance。　You　ought　to　have　seen　her！　Well；　and　this　morning　I　met　this　divine　countess　about　nine　o'clock；　on　foot　in　the　Rue　de　Gres。　Oh！　how　my　heart　beat！　I　began　to　think〃

〃That　she　was　coming　here；〃　said　Vautrin；　with　a　keen　look　at　the　student。　〃I　expect　that　she　was　going　to　call　on　old　Gobseck；　a　money…lender。　If　ever　you　explore　a　Parisian　woman's　heart；　you　will　find　the　money…lender　first；　and　the　lover　afterwards。　Your　countess　is　called　Anastasie　de　Restaud；　and　she　lives　in　the　Rue　du　Helder。〃

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