eugenie grandet(欧也妮·葛朗台)-第13部分

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！


continued　Grandet；　without　stuttering：　〃two　thousand　poplars　forty
years　old　will　only　yield　me　fifty　thousand　francs。　There's　a　loss。　I
have　found　that　myself；〃　said　Grandet；　getting　on　his　high　horse。
〃Jean；　fill　up　all　the　holes　except　those　at　the　bank　of　the　river；
there　you　are　to　plant　the　poplars　I　have　bought。　Plant　'em　there；　and
they'll　get　nourishment　from　the　government；〃　he　said；　turning　to
Cruchot；　and　giving　a　slight　motion　to　the　wen　on　his　nose；　which
expressed　more　than　the　most　ironical　of　smiles。
〃True　enough；　poplars　should　only　be　planted　on　poor　soil；〃　said
Cruchot；　amazed　at　Grandet's　calculations。
〃Y…y…yes；　monsieur；〃　answered　the　old　man　satirically。
Eugenie；　who　was　gazing　at　the　sublime　scenery　of　the　Loire；　and
paying　no　attention　to　her　father's　reckonings；　presently　turned　an
ear　to　the　remarks　of　Cruchot　when　she　heard　him　say；
〃So　you　have　brought　a　son…in…law　from　Paris。　All　Saumur　is　talking
about　your　nephew。　I　shall　soon　have　the　marriage…contract　to　draw　up；
hey！　Pere　Grandet？〃
〃You　g…g…got　up　very　early　to　t…t…tell　me　that；〃　said　Grandet；
accompanying　the　remark　with　a　motion　of　his　wen。　〃Well；　old
c…c…comrade；　I'll　be　frank；　and　t…t…tell　you　what　you　want　t…t…to
know。　I　would　rather；　do　you　see；　f…f…fling　my　daughter　into　the　Loire
than　g…g…give　her　to　her　c…c…cousin。　You　may　t…t…tell　that　everywhere；
no；　never　mind；　let　the　world　t…t…talk。〃
This　answer　dazzled　and　blinded　the　young　girl　with　sudden　light。　The
distant　hopes　upspringing　in　her　heart　bloomed　suddenly；　became　real；
tangible；　like　a　cluster　of　flowers；　and　she　saw　them　cut　down　and
wilting　on　the　earth。　Since　the　previous　evening　she　had　attached
herself　to　Charles　by　those　links　of　happiness　which　bind　soul　to
soul；　from　henceforth　suffering　was　to　rivet　them。　Is　it　not　the　noble
destiny　of　women　to　be　more　moved　by　the　dark　solemnities　of　grief
than　by　the　splendors　of　fortune？　How　was　it　that　fatherly　feeling　had
died　out　of　her　father's　heart？　Of　what　crime　had　Charles　been　guilty？
Mysterious　questions！　Already　her　dawning　love；　a　mystery　so　profound；
was　wrapping　itself　in　mystery。　She　walked　back　trembling　in　all　her
limbs；　and　when　she　reached　the　gloomy　street；　lately　so　joyous　to
her；　she　felt　its　sadness；　she　breathed　the　melancholy　which　time　and
events　had　printed　there。　None　of　love's　lessons　lacked。　A　few　steps
from　their　own　door　she　went　on　before　her　father　and　waited　at　the
threshold。　But　Grandet；　who　saw　a　newspaper　in　the　notary's　hand；
stopped　short　and　asked；
〃How　are　the　Funds？〃
〃You　never　listen　to　my　advice；　Grandet；〃　answered　Cruchot。　〃Buy　soon；
you　will　still　make　twenty　per　cent　in　two　years；　besides　getting　an
excellent　rate　of　interest；five　thousand　a　year　for　eighty　thousand
francs　fifty　centimes。〃
〃We'll　see　about　that；〃　answered　Grandet；　rubbing　his　chin。
〃Good　God！〃　exclaimed　the　notary。
〃Well；　what？〃　cried　Grandet；　and　at　the　same　moment　Cruchot　put　the
newspaper　under　his　eyes　and　said：
〃Read　that！〃
　　〃Monsieur　Grandet；　one　of　the　most　respected　merchants　in　Paris；
　　blew　his　brains　out　yesterday；　after　making　his　usual　appearance
　　at　the　Bourse。　He　had　sent　his　resignation　to　the　president　of　the
　　Chamber　of　Deputies；　and　had　also　resigned　his　functions　as　a
　　judge　of　the　commercial　courts。　The　failures　of　Monsieur　Roguin
　　and　Monsieur　Souchet；　his　broker　and　his　notary；　had　ruined　him。
　　The　esteem　felt　for　Monsieur　Grandet　and　the　credit　he　enjoyed
　　were　nevertheless　such　that　he　might　have　obtained　the　necessary
　　assistance　from　other　business　houses。　It　is　much　to　be　regretted
　　that　so　honorable　a　man　should　have　yielded　to　momentary　despair；〃
　　etc。
〃I　knew　it；〃　said　the　old　wine…grower　to　the　notary。
The　words　sent　a　chill　of　horror　through　Maitre　Cruchot；　who；
notwithstanding　his　impassibility　as　a　notary；　felt　the　cold　running
down　his　spine　as　he　thought　that　Grandet　of　Paris　had　possibly
implored　in　vain　the　millions　of　Grandet　of　Saumur。
〃And　his　son；　so　joyous　yesterday〃
〃He　knows　nothing　as　yet；〃　answered　Grandet；　with　the　same　composure。
〃Adieu！　Monsieur　Grandet；〃　said　Cruchot；　who　now　understood　the　state
of　the　case；　and　went　off　to　reassure　Monsieur　de　Bonfons。
On　entering；　Grandet　found　breakfast　ready。　Madame　Grandet；　round
whose　neck　Eugenie　had　flung　her　arms；　kissing　her　with　the　quick
effusion　of　feeling　often　caused　by　secret　grief；　was　already　seated
in　her　chair　on　castors；　knitting　sleeves　for　the　coming　winter。
〃You　can　begin　to　eat；〃　said　Nanon；　coming　downstairs　four　steps　at　a
time；　〃the　young　one　is　sleeping　like　a　cherub。　Isn't　he　a　darling
with　his　eyes　shut？　I　went　in　and　I　called　him：　no　answer。〃
〃Let　him　sleep；〃　said　Grandet；　〃he'll　wake　soon　enough　to　hear　ill…
tidings。〃
〃What　is　it？〃　asked　Eugenie；　putting　into　her　coffee　the　two　little
bits　of　sugar　weighing　less　than　half　an　ounce　which　the　old　miser
amused　himself　by　cutting　up　in　his　leisure　hours。　Madame　Grandet；　who
did　not　dare　to　put　the　question；　gazed　at　her　husband。
〃His　father　has　blown　his　brains　out。〃
〃My　uncle？〃　said　Eugenie。
〃Poor　young　man！〃　exclaimed　Madame　Grandet。
〃Poor　indeed！〃　said　Grandet；　〃he　isn't　worth　a　sou！〃
〃Eh！　poor　boy；　and　he's　sleeping　like　the　king　of　the　world！〃　said
Nanon　in　a　gentle　voice。
Eugenie　stopped　eating。　Her　heart　was　wrung；　as　the　young　heart　is
wrung　when　pity　for　the　suffering　of　one　she　loves　overflows；　for　the
first　time；　the　whole　being　of　a　woman。　The　poor　girl　wept。
〃What　are　you　crying　about？　You　didn't　know　your　uncle；〃　said　her
father；　giving　her　one　of　those　hungry　tigerish　looks　he　doubtless
threw　upon　his　piles　of　gold。
〃But；　monsieur；〃　said　Nanon；　〃who　wouldn't　feel　pity　for　the　poor
young　man；　sleeping　there　like　a　wooden　shoe；　without　knowing　what's
coming？〃
〃I　didn't　speak　to　you；　Nanon。　Hold　your　tongue！〃
Eugenie　learned　at　that　moment　that　the　woman　who　loves　must　be　able
to　hide　her　feelings。　She　did　not　answer。
〃You　will　say　nothing　to　him　about　it；　Ma'ame　Grandet；　till　I　return；〃
said　the　old　man。　〃I　have　to　go　and　straighten　the　line　of　my　hedge
along　the　high…road。　I　shall　be　back　at　noon；　in　time　for　the　second
breakfast；　and　then　I　will　talk　with　my　nephew　about　his　affairs。　As
for　you；　Mademoiselle　Eugenie；　if　it　is　for　that　dandy　you　are　crying；
that's　enough；　child。　He's　going　off　like　a　shot　to　the　Indies。　You
will　never　see　him　again。〃
The　father　took　his　gloves　from　the　brim　of　his　hat；　put　them　on　with
his　usual　composure；　pushed　them　in　place　by　shoving　the　fingers　of
both　hands　together；　and　went　out。
〃Mamma；　I　am　suffocating！〃　cried　Eugenie　when　she　was　alone　with　her
mother；　〃I　have　never　suffered　like　this。〃
Madame　Grandet；　seeing　that　she　turned　pale；　opened　the　window　and　let
her　breathe　fresh　air。
〃I　feel　better！〃　said　Eugenie　after　a　moment。
This　nervous　excitement　in　a　nature　hitherto；　to　all　appearance；　calm
and　cold；　reacted　on　Madame　Grandet；　she　looked　at　her　daughter　with
the　sympathetic　intuition　with　which　mothers　are　gifted　for　the
objects　of　their　tenderness；　and　guessed　all。　In　truth　the　life　of　the
Hungarian　sisters；　bound　together　by　a　freak　of　nature；　could　scarcely
have　been　more　intimate　than　that　of　Eugenie　and　her　mother；always
together　in　the　embrasure　of　that　window；　and　sleeping　together　in　the
same　atmosphere。
〃My　poor　child！〃　said　Madame　Grandet；　taking　Eugenie's　head　and　laying
it　upon　her　bosom。
At　these　words　the　young　girl　raised　her　head；　questioned　her　mother
by　a　look；　and　seemed　to　search　out　her　inmost　thought。
〃Why　send　him　to　the　Indies？〃　she　said。　〃If　he　is　unhappy；　ought　he
not　to　stay　with　us？　Is　he　not　our　nearest　relation？〃
〃Yes；　my　child；　it　seems　natural；　but　your　father　has　his　reasons：　we
must　respect　them。〃
The　mother　and　daughter　sat　down　in　silence；　the　former　upon　her
raised　seat；　the　latter　in　her　little　armchair；　and　both　took　up　their
work。　Swelling　with　gratitude　for　the　full　heart…understanding　her
mother　had　given　her；　Eugenie　kissed　the　dear　hand；　saying；
〃How　good　you　are；　my　kind　mamma！〃
The　words　sent　a　glow　of　light　into　the　motherly　face；　worn　and
blighted　as　it　was　by　many　sorrows。
〃You　like　him？〃　asked　Eugenie。
Madame　Grandet　only　smiled　in　reply。　Then；　after　a　moment's　silence；
she　said　in　a　low　voice：　〃Do　you　love　him　already？　That　is　wrong。〃
〃Wrong？〃　said　Eugenie。　〃Why　is　it　wrong？　You　are　pleased　with　him；
Nanon　is　pleased　with　him；　why　should　he　not　please　me？　Come；　mamma；
let　us　set　the　table　for　his　breakfast。〃
She　threw　down　her　work；　and　her　mother　did　the　same；　saying；　〃Foolish
child！〃　But　she　sanctioned　the　child's　folly　by　sharing　it。　Eugenie
called　Nanon。
〃What　do　you　want　now；　mademoiselle？〃
〃Nanon；　can　we　have　cream　by　midday？〃
〃Ah！　midday；　to　be　sure　you　can；〃　answered　the　old　servant。
〃Well；　let　him　have　his　coffee　very　strong；　I　heard　Monsieur　des
Grassins　say　that　they　make　the　coffee　very　strong　in　Paris。　Put　in　a
great　deal。〃
〃Where　am　I　to　get　it？〃
〃Buy　some。〃
〃Suppose　monsieur　meets　me？〃
〃He　has　gone　to　his　fields。〃
〃I'll　run；　then。　But　Monsieur　Fessard　asked　me　yesterday　if　the　Magi
had　come　to　stay　with　us　when　I　bought　the　wax　candle。　All　the　town
will　know　our　goings…on。〃
〃If　your　father　finds　it　out；〃　said　Madame　Grandet；　〃he　is　capable　of
beating　us。〃
〃Well；　let　him　beat　us；　we　will　take　his　blows　on　our　knees。〃
Madame　Grandet　for　all　answer　raised　her　eyes　to　heaven。　Nanon　put　on
her　hood　and　went　off。　Eugenie　got　out　some　clean　table…linen；　and
went　to　fetch　a　few　bunches　of　grapes　which　she　had　amused　herself　by
hanging　on　a　string　across　the　attic；　she　walked　softly　along　the
corridor；　so　as　not　to　waken　her　cousin；　and　she　could　not　help
listening　at　the　door　to　his　quiet　breathing。
〃Sorrow　is　watching　while　he　sleeps；〃　she　thought。
She　took　the　freshest　vine…leaves　and　arranged　her　dish　of　grapes　as
coquettishly　as　a　practised　house…keeper　might　have　done；　and　placed
it　triumphantly　on　the　table。　She　laid　hands　on　the　pears　counted　out
by　her　father；　and　piled　them　in　a　pyramid　mixed　with　leaves。　She　went
and　came；　and　skipped　and　ran。　She　would　have　liked　to　lay　under
contribution　everything　in　her　father's　house；　but　the　keys　were　in
his　pocket。　Nanon