eugenie grandet(欧也妮·葛朗台)-第21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！


〃Oh！　nothing；〃　said　Pere　Grandet。
〃Besides；　we　shall　go　fast；〃　added　the　man；　〃your　farmers　have　picked
out　their　best　horses。〃
〃Very　good。　You　did　not　tell　them　where　I　was　going？〃
〃I　didn't　know　where。〃
〃Very　good。　Is　the　carriage　strong？〃
〃Strong？　hear　to　that；　now！　Why；　it　can　carry　three　thousand　weight。
How　much　does　that　old　keg　weigh？〃
〃Goodness！〃　exclaimed　Nanon。　〃I　ought　to　know！　There's　pretty　nigh
eighteen　hundred〃
〃Will　you　hold　your　tongue；　Nanon！　You　are　to　tell　my　wife　I　have　gone
into　the　country。　I　shall　be　back　to　dinner。　Drive　fast；　Cornoiller；　I
must　get　to　Angers　before　nine　o'clock。〃
The　carriage　drove　off。　Nanon　bolted　the　great　door；　let　loose　the
dog；　and　went　off　to　bed　with　a　bruised　shoulder；　no　one　in　the
neighborhood　suspecting　either　the　departure　of　Grandet　or　the　object
of　his　journey。　The　precautions　of　the　old　miser　and　his　reticence
were　never　relaxed。　No　one　had　ever　seen　a　penny　in　that　house；　filled
as　it　was　with　gold。　Hearing　in　the　morning；　through　the　gossip　of　the
port；　that　exchange　on　gold　had　doubled　in　price　in　consequence　of
certain　military　preparations　undertaken　at　Nantes；　and　that
speculators　had　arrived　at　Angers　to　buy　coin；　the　old　wine…grower；　by
the　simple　process　of　borrowing　horses　from　his　farmers；　seized　the
chance　of　selling　his　gold　and　of　bringing　back　in　the　form　of
treasury　notes　the　sum　he　intended　to　put　into　the　Funds；　having
swelled　it　considerably　by　the　exchange。

VIII
〃My　father　has　gone；〃　thought　Eugenie；　who　heard　all　that　took　place
from　the　head　of　the　stairs。　Silence　was　restored　in　the　house；　and
the　distant　rumbling　of　the　carriage；　ceasing　by　degrees；　no　longer
echoed　through　the　sleeping　town。　At　this　moment　Eugenie　heard　in　her
heart；　before　the　sound　caught　her　ears；　a　cry　which　pierced　the
partitions　and　came　from　her　cousin's　chamber。　A　line　of　light；　thin
as　the　blade　of　a　sabre；　shone　through　a　chink　in　the　door　and　fell
horizontally　on　the　balusters　of　the　rotten　staircase。
〃He　suffers！〃　she　said；　springing　up　the　stairs。　A　second　moan　brought
her　to　the　landing　near　his　room。　The　door　was　ajar；　she　pushed　it
open。　Charles　was　sleeping；　his　head　hung　over　the　side　of　the　old
armchair；　and　his　hand；　from　which　the　pen　had　fallen；　nearly　touched
the　floor。　The　oppressed　breathing　caused　by　the　strained　posture
suddenly　frightened　Eugenie；　who　entered　the　room　hastily。
〃He　must　be　very　tired；〃　she　said　to　herself；　glancing　at　a　dozen
letters　lying　sealed　upon　the　table。　She　read　their　addresses：　〃To
Messrs。　Farry；　Breilmann；　&　Co。；　carriage…makers〃；　〃To　Monsieur
Buisson；　tailor；〃　etc。
〃He　has　been　settling　all　his　affairs；　so　as　to　leave　France　at　once；〃
she　thought。　Her　eyes　fell　upon　two　open　letters。　The　words；　〃My　dear
Annette；〃　at　the　head　of　one　of　them；　blinded　her　for　a　moment。　Her
heart　beat　fast；　her　feet　were　nailed　to　the　floor。
〃His　dear　Annette！　He　loves！　he　is　loved！　No　hope！　What　does　he　say　to
her？〃
These　thoughts　rushed　through　her　head　and　heart。　She　saw　the　words
everywhere；　even　on　the　bricks　of　the　floor；　in　letters　of　fire。
〃Resign　him　already？　No；　no！　I　will　not　read　the　letter。　I　ought　to　go
awayWhat　if　I　do　read　it？〃
She　looked　at　Charles；　then　she　gently　took　his　head　and　placed　it
against　the　back　of　the　chair；　he　let　her　do　so；　like　a　child　which；
though　asleep；　knows　its　mother's　touch　and　receives；　without　awaking；
her　kisses　and　watchful　care。　Like　a　mother　Eugenie　raised　the
drooping　hand；　and　like　a　mother　she　gently　kissed　the　chestnut　hair
〃Dear　Annette！〃　a　demon　shrieked　the　words　in　her　ear。
〃I　am　doing　wrong；　but　I　must　read　it；　that　letter；〃　she　said。　She
turned　away　her　head；　for　her　noble　sense　of　honor　reproached　her。　For
the　first　time　in　her　life　good　and　evil　struggled　together　in　her
heart。　Up　to　that　moment　she　had　never　had　to　blush　for　any　action。
Passion　and　curiosity　triumphed。　As　she　read　each　sentence　her　heart
swelled　more　and　more；　and　the　keen　glow　which　filled　her　being　as　she
did　so；　only　made　the　joys　of　first　love　still　more　precious。
　　My　dear　Annette；Nothing　could　ever　have　separated　us　but　the
　　great　misfortune　which　has　now　overwhelmed　me；　and　which　no　human
　　foresight　could　have　prevented。　My　father　has　killed　himself；　his
　　fortune　and　mine　are　irretrievably　lost。　I　am　orphaned　at　an　age
　　when；　through　the　nature　of　my　education；　I　am　still　a　child；　and
　　yet　I　must　lift　myself　as　a　man　out　of　the　abyss　into　which　I　am
　　plunged。　I　have　just　spent　half　the　night　in　facing　my　position。
　　If　I　wish　to　leave　France　an　honest　man；and　there　is　no　doubt　of
　　that；I　have　not　a　hundred　francs　of　my　own　with　which　to　try　my
　　fate　in　the　Indies　or　in　America。　Yes；　my　poor　Anna；　I　must　seek
　　my　fortune　in　those　deadly　climates。　Under　those　skies；　they　tell
　　me；　I　am　sure　to　make　it。　As　for　remaining　in　Paris；　I　cannot　do
　　so。　Neither　my　nature　nor　my　face　are　made　to　bear　the　affronts；
　　the　neglect；　the　disdain　shown　to　a　ruined　man；　the　son　of　a
　　bankrupt！　Good　God！　think　of　owing　two　millions！　I　should　be
　　killed　in　a　duel　the　first　week；　therefore　I　shall　not　return
　　there。　Your　lovethe　most　tender　and　devoted　love　which　ever
　　ennobled　the　heart　of　mancannot　draw　me　back。　Alas！　my　beloved；
　　I　have　no　money　with　which　to　go　to　you；　to　give　and　receive　a
　　last　kiss　from　which　I　might　derive　some　strength　for　my　forlorn
　　enterprise。
〃Poor　Charles！　I　did　well　to　read　the　letter。　I　have　gold；　I　will　give
it　to　him；〃　thought　Eugenie。
She　wiped　her　eyes；　and　went　on　reading。
　　I　have　never　thought　of　the　miseries　of　poverty。　If　I　have　the
　　hundred　louis　required　for　the　mere　costs　of　the　journey；　I　have
　　not　a　sou　for　an　outfit。　But　no；　I　have　not　the　hundred　louis；　not
　　even　one　louis。　I　don't　know　that　anything　will　be　left　after　I
　　have　paid　my　debts　in　Paris。　If　I　have　nothing；　I　shall　go　quietly
　　to　Nantes　and　ship　as　a　common　sailor；　and　I　will　begin　in　the　new
　　world　like　other　men　who　have　started　young　without　a　sou　and
　　brought　back　the　wealth　of　the　Indies。　During　this　long　day　I　have
　　faced　my　future　coolly。　It　seems　more　horrible　for　me　than　for
　　another；　because　I　have　been　so　petted　by　a　mother　who　adored　me；
　　so　indulged　by　the　kindest　of　fathers；　so　blessed　by　meeting；　on
　　my　entrance　into　life；　with　the　love　of　an　Anna！　The　flowers　of
　　life　are　all　I　have　ever　known。　Such　happiness　could　not　last。
　　Nevertheless；　my　dear　Annette；　I　feel　more　courage　than　a　careless
　　young　man　is　supposed　to　feel；above　all　a　young　man　used　to　the
　　caressing　ways　of　the　dearest　woman　in　all　Paris；　cradled　in
　　family　joys；　on　whom　all　things　smiled　in　his　home；　whose　wishes
　　were　a　law　to　his　fatheroh；　my　father！　Annette；　he　is　dead！
　　Well；　I　have　thought　over　my　position；　and　yours　as　well。　I　have
　　grown　old　in　twenty…four　hours。　Dear　Anna；　if　in　order　to　keep　me
　　with　you　in　Paris　you　were　to　sacrifice　your　luxury；　your　dress；
　　your　opera…box；　we　should　even　then　not　have　enough　for　the
　　expenses　of　my　extravagant　ways　of　living。　Besides；　I　would　never
　　accept　such　sacrifices。　No；　we　must　part　now　and　forever
〃He　gives　her　up！　Blessed　Virgin！　What　happiness！〃
Eugenie　quivered　with　joy。　Charles　made　a　movement；　and　a　chill　of
terror　ran　through　her。　Fortunately；　he　did　not　wake；　and　she　resumed
her　reading。
　　When　shall　I　return？　I　do　not　know。　The　climate　of　the　West　Indies
　　ages　a　European；　so　they　say；　especially　a　European　who　works
　　hard。　Let　us　think　what　may　happen　ten　years　hence。　In　ten　years
　　your　daughter　will　be　eighteen；　she　will　be　your　companion；　your
　　spy。　To　you　society　will　be　cruel；　and　your　daughter　perhaps　more
　　cruel　still。　We　have　seen　cases　of　the　harsh　social　judgment　and
　　ingratitude　of　daughters；　let　us　take　warning　by　them。　Keep　in　the
　　depths　of　your　soul；　as　I　shall　in　mine；　the　memory　of　four　years
　　of　happiness；　and　be　faithful；　if　you　can；　to　the　memory　of　your
　　poor　friend。　I　cannot　exact　such　faithfulness；　because；　do　you
　　see；　dear　Annette；　I　must　conform　to　the　exigencies　of　my　new
　　life；　I　must　take　a　commonplace　view　of　them　and　do　the　best　I
　　can。　Therefore　I　must　think　of　marriage；　which　becomes　one　of　the
　　necessities　of　my　future　existence；　and　I　will　admit　to　you　that　I
　　have　found；　here　in　Saumur；　in　my　uncle's　house；　a　cousin　whose
　　face；　manners；　mind；　and　heart　would　please　you；　and　who；　besides；
　　seems　to　me
〃He　must　have　been　very　weary　to　have　ceased　writing　to　her；〃　thought
Eugenie；　as　she　gazed　at　the　letter　which　stopped　abruptly　in　the
middle　of　the　last　sentence。
Already　she　defended　him。　How　was　it　possible　that　an　innocent　girl
should　perceive　the　cold…heartedness　evinced　by　this　letter？　To　young
girls　religiously　brought　up；　whose　minds　are　ignorant　and　pure；　all
is　love　from　the　moment　they　set　their　feet　within　the　enchanted
regions　of　that　passion。　They　walk　there　bathed　in　a　celestial　light
shed　from　their　own　souls；　which　reflects　its　rays　upon　their　lover；
they　color　all　with　the　flame　of　their　own　emotion　and　attribute　to
him　their　highest　thoughts。　A　woman's　errors　come　almost　always　from
her　belief　in　good　or　her　confidence　in　truth。　In　Eugenie's　simple
heart　the　words；　〃My　dear　Annette；　my　loved　one；〃　echoed　like　the
sweetest　language　of　love；　they　caressed　her　soul　as；　in　childhood；
the　divine　notes　of　the　/Venite　adoremus/；　repeated　by　the　organ；
caressed　her　ear。　Moreover；　the　tears　which　still　lingered　on　the
young　man's　lashes　gave　signs　of　that　nobility　of　heart　by　which　young
girls　are　rightly　won。　How　could　she　know　that　Charles；　though　he
loved　his　father　and　mourned　him　truly；　was　moved　far　more　by　paternal
goodness　than　by　the　goodness　of　his　own　heart？　Monsieur　and　Madame
Guillaume　Grandet；　by　gratifying　every　fancy　of　their　son；　and
lavishing　upon　him　the　pleasures　of　a　large　fortune；　had　kept　him　from
making　the　horrible　calculations　of　which　so　many　sons　in　Paris　become
more　or　less　guilty　when；　face　to　face　with　the　enjoyments　of　the
world；　they　form　desires　and　conceive　schemes　which　they　see　with
bitterness　must　be　put　off　or　laid　aside　during　the　lifetime　of　their
parents。　The　liberality　of　the　father　in　th