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When the would…be friends of Pere Grandet came in the evening for
their game at cards； she was gay and dissimulating； but all the
morning she talked of Charles with her mother and Nanon。 Nanon had
brought herself to see that she could pity the sufferings of her young
mistress without failing in her duty to the old master； and she would
say to Eugenie；
〃If I had a man for myself I'dI'd follow him to hell； yes； I'd
exterminate myself for him； but I've none。 I shall die and never know
what life is。 Would you believe； mamz'elle； that old Cornoiller （a
good fellow all the same） is always round my petticoats for the sake
of my money；just for all the world like the rats who come smelling
after the master's cheese and paying court to you？ I see it all； I've
got a shrewd eye； though I am as big as a steeple。 Well； mamz'elle； it
pleases me； but it isn't love。〃
X
Two months went by。 This domestic life； once so monotonous； was now
quickened with the intense interest of a secret that bound these women
intimately together。 For them Charles lived and moved beneath the grim
gray rafters of the hall。 Night and morning Eugenie opened the
dressing…case and gazed at the portrait of her aunt。 One Sunday
morning her mother surprised her as she stood absorbed in finding her
cousin's features in his mother's face。 Madame Grandet was then for
the first time admitted into the terrible secret of the exchange made
by Charles against her daughter's treasure。
〃You gave him all！〃 cried the poor mother； terrified。 〃What will you
say to your father on New Year's Day when he asks to see your gold？〃
Eugenie's eyes grew fixed； and the two women lived through mortal
terror for more than half the morning。 They were so troubled in mind
that they missed high Mass； and only went to the military service。 In
three days the year 1819 would come to an end。 In three days a
terrible drama would begin； a bourgeois tragedy； without poison； or
dagger； or the spilling of blood； butas regards the actors in it
more cruel than all the fabled horrors in the family of the Atrides。
〃What will become of us？〃 said Madame Grandet to her daughter； letting
her knitting fall upon her knees。
The poor mother had gone through such anxiety for the past two months
that the woollen sleeves which she needed for the coming winter were
not yet finished。 This domestic fact； insignificant as it seems； bore
sad results。 For want of those sleeves； a chill seized her in the
midst of a sweat caused by a terrible explosion of anger on the part
of her husband。
〃I have been thinking； my poor child； that if you had confided your
secret to me we should have had time to write to Monsieur des Grassins
in Paris。 He might have sent us gold pieces like yours； though Grandet
knows them all； perhaps〃
〃Where could we have got the money？〃
〃I would have pledged my own property。 Besides； Monsieur des Grassins
would have〃
〃It is too late；〃 said Eugenie in a broken； hollow voice。 〃To…morrow
morning we must go and wish him a happy New Year in his chamber。〃
〃But； my daughter； why should I not consult the Cruchots？〃
〃No； no； it would be delivering me up to them； and putting ourselves
in their power。 Besides； I have chosen my course。 I have done right； I
repent of nothing。 God will protect me。 His will be done！ Ah！ mother；
if you had read his letter； you； too； would have thought only of him。〃
The next morning； January 1； 1820； the horrible fear to which mother
and daughter were a prey suggested to their minds a natural excuse by
which to escape the solemn entrance into Grandet's chamber。 The winter
of 1819…1820 was one of the coldest of that epoch。 The snow encumbered
the roofs。
Madame Grandet called to her husband as soon as she heard him stirring
in his chamber； and said；
〃Grandet； will you let Nanon light a fire here for me？ The cold is so
sharp that I am freezing under the bedclothes。 At my age I need some
comforts。 Besides；〃 she added； after a slight pause； 〃Eugenie shall
come and dress here； the poor child might get an illness from dressing
in her cold room in such weather。 Then we will go and wish you a happy
New Year beside the fire in the hall。〃
〃Ta； ta； ta； ta； what a tongue！ a pretty way to begin the new year；
Madame Grandet！ You never talked so much before； but you haven't been
sopping your bread in wine； I know that。〃
There was a moment's silence。
〃Well；〃 resumed the goodman； who no doubt had some reason of his own
for agreeing to his wife's request； 〃I'll do what you ask； Madame
Grandet。 You are a good woman； and I don't want any harm to happen to
you at your time of life；though as a general thing the Bertellieres
are as sound as a roach。 Hein！ isn't that so？〃 he added after a pause。
〃Well； I forgive them； we got their property in the end。〃 And he
coughed。
〃You are very gay this morning； monsieur；〃 said the poor woman
gravely。
〃I'm always gay；
〃'Gai； gai； gai； le tonnelier；
Raccommodez votre cuvier！'〃
he answered； entering his wife's room fully dressed。 〃Yes； on my word；
it is cold enough to freeze you solid。 We shall have a fine breakfast；
wife。 Des Grassins has sent me a pate…de…foie…gras truffled！ I am
going now to get it at the coach…office。 There'll be a double napoleon
for Eugenie in the package；〃 he whispered in Madame Grandet's ear。 〃I
have no gold left； wife。 I had a few stray piecesI don't mind
telling you thatbut I had to let them go in business。〃
Then； by way of celebrating the new year； he kissed her on the
forehead。
〃Eugenie；〃 cried the mother； when Grandet was fairly gone； 〃I don't
know which side of the bed your father got out of； but he is good…
tempered this morning。 Perhaps we shall come out safe after all？〃
〃What's happened to the master？〃 said Nanon； entering her mistress's
room to light the fire。 〃First place； he said； 'Good…morning； happy
New Year； you big fool！ Go and light my wife's fire； she's cold'； and
then； didn't I feel silly when he held out his hand and gave me a six…
franc piece； which isn't worn one bit？ Just look at it； madame！ Oh；
the kind man！ He is a good man； that's a fact。 There are some people
who the older they get the harder they grow； but he；why he's getting
soft and improving with time； like your ratafia！ He is a good； good
man〃
The secret of Grandet's joy lay in the complete success of his
speculation。 Monsieur des Grassins； after deducting the amount which
the old cooper owed him for the discount on a hundred and fifty
thousand francs in Dutch notes； and for the surplus which he had
advanced to make up the sum required for the investment in the Funds
which was to produce a hundred thousand francs a year； had now sent
him； by the diligence； thirty thousand francs in silver coin； the
remainder of his first half…year's interest； informing him at the same
time that the Funds had already gone up in value。 They were then
quoted at eighty…nine； the shrewdest capitalists bought in； towards
the last of January； at ninety…three。 Grandet had thus gained in two
months twelve per cent on his capital； he had simplified his accounts；
and would in future receive fifty thousand francs interest every six
months； without incurring any taxes or costs for repairs。 He
understood at last what it was to invest money in the public
securities；a system for which provincials have always shown a marked
repugnance；and at the end of five years he found himself master of a
capital of six millions； which increased without much effort of his
own； and which； joined to the value and proceeds of his territorial
possessions； gave him a fortune that was absolutely colossal。 The six
francs bestowed on Nanon were perhaps the reward of some great service
which the poor servant had rendered to her master unawares。
〃Oh！ oh！ where's Pere Grandet going？ He has been scurrying about since
sunrise as if to a fire；〃 said the tradespeople to each other as they
opened their shops for the day。
When they saw him coming back from the wharf； followed by a porter
from the coach…office wheeling a barrow which was laden with sacks；
they all had their comments to make：
〃Water flows to the river； the old fellow was running after his gold；〃
said one。
〃He gets it from Paris and Froidfond and Holland；〃 said another。
〃He'll end by buying up Saumur；〃 cried a third。
〃He doesn't mind the cold； he's so wrapped up in his gains；〃 said a
wife to her husband。
〃Hey！ hey！ Monsieur Grandet； if that's too heavy for you；〃 said a
cloth…dealer； his nearest neighbor； 〃I'll take it off your hands。〃
〃Heavy？〃 said the cooper； 〃I should think so； it's all sous！〃
〃Silver sous；〃 said the porter in a low voice。
〃If you want me to take care of you； keep your tongue between your
teeth；〃 said the goodman to the porter as they reached the door。
〃The old fox！ I thought he was deaf； seems he can hear fast enough in
frosty weather。〃
〃Here's twenty sous for your New Year； and /mum/！〃 said Grandet。 〃Be
off with you！ Nanon shall take back your barrow。 Nanon； are the
linnets at church？〃
〃Yes； monsieur。〃
〃Then lend a hand！ go to work！〃 he cried； piling the sacks upon her。
In a few moments all were carried up to his inner room； where he s