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In a few moments all were carried up to his inner room； where he shut
himself in with them。 〃When breakfast is ready； knock on the wall；〃 he
said as he disappeared。 〃Take the barrow back to the coach…office。〃
The family did not breakfast that day until ten o'clock。
〃Your father will not ask to see your gold downstairs；〃 said Madame
Grandet as they got back from Mass。 〃You must pretend to be very
chilly。 We may have time to replace the treasure before your fete…
day。〃
Grandet came down the staircase thinking of his splendid speculation
in government securities； and wondering how he could metamorphose his
Parisian silver into solid gold； he was making up his mind to invest
in this way everything he could lay hands on until the Funds should
reach a par value。 Fatal reverie for Eugenie！ As soon as he came in；
the two women wished him a happy New Year；his daughter by putting
her arms round his neck and caressing him； Madame Grandet gravely and
with dignity。
〃Ha！ ha！ my child；〃 he said； kissing his daughter on both cheeks。 〃I
work for you； don't you see？ I think of your happiness。 Must have
money to be happy。 Without money there's not a particle of happiness。
Here！ there's a new napoleon for you。 I sent to Paris for it。 On my
word of honor； it's all the gold I have； you are the only one that has
got any gold。 I want to see your gold； little one。〃
〃Oh！ it is too cold； let us have breakfast；〃 answered Eugenie。
〃Well； after breakfast； then； it will help the digestion。 That fat
des Grassins sent me the pate。 Eat as much as you like； my children；
it costs nothing。 Des Grassins is getting along very well。 I am
satisfied with him。 The old fish is doing Charles a good service； and
gratis too。 He is making a very good settlement of that poor deceased
Grandet's business。 Hoo！ hoo！〃 he muttered； with his mouth full； after
a pause； 〃how good it is！ Eat some； wife； that will feed you for at
least two days。〃
〃I am not hungry。 I am very poorly； you know that。〃
〃Ah； bah！ you can stuff yourself as full as you please without danger；
you're a Bertelliere； they are all hearty。 You are a bit yellow；
that's true； but I like yellow； myself。〃
The expectation of ignominious and public death is perhaps less
horrible to a condemned criminal than the anticipation of what was
coming after breakfast to Madame Grandet and Eugenie。 The more
gleefully the old man talked and ate； the more their hearts shrank
within them。 The daughter； however； had an inward prop at this crisis；
she gathered strength through love。
〃For him！ for him！〃 she cried within her； 〃I would die a thousand
deaths。〃
At this thought； she shot a glance at her mother which flamed with
courage。
〃Clear away；〃 said Grandet to Nanon when； about eleven o'clock；
breakfast was over； 〃but leave the table。 We can spread your little
treasure upon it；〃 he said； looking at Eugenie。 〃Little？ Faith！ no； it
isn't little。 You possess； in actual value； five thousand nine hundred
and fifty…nine francs and the forty I gave you just now。 That makes
six thousand francs； less one。 Well； now see here； little one！ I'll
give you that one franc to make up the round number。 Hey！ what are you
listening for； Nanon？ Mind your own business； go and do your work。〃
Nanon disappeared。
〃Now listen； Eugenie； you must give me back your gold。 You won't
refuse your father； my little girl； hein？〃
The two women were dumb。
〃I have no gold myself。 I had some； but it is all gone。 I'll give you
in return six thousand francs in /livres/； and you are to put them
just where I tell you。 You mustn't think anything more about your
'dozen。' When I marry you （which will be soon） I shall get you a
husband who can give you the finest 'dozen' ever seen in the
provinces。 Now attend to me； little girl。 There's a fine chance for
you； you can put your six thousand francs into government funds； and
you will receive every six months nearly two hundred francs interest；
without taxes； or repairs； or frost； or hail； or floods； or anything
else to swallow up the money。 Perhaps you don't like to part with your
gold； hey； my girl？ Never mind； bring it to me all the same。 I'll get
you some more like it；like those Dutch coins and the /portugaises/；
the rupees of Mogul； and the /genovines/；I'll give you some more on
your fete…days； and in three years you'll have got back half your
little treasure。 What's that you say？ Look up； now。 Come； go and get
it； the precious metal。 You ought to kiss me on the eyelids for
telling you the secrets and the mysteries of the life and death of
money。 Yes； silver and gold live and swarm like men； they come； and
go； and sweat； and multiply〃
Eugenie rose； but after making a few steps towards the door she turned
abruptly； looked her father in the face； and said；
〃I have not got /my/ gold。〃
〃You have not got your gold！〃 cried Grandet； starting up erect； like a
horse that hears a cannon fired beside him。
〃No； I have not got it。〃
〃You are mistaken； Eugenie。〃
〃No。〃
〃By the shears of my father！〃
Whenever the old man swore that oath the rafters trembled。
〃Holy Virgin！ Madame is turning pale；〃 cried Nanon。
〃Grandet； your anger will kill me；〃 said the poor mother。
〃Ta； ta； ta； ta！ nonsense； you never die in your family！ Eugenie； what
have you done with your gold？〃 he cried； rushing upon her。
〃Monsieur；〃 said the daughter； falling at Madame Grandet's knees； 〃my
mother is ill。 Look at her； do not kill her。〃
Grandet was frightened by the pallor which overspread his wife's face；
usually so yellow。
〃Nanon； help me to bed；〃 said the poor woman in a feeble voice； 〃I am
dying〃
Nanon gave her mistress an arm； Eugenie gave her another； but it was
only with infinite difficulty that they could get her upstairs； she
fell with exhaustion at every step。 Grandet remained alone。 However；
in a few moments he went up six or eight stairs and called out；
〃Eugenie； when your mother is in bed； come down。〃
〃Yes； father。〃
She soon came； after reassuring her mother。
〃My daughter；〃 said Grandet； 〃you will now tell me what you have done
with your gold。〃
〃My father； if you make me presents of which I am not the sole
mistress； take them back；〃 she answered coldly； picking up the
napoleon from the chimney…piece and offering it to him。
Grandet seized the coin and slipped it into his breeches' pocket。
〃I shall certainly never give you anything again。 Not so much as
that！〃 he said； clicking his thumb…nail against a front tooth。 〃Do you
dare to despise your father？ have you no confidence in him？ Don't you
know what a father is？ If he is nothing for you； he is nothing at all。
Where is your gold？〃
〃Father； I love and respect you； in spite of your anger； but I humbly
ask you to remember that I am twenty…three years old。 You have told me
often that I have attained my majority； and I do not forget it。 I have
used my money as I chose to use it； and you may be sure that it was
put to a good use〃
〃What use？〃
〃That is an inviolable secret；〃 she answered。 〃Have you no secrets？〃
〃I am the head of the family； I have my own affairs。〃
〃And this is mine。〃
〃It must be something bad if you can't tell it to your father；
Mademoiselle Grandet。〃
〃It is good； and I cannot tell it to my father。〃
〃At least you can tell me when you parted with your gold？〃
Eugenie made a negative motion with her head。
〃You had it on your birthday； hein？〃
She grew as crafty through love as her father was through avarice； and
reiterated the negative sign。
〃Was there ever such obstinacy！ It's a theft；〃 cried Grandet； his
voice going up in a crescendo which gradually echoed through the
house。 〃What！ here； in my own home； under my very eyes； somebody has
taken your gold！the only gold we have！and I'm not to know who has
got it！ Gold is a precious thing。 Virtuous girls go wrong sometimes；
and giveI don't know what； they do it among the great people； and
even among the bourgeoisie。 But give their gold！for you have given
it to some one； hein？〃
Eugenie was silent and impassive。
〃Was there ever such a daughter？ Is it possible that I am your father？
If you have invested it anywhere； you must have a receipt〃
〃Was I freeyes or noto do what I would with my own？ Was it not
mine？〃
〃You are a child。〃
〃Of age。〃
Dumbfounded by his daughter's logic； Grandet turned pale and stamped
and swore。 When at last he found words； he cried： 〃Serpent！ Cursed
girl！ Ah； deceitful creature！ You know I love you； and you take
advantage of it。 She'd cut her father's throat！ Good God！ you've given
our fortune to that ne'er…do…well；that dandy with morocco boots！ By
the shears of my father！ I can't disinherit you； but I curse you；you
and your cousin and your children！ Nothing good will come of it！ Do
you hear？ If it was to Charlesbut； no； it's impossible。 What！ has
that wretched fellow robbed me？〃
He looked at his daughter； who continued cold and silent。
〃She won't stir； she won't flinch！ She's more Grandet than I'm
Grandet！ Ha！ you have not given your gold for nothing？ Come； speak the
truth！〃
Eugenie looked at her father with a sarcastic expression that stung
him。
〃Eugenie； you are here； in my house；