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！
Grandet； got as much happiness out of her new position as she did from
the possession of a husband。 She took charge of the weekly accounts；
she locked up the provisions and gave them out daily； after the manner
of her defunct master； she ruled over two servants；a cook； and a
maid whose business it was to mend the house…linen and make
mademoiselle's dresses。 Cornoiller combined the functions of keeper
and bailiff。 It is unnecessary to say that the women…servants selected
by Nanon were 〃perfect treasures。〃 Mademoiselle Grandet thus had four
servants； whose devotion was unbounded。 The farmers perceived no
change after Monsieur Grandet's death； the usages and customs he had
sternly established were scrupulously carried out by Monsieur and
Madame Cornoiller。
At thirty years of age Eugenie knew none of the joys of life。 Her
pale； sad childhood had glided on beside a mother whose heart； always
misunderstood and wounded； had known only suffering。 Leaving this life
joyfully； the mother pitied the daughter because she still must live；
and she left in her child's soul some fugitive remorse and many
lasting regrets。 Eugenie's first and only love was a wellspring of
sadness within her。 Meeting her lover for a few brief days； she had
given him her heart between two kisses furtively exchanged； then he
had left her； and a whole world lay between them。 This love； cursed by
her father； had cost the life of her mother and brought her only
sorrow； mingled with a few frail hopes。 Thus her upward spring towards
happiness had wasted her strength and given her nothing in exchange
for it。 In the life of the soul； as in the physical life； there is an
inspiration and a respiration； the soul needs to absorb the sentiments
of another soul and assimilate them； that it may render them back
enriched。 Were it not for this glorious human phenomenon； there would
be no life for the heart； air would be wanting； it would suffer； and
then perish。 Eugenie had begun to suffer。 For her； wealth was neither
a power nor a consolation； she could not live except through love；
through religion； through faith in the future。 Love explained to her
the mysteries of eternity。 Her heart and the Gospel taught her to know
two worlds； she bathed； night and day； in the depths of two infinite
thoughts； which for her may have had but one meaning。 She drew back
within herself； loving； and believing herself beloved。 For seven years
her passion had invaded everything。 Her treasuries were not the
millions whose revenues were rolling up； they were Charles's dressing…
case； the portraits hanging above her bed； the jewels recovered from
her father and proudly spread upon a bed of wool in a drawer of the
oaken cabinet； the thimble of her aunt； used for a while by her
mother； which she wore religiously as she worked at a piece of
embroidery；a Penelope's web； begun for the sole purpose of putting
upon her finger that gold so rich in memories。
It seemed unlikely that Mademoiselle Grandet would marry during the
period of her mourning。 Her genuine piety was well known。 Consequently
the Cruchots； whose policy was sagely guided by the old abbe；
contented themselves for the time being with surrounding the great
heiress and paying her the most affectionate attentions。 Every evening
the hall was filled with a party of devoted Cruchotines； who sang the
praises of its mistress in every key。 She had her doctor in ordinary；
her grand almoner； her chamberlain； her first lady of honor； her prime
minister； above all； her chancellor； a chancellor who would fain have
said much to her。 If the heiress had wished for a train…bearer； one
would instantly have been found。 She was a queen； obsequiously
flattered。 Flattery never emanates from noble souls； it is the gift of
little minds； who thus still further belittle themselves to worm their
way into the vital being of the persons around whom they crawl。
Flattery means self…interest。 So the people who； night after night；
assembled in Mademoiselle Grandet's house （they called her
Mademoiselle de Froidfond） outdid each other in expressions of
admiration。 This concert of praise； never before bestowed upon
Eugenie； made her blush under its novelty； but insensibly her ear
became habituated to the sound； and however coarse the compliments
might be； she soon was so accustomed to hear her beauty lauded that if
any new…comer had seemed to think her plain； she would have felt the
reproach far more than she might have done eight years earlier。 She
ended at last by loving the incense； which she secretly laid at the
feet of her idol。 By degrees she grew accustomed to be treated as a
sovereign and to see her court pressing around her every evening。
Monsieur de Bonfons was the hero of the little circle； where his wit；
his person； his education； his amiability； were perpetually praised。
One or another would remark that in seven years he had largely
increased his fortune； that Bonfons brought in at least ten thousand
francs a year； and was surrounded； like the other possessions of the
Cruchots； by the vast domains of the heiress。
〃Do you know； mademoiselle；〃 said an habitual visitor； 〃that the
Cruchots have an income of forty thousand francs among them！〃
〃And then； their savings！〃 exclaimed an elderly female Cruchotine；
Mademoiselle de Gribeaucourt。
〃A gentleman from Paris has lately offered Monsieur Cruchot two
hundred thousand francs for his practice；〃 said another。 〃He will sell
it if he is appointed /juge de paix/。〃
〃He wants to succeed Monsieur de Bonfons as president of the Civil
courts； and is taking measures；〃 replied Madame d'Orsonval。 〃Monsieur
le president will certainly be made councillor。〃
〃Yes； he is a very distinguished man；〃 said another；〃don't you think
so； mademoiselle？〃
Monsieur de Bonfons endeavored to put himself in keeping with the role
he sought to play。 In spite of his forty years； in spite of his dusky
and crabbed features； withered like most judicial faces； he dressed in
youthful fashions； toyed with a bamboo cane； never took snuff in
Mademoiselle de Froidfond's house； and came in a white cravat and a
shirt whose pleated frill gave him a family resemblance to the race of
turkeys。 He addressed the beautiful heiress familiarly； and spoke of
her as 〃Our dear Eugenie。〃 In short； except for the number of
visitors； the change from loto to whist； and the disappearance of
Monsieur and Madame Grandet； the scene was about the same as the one
with which this history opened。 The pack were still pursuing Eugenie
and her millions； but the hounds； more in number； lay better on the
scent； and beset the prey more unitedly。 If Charles could have dropped
from the Indian Isles； he would have found the same people and the
same interests。 Madame des Grassins； to whom Eugenie was full of
kindness and courtesy； still persisted in tormenting the Cruchots。
Eugenie； as in former days； was the central figure of the picture； and
Charles； as heretofore； would still have been the sovereign of all。
Yet there had been some progress。 The flowers which the president
formerly presented to Eugenie on her birthdays and fete…days had now
become a daily institution。 Every evening he brought the rich heiress
a huge and magnificent bouquet； which Madame Cornoiller placed
conspicuously in a vase； and secretly threw into a corner of the
court…yard when the visitors had departed。
Early in the spring； Madame des Grassins attempted to trouble the
peace of the Cruchotines by talking to Eugenie of the Marquis de
Froidfond； whose ancient and ruined family might be restored if the
heiress would give him back his estates through marriage。 Madame des
Grassins rang the changes on the peerage and the title of marquise；
until； mistaking Eugenie's disdainful smile for acquiescence； she went
about proclaiming that the marriage with 〃Monsieur Cruchot〃 was not
nearly as certain as people thought。
〃Though Monsieur de Froidfond is fifty；〃 she said； 〃he does not look
older than Monsieur Cruchot。 He is a widower； and he has children；
that's true。 But then he is a marquis； he will be peer of France； and
in times like these where you will find a better match？ I know it for
a fact that Pere Grandet； when he put all his money into Froidfond；
intended to graft himself upon that stock； he often told me so。 He was
a deep one； that old man！〃
〃Ah！ Nanon；〃 said Eugenie； one night as she was going to bed； 〃how is
it that in seven years he has never once written to me？〃
XIII
While these events were happening in Saumur； Charles was making his
fortune in the Indies。 His commercial outfit had sold well。 He began
by realizing a sum of six thousand dollars。 Crossing the line had
brushed a good many cobwebs out of his brain； he perceived that the
best means of attaining fortune in tropical regions； as well as in
Europe； was to buy and sell men。 He went to the coast of Africa and
bought Negroes； combining his traffic in human flesh with that of
other merchandise equally advantageous to his interests。 He carried
into this business an activity which left him not a moment of leisure。
He was governed by the desire of reappearing in Paris with all the
prestige of a large fortune； and by th