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stood a certain saucer and the old Sevres sugar…bowl which she used
every morning at her breakfast。
This day was destined to be solemn throughout and full of events。
Nanon announced the cure of the parish church。 He was related to the
Cruchots； and therefore in the interests of Monsieur de Bonfons。 For
some time past the old abbe had urged him to speak to Mademoiselle
Grandet； from a purely religious point of view； about the duty of
marriage for a woman in her position。 When she saw her pastor； Eugenie
supposed he had come for the thousand francs which she gave monthly to
the poor； and she told Nanon to go and fetch them； but the cure only
smiled。
〃To…day； mademoiselle；〃 he said； 〃I have come to speak to you about a
poor girl in whom the whole town of Saumur takes an interest； who；
through lack of charity to herself； neglects her Christian duties。〃
〃Monsieur le cure； you have come to me at a moment when I cannot think
of my neighbor； I am filled with thoughts of myself。 I am very
unhappy； my only refuge is in the Church； her bosom is large enough to
hold all human woe； her love so full that we may draw from its depths
and never drain it dry。〃
〃Mademoiselle； in speaking of this young girl we shall speak of you。
Listen！ If you wish to insure your salvation you have only two paths
to take；either leave the world or obey its laws。 Obey either your
earthly destiny or your heavenly destiny。〃
〃Ah！ your voice speaks to me when I need to hear a voice。 Yes； God has
sent you to me； I will bid farewell to the world and live for God
alone； in silence and seclusion。〃
〃My daughter； you must think long before you take so violent a step。
Marriage is life； the veil is death。〃
〃Yes； death；a quick death！〃 she said； with dreadful eagerness。
〃Death？ but you have great obligations to fulfil to society；
mademoiselle。 Are you not the mother of the poor； to whom you give
clothes and wood in winter and work in summer？ Your great fortune is a
loan which you must return； and you have sacredly accepted it as such。
To bury yourself in a convent would be selfishness； to remain an old
maid is to fail in duty。 In the first place； can you manage your vast
property alone？ May you not lose it？ You will have law…suits； you will
find yourself surrounded by inextricable difficulties。 Believe your
pastor： a husband is useful； you are bound to preserve what God has
bestowed upon you。 I speak to you as a precious lamb of my flock。 You
love God too truly not to find your salvation in the midst of his
world； of which you are noble ornament and to which you owe your
example。〃
At this moment Madame des Grassins was announced。 She came incited by
vengeance and the sense of a great despair。
〃Mademoiselle；〃 she said〃Ah！ here is monsieur le cure； I am silent。
I came to speak to you on business； but I see that you are conferring
with〃
〃Madame；〃 said the cure； 〃I leave the field to you。〃
〃Oh！ monsieur le cure；〃 said Eugenie； 〃come back later； your support
is very necessary to me just now。〃
〃Ah； yes； indeed； my poor child！〃 said Madame des Grassins。
〃What do you mean？〃 asked Eugenie and the cure together。
〃Don't I know about your cousin's return； and his marriage with
Mademoiselle d'Aubrion？ A woman doesn't carry her wits in her pocket。〃
Eugenie blushed； and remained silent for a moment。 From this day forth
she assumed the impassible countenance for which her father had been
so remarkable。
〃Well； madame；〃 she presently said； ironically； 〃no doubt I carry my
wits in my pocket； for I do not understand you。 Speak； say what you
mean； before monsieur le cure； you know he is my director。〃
〃Well； then； mademoiselle； here is what des Grassins writes me。 Read
it。〃
Eugenie read the following letter：
My dear Wife；Charles Grandet has returned from the Indies and
has been in Paris about a month
〃A month！〃 thought Eugenie； her hand falling to her side。 After a
pause she resumed the letter；
I had to dance attendance before I was allowed to see the future
Vicomte d'Aubrion。 Though all Paris is talking of his marriage and
the banns are published
〃He wrote to me after that！〃 thought Eugenie。 She did not conclude the
thought； she did not cry out； as a Parisian woman would have done；
〃The villain！〃 but though she said it not； contempt was none the less
present in her mind。
The marriage； however； will not come off。 The Marquis d'Aubrion
will never give his daughter to the son of a bankrupt。 I went to
tell Grandet of the steps his uncle and I took in his father's
business； and the clever manoeuvres by which we had managed to
keep the creditor's quiet until the present time。 The insolent
fellow had the face to say to meto me； who for five years have
devoted myself night and day to his interests and his honor！that
/his father's affairs were not his/！ A solicitor would have had
the right to demand fees amounting to thirty or forty thousand
francs； one per cent on the total of the debts。 But patience！
there are twelve hundred thousand francs legitimately owing to the
creditors； and I shall at once declare his father a bankrupt。
I went into this business on the word of that old crocodile
Grandet； and I have made promises in the name of his family。 If
Monsieur de vicomte d'Aubrion does not care for his honor； I care
for mine。 I shall explain my position to the creditors。 Still； I
have too much respect for Mademoiselle Eugenie （to whom under
happier circumstances we once hoped to be allied） to act in this
matter before you have spoken to her about it
There Eugenie paused； and coldly returned the letter without finishing
it。
〃I thank you；〃 she said to Madame des Grassins。
〃Ah！ you have the voice and manner of your deceased father；〃 Madame
des Grassins replied。
〃Madame； you have eight thousand francs to pay us；〃 said Nanon；
producing Charles's cheque。
〃That's true； have the kindness to come with me now； Madame
Cornoiller。〃
〃Monsieur le cure；〃 said Eugenie with a noble composure； inspired by
the thought she was about to express； 〃would it be a sin to remain a
virgin after marriage？〃
〃That is a case of conscience whose solution is not within my
knowledge。 If you wish to know what the celebrated Sanchez says of it
in his treatise 'De Matrimonio；' I shall be able to tell you
to…morrow。〃
The cure went away； Mademoiselle Grandet went up to her father's
secret room and spent the day there alone； without coming down to
dinner； in spite of Nanon's entreaties。 She appeared in the evening at
the hour when the usual company began to arrive。 Never was the old
hall so full as on this occasion。 The news of Charles's return and his
foolish treachery had spread through the whole town。 But however
watchful the curiosity of the visitors might be； it was left
unsatisfied。 Eugenie； who expected scrutiny； allowed none of the cruel
emotions that wrung her soul to appear on the calm surface of her
face。 She was able to show a smiling front in answer to all who tried
to testify their interest by mournful looks or melancholy speeches。
She hid her misery behind a veil of courtesy。 Towards nine o'clock the
games ended and the players left the tables； paying their losses and
discussing points of the game as they joined the rest of the company。
At the moment when the whole party rose to take leave； an unexpected
and striking event occurred； which resounded through the length and
breadth of Saumur； from thence through the arrondissement； and even to
the four surrounding prefectures。
〃Stay； monsieur le president；〃 said Eugenie to Monsieur de Bonfons as
she saw him take his cane。
There was not a person in that numerous assembly who was unmoved by
these words。 The president turned pale； and was forced to sit down。
〃The president gets the millions；〃 said Mademoiselle de Gribeaucourt。
〃It is plain enough； the president marries Mademoiselle Grandet；〃
cried Madame d'Orsonval。
〃All the trumps in one hand；〃 said the abbe。
〃A love game；〃 said the notary。
Each and all said his say； made his pun； and looked at the heiress
mounted on her millions as on a pedestal。 The drama begun nine years
before had reached its conclusion。 To tell the president； in face of
all Saumur； to 〃stay；〃 was surely the same thing as proclaiming him
her husband。 In provincial towns social conventionalities are so
rigidly enforced than an infraction like this constituted a solemn
promise。
〃Monsieur le president；〃 said Eugenie in a voice of some emotion when
they were left alone； 〃I know what pleases you in me。 Swear to leave
me free during my whole life； to claim none of the rights which
marriage will give you over me； and my hand is yours。 Oh！〃 she added；
seeing him about to kneel at her feet； 〃I have more to say。 I must not
deceive you。 In my heart I cherish one inextinguishable feeling。
Friendship is the only sentiment which I can give to a husband。 I wish
neither to affront him nor to violate the laws of my own heart。 But
you can possess my hand and my fortune only at the cost of doing me an
inestimable service。〃
〃I am ready for all things；〃 said the president。
〃Here are fifteen hundred thousand francs；〃