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hand； and said： 〃Adolphe wishes to make you my little offering。〃
A tall； blond young man； pale and slight； with tolerable manners and
seemingly rather shy； although he had just spent eight or ten thousand
francs over his allowance in Paris； where he had been sent to study
law； now came forward and kissed Eugenie on both cheeks； offering her
a workbox with utensils in silver…gilt；mere show…case trumpery； in
spite of the monogram E。G。 in gothic letters rather well engraved；
which belonged properly to something in better taste。 As she opened
it； Eugenie experienced one of those unexpected and perfect delights
which make a young girl blush and quiver and tremble with pleasure。
She turned her eyes to her father as if to ask permission to accept
it； and Monsieur Grandet replied： 〃Take it； my daughter；〃 in a tone
which would have made an actor illustrious。
The three Cruchots felt crushed as they saw the joyous； animated look
cast upon Adolphe des Grassins by the heiress； to whom such riches
were unheard…of。 Monsieur des Grassins offered Grandet a pinch of
snuff； took one himself； shook off the grains as they fell on the
ribbon of the Legion of honor which was attached to the button…hole of
his blue surtout； then he looked at the Cruchots with an air that
seemed to say； 〃Parry that thrust if you can！〃 Madame des Grassins
cast her eyes on the blue vases which held the Cruchot bouquets；
looking at the enemy's gifts with the pretended interest of a
satirical woman。 At this delicate juncture the Abbe Cruchot left the
company seated in a circle round the fire and joined Grandet at the
lower end of the hall。 As the two men reached the embrasure of the
farthest window the priest said in the miser's ear： 〃Those people
throw money out of the windows。〃
〃What does that matter if it gets into my cellar？〃 retorted the old
wine…grower。
〃If you want to give gilt scissors to your daughter； you have the
means；〃 said the abbe。
〃I give her something better than scissors；〃 answered Grandet。
〃My nephew is a blockhead；〃 thought the abbe as he looked at the
president； whose rumpled hair added to the ill grace of his brown
countenance。 〃Couldn't he have found some little trifle which cost
money？〃
〃We will join you at cards； Madame Grandet；〃 said Madame des Grassins。
〃We might have two tables； as we are all here。〃
〃As it is Eugenie's birthday you had better play loto all together；〃
said Pere Grandet： 〃the two young ones can join〃； and the old cooper；
who never played any game； motioned to his daughter and Adolphe。
〃Come； Nanon； set the tables。〃
〃We will help you； Mademoiselle Nanon；〃 said Madame des Grassins
gaily； quite joyous at the joy she had given Eugenie。
〃I have never in my life been so pleased；〃 the heiress said to her； 〃I
have never seen anything so pretty。〃
〃Adolphe brought it from Paris； and he chose it；〃 Madame des Grassins
whispered in her ear。
〃Go on！ go on！ damned intriguing thing！〃 thought the president。 〃If
you ever have a suit in court； you or your husband； it shall go hard
with you。〃
The notary； sitting in his corner； looked calmly at the abbe； saying
to himself： 〃The des Grassins may do what they like； my property and
my brother's and that of my nephew amount in all to eleven hundred
thousand francs。 The des Grassins； at the most； have not half that；
besides； they have a daughter。 They may give what presents they like；
heiress and presents too will be ours one of these days。〃
At half…past eight in the evening the two card…tables were set out。
Madame des Grassins succeeded in putting her son beside Eugenie。 The
actors in this scene； so full of interest； commonplace as it seems；
were provided with bits of pasteboard striped in many colors and
numbered； and with counters of blue glass； and they appeared to be
listening to the jokes of the notary； who never drew a number without
making a remark； while in fact they were all thinking of Monsieur
Grandet's millions。 The old cooper； with inward self…conceit； was
contemplating the pink feathers and the fresh toilet of Madame des
Grassins； the martial head of the banker； the faces of Adolphe； the
president； the abbe； and the notary； saying to himself：
〃They are all after my money。 Hey！ neither the one nor the other shall
have my daughter； but they are usefuluseful as harpoons to fish
with。〃
This family gaiety in the old gray room dimly lighted by two tallow
candles； this laughter； accompanied by the whirr of Nanon's spinning…
wheel； sincere only upon the lips of Eugenie or her mother； this
triviality mingled with important interests； this young girl； who；
like certain birds made victims of the price put upon them； was now
lured and trapped by proofs of friendship of which she was the dupe；
all these things contributed to make the scene a melancholy comedy。 Is
it not； moreover； a drama of all times and all places； though here
brought down to its simplest expression？ The figure of Grandet；
playing his own game with the false friendship of the two families and
getting enormous profits from it； dominates the scene and throws light
upon it。 The modern god；the only god in whom faith is preserved；
money； is here； in all its power； manifested in a single countenance。
The tender sentiments of life hold here but a secondary place； only
the three pure； simple hearts of Nanon； of Eugenie； and of her mother
were inspired by them。 And how much of ignorance there was in the
simplicity of these poor women！ Eugenie and her mother knew nothing of
Grandet's wealth； they could only estimate the things of life by the
glimmer of their pale ideas； and they neither valued nor despised
money； because they were accustomed to do without it。 Their feelings；
bruised； though they did not know it； but ever…living； were the secret
spring of their existence； and made them curious exceptions in the
midst of these other people whose lives were purely material。
Frightful condition of the human race！ there is no one of its joys
that does not come from some species of ignorance。
At the moment when Madame Grandet had won a loto of sixteen sous；the
largest ever pooled in that house；and while la Grande Nanon was
laughing with delight as she watched madame pocketing her riches； the
knocker resounded on the house…door with such a noise that the women
all jumped in their chairs。
〃There is no man in Saumur who would knock like that；〃 said the
notary。
〃How can they bang in that way！〃 exclaimed Nanon； 〃do they want to
break in the door？〃
〃Who the devil is it？〃 cried Grandet。
III
Nanon took one of the candles and went to open the door； followed by
her master。
〃Grandet！ Grandet！〃 cried his wife； moved by a sudden impulse of fear；
and running to the door of the room。
All the players looked at each other。
〃Suppose we all go？〃 said Monsieur des Grassins； 〃that knock strikes
me as evil…intentioned。〃
Hardly was Monsieur des Grassins allowed to see the figure of a young
man； accompanied by a porter from the coach…office carrying two large
trunks and dragging a carpet…bag after him； than Monsieur Grandet
turned roughly on his wife and said；
〃Madame Grandet； go back to your loto； leave me to speak with
monsieur。〃
Then he pulled the door quickly to； and the excited players returned
to their seats； but did not continue the game。
〃Is it any one belonging to Saumur； Monsieur des Grassins？〃 asked his
wife。
〃No； it is a traveller。〃
〃He must have come from Paris。〃
〃Just so；〃 said the notary； pulling out his watch； which was two
inches thick and looked like a Dutch man…of…war； 〃it's nine o'clock；
the diligence of the Grand Bureau is never late。〃
〃Is the gentleman young？〃 inquired the Abbe Cruchot。
〃Yes；〃 answered Monsieur des Grassins； 〃and he has brought luggage
which must weigh nearly three tons。〃
〃Nanon does not come back；〃 said Eugenie。
〃It must be one of your relations；〃 remarked the president。
〃Let us go on with our game；〃 said Madame Grandet gently。 〃I know from
Monsieur Grandet's tone of voice that he is annoyed； perhaps he would
not like to find us talking of his affairs。〃
〃Mademoiselle；〃 said Adolphe to his neighbor； 〃it is no doubt your
cousin Grandet；a very good…looking young man； I met him at the ball
of Monsieur de Nucingen。〃 Adolphe did not go on； for his mother trod
on his toes； and then； asking him aloud for two sous to put on her
stake； she whispered： 〃Will you hold your tongue； you great goose！〃
At this moment Grandet returned； without la Grande Nanon； whose steps；
together with those of the porter； echoed up the staircase； and he was
followed by the traveller who had excited such curiosity and so filled
the lively imaginations of those present that his arrival at this
dwelling； and his sudden fall into the midst of this assembly； can
only be likened to that of a snail into a beehive； or the introduction
of a peacock into some village poultry…yard。
〃Sit down near the fire；〃 said Grandet。
Before seating himself； the young stranger saluted the assembled
company very gracefully。 The men rose to answer by a courteous
inclination； and the women made a ceremonious bow。
〃You are cold； no doubt； monsieur；〃 said Madame Grandet