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！
letter which he held in his hand； and to read it he had taken the only
candle upon the card…table； paying no heed to his guests or their
pleasure。 Eugenie； to whom such a type of perfection； whether of dress
or of person； was absolutely unknown； thought she beheld in her cousin
a being descended from seraphic spheres。 She inhaled with delight the
fragrance wafted from the graceful curls of that brilliant head。 She
would have liked to touch the soft kid of the delicate gloves。 She
envied Charles his small hands； his complexion； the freshness and
refinement of his features。 In short；if it is possible to sum up the
effect this elegant being produced upon an ignorant young girl
perpetually employed in darning stockings or in mending her father's
clothes； and whose life flowed on beneath these unclean rafters；
seeing none but occasional passers along the silent street；this
vision of her cousin roused in her soul an emotion of delicate desire
like that inspired in a young man by the fanciful pictures of women
drawn by Westall for the English 〃Keepsakes；〃 and that engraved by the
Findens with so clever a tool that we fear； as we breathe upon the
paper； that the celestial apparitions may be wafted away。 Charles drew
from his pocket a handkerchief embroidered by the great lady now
travelling in Scotland。 As Eugenie saw this pretty piece of work； done
in the vacant hours which were lost to love； she looked at her cousin
to see if it were possible that he meant to make use of it。 The
manners of the young man； his gestures； the way in which he took up
his eye…glass； his affected superciliousness； his contemptuous glance
at the coffer which had just given so much pleasure to the rich
heiress； and which he evidently regarded as without value； or even as
ridiculous；all these things； which shocked the Cruchots and the des
Grassins； pleased Eugenie so deeply that before she slept she dreamed
long dreams of her phoenix cousin。
The loto…numbers were drawn very slowly； and presently the game came
suddenly to an end。 La Grand Nanon entered and said aloud： 〃Madame； I
want the sheets for monsieur's bed。〃
Madame Grandet followed her out。 Madame des Grassins said in a low
voice： 〃Let us keep our sous and stop playing。〃 Each took his or her
two sous from the chipped saucer in which they had been put； then the
party moved in a body toward the fire。
〃Have you finished your game？〃 said Grandet； without looking up from
his letter。
〃Yes； yes！〃 replied Madame des Grassins； taking a seat near Charles。
Eugenie； prompted by a thought often born in the heart of a young girl
when sentiment enters it for the first time； left the room to go and
help her mother and Nanon。 Had an able confessor then questioned her
she would； no doubt； have avowed to him that she thought neither of
her mother nor of Nanon； but was pricked by a poignant desire to look
after her cousin's room and concern herself with her cousin； to supply
what might be needed； to remedy any forgetfulness； to see that all was
done to make it； as far as possible； suitable and elegant； and； in
fact； she arrived in time to prove to her mother and Nanon that
everything still remained to be done。 She put into Nanon's head the
notion of passing a warming…pan between the sheets。 She herself
covered the old table with a cloth and requested Nanon to change it
every morning； she convinced her mother that it was necessary to light
a good fire； and persuaded Nanon to bring up a great pile of wood into
the corridor without saying anything to her father。 She ran to get；
from one of the corner…shelves of the hall； a tray of old lacquer
which was part of the inheritance of the late Monsieur de la
Bertelliere； catching up at the same time a six…sided crystal goblet；
a little tarnished gilt spoon； an antique flask engraved with cupids；
all of which she put triumphantly on the corner of her cousin's
chimney…piece。 More ideas surged through her head in one quarter of an
hour than she had ever had since she came into the world。
〃Mamma；〃 she said； 〃my cousin will never bear the smell of a tallow
candle； suppose we buy a wax one？〃 And she darted； swift as a bird； to
get the five…franc piece which she had just received for her monthly
expenses。 〃Here； Nanon；〃 she cried； 〃quick！〃
〃What will your father say？〃 This terrible remonstrance was uttered by
Madame Grandet as she beheld her daughter armed with an old Sevres
sugar…basin which Grandet had brought home from the chateau of
Froidfond。 〃And where will you get the sugar？ Are you crazy？〃
〃Mamma； Nanon can buy some sugar as well as the candle。〃
〃But your father？〃
〃Surely his nephew ought not to go without a glass of /eau sucree/？
Besides； he will not notice it。〃
〃Your father sees everything；〃 said Madame Grandet； shaking her head。
Nanon hesitated； she knew her master。
〃Come； Nanon； go；because it is my birthday。〃
Nanon gave a loud laugh as she heard the first little jest her young
mistress had ever made； and then obeyed her。
While Eugenie and her mother were trying to embellish the bedroom
assigned by Monsieur Grandet for his nephew； Charles himself was the
object of Madame des Grassins' attentions； to all appearances she was
setting her cap at him。
〃You are very courageous； monsieur；〃 she said to the young dandy； 〃to
leave the pleasures of the capital at this season and take up your
abode in Saumur。 But if we do not frighten you away； you will find
there are some amusements even here。〃
She threw him the ogling glance of the provinces； where women put so
much prudence and reserve into their eyes that they impart to them the
prudish concupiscence peculiar to certain ecclesiastics to whom all
pleasure is either a theft or an error。 Charles was so completely out
of his element in this abode； and so far from the vast chateau and the
sumptuous life with which his fancy had endowed his uncle； that as he
looked at Madame des Grassins he perceived a dim likeness to Parisian
faces。 He gracefully responded to the species of invitation addressed
to him； and began very naturally a conversation； in which Madame des
Grassins gradually lowered her voice so as to bring it into harmony
with the nature of the confidences she was making。 With her； as with
Charles； there was the need of conference； so after a few moments
spent in coquettish phrases and a little serious jesting； the clever
provincial said； thinking herself unheard by the others； who were
discussing the sale of wines which at that season filled the heads of
every one in Saumur；
〃Monsieur if you will do us the honor to come and see us； you will
give as much pleasure to my husband as to myself。 Our salon is the
only one in Saumur where you will find the higher business circles
mingling with the nobility。 We belong to both societies； who meet at
our house simply because they find it amusing。 My husbandI say it
with prideis as much valued by the one class as by the other。 We
will try to relieve the monotony of your visit here。 If you stay all
the time with Monsieur Grandet； good heavens！ what will become of you？
Your uncle is a sordid miser who thinks of nothing but his vines； your
aunt is a pious soul who can't put two ideas together； and your cousin
is a little fool； without education； perfectly common； no fortune； who
will spend her life in darning towels。〃
〃She is really very nice； this woman；〃 thought Charles Grandet as he
duly responded to Madame des Grassins' coquetries。
〃It seems to me； wife； that you are taking possession of monsieur；〃
said the stout banker； laughing。
On this remark the notary and the president said a few words that were
more or less significant； but the abbe； looking at them slyly； brought
their thoughts to a focus by taking a pinch of snuff and saying as he
handed round his snuff…box： 〃Who can do the honors of Saumur for
monsieur so well as madame？〃
〃Ah！ what do you mean by that； monsieur l'abbe？〃 demanded Monsieur des
Grassins。
〃I mean it in the best possible sense for you； for madame； for the
town of Saumur； and for monsieur；〃 said the wily old man； turning to
Charles。
The Abbe Cruchot had guessed the conversation between Charles and
Madame des Grassins without seeming to pay attention to it。
〃Monsieur；〃 said Adolphe to Charles with an air which he tried to make
free and easy； 〃I don't know whether you remember me； but I had the
honor of dancing as your /vis…a…vis/ at a ball given by the Baron de
Nucingen； and〃
〃Perfectly； I remember perfectly； monsieur；〃 answered Charles； pleased
to find himself the object of general attention。
〃Monsieur is your son？〃 he said to Madame des Grassins。
The abbe looked at her maliciously。
〃Yes； monsieur；〃 she answered。
〃Then you were very young when you were in Paris？〃 said Charles；
addressing Adolphe。
〃You must know； monsieur；〃 said the abbe； 〃that we send them to
Babylon as soon as they are weaned。〃
Madame des Grassins examined the abbe with a glance of extreme
penetration。
〃It is only in the provinces；〃 he continued； 〃that you will find women
of thirty and more years as fresh as madame； here； with a son about to
take his degree。 I almost fancy myself back in the days when the you