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his own satisfaction； some strong cases； in which he packed all
Charles's effects； he also took upon himself to send them by boat down
the Loire； to insure them； and get them to Nantes in proper time。
After the kiss taken in the passage； the hours fled for Eugenie with
frightful rapidity。 Sometimes she thought of following her cousin。
Those who have known that most endearing of all passions；the one
whose duration is each day shortened by time； by age； by mortal
illness； by human chances and fatalities；they will understand the
poor girl's tortures。 She wept as she walked in the garden； now so
narrow to her； as indeed the court； the house； the town all seemed。
She launched in thought upon the wide expanse of the ocean he was
about to traverse。 At last the eve of his departure came。 That
morning； in the absence of Grandet and of Nanon； the precious case
which contained the two portraits was solemnly installed in the only
drawer of the old cabinet which could be locked； where the now empty
velvet purse was lying。 This deposit was not made without a goodly
number of tears and kisses。 When Eugenie placed the key within her
bosom she had no courage to forbid the kiss with which Charles sealed
the act。
〃It shall never leave that place； my friend；〃 she said。
〃Then my heart will be always there。〃
〃Ah！ Charles； it is not right；〃 she said； as though she blamed him。
〃Are we not married？〃 he said。 〃I have thy promise；then take mine。〃
〃Thine； I am thine forever！〃 they each said； repeating the words twice
over。
No promise made upon this earth was ever purer。 The innocent sincerity
of Eugenie had sanctified for a moment the young man's love。
On the morrow the breakfast was sad。 Nanon herself； in spite of the
gold…embroidered robe and the Jeannette cross bestowed by Charles； had
tears in her eyes。
〃The poor dear monsieur who is going on the seasoh； may God guide
him！〃
At half…past ten the whole family started to escort Charles to the
diligence for Nantes。 Nanon let loose the dog； locked the door； and
insisted on carrying the young man's carpet…bag。 All the tradesmen in
the tortuous old street were on the sill of their shop…doors to watch
the procession； which was joined in the market…place by Maitre
Cruchot。
〃Eugenie； be sure you don't cry；〃 said her mother。
〃Nephew；〃 said Grandet； in the doorway of the inn from which the coach
started； kissing Charles on both cheeks； 〃depart poor； return rich；
you will find the honor of your father safe。 I answer for that myself；
IGrandet； for it will only depend on you to〃
〃Ah！ my uncle； you soften the bitterness of my departure。 Is it not
the best gift that you could make me？〃
Not understanding his uncle's words which he had thus interrupted；
Charles shed tears of gratitude upon the tanned cheeks of the old
miser； while Eugenie pressed the hand of her cousin and that of her
father with all her strength。 The notary smiled； admiring the sly
speech of the old man； which he alone had understood。 The family stood
about the coach until it started； then as it disappeared upon the
bridge； and its rumble grew fainter in the distance； Grandet said：
〃Good…by to you！〃
Happily no one but Maitre Cruchot heard the exclamation。 Eugenie and
her mother had gone to a corner of the quay from which they could
still see the diligence and wave their white handkerchiefs； to which
Charles made answer by displaying his。
〃Ah！ mother； would that I had the power of God for a single moment；〃
said Eugenie； when she could no longer see her lover's handkerchief。
*****
Not to interrupt the current of events which are about to take place
in the bosom of the Grandet family； it is necessary to cast a
forestalling eye upon the various operations which the goodman carried
on in Paris by means of Monsieur des Grassins。 A month after the
latter's departure from Saumur； Grandet； became possessed of a
certificate of a hundred thousand francs a year from his investment in
the Funds； bought at eighty francs net。 The particulars revealed at
his death by the inventory of his property threw no light upon the
means which his suspicious nature took to remit the price of the
investment and receive the certificate thereof。 Maitre Cruchot was of
opinion that Nanon； unknown to herself； was the trusty instrument by
which the money was transported； for about this time she was absent
five days； under a pretext of putting things to rights at Froidfond；
as if the goodman were capable of leaving anything lying about or out
of order！
In all that concerned the business of the house of Guillaume Grandet
the old cooper's intentions were fulfilled to the letter。 The Bank of
France； as everybody knows； affords exact information about all the
large fortunes in Paris and the provinces。 The names of des Grassins
and Felix Grandet of Saumur were well known there； and they enjoyed
the esteem bestowed on financial celebrities whose wealth comes from
immense and unencumbered territorial possessions。 The arrival of the
Saumur banker for the purpose； it was said； of honorably liquidating
the affairs of Grandet of Paris； was enough to avert the shame of
protested notes from the memory of the defunct merchant。 The seals on
the property were taken off in presence of the creditors； and the
notary employed by Grandet went to work at once on the inventory of
the assets。 Soon after this； des Grassins called a meeting of the
creditors； who unanimously elected him； conjointly with Francois
Keller； the head of a rich banking…house and one of those principally
interested in the affair； as liquidators； with full power to protect
both the honor of the family and the interests of the claimants。 The
credit of Grandet of Saumur； the hopes he diffused by means of des
Grassins in the minds of all concerned； facilitated the transactions。
Not a single creditor proved recalcitrant； no one thought of passing
his claim to his profit…and…loss account； each and all said
confidently； 〃Grandet of Saumur will pay。〃
Six months went by。 The Parisians had redeemed the notes in
circulation as they fell due； and held them under lock and key in
their desks。 First result aimed at by the old cooper！ Nine months
after this preliminary meeting； the two liquidators distributed forty…
seven per cent to each creditor on his claim。 This amount was obtained
by the sale of the securities； property； and possessions of all kinds
belonging to the late Guillaume Grandet； and was paid over with
scrupulous fidelity。 Unimpeachable integrity was shown in the
transaction。 The creditors gratefully acknowledged the remarkable and
incontestable honor displayed by the Grandets。 When these praises had
circulated for a certain length of time； the creditors asked for the
rest of their money。 It became necessary to write a collective letter
to Grandet of Saumur。
〃Here it comes！〃 said the old man as he threw the letter into the
fire。 〃Patience； my good friends！〃
In answer to the proposals contained in the letter； Grandet of Saumur
demanded that all vouchers for claims against the estate of his
brother should be deposited with a notary； together with aquittances
for the forty…seven per cent already paid； he made this demand under
pretence of sifting the accounts and finding out the exact condition
of the estate。 It roused at once a variety of difficulties。 Generally
speaking； the creditor is a species of maniac； ready to agree to
anything one day； on the next breathing fire and slaughter； later on；
he grows amicable and easy…going。 To…day his wife is good…humored； his
last baby has cut its first tooth； all is well at home； and he is
determined not to lose a sou； on the morrow it rains； he can't go out；
he is gloomy； he says yes to any proposal that is made to him； so long
as it will put an end to the affair； on the third day he declares he
must have guarantees； by the end of the month he wants his debtor's
head； and becomes at heart an executioner。 The creditor is a good deal
like the sparrow on whose tail confiding children are invited to put
salt；with this difference； that he applies the image to his claim；
the proceeds of which he is never able to lay hold of。 Grandet had
studied the atmospheric variations of creditors； and the creditors of
his brother justified all his calculations。 Some were angry； and
flatly refused to give in their vouchers。
〃Very good； so much the better；〃 said Grandet； rubbing his hands over
the letter in which des Grassins announced the fact。
Others agreed to the demand； but only on condition that their rights
should be fully guaranteed； they renounced none； and even reserved the
power of ultimately compelling a failure。 On this began a long
correspondence； which ended in Grandet of Saumur agreeing to all
conditions。 By means of this concession the placable creditors were
able to bring the dissatisfied creditors to reason。 The deposit was
then made； but not without sundry complaints。
〃Your goodman；〃 they said to des Grassins； 〃is tricking us。〃
Twenty…three months after the death of Guillaume Grandet many of the
creditors； carried away by more pressing business in the markets of
Paris； had forgotten their Grandet claims； or only thought of them to
say：
〃I begin to believe that forty…se