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Paris； had forgotten their Grandet claims； or only thought of them to
say：
〃I begin to believe that forty…seven per cent is all I shall ever get
out of that affair。〃
The old cooper had calculated on the power of time； which； as he used
to say； is a pretty good devil after all。 By the end of the third year
des Grassins wrote to Grandet that he had brought the creditors to
agree to give up their claims for ten per cent on the two million four
hundred thousand francs still due by the house of Grandet。 Grandet
answered that the notary and the broker whose shameful failures had
caused the death of his brother were still living； that they might now
have recovered their credit； and that they ought to be sued； so as to
get something out of them towards lessening the total of the deficit。
By the end of the fourth year the liabilities were definitely
estimated at a sum of twelve hundred thousand francs。 Many
negotiations； lasting over six months； took place between the
creditors and the liquidators； and between the liquidators and
Grandet。 To make a long story short； Grandet of Saumur； anxious by
this time to get out of the affair； told the liquidators； about the
ninth month of the fourth year； that his nephew had made a fortune in
the Indies and was disposed to pay his father's debts in full； he
therefore could not take upon himself to make any settlement without
previously consulting him； he had written to him； and was expecting an
answer。 The creditors were held in check until the middle of the fifth
year by the words； 〃payment in full；〃 which the wily old miser threw
out from time to time as he laughed in his beard； saying with a smile
and an oath； 〃Those Parisians！〃
But the creditors were reserved for a fate unexampled in the annals of
commerce。 When the events of this history bring them once more into
notice； they will be found still in the position Grandet had resolved
to force them into from the first。
As soon as the Funds reached a hundred and fifteen； Pere Grandet sold
out his interests and withdrew two million four hundred thousand
francs in gold； to which he added； in his coffers； the six hundred
thousand francs compound interest which he had derived from the
capital。 Des Grassins now lived in Paris。 In the first place he had
been made a deputy； then he became infatuated （father of a family as
he was； though horribly bored by the provincial life of Saumur） with a
pretty actress at the Theatre de Madame； known as Florine； and he
presently relapsed into the old habits of his army life。 It is useless
to speak of his conduct； Saumur considered it profoundly immoral。 His
wife was fortunate in the fact of her property being settled upon
herself； and in having sufficient ability to keep up the banking…house
in Saumur； which was managed in her name and repaired the breach in
her fortune caused by the extravagance of her husband。 The Cruchotines
made so much talk about the false position of the quasi…widow that she
married her daughter very badly； and was forced to give up all hope of
an alliance between Eugenie Grandet and her son。 Adolphe joined his
father in Paris and became； it was said； a worthless fellow。 The
Cruchots triumphed。
〃Your husband hasn't common sense；〃 said Grandet as he lent Madame des
Grassins some money on a note securely endorsed。 〃I am very sorry for
you； for you are a good little woman。〃
〃Ah； monsieur；〃 said the poor lady； 〃who could have believed that when
he left Saumur to go to Paris on your business he was going to his
ruin？〃
〃Heaven is my witness； madame； that up to the last moment I did all I
could to prevent him from going。 Monsieur le president was most
anxious to take his place； but he was determined to go； and now we all
see why。〃
In this way Grandet made it quite plain that he was under no
obligation to des Grassins。
*****
In all situations women have more cause for suffering than men； and
they suffer more。 Man has strength and the power of exercising it； he
acts； moves； thinks； occupies himself； he looks ahead； and sees
consolation in the future。 It was thus with Charles。 But the woman
stays at home； she is always face to face with the grief from which
nothing distracts her； she goes down to the depths of the abyss which
yawns before her； measures it； and often fills it with her tears and
prayers。 Thus did Eugenie。 She initiated herself into her destiny。 To
feel； to love； to suffer； to devote herself；is not this the sum of
woman's life？ Eugenie was to be in all things a woman； except in the
one thing that consoles for all。 Her happiness； picked up like nails
scattered on a wallto use the fine simile of Bossuetwould never so
much as fill even the hollow of her hand。 Sorrows are never long in
coming； for her they came soon。 The day after Charles's departure the
house of Monsieur Grandet resumed its ordinary aspect in the eyes of
all； except in those of Eugenie； to whom it grew suddenly empty。 She
wished； if it could be done unknown to her father； that Charles's room
might be kept as he had left it。 Madame Grandet and Nanon were willing
accomplices in this /statu quo/。
〃Who knows but he may come back sooner than we think for？〃 she said。
〃Ah； don't I wish I could see him back！〃 answered Nanon。 〃I took to
him！ He was such a dear； sweet young man；pretty too； with his curly
hair。〃 Eugenie looked at Nanon。 〃Holy Virgin！ don't look at me that
way； mademoiselle； your eyes are like those of a lost soul。〃
From that day the beauty of Mademoiselle Grandet took a new character。
The solemn thoughts of love which slowly filled her soul； and the
dignity of the woman beloved； gave to her features an illumination
such as painters render by a halo。 Before the coming of her cousin；
Eugenie might be compared to the Virgin before the conception； after
he had gone； she was like the Virgin Mother；she had given birth to
love。 These two Marys so different； so well represented by Spanish
art； embody one of those shining symbols with which Christianity
abounds。
Returning from Mass on the morning after Charles's departure；having
made a vow to hear it daily；Eugenie bought a map of the world； which
she nailed up beside her looking…glass； that she might follow her
cousin on his westward way； that she might put herself； were it ever
so little； day by day into the ship that bore him； and see him and ask
him a thousand questions；〃Art thou well？ Dost thou suffer？ Dost thou
think of me when the star； whose beauty and usefulness thou hast
taught me to know； shines upon thee？〃 In the mornings she sat pensive
beneath the walnut…tree； on the worm…eaten bench covered with gray
lichens； where they had said to each other so many precious things； so
many trifles； where they had built the pretty castles of their future
home。 She thought of the future now as she looked upward to the bit of
sky which was all the high walls suffered her to see； then she turned
her eyes to the angle where the sun crept on； and to the roof above
the room in which he had slept。 Hers was the solitary love； the
persistent love； which glides into every thought and becomes the
substance； or； as our fathers might have said； the tissue of life。
When the would…be friends of Pere Grandet came in the evening for
their game at cards； she was gay and dissimulating； but all the
morning she talked of Charles with her mother and Nanon。 Nanon had
brought herself to see that she could pity the sufferings of her young
mistress without failing in her duty to the old master； and she would
say to Eugenie；
〃If I had a man for myself I'dI'd follow him to hell； yes； I'd
exterminate myself for him； but I've none。 I shall die and never know
what life is。 Would you believe； mamz'elle； that old Cornoiller （a
good fellow all the same） is always round my petticoats for the sake
of my money；just for all the world like the rats who come smelling
after the master's cheese and paying court to you？ I see it all； I've
got a shrewd eye； though I am as big as a steeple。 Well； mamz'elle； it
pleases me； but it isn't love。〃
X
Two months went by。 This domestic life； once so monotonous； was now
quickened with the intense interest of a secret that bound these women
intimately together。 For them Charles lived and moved beneath the grim
gray rafters of the hall。 Night and morning Eugenie opened the
dressing…case and gazed at the portrait of her aunt。 One Sunday
morning her mother surprised her as she stood absorbed in finding her
cousin's features in his mother's face。 Madame Grandet was then for
the first time admitted into the terrible secret of the exchange made
by Charles against her daughter's treasure。
〃You gave him all！〃 cried the poor mother； terrified。 〃What will you
say to your father on New Year's Day when he asks to see your gold？〃
Eugenie's eyes grew fixed； and the two women lived through mortal
terror for more than half the morning。 They were so troubled in mind
that they missed high Mass； and only went to the military service。 In
three days the year 1819 would come to an end。 In three days a
terrible drama would begin； a bourgeois tragedy； without poison； or
dagger； or the spilling of blood； butas regards the actors in it
more cruel than all the fabled horrors in t