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had begun to weaken； though his avarice remained instinctively acute。
The death of this man offered no contrast to his life。 In the morning
he made them roll him to a spot between the chimney of his chamber and
the door of the secret room； which was filled； no doubt； with gold。 He
asked for an explanation of every noise he heard； even the slightest；
to the great astonishment of the notary； he even heard the watch…dog
yawning in the court…yard。 He woke up from his apparent stupor at the
day and hour when the rents were due； or when accounts had to be
settled with his vine…dressers； and receipts given。 At such times he
worked his chair forward on its castors until he faced the door of the
inner room。 He made his daughter open it； and watched while she placed
the bags of money one upon another in his secret receptacles and
relocked the door。 Then she returned silently to her seat； after
giving him the key； which he replaced in his waistcoat pocket and
fingered from time to time。 His old friend the notary； feeling sure
that the rich heiress would inevitably marry his nephew the president；
if Charles Grandet did not return； redoubled all his attentions； he
came every day to take Grandet's orders； went on his errands to
Froidfond； to the farms and the fields and the vineyards； sold the
vintages； and turned everything into gold and silver； which found
their way in sacks to the secret hiding…place。
At length the last struggle came； in which the strong frame of the old
man slowly yielded to destruction。 He was determined to sit at the
chimney…corner facing the door of the secret room。 He drew off and
rolled up all the coverings which were laid over him； saying to Nanon；
〃Put them away； lock them up； for fear they should be stolen。〃
So long as he could open his eyes； in which his whole being had now
taken refuge； he turned them to the door behind which lay his
treasures； saying to his daughter； 〃Are they there？ are they there？〃
in a tone of voice which revealed a sort of panic fear。
〃Yes； my father；〃 she would answer。
〃Take care of the goldput gold before me。〃
Eugenie would then spread coins on a table before him； and he would
sit for hours together with his eyes fixed upon them； like a child
who； at the moment it first begins to see； gazes in stupid
contemplation at the same object； and like the child； a distressful
smile would flicker upon his face。
〃It warms me！〃 he would sometimes say； as an expression of beatitude
stole across his features。
When the cure of the parish came to administer the last sacraments；
the old man's eyes； sightless； apparently； for some hours； kindled at
the sight of the cross； the candlesticks； and the holy…water vessel of
silver； he gazed at them fixedly； and his wen moved for the last time。
When the priest put the crucifix of silver…gilt to his lips； that he
might kiss the Christ； he made a frightful gesture； as if to seize it；
and that last effort cost him his life。 He called Eugenie； whom he did
not see； though she was kneeling beside him bathing with tears his
stiffening hand； which was already cold。
〃My father； bless me！〃 she entreated。
〃Take care of it all。 You will render me an account yonder！〃 he said；
proving by these last words that Christianity must always be the
religion of misers。
*****
Eugenie Grandet was now alone in the world in that gray house； with
none but Nanon to whom she could turn with the certainty of being
heard and understood；Nanon the sole being who loved her for herself
and with whom she could speak of her sorrows。 La Grande Nanon was a
providence for Eugenie。 She was not a servant； but a humble friend。
After her father's death Eugenie learned from Maitre Cruchot that she
possessed an income of three hundred thousand francs from landed and
personal property in the arrondissement of Saumur； also six millions
invested at three per cent in the Funds （bought at sixty； and now
worth seventy…six francs）； also two millions in gold coin； and a
hundred thousand francs in silver crown…pieces； besides all the
interest which was still to be collected。 The sum total of her
property reached seventeen millions。
〃Where is my cousin？〃 was her one thought。
The day on which Maitre Cruchot handed in to his client a clear and
exact schedule of the whole inheritance； Eugenie remained alone with
Nanon； sitting beside the fireplace in the vacant hall； where all was
now a memory； from the chair on castors which her mother had sat in；
to the glass from which her cousin drank。
〃Nanon； we are alone〃
〃Yes； mademoiselle； and if I knew where he was； the darling； I'd go on
foot to find him。〃
〃The ocean is between us；〃 she said。
While the poor heiress wept in company of an old servant； in that cold
dark house； which was to her the universe； the whole province rang；
from Nantes to Orleans； with the seventeen millions of Mademoiselle
Grandet。 Among her first acts she had settled an annuity of twelve
hundred francs on Nanon； who； already possessed of six hundred more；
became a rich and enviable match。 In less than a month that good soul
passed from single to wedded life under the protection of Antoine
Cornoiller； who was appointed keeper of all Mademoiselle Grandet's
estates。 Madame Cornoiller possessed one striking advantage over her
contemporaries。 Although she was fifty…nine years of age； she did not
look more than forty。 Her strong features had resisted the ravages of
time。 Thanks to the healthy customs of her semi…conventual life； she
laughed at old age from the vantage…ground of a rosy skin and an iron
constitution。 Perhaps she never looked as well in her life as she did
on her marriage…day。 She had all the benefits of her ugliness； and was
big and fat and strong； with a look of happiness on her indestructible
features which made a good many people envy Cornoiller。
〃Fast colors！〃 said the draper。
〃Quite likely to have children；〃 said the salt merchant。 〃She's
pickled in brine； saving your presence。〃
〃She is rich； and that fellow Cornoiller has done a good thing for
himself；〃 said a third man。
When she came forth from the old house on her way to the parish
church； Nanon； who was loved by all the neighborhood； received many
compliments as she walked down the tortuous street。 Eugenie had given
her three dozen silver forks and spoons as a wedding present。
Cornoiller； amazed at such magnificence； spoke of his mistress with
tears in his eyes； he would willingly have been hacked in pieces in
her behalf。 Madame Cornoiller； appointed housekeeper to Mademoiselle
Grandet； got as much happiness out of her new position as she did from
the possession of a husband。 She took charge of the weekly accounts；
she locked up the provisions and gave them out daily； after the manner
of her defunct master； she ruled over two servants；a cook； and a
maid whose business it was to mend the house…linen and make
mademoiselle's dresses。 Cornoiller combined the functions of keeper
and bailiff。 It is unnecessary to say that the women…servants selected
by Nanon were 〃perfect treasures。〃 Mademoiselle Grandet thus had four
servants； whose devotion was unbounded。 The farmers perceived no
change after Monsieur Grandet's death； the usages and customs he had
sternly established were scrupulously carried out by Monsieur and
Madame Cornoiller。
At thirty years of age Eugenie knew none of the joys of life。 Her
pale； sad childhood had glided on beside a mother whose heart； always
misunderstood and wounded； had known only suffering。 Leaving this life
joyfully； the mother pitied the daughter because she still must live；
and she left in her child's soul some fugitive remorse and many
lasting regrets。 Eugenie's first and only love was a wellspring of
sadness within her。 Meeting her lover for a few brief days； she had
given him her heart between two kisses furtively exchanged； then he
had left her； and a whole world lay between them。 This love； cursed by
her father； had cost the life of her mother and brought her only
sorrow； mingled with a few frail hopes。 Thus her upward spring towards
happiness had wasted her strength and given her nothing in exchange
for it。 In the life of the soul； as in the physical life； there is an
inspiration and a respiration； the soul needs to absorb the sentiments
of another soul and assimilate them； that it may render them back
enriched。 Were it not for this glorious human phenomenon； there would
be no life for the heart； air would be wanting； it would suffer； and
then perish。 Eugenie had begun to suffer。 For her； wealth was neither
a power nor a consolation； she could not live except through love；
through religion； through faith in the future。 Love explained to her
the mysteries of eternity。 Her heart and the Gospel taught her to know
two worlds； she bathed； night and day； in the depths of two infinite
thoughts； which for her may have had but one meaning。 She drew back
within herself； loving； and believing herself beloved。 For seven years
her passion had invaded everything。 Her treasuries were not the
millions whose revenues were rolling up； they were Charles's dressing…
case； the portraits hanging above her bed； the jewels recovered from
her father and proudly spread upon a bed of wool in a drawer o