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〃Oh； oh！〃 I said to myself； 〃here is secret unanimity to forbid the
marriage； and secret unanimity to sanction it！ How shall I solve that
problem？〃
〃Where does the father…in…law live？〃 asked one my school…friends；
heedlessly； being less sophisticated than the others。
〃There's no longer a father…in…law；〃 I replied。 〃Hitherto； my
conscience has spoken plainly enough to make your verdict superfluous。
If to…day its voice is weakened； here is the cause of my cowardice。 I
received； about two months ago； this all…seducing letter。〃
And I showed them the following invitation； which I took from my
pocket…book：
〃You are invited to be present at the funeral procession； burial
services； and interment of Monsieur Jean…Frederic Taillefer； of
the house of Taillefer and Company； formerly Purveyor of
Commissary…meats； in his lifetime chevalier of the Legion of
honor； and of the Golden Spur； captain of the first company of the
Grenadiers of the National Guard of Paris； deceased； May 1st； at
his residence； rue Joubert； which will take place at； etc。； etc。
〃On the part of； etc。〃
〃Now； what am I do to？〃 I continued； 〃I will put the question before
you in a broad way。 There is undoubtedly a sea of blood in
Mademoiselle Taillefer's estates； her inheritance from her father is a
vast Aceldama。 I know that。 BUT Prosper Magnan left no heirs； BUT；
again； I have been unable to discover the family of the merchant who
was murdered at Andernach。 To whom therefore can I restore that
fortune？ And ought it to be wholly restored？ Have I the right to
betray a secret surprised by me；to add a murdered head to the dowry
of an innocent girl； to give her for the rest of her life bad dreams；
to deprive her of all her illusions； and say； 'Your gold is stained
with blood'？ I have borrowed the 'Dictionary of Cases of Conscience'
from an old ecclesiastic； but I can find nothing there to solve my
doubts。 Shall I found pious masses for the repose of the souls of
Prosper Magnan； Wahlenfer； and Taillefer？ Here we are in the middle of
the nineteenth century！ Shall I build a hospital； or institute a prize
for virtue？ A prize for virtue would be given to scoundrels； and as
for hospitals； they seem to me to have become in these days the
protectors of vice。 Besides； such charitable actions； more or less
profitable to vanity； do they constitute reparation？and to whom do I
owe reparation？ But I love； I love passionately。 My love is my life。
If I； without apparent motive； suggest to a young girl accustomed to
luxury； to elegance； to a life fruitful of all enjoyments of art； a
young girl who loves to idly listen at the opera to Rossini's music；
if to her I should propose that she deprive herself of fifteen hundred
thousand francs in favor of broken…down old men； or scrofulous
paupers； she would turn her back on me and laugh； or her confidential
friend would tell her that I'm a crazy jester。 If in an ecstasy of
love； I should paint to her the charms of a modest life； and a little
home on the banks of the Loire； if I were to ask her to sacrifice her
Parisian life on the altar of our love； it would be； in the first
place； a virtuous lie； in the next； I might only be opening the way to
some painful experience； I might lose the heart of a girl who loves
society； and balls； and personal adornment； and ME for the time being。
Some slim and jaunty officer； with a well…frizzed moustache； who can
play the piano； quote Lord Byron； and ride a horse elegantly； may get
her away from me。 What shall I do？ For Heaven's sake； give me some
advice！〃
The honest man； that species of puritan not unlike the father of
Jeannie Deans； of whom I have already told you； and who； up to the
present moment hadn't uttered a word； shrugged his shoulders； as he
looked at me and said：
〃Idiot！ why did you ask him if he came from Beauvais？〃
ADDENDUM
The following personages appear in other stories of the Human Comedy。
Taillefer； Jean…Frederic
The Firm of Nucingen
Father Goriot
The Magic Skin
Taillefer； Victorine
Father Goriot
End