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and then he thought of his letter； and read it again and kissed
it。
〃Such a love is my anchor of safety；〃 he said to himself。 〃How
the old man's heart must have been wrung！ He says nothing about
all that he has been through； but who could not guess？ Well；
then； I will be like a son to him； his life shall be made happy。
If she cares for me； she will often come to spend the day with
him。 That grand Comtesse de Restaud is a heartless thing； she
would make her father into her hall porter。 Dear Delphine！ she is
kinder to the old man； she is worthy to be loved。 Ah！ this
evening I shall be very happy！〃
He took out his watch and admired it。
〃I have had nothing but success！ If two people mean to love each
other for ever； they may help each other； and I can take this。
Besides； I shall succeed； and I will pay her a hundredfold。 There
is nothing criminal in this liaison； nothing that could cause the
most austere moralist to frown。 How many respectable people
contract similar unions！ We deceive nobody； it is deception that
makes a position humiliating。 If you lie； you lower yourself at
once。 She and her husband have lived apart for a long while。
Besides； how if I called upon that Alsatian to resign a wife whom
he cannot make happy？〃
Rastignac's battle with himself went on for a long while； and
though the scruples of youth inevitably gained the day； an
irresistible curiosity led him； about half…past four； to return
to the Maison Vauquer through the gathering dusk。
Bianchon had given Vautrin an emetic； reserving the contents of
the stomach for chemical analysis at the hospital。 Mlle。
Michonneau's officious alacrity had still further strengthened
his suspicions of her。 Vautrin； moreover； had recovered so
quickly that it was impossible not to suspect some plot against
the leader of all frolics at the lodging…house。 Vautrin was
standing in front of the stove in the dining…room when Rastignac
came in。 All the lodgers were assembled sooner than usual by the
news of young Taillefer's duel。 They were anxious to hear any
detail about the affair； and to talk over the probable change in
Victorine's prospects。 Father Goriot alone was absent； but the
rest were chatting。 No sooner did Eugene come into the room； than
his eyes met the inscrutable gaze of Vautrin。 It was the same
look that had read his thoughts beforethe look that had such
power to waken evil thoughts in his heart。 He shuddered。
〃Well； dear boy；〃 said the escaped convict； 〃I am likely to cheat
death for a good while yet。 According to these ladies； I have had
a stroke that would have felled an ox； and come off with flying
colors。〃
〃A bull you might say；〃 cried the widow。
〃You really might be sorry to see me still alive；〃 said Vautrin
in Rastignac's ear； thinking that he guessed the student's
thoughts。 〃You must be mighty sure of yourself。〃
〃Mlle。 Michonneau was talking the day before yesterday about a
gentleman named Trompe…la…Mort；〃 said Bianchon； 〃and； upon my
word； that name would do very well for you。〃
Vautrin seemed thunderstruck。 He turned pale； and staggered back。
He turned his magnetic glance； like a ray of vivid light； on
Mlle。 Michonneau； the old maid shrank and trembled under the
influence of that strong will； and collapsed into a chair。 The
mask of good…nature had dropped from the convict's face； from the
unmistakable ferocity of that sinister look； Poiret felt that the
old maid was in danger； and hastily stepped between them。 None of
the lodgers understood this scene in the least； they looked on in
mute amazement。 There was a pause。 Just then there was a sound of
tramping feet outside； there were soldiers there； it seemed； for
there was a ring of several rifles on the pavement of the street。
Collin was mechanically looking round the walls for a way of
escape； when four men entered by way of the sitting…room。
〃In the name of the King and the Law！〃 said an officer； but the
words were almost lost in a murmur of astonishment。
Silence fell on the room。 The lodgers made way for three of the
men； who had each a hand on a cocked pistol in a side pocket。 Two
policemen； who followed the detectives； kept the entrance to the
sitting…room； and two more men appeared in the doorway that gave
access to the staircase。 A sound of footsteps came from the
garden； and again the rifles of several soldiers rang on the
cobblestones under the window。 All chance of salvation by flight
was cut off for Trompe…la…Mort； to whom all eyes instinctively
turned。 The chief walked straight up to him； and commenced
operations by giving him a sharp blow on the head； so that the
wig fell off； and Collin's face was revealed in all its ugliness。
There was a terrible suggestion of strength mingled with cunning
in the short； brick…red crop of hair； the whole head was in
harmony with his powerful frame； and at that moment the fires of
hell seemed to gleam from his eyes。 In that flash the real
Vautrin shone forth； revealed at once before them all； they
understood his past； his present； and future； his pitiless
doctrines； his actions； the religion of his own good pleasure；
the majesty with which his cynicism and contempt for mankind
invested him； the physical strength of an organization proof
against all trials。 The blood flew to his face； and his eyes
glared like the eyes of a wild cat。 He started back with savage
energy and a fierce growl that drew exclamations of alarm from
the lodgers。 At that leonine start the police caught at their
pistols under cover of the general clamor。 Collin saw the
gleaming muzzles of the weapons； saw his danger； and instantly
gave proof of a power of the highest order。 There was something
horrible and majestic in the spectacle of the sudden
transformation in his face； he could only be compared to a
cauldron full of the steam that can send mountains flying； a
terrific force dispelled in a moment by a drop of cold water。 The
drop of water that cooled his wrathful fury was a reflection that
flashed across his brain like lightning。 He began to smile； and
looked down at his wig。
〃You are not in the politest of humors to…day；〃 he remarked to
the chief； and he held out his hands to the policemen with a jerk
of his head。
〃Gentlemen；〃 he said； 〃put on the bracelets or the handcuffs。 I
call on those present to witness that I make no resistance。〃
A murmur of admiration ran through the room at the sudden
outpouring like fire and lava flood from this human volcano； and
its equally sudden cessation。
〃There's a sell for you； master crusher；〃 the convict added；
looking at the famous director of police。
〃Come； strip！〃 said he of the Petite Rue Saint…Anne；
contemptuously。
〃Why？〃 asked Collin。 〃There are ladies present； I deny nothing；
and surrender。〃
He paused； and looked round the room like an orator who is about
to overwhelm his audience。
〃Take this down； Daddy Lachapelle；〃 he went on； addressing a
little； white…haired old man who had seated himself at the end of
the table； and after drawing a printed form from the portfolio；
was proceeding to draw up a document。 〃I acknowledge myself to be
Jacques Collin； otherwise known as Trompe…la…Mort； condemned to
twenty years' penal servitude； and I have just proved that I have
come fairly by my nickname。If I had as much as raised my hand；〃
he went on； addressing the other lodgers； 〃those three sneaking
wretches yonder would have drawn claret on Mamma Vauquer's
domestic hearth。 The rogues have laid their heads together to set
a trap for me。〃
Mme。 Vauquer felt sick and faint at these words。
〃Good Lord！〃 she cried； 〃this does give one a turn； and me at the
Gaite with him only last night！〃 she said to Sylvie。
〃Summon your philosophy； mamma；〃 Collin resumed。 〃Is it a
misfortune to have sat in my box at the Gaite yesterday evening？
After all； are you better than we are？ The brand upon our
shoulders is less shameful than the brand set on your hearts； you
flabby members of a society rotten to the core。 Not the best man
among you could stand up to me。〃 His eyes rested upon Rastignac；
to whom he spoke with a pleasant smile that seemed strangely at
variance with the savage expression in his eyes。〃Our little
bargain still holds good； dear boy； you can accept any time you
like！ Do you understand？〃 And he sang：
〃A charming girl is my Fanchette
In her simplicity。〃
〃Don't you trouble yourself；〃 he went on； 〃I can get in my money。
They are too much afraid of me to swindle me。〃
The convicts' prison； its language and customs； its sudden sharp
transitions from the humorous to the horrible； its appalling
grandeur； its triviality and its dark depths； were all revealed
in turn by the speaker's discourse； he seemed to be no longer a
man； but the type and mouthpiece of a degenerate race； a brutal；
supple； clear…headed race of savages。 In one moment Collin