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He wanted to be back at the Maison Vauquer。 Father Goriot had
left his room； and was just sitting down to dinner as he came in。
Bianchon had placed himself where he could watch the old man
carefully； and when the old vermicelli maker took up his square
of bread and smelled it to find out the quality of the flour； the
medical student； studying him closely； saw that the action was
purely mechanical； and shook his head。
〃Just come and sit over here； hospitaller of Cochin；〃 said
Eugene。
Bianchon went the more willingly because his change of place
brought him next to the old lodger。
〃What is wrong with him？〃 asked Rastignac。
〃It is all up with him； or I am much mistaken！ Something very
extraordinary must have taken place； he looks to me as if he were
in imminent danger of serous apoplexy。 The lower part of his face
is composed enough； but the upper part is drawn and distorted。
Then there is that peculiar look about the eyes that indicates an
effusion of serum in the brain； they look as though they were
covered with a film of fine dust； do you notice？ I shall know
more about it by to…morrow morning。〃
〃Is there any cure for it？〃
〃None。 It might be possible to stave death off for a time if a
way could be found of setting up a reaction in the lower
extremities； but if the symptoms do not abate by to…morrow
evening； it will be all over with him； poor old fellow！ Do you
know what has happened to bring this on？ There must have been
some violent shock； and his mind has given way。〃
〃Yes； there was；〃 said Rastignac； remembering how the two
daughters had struck blow on blow at their father's heart。
〃But Delphine at any rate loves her father；〃 he said to himself。
That evening at the opera Rastignac chose his words carefully；
lest he should give Mme。 de Nucingen needless alarm。
〃Do not be anxious about him；〃 she said； however； as soon as
Eugene began； 〃our father has really a strong constitution； but
this morning we gave him a shock。 Our whole fortunes were in
peril； so the thing was serious； you see。 I could not live if
your affection did not make me insensible to troubles that I
should once have thought too hard to bear。 At this moment I have
but one fear left； but one misery to dreadto lose the love that
has made me feel glad to live。 Everything else is as nothing to
me compared with our love； I care for nothing else； for you are
all the world to me。 If I feel glad to be rich； it is for your
sake。 To my shame be it said； I think of my lover before my
father。 Do you ask why？ I cannot tell you； but all my life is in
you。 My father gave me a heart； but you have taught it to beat。
The whole world may condemn me； what does it matter if I stand
acquitted in your eyes； for you have no right to think ill of me
for the faults which a tyrannous love has forced me to commit for
you！ Do you think me an unnatural daughter？ Oh！ no； no one could
help loving such a dear kind father as ours。 But how could I hide
the inevitable consequences of our miserable marriages from him？
Why did he allow us to marry when we did？ Was it not his duty to
think for us and foresee for us？ To…day I know he suffers as much
as we do； but how can it be helped？ And as for comforting him； we
could not comfort him in the least。 Our resignation would give
him more pain and hurt him far more than complaints and
upbraidings。 There are times in life when everything turns to
bitterness。〃
Eugene was silent； the artless and sincere outpouring made an
impression on him。
Parisian women are often false； intoxicated with vanity； selfish
and self…absorbed； frivolous and shallow； yet of all women； when
they love； they sacrifice their personal feelings to their
passion； they rise but so much the higher for all the pettiness
overcome in their nature； and become sublime。 Then Eugene was
struck by the profound discernment and insight displayed by this
woman in judging of natural affection； when a privileged
affection had separated and set her at a distance apart。 Mme。 de
Nucingen was piqued by the silence；
〃What are you thinking about？〃 she asked。
〃I am thinking about what you said just now。 Hitherto I have
always felt sure that I cared far more for you than you did for
me。〃
She smiled； and would not give way to the happiness she felt；
lest their talk should exceed the conventional limits of
propriety。 She had never heard the vibrating tones of a sincere
and youthful love； a few more words； and she feared for her self…
control。
〃Eugene；〃 she said； changing the conversation； 〃I wonder whether
you know what has been happening？ All Paris will go to Mme。 de
Beauseant's to…morrow。 The Rochefides and the Marquis d'Ajuda
have agreed to keep the matter a profound secret； but to…morrow
the king will sign the marriage…contract； and your poor cousin
the Vicomtesse knows nothing of it as yet。 She cannot put off her
ball； and the Marquis will not be there。 People are wondering
what will happen？〃
〃The world laughs at baseness and connives at it。 But this will
kill Mme。 de Beauseant。〃
〃Oh； no；〃 said Delphine； smiling； 〃you do not know that kind of
woman。 Why； all Paris will be there； and so shall I； I ought to
go there for your sake。〃
〃Perhaps； after all； it is one of those absurd reports that
people set in circulation here。〃
〃We shall know the truth to…morrow。〃
Eugene did not return to the Maison Vauquer。 He could not forego
the pleasure of occupying his new rooms in the Rue d'Artois。
Yesterday evening he had been obliged to leave Delphine soon
after midnight； but that night it was Delphine who stayed with
him until two o'clock in the morning。 He rose late； and waited
for Mme。 de Nucingen； who came about noon to breakfast with him。
Youth snatches eagerly at these rosy moments of happiness； and
Eugene had almost forgotten Goriot's existence。 The pretty things
that surrounded him were growing familiar； this domestication in
itself was one long festival for him； and Mme。 de Nucingen was
there to glorify it all by her presence。 It was four o'clock
before they thought of Goriot； and of how he had looked forward
to the new life in that house。 Eugene said that the old man ought
to be moved at once； lest he should grow too ill to move。 He left
Delphine and hurried back to the lodging…house。 Neither Father
Goriot nor young Bianchon was in the dining…room with the others。
〃Aha！〃 said the painter as Eugene came in； 〃Father Goriot has
broken down at last。 Bianchon is upstairs with him。 One of his
daughtersthe Comtesse de Restauramacame to see the old
gentleman； and he would get up and go out； and made himself
worse。 Society is about to lose one of its brightest ornaments。〃
Rastignac sprang to the staircase。
〃Hey！ Monsieur Eugene！〃
〃Monsieur Eugene； the mistress is calling you；〃 shouted Sylvie。
〃It is this； sir；〃 said the widow。 〃You and M。 Goriot should by
rights have moved out on the 15th of February。 That was three
days ago； to…day is the 18th； I ought really to be paid a month
in advance； but if you will engage to pay for both； I shall be
quite satisfied。〃
〃Why can't you trust him？〃
〃Trust him； indeed！ If the old gentleman went off his head and
died； those daughters of his would not pay me a farthing； and his
things won't fetch ten francs。 This morning he went out with all
the spoons and forks he has left； I don't know why。 He had got
himself up to look quite young； andLord； forgive mebut I
thought he had rouge on his cheeks； he looked quite young again。〃
〃I will be responsible；〃 said Eugene； shuddering with horror； for
he foresaw the end。
He climbed the stairs and reached Father Goriot's room。 The old
man was tossing on his bed。 Bianchon was with him。
〃Good…evening； father；〃 said Eugene。
The old man turned his glassy eyes on him； smiled gently； and
said：
〃How is SHE？〃
〃She is quite well。 But how are you？〃
〃There is nothing much the matter。〃
〃Don't tire him；〃 said Bianchon； drawing Eugene into a corner of
the room。
〃Well？〃 asked Rastignac。
〃Nothing but a miracle can save him now。 Serous congestion has
set in； I have put on mustard plasters； and luckily he can feel
them； they are acting。〃
〃Is it possible to move him？〃
〃Quite out of the question。 He must stay where he is； and be kept
as quiet as possible〃
〃Dear Bianchon；〃 said Eugene； 〃we will nurse him between us。〃
〃I have had the head physician round from my hospital to see
him。〃
〃And what did he say？〃
〃He will give no opinion till to…morrow evening。 He promised to
look in again at the end of the day。 Unluckily； the preposterous
creature must needs go and do something foolish this morning； he
will not say what it was。 He is as obstinate as a mule。 As soon
as I begin to talk to him he pretends not to hear； and lies as if
he were asleep instead of