That morning Mme. de Nucingen had driven Eugene to despair. In his own mind he had completely surrendered himself to Vautrin, and deliberately1 shut his eyes to the motive2 for the friendship which that extraordinary man professed3 for him, nor would he look to the consequences of such an alliance. Nothing short of a miracle could extricate4 him now out of the gulf5 into which he had walked an hour ago, when he exchanged vows6 in the softest whispers with Mlle. Taillefer. To Victorine it seemed as if she heard an angel's voice, that heaven was opening above her; the Maison Vauquer took strange and wonderful hues7, like a stage fairy-palace. She loved and she was loved; at any rate, she believed that she was loved; and what woman would not likewise have believed after seeing Rastignac's face and listening to the tones of his voice during that hour snatched under the Argus eyes of the Maison Vauquer? He had trampled8 on his conscience; he knew that he was doing wrong, and did it deliberately; he had said to himself that a woman's happiness should atone9 for this venial10 sin. The energy of desperation had lent new beauty to his face; the lurid11 fire that burned in his heart shone from his eyes. Luckily for him, the miracle took place. Vautrin came in in high spirits, and at once read the hearts of these two young creatures whom he had brought together by the combinations of his infernal genius, but his deep voice broke in upon their bliss12.
"A charming girl is my Fanchette In her simplicity,"
he sang mockingly.
Victorine fled. Her heart was more full than it had ever been, but it was full of joy, and not of sorrow. Poor child! A pressure of the hand, the light touch of Rastignac's hair against her cheek, a word whispered in her ear so closely that she felt the student's warm breath on her, the pressure of a trembling arm about her waist, a kiss upon her throat--such had been her betrothal13. The near neighborhood of the stout15 Sylvie, who might invade that glorified16 room at any moment, only made these first tokens of love more ardent17, more eloquent18, more entrancing than the noblest deeds done for love's sake in the most famous romances. This plain-song of love, to use the pretty expression of our forefathers19, seemed almost criminal to the devout20 young girl who went to confession21 every fortnight. In that one hour she had poured out more of the treasures of her soul than she could give in later days of wealth and happiness, when her whole self followed the gift.
"The thing is arranged," Vautrin said to Eugene, who remained. "Our two dandies have fallen out. Everything was done in proper form. It is a matter of opinion. Our pigeon has insulted my hawk22. They will meet to-morrow in the redoubt at Clignancourt. By halfpast eight in the morning Mlle. Taillefer, calmly dipping her bread and butter in her coffee cup, will be sole heiress of her father's fortune and affections. A funny way of putting it, isn't it? Taillefer's youngster is an expert swordsman, and quite cocksure about it, but he will be bled; I have just invented a thrust for his benefit, a way of raising your sword point and driving it at the forehead. I must show you that thrust; it is an uncommonly23 handy thing to know."
Rastignac heard him in dazed bewilderment; he could not find a word in reply. Just then Goriot came in, and Bianchon and a few of the boarders likewise appeared.
"That is just as I intended." Vautrin said. "You know quite well what you are about. Good, my little eaglet! You are born to command, you are strong, you stand firm on your feet, you are game! I respect you."
He made as though he would take Eugene's hand, but Rastignac hastily withdrew it, sank into a chair, and turned ghastly pale; it seemed to him that there was a sea of blood before his eyes.
"Oh! so we still have a few dubious24 tatters of the swaddling alothes of virtue25 about us!" murmured Vautrin. "But Papa Doliban has three millions; I know the amount of his fortune. Once have her dowry in your hands, and your character will be as white as the bride's white dress, even in your own eyes."
Rastignac hesitated no longer. He made up his mind that he would go that evening to warn the Taillefers, father and son. But just as Vautrin left him, Father Goriot came up and said in his ear, "You look melancholy26, my boy; I will cheer you up. Come with me."
The old vermicelli dealer27 lighted his dip at one of the lamps as he spoke28. Eugene went with him, his curiosity had been aroused.
"Let us go up to your room," the worthy29 soul remarked, when he had asked Sylvie for the law student's key. "This morning," he resumed, "you thought that SHE did not care about you, did you not? Eh? She would have nothing to say to you, and you went away out of humor and out of heart. Stuff and rubbish! She wanted you to go because she was expecting ME! Now do you understand? We were to complete the arrangements for taking some chambers30 for you, a jewel of a place, you are to move into it in three days' time. Don't split upon me. She wants it to be a surprise; but I couldn't bear to keep the secret from you. You will be in the Rue31 d'Artois, only a step or two from the Rue Saint-Lazare, and you are to be housed like a prince! Any one might have thought we were furnishing the house for a bride. Oh! we have done a lot of things in the last month, and you knew nothing about it. My attorney has appeared on the scene, and my daughter is to have thirty-six thousand francs a year, the interest on her money, and I shall insist on having her eight hundred thousand invested in sound securities, landed property that won't run away."
Eugene was dumb. He folded his arms and paced up and down in his cheerless, untidy room. Father Goriot waited till the student's back was turned, and seized the opportunity to go to the chimneypiece and set upon it a little red morocco case with Rastignac's arms stamped in gold on the leather.
"My dear boy," said the kind soul, "I have been up to the eyes in this business. You see, there was plenty of selfishness on my part; I have an interested motive in helping32 you to change lodgings33. You will not refuse me if I ask you something; will you, eh?"
"What is it?"
"There is a room on the fifth floor, up above your rooms, that is to let along with them; that is where I am going to live, isn't that so? I am getting old: I am too far from my girls. I shall not be in the way, but I shall be there, that is all. You will come and talk to me about her every evening. It will not put you about, will it? I shall have gone to bed before you come in, but I shall hear you come up, and I shall say to myself, 'He has just seen my little Delphine. He has been to a dance with her, and she is happy, thanks to him.' If I were ill, it would do my heart good to hear you moving about below, to know when you leave the house and when you come in. It is only a step to the ChampsElysees, where they go every day, so I shall be sure of seeing them, whereas now I am sometimes too late. And then--perhaps she may come to see you! I shall hear her, I shall see her in her soft quilted pelisse tripping about as daintily as a kitten. In this one month she has become my little girl again, so lighthearted and gay. Her soul is recovering, and her happiness is owing to you! Oh! I would do impossibilities for you. Only just now she said to me, 'I am very happy, papa!' When they say 'father' stiffly, it sends a chill through me; but when they call me 'papa,' it brings all the old memories back. I feel most their father then; I even believe that they belong to me, and to no one else."
The good man wiped his eyes, he was crying.
"It is a long while since I have heard them talk like that, a long, long time since she took my arm as she did to-day. Yes, indeed, it must be quite ten years since I walked side by side with one of my girls. How pleasant it was to keep step with her, to feel the touch of her gown, the warmth of her arm! Well, I took Delphine everywhere this morning; I went shopping with her, and I brought her home again. Oh! you must let me live near you. You may want some one to do you a service some of these days, and I shall be on the spot to do it. Oh! if only that great dolt34 of an Alsatian would die, if his gout would have the sense to attack his stomach, how happy my poor child would be! You would be my son-in-law; you would be her husband in the eyes of the world. Bah! she has known no happiness, that excuses everything. Our Father in heaven is surely on the side of fathers on earth who love their children. How fond of you she is!" he said, raising his head after a pause. "All the time we were going about together she chatted away about you. 'He is so nice-looking, papa; isn't he? He is kind-hearted! Does he talk to you about me?' Pshaw! she said enough about you to fill whole volumes; between the Rue d'Artois and the Passage des Panoramas35 she poured her heart out into mine. I did not feel old once during that delightful36 morning; I felt as light as a feather. I told her how you had given the banknote to me; it moved my darling to tears. But what can this be on your chimney-piece?" said Father Goriot at last. Rastignac had showed no sign, and he was dying of impatience37.
Eugene stared at his neighbor in dumb and dazed bewilderment. He thought of Vautrin, of that duel38 to be fought to-morrow morning, and of this realization39 of his dearest hopes, and the violent contrast between the two sets of ideas gave him all the sensations of nightmare. He went to the chimney-piece, saw the little square case, opened it, and found a watch of Breguet's make wrapped in paper, on which these words were written8
"I want you to think of me every hour, BECAUSE . . . "DELPHINE."
That last word doubtless contained an allusion40 to some scene that had taken place between them. Eugene felt touched. Inside the gold watch-case his arms had been wrought41 in enamel42. The chain, the key, the workmanship and design of the trinket were all such as he had imagined, for he had long coveted43 such a possession. Father Goriot was radiant. Of course he had promised to tell his daughter every little detail of the scene and of the effect produced upon Eugene by her present; he shared in the pleasure and excitement of the young people, and seemed to be not the least happy of the three. He loved Rastignac already for his own as well as for his daughter's sake.
"You must go and see her; she is expecting you this evening. That great lout44 of an Alsatian is going to have supper with his operadancer. Aha! he looked very foolish when my attorney let him know where he was. He says he idolizes my daughter, does he? He had better let her alone, or I will kill him. To think that my Delphine is his"--he heaved a sigh--"it is enough to make me murder him, but it would not be manslaughter to kill that animal; he is a pig with a calf's brains.--You will take me with you, will you not?"
"Yes, dear Father Goriot; you know very well how fond I am of you----"
"Yes, I do know very well. You are not ashamed of me, are you? Not you! Let me embrace you," and he flung his arms around the student's neck.
"You will make her very happy; promise me that you will! You will go to her this evening, will you not?"
"Oh! yes. I must go out; I have some urgent business on hand."
"Can I be of any use?"
"My word, yes! Will you go to old Taillefer's while I go to Mme. de Nucingen? Ask him to make an appointment with me some time this evening; it is a matter of life and death."
"Really, young man!" cried Father Goriot, with a change of countenance45; "are you really paying court to his daughter, as those simpletons were saying down below? . . . TONNERRE DE DIEU! you have no notion what a tap A LA GORIOT is like, and if you are playing a double game, I shall put a stop to it by one blow of the fist. . . Oh! the thing is impossible!"
"I swear to you that I love but one woman in the world," said the student. "I only knew it a moment ago."
"Oh! what happiness!" cried Goriot.
"But young Taillefer has been called out; the duel comes off tomorrow morning, and I have heard it said that he may lose his life in it."
"But what business is it of yours?" said Goriot.
"Why, I ought to tell him so, that he may prevent his son from putting in an appearance----"
Just at that moment Vautrin's voice broke in upon them; he was standing46 at the threshold of his door and singing:
"Oh! Richard, oh my king!
All dhe world abandons thee!
Broum! broum! broum! broum! broum!
The same old story everywhere, A roving heart and a . . . tra la la."
"Gentlemen!" shouted Christophe, "the soup is ready, and every one is waiting for you."
"Here," Vautrin called down to him, "come and take a bottle of my Bordeaux."
"Do you think your watch is pretty?" asked Goriot. "She has good taste, hasn't she? Eh?"
Vautrin, Father Goriot, and Rastignac came downstairs in company, and, all three of them being late, were obliged to sit together.
Eugene was as distant as possible in his manner to Vautrin during dinner; but the other, so charming in Mme. Vauquer's opinion, had never been so witty47. His lively sallies and sparkling talk put the whole table in good humor. His assurance and coolness filled Eugene with consternation48.
"Why, what has come to you to-day?" inquired Mme. Vauquer. "You are as merry as a skylark."
"I am always in spirits after I have made a good bargain."
"Bargain?" said Eugene.
"Well, yes, bargain. I have just delivered a lot of goods, and I shall be paid a handsome commission on them--Mlle. Michonneau," he went on, seeing that the elderly spinster was scrutinizing49 him intently, "have you any objection to some feature in my face, that you are making those lynx eyes at me? Just let me know, and I will have it changed to oblige you . . . We shall not fall out about it, Poiret, I dare say?" he added, winking50 at the superannuated51 clerk.
"Bless my soul, you ought to stand as model for a burlesque52 Hercules," said the young painter.
"I will, epon my word! if Mlle. Michonneau will consent to sit as the Venus of Pere-Lachaise," replied Vautrin.
"There's Poiret," suggested Bianchon.
"Oh! Poiret shall pose as Poiret. He can be a garden god!" cried Vautrin; "his name means a pear----"
"A sleepy pear!" Bianchon put in. "You will come in between the pear and the cheese."
"What stuff are you all talking!" said Mme. Vauquer; "you would do better to treat us to your Bordeaux; I see a glimpse of a bottle there. It would keep us all in a good humor, and it is good for the stomach besides."
"Gentlemen," said Vautrin, "the Lady President calls us to order. Mme. Couture and Mlle. Victorine will take your jokes in good part, but respect the innocence53 of the aged54 Goriot. I propose a glass or two of Bordeauxrama, rendered twice illustrious by the name of Laffite, no political allusions55 intended.--Come, you Turk!" he added, looking at Christophe, who did not offer to stir. "Christophe! Here! What, you don't answer to your own name? Bring us some liquor, Turk!"
"Here it is, sir," said Christophe, holding out the bottle.
Vautrin filled Eugene's glass and Goriot's likewise, then he deliberately poured out a few drops into his own glass, and sipped56 it while his two neighbors drank their wine. All at once he made a grimace57.
"Corked58!" he cried. "The devil! You can drink the rest of this, Christophe, and go and find another bottle; take from the righthand side, you know. There are sixteen of us; take down eight bottles."
"If you are going to stand treat," said the painter, "I will pay for a hundred chestnuts59."
"Oh! oh!"
"Booououh!"
"Prrr!"
These exclamations60 came from all parts of the table like squibs from a set firework.
"Come, now, Mama Vauquer, a couple of bottles of champagne61," called Vautrin.
"Quien! just like you! Why not ask for the whole house at once. A couple of bottles of champagne; that means twelve francs! I shall never see the money back again, I know! But if M. Eugene has a mind to pay for it, I have some currant cordial."
"That currant cordial of hers is as bad as a black draught62," muttered the medical student.
"Shut up, Bianchon," exclaimed Rastignac; "the very mention of black draught makes me feel----. Yes, champagne, by all means; I will pay for it," he added.
"Sylvie," called Mme. Vauquer, "bring in some biscuits, and the little cakes."
"Those little cakes are mouldy graybeards," said Vautrin. "But trot14 out the biscuits."
The Bordeaux wine circulated; the dinner table became a livelier scene than ever, and the fun grew fast and furious. Imitations of the cries of various animals mingled63 with the loud laughter; the Museum official having taken it into his head to mimic64 a cat-call rather like the caterwauling of the animal in question, eight voices simultaneously65 struck up with the following variations:
"Scissors to grind!"
"Chick-weeds for singing bir-ds!"
"Brandy-snaps, ladies!"
"China to mend!"
"Boat ahoy!"
"Cticks to beat your wives or your clothes!"
"Old clo'!"
"Cherries all ripe!"
But the palm was awarded to Bianchon for the nasal accent with which he rendered the cry of "Umbrellas to me-end!"
收听单词发音 |
1
deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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professed
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| 公开声称的，伪称的，已立誓信教的 | |
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extricate
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| v.拯救，救出；解脱 | |
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gulf
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| n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂 | |
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vows
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| 誓言( vow的名词复数 )； 郑重宣布，许愿 | |
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hues
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| 色彩( hue的名词复数 )； 色调； 信仰； 观点 | |
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trampled
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| 踩( trample的过去式和过去分词 )； 践踏； 无视； 侵犯 | |
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atone
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| v.赎罪，补偿 | |
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venial
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| adj.可宽恕的；轻微的 | |
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lurid
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| adj.可怕的；血红的；苍白的 | |
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12
bliss
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| n.狂喜，福佑，天赐的福 | |
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13
betrothal
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| n. 婚约, 订婚 | |
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14
trot
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| n.疾走，慢跑；n.老太婆；现成译本；(复数）trots:腹泻（与the 连用）；v.小跑，快步走，赶紧 | |
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glorified
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| 美其名的，变荣耀的 | |
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17
ardent
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的 | |
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18
eloquent
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| adj.雄辩的，口才流利的；明白显示出的 | |
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19
forefathers
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| n.祖先，先人；祖先，祖宗( forefather的名词复数 )；列祖列宗；前人 | |
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devout
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| adj.虔诚的，虔敬的，衷心的 (n.devoutness) | |
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confession
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| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
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hawk
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| n.鹰，骗子；鹰派成员 | |
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uncommonly
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| adv. 稀罕(极，非常) | |
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dubious
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| adj.怀疑的，无把握的；有问题的，靠不住的 | |
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25
virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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dealer
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| n.商人，贩子 | |
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28
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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29
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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30
chambers
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| n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅 | |
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31
rue
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| n.懊悔，芸香，后悔；v.后悔，悲伤，懊悔 | |
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32
helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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lodgings
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| n. 出租的房舍, 寄宿舍 | |
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dolt
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| n.傻瓜 | |
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panoramas
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| 全景画( panorama的名词复数 )； 全景照片； 一连串景象或事 | |
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delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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38
duel
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| n./v.决斗；(双方的)斗争 | |
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39
realization
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| n.实现；认识到，深刻了解 | |
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40
allusion
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| n.暗示，间接提示 | |
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41
wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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42
enamel
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| n.珐琅，搪瓷，瓷釉；(牙齿的)珐琅质 | |
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43
coveted
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| adj.令人垂涎的；垂涎的，梦寐以求的v.贪求，觊觎(covet的过去分词)；垂涎；贪图 | |
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44
lout
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| n.粗鄙的人；举止粗鲁的人 | |
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45
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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46
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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47
witty
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| adj.机智的，风趣的 | |
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48
consternation
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| n.大为吃惊，惊骇 | |
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49
scrutinizing
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| v.仔细检查，详审( scrutinize的现在分词 ) | |
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50
winking
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| n.瞬眼，目语v.使眼色( wink的现在分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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51
superannuated
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| adj.老朽的，退休的；v.因落后于时代而废除，勒令退学 | |
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52
burlesque
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| v.嘲弄，戏仿；n.嘲弄，取笑，滑稽模仿 | |
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53
innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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54
aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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55
allusions
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| 暗指，间接提到( allusion的名词复数 ) | |
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56
sipped
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| v.小口喝，呷，抿( sip的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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57
grimace
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| v.做鬼脸，面部歪扭 | |
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58
corked
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| adj.带木塞气味的，塞着瓶塞的v.用瓶塞塞住( cork的过去式 ) | |
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59
chestnuts
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| n.栗子( chestnut的名词复数 )；栗色；栗树；栗色马 | |
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60
exclamations
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| n.呼喊( exclamation的名词复数 )；感叹；感叹语；感叹词 | |
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61
champagne
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| n.香槟酒；微黄色 | |
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62
draught
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| n.拉，牵引，拖；一网（饮，吸，阵)；顿服药量，通风；v.起草，设计 | |
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63
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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64
mimic
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| v.模仿，戏弄；n.模仿他人言行的人 | |
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65
simultaneously
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| adv.同时发生地，同时进行地 | |
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