father goriot(高老头)-第38章
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good neighbor； why did not YOU come to tell me of her difficulty？ How had you the heart to go and risk her poor little hundred francs at play？ This is heart…breaking work。 You see what it is to have sons…in…law。 Oh！ if I had hold of them； I would wring their necks。 MON DIEU！ CRYING！ Did you say she was crying？〃
〃With her head on my waistcoat；〃 said Eugene。
〃Oh！ give it to me；〃 said Father Goriot。 〃What！ my daughter's tears have fallen theremy darling Delphine； who never used to cry when she was a little girl！ Oh！ I will buy you another； do not wear it again； let me have it。 By the terms of her marriage… contract； she ought to have the use of her property。 To…morrow morning I will go and see Derville； he is an attorney。 I will demand that her money should be invested in her own name。 I know the law。 I am an old wolf； I will show my teeth。〃
〃Here； father； this is a banknote for a thousand francs that she wanted me to keep out of our winnings。 Keep them for her； in the pocket of the waistcoat。〃
Goriot looked hard at Eugene； reached out and took the law student's hand； and Eugene felt a tear fall on it。
〃You will succeed；〃 the old man said。 〃God is just； you see。 I know an honest man when I see him； and I can tell you； there are not many men like you。 I am to have another dear child in you； am I？ There； go to sleep； you can sleep； you are not yet a father。 She was crying！ and I have to be told about it！and I was quietly eating my dinner； like an idiot； all the timeI； who would sell the Father； Son and Holy Ghost to save one tear to either of them。〃
〃An honest man！〃 said Eugene to himself as he lay down。 〃Upon my word； I think I will be an honest man all my life； it is so pleasant to obey the voice of conscience。〃 Perhaps none but believers in God do good in secret； and Eugene believed in a God。
The next day Rastignac went at the appointed time to Mme。 de Beauseant； who took him with her to the Duchesse de Carigliano's ball。 The Marechale received Eugene most graciously。 Mme。 de Nucingen was there。 Delphine's dress seemed to suggest that she wished for the admiration of others； so that she might shine the more in Eugene's eyes； she was eagerly expecting a glance from him； hiding； as she thought； this eagerness from all beholders。 This moment is full of charm for one who can guess all that passes in a woman's mind。 Who has not refrained from giving his opinion； to prolong her suspense； concealing his pleasure from a desire to tantalize； seeking a confession of love in her uneasiness； enjoying the fears that he can dissipate by a smile？ In the course of the evening the law student suddenly comprehended his position； he saw that； as the cousin of Mme。 de Beauseant； he was a personage in this world。 He was already credited with the conquest of Mme。 de Nucingen； and for this reason was a conspicuous figure； he caught the envious glances of other young men； and experienced the earliest pleasures of coxcombry。 People wondered at his luck； and scraps of these conversations came to his ears as he went from room to room； all the women prophesied his success； and Delphine； in her dread of losing him； promised that this evening she would not refuse the kiss that all his entreaties could scarcely win yesterday。
Rastignac received several invitations。 His cousin presented him to other women who were present； women who could claim to be of the highest fashion； whose houses were looked upon as pleasant； and this was the loftiest and most fashionable society in Paris into which he was launched。 So this evening had all the charm of a brilliant debut； it was an evening that he was to remember even in old age； as a woman looks back upon her first ball and the memories of her girlish triumphs。
The next morning； at breakfast； he related the story of his success for the benefit of Father Goriot and the lodgers。 Vautrin began to smile in a diabolical fashion。
〃And do you suppose；〃 cried that cold…blooded logician； 〃that a young man of fashion can live here in the Rue Neuve…Sainte… Genevieve； in the Maison Vauqueran exceedingly respectable boarding…house in every way； I grant you； but an establishment that； none the less； falls short of being fashionable？ The house is comfortable； it is lordly in its abundance； it is proud to be the temporary abode of a Rastignac； but； after all； it is in the Rue Neuve…Sainte…Genevieve； and luxury would be out of place here； where we only aim at the purely patriarchalorama。 If you mean to cut a figure in Paris； my young friend；〃 Vautrin continued； with half…paternal jocularity； 〃you must have three horses； a tilbury for the mornings； and a closed carriage for the evening； you should spend altogether about nine thousand francs on your stables。 You would show yourself unworthy of your destiny if you spent no more than three thousand francs with your tailor； six hundred in perfumery； a hundred crowns to your shoemaker； and a hundred more to your hatter。 As for your laundress； there goes another thousand francs； a young man of fashion must of necessity make a great point of his linen； if your linen comes up to the required standard； people often do not look any further。 Love and the Church demand a fair altar…cloth。 That is fourteen thousand francs。 I am saying nothing of losses at play； bets； and presents； it is impossible to allow less than two thousand francs for pocket money。 I have led that sort of life； and I know all about these expenses。 Add the cost of necessaries next； three hundred louis for provender； a thousand francs for a place to roost in。 Well； my boy； for all these little wants of ours we had need to have twenty…five thousand francs every year in our purse； or we shall find ourselves in the kennel； and people laughing at us； and our career is cut short； good…bye to success； and good… bye to your mistress！ I am forgetting your valet and your groom！ Is Christophe going to carry your billets…doux for you？ Do you mean to employ the stationery you use at present？ Suicidal policy！ Hearken to the wisdom of your elders！〃 he went on； his bass voice growing louder at each syllable。 〃Either take up your quarters in a garret； live virtuously； and wed your work； or set about the thing in a different way。〃
Vautrin winked and leered in the direction of Mlle。 Taillefer to enforce his remarks by a look which recalled the late tempting proposals by which he had sought to corrupt the student's mind。
Several days went by； and Rastignac lived in a whirl of gaiety。 He dined almost every day with Mme。 de Nucingen； and went wherever she went； only returning to the Rue Neuve…Sainte… Genevieve in the small hours。 He rose at mid…day； and dressed to go into the Bois with Delphine if the day was fine； squandering in this way time that was worth far more than he knew。 He turned as eagerly to learn the lessons of luxury； and was as quick to feel its fascination； as the flowers of the date palm to receive the fertilizing pollen。 He played high； lost and won large sums of money； and at last became accustomed to the extravagant life that young men lead in Paris。 He sent fifteen hundred francs out of his first winnings to his mother and sisters； sending handsome presents as well as the money。 He had given out that he meant to leave the Maison Vauquer； but January came and went； and he was still there； still unprepared to go。
One rule holds good of most young menwhether rich or poor。 They never have money for the necessaries of life； but they have always money to spare for their capricesan anomaly which finds its explanation in their youth and in the almost frantic eagerness with which youth grasps at pleasure。 They are reckless with anything obtained on credit； while everything for which they must pay in ready money is made to last as long as possible； if they cannot have all that they want； they make up for it； it would seem； by squandering what they have。 To state the matter simplya student is far more careful of his hat than of his coat； because the latter being a comparatively costly article of dress； it is in the nature of things that a tailor should be a creditor； but it is otherwise with the hatter； the sums of money spent with him are so modest； that he is the most independent and unmanageable of his
