At thirty years of age Eugenie knew none of the joys of life. Her pale, sad childhood had glided on beside a mother whose heart, always misunderstood and wounded, had known only suffering. Leaving this life joyfully, the mother pitied the daughter because she still must live; and she left in her child’s soul some fugitive remorse and many lasting regrets. Eugenie’s first and only love was a wellspring of sadness within her. Meeting her lover for a few brief days, she had given him her heart between two kisses furtively exchanged; then he had left her, and a whole world lay between them. This love, cursed by her father, had cost the life of her mother and brought her only sorrow, mingled with a few frail hopes. Thus her upward spring towards happiness had wasted her strength and given her nothing in exchange for it. In the life of the soul, as in the physical life, there is an inspiration and a respiration; the soul needs to absorb the sentiments of another soul and assimilate them, that it may render them back enriched. Were it not for this glorious human phenomenon, there would be no life for the heart; air would be wanting; it would suffer, and then perish.
Eugenie had begun to suffer. For her, wealth was neither a power nor a consolation; she could not live except through love, through religion, through faith in the future. Love explained to her the mysteries of eternity. Her heart and the Gospel taught her to know two worlds; she bathed, night and day, in the depths of two infinite thoughts, which for her may have had but one meaning. She drew back within herself, loving, and believing herself beloved.For seven years her passion had invaded everything. Her treasuries were not the millions whose revenues were rolling up; they were Charles’s dressing-case, the portraits hanging above her bed, the jewels recovered from her father and proudly spread upon a bed of wool in a drawer of the oaken cabinet, the thimble of her aunt, used for a while by her mother, which she wore religiously as she worked at a piece of embroidery—a Penelope’s web, begun for the sole purpose of putting upon her finger that gold so rich in memories.
It seemed unlikely that Mademoiselle Grandet would marry during the period of her mourning. Her genuine piety was well known. Consequently the Cruchots, whose policy was sagely guided by the old abbe, contented themselves for the time being with surrounding the great heiress and paying her the most affectionate attentions.
Every evening the hall was filled with a party of devoted Cruchotines, who sang the praises of its mistress in every key. She had her doctor in ordinary, her grand almoner, her chamberlain, her first lady of honor, her prime minister; above all, her chancellor, a chancellor who would fain have said much to her. If the heiress had wished for a train-bearer, one would instantly have been found. She was a queen, obsequiously flattered. Flattery never emanates from noble souls; it is the gift of little minds, who thus still further belittle themselves to worm their way into the vital being of the persons around whom they crawl. Flattery means self-interest. So the people who, night after night, assembled in Mademoiselle Grandet’s house (they called her Mademoiselle de Froidfond) outdid each other in expressions of admiration. This concert of praise, never before bestowed upon Eugenie, made her blush under its novelty; but insensibly her ear became habituated to the sound, and however coarse the compliments might be, she soon was so accustomed to hear her beauty lauded that if any new-comer had seemed to think her plain, she would have felt the reproach far more than she might have done eight years earlier. She ended at last by loving the incense,which she secretly laid at the feet of her idol. By degrees she grew accustomed to be treated as a sovereign and to see her court pressing around her every evening.
Monsieur de Bonfons was the hero of the little circle, where his wit, his person, his education, his amiability, were perpetually praised. One or another would remark that in seven years he had largely increased his fortune, that Bonfons brought in at least ten thousand francs a year, and was surrounded, like the other possessions of the Cruchots, by the vast domains of the heiress.
“Do you know, mademoiselle,” said an habitual visitor, “that the Cruchots have an income of forty thousand francs among them!”
“And then, their savings!” exclaimed an elderly female Cruchotine, Mademoiselle de Gribeaucourt. “A gentleman from Paris has lately offered Monsieur Cruchot two hundred thousand francs for his practice,” said another. “He will sell it if he is appointed juge de paix.”
“He wants to succeed Monsieur de Bonfons as president of the Civil courts, and is taking measures,” replied Madame d’Orsonval.“Monsieur le president will certainly be made councillor.”
“Yes, he is a very distinguished man,” said another, “don’t you think so, mademoiselle?”
Monsieur de Bonfons endeavored to put himself in keeping with the role he sought to play. In spite of his forty years, in spite of his dusky and crabbed features, withered like most judicial faces, he dressed in youthful fashions, toyed with a bamboo cane, never took snuff in Mademoiselle de Froidfond’s house, and came in a white cravat and a shirt whose pleated frill gave him a family resemblance to the race of turkeys. He addressed the beautiful heiress familiarly, and spoke of her as “Our dear Eugenie.”
In short, except for the number of visitors, the change from loto to whist, and the disappearance of Monsieur and Madame Grandet, the scene was about the same as the one with which this history opened. The pack were still pursuing Eugenie and her millions; but the hounds, more in number, lay better on the scent, and beset the prey more unitedly. If Charles could have dropped from the Indian Isles, he would have found the same people and the same interests. Madame des Grassins, to whom Eugenie was full of kindness and courtesy, still persisted in tormenting the Cruchots. Eugenie, as in former days, was the central figure of the picture; and Charles, as heretofore, would still have been the sovereign of all. Yet there had been some progress. The flowers which the president formerly presented to Eugenie on her birthdays and fete-days had now become a daily institution. Every evening he brought the rich heiress a huge and magnificent bouquet, which Madame Cornoiller placed conspicuously in a vase, and secretly threw into a corner of the court-yard when the visitors had departed.
Early in the spring, Madame des Grassins attempted to trouble the peace of the Cruchotines by talking to Eugenie of the Marquis de Froidfond, whose ancient and ruined family might be restored if the heiress would give him back his estates through marriage. Madame des Grassins rang the changes on the peerage and the title of marquise, until, mistaking Eugenie’s disdainful smile for acquiescence, she went about proclaiming that the marriage with“Monsieur Cruchot” was not nearly as certain as people thought.
“Though Monsieur de Froidfond is fifty,” she said, “he does not look older than Monsieur Cruchot. He is a widower, and he has children, that’s true. But then he is a marquis; he will be peer of France; and in times like these where you will find a better match? I know it for a fact that Pere Grandet, when he put all his money into Froidfond, intended to graft himself upon that stock; he often told me so. He was a deep one, that old man!”
“Ah! Nanon,” said Eugenie, one night as she was going to bed,“how is it that in seven years he has never once written to me?”
While these events were happening in Saumur, Charles was making his fortune in the Indies. His commercial outfit had sold well. He began by realizing a sum of six thousand dollars. Crossing the line had brushed a good many cobwebs out of his brain; he perceived that the best means of attaining fortune in tropical regions, as well as in Europe, was to buy and sell men. He went to the coast of Africa and bought Negroes, combining his traffic in human flesh with that of other merchandise equally advantageous to his interests. He carried into this business an activity which left him not a moment of leisure. He was governed by the desire of reappearing in Paris with all the prestige of a large fortune, and by the hope of regaining a position even more brilliant than the one from which he had fallen.
By dint of jostling with men, travelling through many lands, and studying a variety of conflicting customs, his ideas had been modified and had become sceptical. He ceased to have fixed principles of right and wrong, for he saw what was called a crime in one country lauded as a virtue in another. In the perpetual struggle of selfish interests his heart grew cold, then contracted, and then dried up. The blood of the Grandets did not fail of its destiny; Charles became hard, and eager for prey. He sold Chinamen, Negroes, birds’ nests, children, artists; he practised usury on a large scale; the habit of defrauding custom-houses soon made him less scrupulous about the rights of his fellow men. He went to the Island of St. Thomas and bought, for a mere song, merchandise that had been captured by pirates, and took it to ports where he could sell it at a good price.
If the pure and noble face of Eugenie went with him on his first voyage, like that image of the Virgin which Spanish mariners fastened to their masts, if he attributed his first success to the magic influence of the prayers and intercessions of his gentle love, later on women of other kinds—blacks, mulattoes, whites, and Indian dancing-girls—orgies and adventures in many lands, completely effaced all recollection of his cousin, of Saumur, of the house, the bench, the kiss snatched in the dark passage. He remembered only the little garden shut in with crumbling walls, for it was there he learned the fate that had overtaken him; but he rejected all connection with his family. His uncle was an old dog who had filched his jewels; Eugenie had no place in his heart nor in his thoughts, though she did have a place in his accounts as a creditor for the sum of six thousand francs. Such conduct and such ideas explain Charles Grandet’s silence. In the Indies, at St. Thomas, on the coast of Africa, at Lisbon, and in the United States the adventurer had taken the pseudonym of Shepherd, that he might not compromise his own name. Charles Shepherd could safely be indefatigable, bold, grasping, and greedy of gain, like a man who resolves to snatch his fortune quibus cumque viis, and makes haste to have done with villany, that he may spend the rest of his life as an honest man. With such methods, prosperity was rapid and brilliant;and in 1827 Charles Grandet returned to Bordeaux on the “Marie Caroline,” a fine brig belonging to a royalist house of business. He brought with him nineteen hundred thousand francs worth of gold-dust, from which he expected to derive seven or eight per cent more at the Paris mint. On the brig he met a gentleman-in-ordinary to His Majesty Charles X., Monsieur d’Aubrion, a worthy old man who had committed the folly of marrying a woman of fashion with a fortune derived from the West India Islands. To meet the costs of Madame d’Aubrion’s extravagance, he had gone out to the Indies to sell the property, and was now returning with his family to France. Monsieur and Madame d’Aubrion, of the house of d’Aubrion de Buch, a family of southern France, whose last captal, or chief, died before 1789, were now reduced to an income of about twenty thousand francs, and they possessed an ugly daughter whom the mother was resolved to marry without adot—the family fortune being scarcely sufficient for the demands of her own life in Paris. This was an enterprise whose success might have seemed problematical to most men of the world, in spite of the cleverness with which such men credit a fashionable woman; in fact, Madame d’Aubrion herself, when she looked at her daughter, almost despaired of getting rid of her to any one, even to a man craving connection with nobility.
Mademoiselle d’Aubrion was a long, spare, spindling demoiselle, like her namesake the insect; her mouth was disdainful;over it hung a nose that was too long, thick at the end, sallow in its normal condition, but very red after a meal—a sort of vegetable phenomenon which is particularly disagreeable when it appears in the middle of a pale, dull, and uninteresting face. In one sense she was all that a worldly mother, thirty-eight years of age and still a beauty with claims to admiration, could have wished. However, to counterbalance her personal defects, the marquise gave her daughter a distinguished air, subjected her to hygienic treatment which provisionally kept her nose at a reasonable flesh-tint, taught her the art of dressing well, endowed her with charming manners, showed her the trick of melancholy glances which interest a man and make him believe that he has found a long-sought angel, taught her the manoeuvre of the foot—letting it peep beneath the petticoat, to show its tiny size, at the moment when the nose became aggressively red;in short, Madame d’Aubrion had cleverly made the very best of her offspring. By means of full sleeves, deceptive pads, puffed dresses amply trimmed, and high-pressure corsets, she had obtained such curious feminine developments that she ought, for the instruction of mothers, to have exhibited them in a museum. Charles became very intimate with Madame d’Aubrion precisely because she was desirous of becoming intimate with him. Persons who were on board the brig declared that the handsome Madame d’Aubrion neglected no means of capturing so rich a son-in-law. On landing at Bordeaux in June, 1827, Monsieur, Madame, Mademoiselle d’Aubrion, and Charles lodged at the same hotel and started together for Paris. The hotel d’Aubrion was hampered with mortgages; Charles was destined to free it. The mother told him how delighted she would be to give up the ground-floor to a son-in-law. Not sharing Monsieur d’Aubrion’s prejudices on the score of nobility, she promised Charles Grandet to obtain a royal ordinance from Charles X. which would authorize him, Grandet, to take the name and arms of d’Aubrion and to succeed, by purchasing the entailed estate for thirty-six thousand francs a year, to the titles of Captal de Buch and Marquis d’Aubrion. By thus uniting their fortunes, living on good terms, and profiting by sinecures, the two families might occupy the hotel d’Aubrion with an income of over a hundred thousand francs.
“And when a man has a hundred thousand francs a year, a name, a family, and a position at court—for I will get you appointed as gentleman-of-the-bedchamber—he can do what he likes,” she said to Charles. “You can then become anything you choose—master of the rolls in the council of State, prefect, secretary to an embassy, the ambassador himself, if you like. Charles X. is fond of d’Aubrion;they have known each other from childhood.”
Intoxicated with ambition, Charles toyed with the hopes thus cleverly presented to him in the guise of confidences poured from heart to heart. Believing his father’s affairs to have been settled by his uncle, he imagined himself suddenly anchored in the Faubourg Saint-Germain—that social object of all desire, where, under shelter of Mademoiselle Mathilde’s purple nose, he was to reappear as the Comte d’Aubrion, very much as the Dreux reappeared in Breze. Dazzled by the prosperity of the Restoration, which was tottering when he left France, fascinated by the splendor of aristocratic ideas, his intoxication, which began on the brig, increased after he reached Paris, and he finally determined to take the course and reach the high position which the selfish hopes of his would-be mother-in-law pointed out to him. His cousin counted for no more than a speck in this brilliant perspective; but he went to see Annette.
True woman of the world, Annette advised her old friend to make the marriage, and promised him her support in all his ambitious projects. In her heart she was enchanted to fasten an ugly and uninteresting girl on Charles, whose life in the West Indies had rendered him very attractive. His complexion had bronzed, his manners had grown decided and bold, like those of a man accustomed to make sharp decisions, to rule, and to succeed. Charles breathed more at his ease in Paris, conscious that he now had a part to play.
Des Grassins, hearing of his return, of his approaching marriage and his large fortune, came to see him, and inquired about the three hundred thousand francs still required to settle his father’s debts.
He found Grandet in conference with a goldsmith, from whom he had ordered jewels for Mademoiselle d’Aubrion’s corbeille, and who was then submitting the designs. Charles had brought back magnificent diamonds, and the value of their setting, together with the plate and jewelry of the new establishment, amounted to more than two hundred thousand francs. He received des Grassins, whom he did not recognize, with the impertinence of a young man of fashion conscious of having killed four men in as many duels in the Indies. Monsieur des Grassins had already called several times. Charles listened to him coldly, and then replied, without fully understanding what had been said to him—
“My father’s affairs are not mine. I am much obliged, monsieur, for the trouble you have been good enough to take—by which, however, I really cannot profit. I have not earned two millions by the sweat of my brow to fling them at the head of my father’s creditors.”
“But suppose that your father’s estate were within a few days to be declared bankrupt?”
“Monsieur, in a few days I shall be called the Comte d’Aubrion;you will understand, therefore, that what you threaten is of no consequence to me. Besides, you know as well as I do that when a man has an income of a hundred thousand francs his father has never failed.” So saying, he politely edged Monsieur des Grassins to the door.
At the beginning of August in the same year, Eugenie was sitting on the little wooden bench where her cousin had sworn to love her eternally, and where she usually breakfasted if the weather were fine. The poor girl was happy, for the moment, in the fresh and joyous summer air, letting her memory recall the great and the little events of her love and the catastrophes which had followed it. The sun had just reached the angle of the ruined wall, so full of chinks, which no one, through a caprice of the mistress, was allowed to touch, though Cornoiller often remarked to his wife that “it would fall and crush somebody one of these days.” At this moment the postman knocked, and gave a letter to Madame Cornoiller, who ran into the garden, crying out—
“Mademoiselle, a letter!” She gave it to her mistress, adding, “Is it the one you expected?”
The words rang as loudly in the heart of Eugenie as they echoed in sound from wall to wall of the court and garden.
“Paris—from him—he has returned!”
Eugenie turned pale and held the letter for a moment. She trembled so violently that she could not break the seal.
La Grande Nanon stood before her, both hands on her hips, her joy puffing as it were like smoke through the cracks of her brown face.
“Read it, mademoiselle!”
“Ah, Nanon, why did he return to Paris? He went from Saumur.”
“Read it, and you’ll find out.”
Eugenie opened the letter with trembling fingers. A cheque on the house of “Madame des Grassins and Coret, of Saumur,” fluttered down. Nanon picked it up.
My dear Cousin—
“No longer ‘Eugenie,’” she thought, and her heart quailed.
You—
“He once said ‘thou.’” She folded her arms and dared not read another word; great tears gathered in her eyes.
“Is he dead?” asked Nanon.
“If he were, he could not write,” said Eugenie.
She then read the whole letter, which was as follows:
My dear Cousin—You will, I am sure, hear with pleasure of the success of my enterprise. You brought me luck; I have come back rich, and I have followed the advice of my uncle, whose death, together with that of my aunt, I have just learned from Monsieur des Grassins. The death of parents is in the course of nature, and we must succeed them. I trust you are by this time consoled. Nothing can resist time, as I am well aware. Yes, my dear cousin,the day of illusions is, unfortunately, gone for me. How could it be otherwise? Travelling through many lands, I have reflected upon life. I was a child when I went away—I have come back a man. To-day, I think of many I did not dream of then. You are free, my dear cousin, and I am free still. Nothing apparently hinders the realization of our early hopes; but my nature is too loyal to hide from you the situation in which I find myself. I have not forgotten our relations; I have always remembered, throughout my long wanderings, the little wooden seat—
Eugenie rose as if she were sitting on live coals, and went away and sat down on the stone steps of the court.
—the little wooden seat where we vowed to love each other forever, the passage, the gray hall, my attic chamber, and the night when, by your delicate kindness, you made my future easier to me. Yes, these recollections sustained my courage; I said in my heart that you were thinking of me at the hour we had agreed upon. Have you always looked at the clouds at nine o’clock? Yes, I am sure of it. I cannot betray so true a friendship—no, I must not deceive you. An alliance has been proposed to me which satisfies all my ideas of matrimony. Love in marriage is a delusion. My present experience warns me that in marrying we are bound to obey all social laws and meet the conventional demands of the world. Now, between you and me there are differences which might affect your future, my dear cousin, even more than they would mine. I will not here speak of your customs and inclinations, your education, nor yet of your habits, none of which are in keeping with Parisian life, or with the future which I have marked out for myself. My intention is to keep my household on a stately footing, to receive much company—in short, to live in the world; and I think I remember that you love a quiet and tranquil life. I will be frank, and make you the judge of my situation; you have the right to understand it and to judge it. I possess at the present moment an income of eighty thousand francs. This fortune enables me to marry into the family of Aubrion, whose heiress, a young girl nineteen years of age, brings me a title, a place of gentleman-of-the-bed-chamber to His Majesty, and a very brilliant position. I will admit to you, my dear cousin, that I do not love Mademoiselle d’Aubrion; but in marrying her I secure to my children a social rank whose advantages will one day be incalculable: monarchical principles are daily coming more and more into favor. Thus in course of time my son, when he becomes Marquis d’Aubrion, having, as he then will have, an entailed estate with a rental of forty thousand francs a year, can obtain any position in the State which he may think proper to select. We owe ourselves to our children. You see, my cousin, with what good faith I lay the state of my heart, my hopes, and my fortune before you. Possibly, after seven years’ separation, you have yourself forgotten our youthful loves; but I have never forgotten either your kindness or my own words. I remember all, even words that were lightly uttered—words by which a man less conscientious than I, with a heart less youthful and less upright, would scarcely feel himself bound. In telling you that the marriage I propose to make is solely one of convenience, that I still remember our childish love, am I not putting myself entirely in your hands and making you the mistress of my fate? Am I not telling you that if I must renounce my social ambitions, I shall willingly content myself with the pure and simple happiness of which you have shown me so sweet an image?
Your devoted cousin, Charles.
“Tan, ta, ta—tan, ta, ti,” sang Charles Grandet to the air of Non piu andrai, as he signed himself—
“Thunder! That’s doing it handsomely!” he said, as he looked about him for the cheque; having found it, he added the words—
P.S.—I enclose a cheque on the des Grassins bank for eight thousand francs to your order, payable in gold, which includes the capital and interest of the sum you were kind enough to lend me. I am expecting a case from Bordeaux which contains a few things which you must allow me to offer you as a mark of my unceasing gratitude. You can send my dressing-case by the diligence to the hotel d’Aubrion, rue Hillerin-Bertin.
“By the diligence!” said Eugenie. “A thing for which I would have laid down my life!”
Terrible and utter disaster! The ship went down, leaving not a spar, not a plank, on a vast ocean of hope!
Some women when they see themselves abandoned will try to tear their lover from the arms of a rival, they will kill her, and rush to the ends of the earth—to the scaffold, to their tomb. That, no doubt, is fine; the motive of the crime is a great passion, which awes even human justice. Other women bow their heads and suffer in silence;they go their way dying, resigned, weeping, forgiving, praying, and recollecting, till they draw their last breath. This is love—true love, the love of angels, the proud love which lives upon its anguish and dies of it. Such was Eugenie’s love after she had read that dreadful letter. She raised her eyes to heaven, thinking of the last words uttered by her dying mother, who, with the prescience of death, had looked into the future with clear and penetrating eyes: Eugenie, remembering that prophetic death, that prophetic life, measured with one glance her own destiny. Nothing was left for her; she could only unfold her wings, stretch upward to the skies, and live in prayer until the day of her deliverance.
“My mother was right,” she said, weeping. “Suffer—and die!”
Eugenie came slowly back from the garden to the house, and avoided passing, as was her custom, through the corridor. But the memory of her cousin was in the gray old hall and on the chimney-piece, where stood a certain saucer and the old Sevres sugar-bowl which she used every morning at her breakfast. This day was destined to be solemn throughout and full of events. Nanon announced the cure of the parish church. He was related to the Cruchots, and therefore in the interests of Monsieur de Bonfons. For some time past the old abbe had urged him to speak to Mademoiselle Grandet, from a purely religious point of view, about the duty of marriage for a woman in her position. When she saw her pastor, Eugenie supposed he had come for the thousand francs which she gave monthly to the poor, and she told Nanon to go and fetch them;but the cure only smiled.
“To-day, mademoiselle,” he said, “I have come to speak to you about a poor girl in whom the whole town of Saumur takes an interest, who, through lack of charity to herself, neglects her Christian duties.”
“Monsieur le cure, you have come to me at a moment when I cannot think of my neighbor, I am filled with thoughts of myself. I am very unhappy; my only refuge is in the Church; her bosom is large enough to hold all human woe, her love so full that we may draw from its depths and never drain it dry.”
“Mademoiselle, in speaking of this young girl we shall speak of you. Listen! If you wish to insure your salvation you have only two paths to take—either leave the world or obey its laws. Obey either your earthly destiny or your heavenly destiny.”
“Ah! your voice speaks to me when I need to hear a voice. Yes, God has sent you to me; I will bid farewell to the world and live for God alone, in silence and seclusion.”
“My daughter, you must think long before you take so violent a step. Marriage is life, the veil is death.”
“Yes, death—a quick death!” she said, with dreadful eagerness.
“Death? but you have great obligations to fulfil to society, mademoiselle. Are you not the mother of the poor, to whom you give clothes and wood in winter and work in summer? Your great fortune is a loan which you must return, and you have sacredly accepted it as such. To bury yourself in a convent would be selfishness; to remain an old maid is to fail in duty. In the first place, can you manage your vast property alone? May you not lose it? You will have law-suits, you will find yourself surrounded by inextricable difficulties. Believe your pastor: a husband is useful; you are bound to preserve what God has bestowed upon you. I speak to you as a precious lamb of my flock. You love God too truly not to find your salvation in the midst of his world, of which you are noble ornament and to which you owe your example.”
At this moment Madame des Grassins was announced. She came incited by vengeance and the sense of a great despair.
“Mademoiselle,” she said—”Ah! here is monsieur le cure; I am silent. I came to speak to you on business; but I see that you are conferring with—”
“Madame,” said the cure, “I leave the field to you.”
“Oh! monsieur le cure,” said Eugenie, “come back later; your support is very necessary to me just now.”
“Ah, yes, indeed, my poor child!” said Madame des Grassins.
“What do you mean?” asked Eugenie and the cure together.
“Don’t I know about your cousin’s return, and his marriage with Mademoiselle d’Aubrion? A woman doesn’t carry her wits in her pocket.”
Eugenie blushed, and remained silent for a moment. From this day forth she assumed the impassible countenance for which her father had been so remarkable.
“Well, madame,” she presently said, ironically, “no doubt I carry my wits in my pocket, for I do not understand you. Speak, say what you mean, before monsieur le cure; you know he is my director.”
“Well, then, mademoiselle, here is what des Grassins writes me. Read it.”
Eugenie read the following letter—
My dear Wife—Charles Grandet has returned from the Indies and has been in Paris about a month—
“A month!” thought Eugenie, her hand falling to her side. After a pause she resumed the letter—
I had to dance attendance before I was allowed to see the future Vicomte d’Aubrion. Though all Paris is talking of his marriage and the banns are published—
到了三十歲,歐也妮還沒有嘗到一點兒人生樂趣。黯淡凄涼的童年,是在一個有了好心而無人識得、老受欺侮而永遠(yuǎn)痛苦的母親身旁度過的。這位離開世界只覺得快樂的母親,曾經(jīng)為了女兒還得活下去而發(fā)愁,使歐也妮心中老覺得有些對不起她,永遠(yuǎn)地悼念她。歐也妮第一次也是僅有的一次愛情,成為她痛苦的根源。情人只看見了幾天,她就在匆忙中接受了而回敬了的親吻中間,把心給了他;然后他走了,整個世界把她和他隔開了。這場被父親詛咒的愛情,差不多送了母親的命,她得到的只有苦惱與一些渺茫的希望。所以至此為止,她為了追求幸福而消耗了自己的精力,卻沒有地方好去補充她的精力。精神生活與肉體生活一樣,有呼也有吸:靈魂要吸收另一顆靈魂的感情來充實自己,然后以更豐富的感情送回給人家。人與人之間要沒有這點美妙的關(guān)系,心就沒有了生機:它缺少空氣,它會受難,枯萎。
歐也妮開始痛苦了。為她,財富既不是一種勢力,也不是一種安慰;她只能靠了愛情,靠了宗教,靠了對前途的信心而生活。愛情給她解釋了永恒。她的心與福音書,告訴她將來還有兩個世界好等。她日夜沉浸在兩種無窮的思想中,而這兩種思想,在她也許只是一種。她把整個的生命收斂起來,只知道愛,只知道被人愛。七年以來,她的熱情席卷一切。她的寶物并非收益日增的千萬家私,而是查理的那口匣子,而是掛在床頭的兩張肖像,而是向父親贖回來、放在棉花上、藏在舊木柜抽斗中的金飾,還有母親用過的叔母的針箍。單單為了要把這滿是回憶的金頂針套在手指上,她每天都得誠誠心心地戴了它做一點兒繡作——正如潘奈洛潑等待丈夫回家的活計。
看光景葛朗臺小姐絕不會在守喪期間結(jié)婚。大家知道她的虔誠是出于真心。所以克羅旭一家在老神父高明的指揮之下,光是用殷勤懇切的照顧來包圍有錢的姑娘。
她堂屋里每天晚上都是高朋滿座,都是當(dāng)?shù)刈顭崃易钪倚牡目肆_旭黨,竭力用各種不同的語調(diào)頌贊主婦。她有隨從御醫(yī),有大司祭,有內(nèi)廷供奉,有侍候梳洗的貴嬪,有首相,特別是樞密大臣,那個無所不言的樞密大臣。如果她想有一個替她牽裳曳袂的侍從,人家也會替她找來的。她簡直是一個王后,人家對她的諂媚,比對所有的王后更巧妙。諂媚從來不會出自偉大的心靈,而是小人的伎倆,他們卑躬屈膝,把自己盡量地縮小,以便鉆進(jìn)他們趨附的人物的生活核心。而且諂媚背后有利害關(guān)系。所以那些每天晚上擠在這兒的人,把葛朗臺小姐喚作特·法勞豐小姐,居然把她捧上了。這些眾口一詞的恭維,歐也妮是聞所未聞的,最初不免臉紅;但不論奉承的話如何過火,她的耳朵不知不覺也把稱贊她如何美麗的話聽?wèi)T了,倘使此刻還有什么新來的客人覺得她丑陋,她絕不能再像八年前那樣滿不在乎。而且臨了,她在膜拜情人的時候暗中說的那套甜言蜜語,她自己也愛聽了。因此她慢慢地聽任人家夜夜來上朝似的,把她捧得像王后一般。
特·篷風(fēng)所長是這個小圈子里的男主角,他的才氣,人品,學(xué)問,和藹,老是有人在那兒吹捧。有的說七年來他的財產(chǎn)增加了不少:篷風(fēng)那塊產(chǎn)業(yè)至少有一萬法郎收入,而且和克羅旭家所有的田產(chǎn)一樣,周圍便是葛朗臺小姐廣大的產(chǎn)業(yè)。
“你知道嗎,小姐,”另外一個熟客說,“克羅旭他們有四萬法郎收入!”
“還有他們的積蓄呢,”克羅旭黨里的一個老姑娘,特·格里鮑果小姐接著說,“最近巴黎來了一位先生,愿意把他的事務(wù)所以二十萬法郎的代價盤給克羅旭。這位巴黎人要是謀到了鄉(xiāng)鎮(zhèn)推事的位置,就得把事務(wù)所出盤?!?/p>
“他想填補特·篷風(fēng)先生當(dāng)所長呢,所以先來布置一番,”特·奧松華太太插嘴說,“因為所長先生不久要升高等法院推事,再升庭長;他辦法多得很,保險成功?!?/p>
“是啊,”另外一個接住了話頭,“他真是一個人才,小姐,你看是不是?”
所長先生竭力把自己收拾得和他想扮演的角色配合。雖然年紀(jì)已有四十,雖然那張硬繃繃的暗黃臉,像所有司法界人士的臉一樣干癟,他還裝作年輕人模樣,拿著藤杖滿嘴胡扯,在特·法勞豐小姐府上從來不吸鼻煙,老戴著白領(lǐng)帶,領(lǐng)下的大折裥頸圍,使他的神氣很像跟一班蠢頭蠢腦的家伙是同門弟兄。他對美麗的姑娘說話的態(tài)度很親密,把她叫作“我們親愛的歐也妮”。
總之,除了客人的數(shù)目,除了摸彩變成韋斯脫,再除去了葛朗臺夫婦兩個,堂屋里晚會的場面和過去并沒有什么兩樣。那群獵犬永遠(yuǎn)在追逐歐也妮和她的千百萬家私,但是獵狗的數(shù)量增多了,叫也叫得更巧妙,而且是同心協(xié)力地包圍它們的俘虜。要是查理忽然從印度跑回來,他可以發(fā)現(xiàn)同樣的人物與同樣的利害沖突。歐也妮依舊招待得很客氣的臺·格拉桑太太,始終跟克羅旭他們搗亂??墒歉鷱那耙粯?,控制這個場面的還是歐也妮;也跟從前一樣,查理在這兒還是高于一切。但情形究竟有了些進(jìn)步。從前所長送給歐也妮生日的鮮花,現(xiàn)在變成經(jīng)常的了。每天晚上,他給這位有錢的小姐送來一大束富麗堂皇的花,高諾阿萊太太有心當(dāng)著眾人把它插入花瓶,可是客人一轉(zhuǎn)背,馬上給暗暗地扔在院子角落里。
初春的時候,臺·格拉桑太太又來破壞克羅旭黨的幸福了,她向歐也妮提起特·法勞豐侯爵,說要是歐也妮肯嫁給他,在訂立婚書的時候,把他以前的產(chǎn)業(yè)帶回過去的話,他立刻可以重振家業(yè)。臺·格拉桑太太把貴族的門第、侯爵夫人的頭銜叫得震天價響,把歐也妮輕蔑的微笑當(dāng)作同意的暗示,到處揚言,克羅旭所長先生的婚事不見得像他所想的那么成熟。
“雖然特·法勞豐先生已經(jīng)五十歲,”她說,“看起來也不比克羅旭先生老;不錯,他是鰥夫,他有孩子,可是他是侯爵,將來又是貴族院議員,嘿!在這個年月,你找得出這樣的親事來嗎?我確確實實知道,葛朗臺老頭當(dāng)初把所有的田產(chǎn)并入法勞豐,就是存心要跟法勞豐家接種。他常常對我說的。他狡猾得很呀,這老頭兒?!?/p>
“怎么,拿儂,”歐也妮有一晚臨睡時說,“他一去七年,連一封信都沒有!……”
正當(dāng)這些事情在索漠搬演的時候,查理在印度發(fā)了財。先是他那批起碼貨賣了好價,很快地弄到了六千美金。他一過赤道線,便丟掉了許多成見:發(fā)覺在熱帶地方的致富捷徑,像在歐洲一樣,是販賣人口。于是他到非洲海岸去做黑人買賣,同時在他為了求利而去的各口岸間,揀最掙錢的貨色販運。他把全副精神放在生意上,忙得沒有一點兒空閑,唯一的念頭是發(fā)了大財回到巴黎去耀武揚威,爬到比從前一個跟頭栽下來的地位更闊的地位。
在人堆中混久了,地方跑多了,看到許多相反的風(fēng)俗,他的思想變了,對一切都取懷疑態(tài)度了。他眼見在一個地方成為罪惡的,在另一個地方竟是美德,于是他對是非曲直再沒有一定的觀念。一天到晚為利益打算的結(jié)果,心變冷了,收縮了,干枯了。葛朗臺家的血統(tǒng)沒有失傳,查理變得狠心刻薄,貪婪到了極點。他販賣中國人、黑人、燕窩、兒童、藝術(shù)家,大規(guī)模放高利貸。偷稅走私的習(xí)慣,使他愈加藐視人權(quán)。他到南美洲圣多瑪島上賤價收買海盜的贓物,運到缺貨的地方去賣。
初次出國的航程中,他心頭還有歐也妮高尚純潔的面貌,好似西班牙水手把圣母像掛在船上一樣;生意上初期的成功,他還歸功于這個溫柔的姑娘的祝福與祈禱;可是后來,黑種女人,白種女人,黑白混血種女人,爪哇女人,埃及舞女……跟各種顏色的女子花天酒地,到處荒唐胡鬧過后,把他關(guān)于堂姊、索漠、舊屋、凳子、甬道里的親吻等等的回憶,抹得一干二凈。他只記得墻垣破舊的小花園,因為那兒是他冒險生涯的起點;可是他否認(rèn)他的家屬:伯父是頭老狗,騙了他的金飾;歐也妮在他心中與腦海中都毫無地位,她只是生意上供給他六千法郎的一個債主。這種行徑與這種念頭,便是查理·葛朗臺杳無音信的原因。在印度、圣多瑪、非洲海岸、里斯本、美國,這位投機家為免得牽連本姓起見,取了一個假姓名,叫作卡爾·賽弗。這樣,他可以毫無危險地到處膽大妄為了;不擇手段,急于撈錢的作風(fēng),似乎巴不得把不名譽的勾當(dāng)早日結(jié)束,在后半世做個安分良民。這種辦法使他很快地發(fā)了大財。一八二七年上,他搭了一家保王黨貿(mào)易公司的一條華麗帆船,瑪麗—加洛琳號,回到波爾多。他有三大桶箍扎嚴(yán)密的金屑子,值到一百九十萬法郎,打算到巴黎換成金幣,再賺七八厘利息。同船有一位慈祥的老人,查理十世陛下的內(nèi)廷行走,特·奧勃里翁先生,當(dāng)初糊里糊涂地娶了一位交際花。他的產(chǎn)業(yè)在墨西哥海灣中的眾島上,這次是為了彌補太太的揮霍,到那邊去變賣家產(chǎn)的。特·奧勃里翁夫婦是舊世家特·奧勃里翁·特·皮克出身,特·皮克的最后一位將軍在一七八九年以前就死了。現(xiàn)在的特·奧勃里翁,一年只有兩萬法郎左右的進(jìn)款,還有一個奇丑而沒有陪嫁的女兒,因為母親自己的財產(chǎn)僅僅夠住在巴黎的開銷??墒墙浑H場中認(rèn)為,就憑一般時髦太太那樣天大的本領(lǐng),也不容易嫁掉這個女兒。特·奧勃里翁太太自己也看了女兒心焦,巴不得馬上送她出去,不問對象,即使是想做貴族想迷了心的男人也行。
特·奧勃里翁小姐與她同音異義的昆蟲一樣,長得像一只蜻蜓[1];又瘦又細(xì),嘴巴老是瞧不起人的模樣,上面掛著一個太長的鼻子,平常是黃黃的顏色,一吃飯卻完全變紅,這種植物性的變色現(xiàn)象,在一張又蒼白又無聊的臉上格外難看??偠灾?,她的模樣,正好叫一個年紀(jì)三十八而還有風(fēng)韻還有野心的母親歡喜。可是為補救那些缺陷起見,特·奧勃里翁侯爵夫人把女兒教得態(tài)度非常文雅,經(jīng)常的衛(wèi)生把鼻子維持著相當(dāng)合理的皮色,教她學(xué)會打扮得大方,傳授她許多漂亮的舉動,會做出那些多愁多病的眼神,叫男人看了動心,以為終于遇到了找遍天涯無覓處的安琪兒;她也教女兒如何運用雙足,趕上鼻子肆無忌憚發(fā)紅的辰光,就該應(yīng)時地伸出腳來,讓人家鑒賞它們的纖小玲瓏;總之,她把女兒琢磨得著實不錯了??苛藢挻蟮男渥樱_人的胸褡,收拾得齊齊整整而衣袂往四下里鼓起來的長袍[2],束得極緊的撐裙,她居然制成了一些女性的特征,其巧妙的程度實在應(yīng)當(dāng)送進(jìn)博物館,給所有的母親做參考。查理很巴結(jié)特·奧勃里翁太太,而她也正想交結(jié)他。有好些人竟說在船上的時期,美麗的特·奧勃里翁太太把凡是可以釣上這有錢女婿的手段,件件都做到家了。一八二七年六月,在波爾多下了船,特·奧勃里翁先生、太太、小姐和查理,寄宿在同一個旅館,又一同上巴黎。特·奧勃里翁的府邸早已抵押出去,要查理給贖回來。丈母已經(jīng)講起把樓下一層讓給女婿女兒住是多么快活的話。不像特·奧勃里翁先生那樣對門第有成見,她已經(jīng)答應(yīng)查理·葛朗臺,向查理十世請一道上諭,欽準(zhǔn)他葛朗臺改姓特·奧勃里翁,使用特·奧勃里翁家的爵徽;并且只要查理送一個歲收三萬六千法郎的采邑給特·奧勃里翁,他將來便可承襲特·皮克大將軍與特·奧勃里翁侯爵的雙重頭銜。兩家的財產(chǎn)合起來,加上國家的干俸,一切安排得好好的話,除了特·奧勃里翁的府邸之外,大概可以有十幾萬法郎收入。
她對查理說:“一個人有了十萬法郎收入,有了姓氏,有了門第,出入宮廷——我會給你弄一個內(nèi)廷行走的差事——那不是要當(dāng)什么就當(dāng)什么了嗎?這樣,你可以當(dāng)參事院請愿委員,當(dāng)州長,當(dāng)大使館秘書,當(dāng)大使,由你挑選就是。查理十世很喜歡特·奧勃里翁,他們從小就相熟?!?/p>
這女人挑逗查理的野心,弄得他飄飄然;她手段巧妙的,當(dāng)作體己話似的,告訴他將來有如何如何的希望,使查理在船上一路想出了神。他以為父親的事情有伯父料清了,覺得自己可以平步青云,一腳闖入個個人都想擠進(jìn)去的圣日耳曼區(qū),在瑪?shù)贍柼匦〗愕乃{(lán)鼻子提攜之下,他可以搖身一變而為特·奧勃里翁伯爵,好似特孿一家當(dāng)初一變而為勃萊才一樣。他出國的時候,王政復(fù)辟還是搖搖欲墜的局面,現(xiàn)在卻是繁榮昌盛,把他看得眼花了,貴族思想的光輝把他怔住了,所以他在船上開始的醉意,一直維持到巴黎。到了巴黎,他決心不顧一切,要把自私的丈母娘暗示給他的高官厚爵弄到手。在這個光明的遠(yuǎn)景中,堂姊自然不過是一個小點子了。
他重新見到了阿納德。以交際花的算盤,阿納德極力慫恿她的舊情人攀這門親,并且答應(yīng)全力支援他一切野心的活動。阿納德很高興查理娶一位又丑又可厭的小姐,因為他在印度逗留過后,出落得更討人喜歡了:皮膚變成暗黃,舉動變成堅決、放肆,好似那些慣于決斷、控制、成功的人一樣。查理眼看自己可以成個角色,在巴黎更覺得如魚得水了。
臺·格拉桑知道他已經(jīng)回國,不久就得結(jié)婚,并且有了錢,便來看他,告訴他再付三十萬法郎便可把他父親的債務(wù)償清。
他見到查理的時候,正碰上一個珠寶商在那里拿了圖樣,向查理請示特·奧勃里翁小姐首飾的款式。查理從印度帶回的鉆石確是富麗堂皇,可是鉆石的鑲工,新夫婦所用的銀器,金銀首飾與小玩意兒,還得花二十萬法郎以上。查理見了臺·格拉桑已經(jīng)認(rèn)不得了,態(tài)度的傲慢,活現(xiàn)出他是一個時髦青年,曾經(jīng)在印度跟人家決斗、打死過四個對手的人物。臺·格拉桑已經(jīng)來過三次。查理冷冷地聽著,然后,并沒把事情完全弄清楚,就回答說:
“我父親的事不是我的事。謝謝你這樣費心,先生,可惜我不能領(lǐng)情。我流了汗掙來不到兩百萬的錢,不是預(yù)備送給我父親的債主的?!?/p>
“要是幾天之內(nèi)人家把令尊宣告了破產(chǎn)呢?”
“先生,幾天之內(nèi)我叫作特·奧勃里翁伯爵了。還跟我有什么相干?而且你比我更清楚,一個有十萬法郎收入的人,他的父親決不會有過破產(chǎn)的事?!彼f著,客客氣氣把臺·格拉桑推到門口。
這一年的八月初,歐也妮坐在堂兄弟對她海誓山盟的那條小木凳上,天晴的日子她就在這兒用早點的。這時候,在一個最涼爽最愉快的早晨,可憐的姑娘正在記憶中把她愛情史上的大事小事,以及接著發(fā)生的禍?zhǔn)?,一件件地想過來。陽光照在那堵美麗的墻上——到處開裂的墻快要坍毀了,高諾阿萊老是跟他女人說早晚要壓壞人的,可是古怪的歐也妮始終不許人去碰它一碰。這時郵差來敲門,授了一封信給高諾阿萊太太,她一邊嚷一邊走進(jìn)園子:“小姐,有信哪!”
她授給了主人,問:“是不是你天天等著的信呀?”
這句話傳到歐也妮心中的聲響,其強烈不下于在園子和院子的墻壁中間實際的回聲。
“巴黎!……是他的!他回來了?!?/p>
歐也妮臉色發(fā)白,拿著信愣了一會兒。她抖得太厲害了,簡直不能拆信。
長腳拿儂站在那兒,兩手叉著腰,快樂在她暗黃臉的溝槽中像一道煙似的溜走了。
“念呀,小姐……”
“??!拿儂,他從索漠動身的,為什么回巴黎呢?”
“念呀,你念了就知道啦?!?/p>
歐也妮哆嗦著拆開信來。里面掉出一張匯票,是向臺·格拉桑太太與高萊合伙的索漠銀號兌款的,拿儂給撿了起來。
親愛的堂姊……
——不叫我歐也妮了,她想著,心揪緊了。
您……
———用這種客套的稱呼了!
她交叉了手臂,不敢再往下念,大顆的眼淚冒了上來。
“難道他死了嗎?”拿儂問。
“那他不會寫信了!”歐也妮回答。
于是她把信念下去:
親愛的堂姊,您知道了我的事業(yè)成功,我相信您一定很高興。您給了我吉利,我居然掙了錢回來。我也聽從了伯父的勸告。他和伯母去世的消息,剛由臺·格拉桑先生告訴我。父母的死亡是必然之事,我們應(yīng)當(dāng)接替他們。希望您現(xiàn)在已經(jīng)節(jié)哀順變。我覺得什么都抵抗不住時間。是的,親愛的堂姊,我的幻象,不幸都已過去。有什么辦法!走了許多地方,我把人生想過了。動身時是一個孩子,回來變了大人?,F(xiàn)在我想到許多以前不曾想過的事。堂姊,您是自由了,我也還是自由的。表面上似乎毫無阻礙,我們盡可實現(xiàn)當(dāng)初小小的計劃;可是我太坦白了,不能把我的處境瞞您。我沒有忘記我不能自由行動;在長途的航程中我老是想起那條小凳……
歐也妮仿佛身底下碰到了火炭,猛地站了起來,走去坐在院子里一級石磴上。
……那條小凳,我們坐著發(fā)誓永遠(yuǎn)相愛的小凳;也想起過道,灰色的堂屋,閣樓上我的臥房,也想起那天夜里,您的好意給了我很大的幫助。是的,這些回憶支持了我的勇氣,我常常想,您一定在我們約定的時間想念我,正如我想念您一樣。您有沒有在九點鐘看云呢?看的,是不是?所以我不愿欺騙我認(rèn)為神圣的友誼,不,我絕對不應(yīng)該欺騙您。此刻有一門親事,完全符合我對于結(jié)婚的觀念。在婚姻中談愛情是做夢。現(xiàn)在,經(jīng)驗告訴我,結(jié)婚這件事應(yīng)當(dāng)服從一切社會的規(guī)律,適應(yīng)風(fēng)俗習(xí)慣的要求。而你我之間第一先有了年齡的差別,將來對于您也許比對我更有影響。更不用提您的生活方式,您的教育,您的習(xí)慣,都與巴黎生活格格不入,決計不能配合我以后的方針。我的計劃是維持一個場面闊綽的家,招待許多客人,而我記得您是喜歡安靜恬淡的生活的。不,我要更坦白些,請您把我的處境仲裁一下吧;您也應(yīng)當(dāng)知道我的情形,您有裁判的權(quán)利。如今我有八萬法郎的收入。這筆財產(chǎn)使我能夠跟特·奧勃里翁家攀親,他們的獨養(yǎng)女兒十九歲,可以給我一個姓氏,一個頭銜,一個內(nèi)廷行走的差使,以及聲勢顯赫的地位。老實告訴您,親愛的堂姊,我對特·奧勃里翁小姐沒有一點兒愛情;但是和她聯(lián)姻之后,我替孩子預(yù)留了一個地位,將來的便宜簡直無法估計:因為尊重王室的思想慢慢地又在抬頭了。幾年之后,我的兒子承襲了特·奧勃里翁侯爵,有了四萬法郎的采邑,他便愛做什么官都可以了。我們應(yīng)當(dāng)對兒子負(fù)責(zé)。您瞧,堂姊,我多么善意地把我的心,把我的希望,把我的財產(chǎn),告訴給您聽??赡茉谀欠矫妫?jīng)過了七年的離別,您已經(jīng)忘記了我們幼稚的行為;可是我,我既沒有忘記您的寬容,也沒忘記我的諾言;我什么話都記得,即使在最不經(jīng)意的時候說的話,換了一個不像我這樣認(rèn)真的,不像我這樣保持童心而誠實的青年,是早已想不起的了。我告訴您,我只想為了地位財產(chǎn)而結(jié)婚,告訴您我還記得我們童年的愛情,這不就是把我交給了您,由您做主嗎?這也就是告訴您,如果要我放棄塵世的野心,我也甘心情愿享受樸素純潔的幸福,那種動人的情景,您也早已給我領(lǐng)略過了……
您的忠實的堂弟 查理
在簽名的時候,查理哼著一闋歌劇的調(diào)子:“鐺嗒嗒——鐺嗒嘀——叮嗒嗒——咚!——咚嗒嘀——叮嗒嗒……”
“天哪!這就叫作略施小計?!彼麑ψ约赫f。
然后他找出匯票,添注了一筆:
附上匯票一張,請向臺·格拉桑銀號照兌,票面八千法郎,可用黃金支付。這是包括您慷慨惠借的六千法郎的本利。另有幾件東西預(yù)備送給您,表示我永遠(yuǎn)的感激;可是那口箱子還在波爾多,沒有運到,且待以后送上。我的梳妝匣,請交驛車帶回,地址是伊勒冷—裴爾敦街,特·奧勃里翁府邸。
“交驛車帶回!”歐也妮自言自語地說,“我為了它拼命的東西,交驛車帶回。”
傷心殘酷的劫數(shù)!船沉掉了,希望的大海上,連一根繩索、一塊薄板都沒有留下。
受到遺棄之后,有些女子會去把愛人從情敵手中搶回,把情敵殺死,逃到天涯海角,或是上斷頭臺,或是進(jìn)墳?zāi)?。這當(dāng)然很美。犯罪的動機是一片悲壯的熱情,令人覺得法無可恕,情實可憫。另外一些女子卻低下頭去,不聲不響地受苦,她們奄奄一息地隱忍,啜泣,寬恕,祈禱,相思,直到咽氣為止。這是愛,是真愛,是天使的愛,以痛苦生以痛苦死的高傲的愛。這便是歐也妮讀了這封殘酷的信以后的心情。她舉眼望著天,想起了母親的遺言。像有些臨終的人一樣,母親是一眼之間把前途看清看透了的。然后歐也妮記起了這先知般的一生和去世的情形,一轉(zhuǎn)瞬間悟到了自己的命運。她只有振翼高飛,努力往天上撲去,在祈禱中等待她的解脫。
“母親說得不錯,”她哭著對自己說,“只有受苦與死亡?!?/p>
她腳步極慢地從花園走向堂屋。跟平時的習(xí)慣相反,她不走甬道;但灰灰的堂屋里依舊有她堂兄弟的紀(jì)念物:壁爐架上老擺著那只小碟子,她每天吃早點都拿來用的,還有那賽佛舊瓷的糖壺。這一天為她真是莊嚴(yán)重大的日子,發(fā)生了多少大事。拿儂來通報本區(qū)的教士到了。他和克羅旭家是親戚,也是關(guān)心特·篷風(fēng)所長利益的人。幾天以前老克羅旭神父把他說服了,叫他在純粹宗教的立場上,跟葛朗臺小姐談一談她必須結(jié)婚的義務(wù)。歐也妮一看見他,以為他來收一千法郎津貼窮人的月費,便叫拿儂去拿錢;可是教士笑道:
“小姐,今天我來跟你談一個可憐的姑娘的事,整個索漠都在關(guān)心她,因為她自己不知愛惜,她的生活方式不夠稱為一個基督徒?!?/p>
“我的上帝!這時我簡直不能想到旁人,我自顧還不暇呢。我痛苦極了,除了教會,沒有地方好逃,只有它寬大的心胸才容得了我們所有的苦惱,只有它豐富的感情,我們才能取之不盡?!?/p>
“哎,小姐,我們照顧了這位姑娘,同時就照顧了你。聽我說!如果你要永生,你只有兩條路好走:或者是出家,或者是服從在家的規(guī)律;或者聽從你俗世的命運,或者聽從你天國的命運?!?/p>
“啊!好極了,正在我需要指引的時候,你來指引我。對了,一定是上帝派你來的,神父。我要向世界告別,不聲不響地隱在一邊為上帝生活。”
“取這種極端的行動,孩子,是需要長時期的考慮的。結(jié)婚是生,修道是死。”
“好呀,神父,死,馬上就死!”她興奮的口氣叫人害怕。
“死?可是,你對社會負(fù)有重大的義務(wù)呢,小姐。你不是窮人的母親,冬天給他們衣服柴火,夏天給他們工作嗎?你巨大的家私是一種債務(wù),要償還的,這是你已經(jīng)用圣潔的心地接受了的。往修道院一躲是太自私了,終身做老姑娘又不應(yīng)該。先是你怎么能獨自管理偌大的家業(yè)?也許你會把它丟了。一樁又一樁的官司會弄得你焦頭爛額,無法解決。聽你牧師[3]的話吧:你需要一個丈夫,你應(yīng)當(dāng)把上帝賜給你的加以保存。這些話,是我把你當(dāng)作親愛的信徒而說的。你那么真誠地愛上帝,絕不能不在俗世上求永生;你是世界上最美的裝飾之一,給了人家多少圣潔的榜樣?!?/p>
這時仆人通報臺·格拉桑太太來到。她是氣憤之極,存了報復(fù)的心思來的。
“小姐……??!神父在這里……我不說了,我是來商量俗事的,看來你在談重要的事情?!?/p>
“太太,”神父說,“我讓你?!?/p>
“噢!神父,”歐也妮說,“過一會兒再來吧,今天我正需要你的支持?!?/p>
“不錯,可憐的孩子?!迸_·格拉桑太太插嘴。
“什么意思?”葛朗臺小姐和神父一齊問。
“難道你堂兄弟回來了,要娶特·奧勃里翁小姐,我還不知道嗎?……一個女人不會這么糊涂的。”
歐也妮臉上一紅,不出一聲;但她決意從此要像父親一般裝作若無其事。
“哎,太太,”她帶著嘲弄的意味,“我倒真是糊涂呢,不懂你的意思。你說吧,不用回避神父,你知道他是我的牧師。”
“好吧,小姐,這是臺·格拉桑給我的信,你念吧?!?/p>
歐也妮接過信來念道:
賢妻如面:查理·葛朗臺從印度回來,到巴黎已有一月……
——一個月!歐也妮心里想,把手垂了下來。停了一會兒,又往下念:
……我白跑了兩次,方始見到這位未來的特·奧勃里翁伯爵。雖然全個巴黎都在談?wù)撍幕槭?,教會也公布了婚事征詢…?/p>
——那么他寫信給我的時候已經(jīng)……歐也妮沒有往下再想,也沒有像巴黎女子般叫一聲:“這無賴!”可是雖然面上毫無表現(xiàn),她心中的輕蔑并沒減少一點兒。
……這頭親事還渺茫得很呢:特·奧勃里翁侯爵絕不肯把女兒嫁給一個破產(chǎn)的人的兒子。我特意去告訴查理,我和他的伯父如何費心料理他父親的事,用了如何巧妙的手段才把債權(quán)人按捺到今天。這傲慢的小子膽敢回我——為了他的利益與名譽,日夜不息幫忙了五年的我,說,他父親的事不是他的事!為這件案子,一個訴訟代理人真可以問他要三萬到四萬法郎的酬金,合到債務(wù)的百分之一。可是,且慢,他的的確確還欠債權(quán)人一百二十萬法郎,我非把他的父親宣告破產(chǎn)不可。當(dāng)初我接手這件事,完全憑了葛朗臺那老鱷魚一句話,并且我早已代表他的家屬對債權(quán)人承諾下來。盡管特·奧勃里翁伯爵不在乎他的名譽,我卻很看重我自己的名譽。所以我要把我的地位向債權(quán)人說明??墒俏宜貋砭粗貧W也妮小姐——你記得,當(dāng)初我們境況較好的時候,曾經(jīng)對她有過提親的意思——所以在我采取行動之前,你必須去跟她談一談……
念到這里,歐也妮立刻停下,冷冷地把信還給了臺·格拉桑太太,說:
“謝謝你,慢慢再說吧……”
“哎喲,此刻你的聲音和你從前老太爺?shù)囊荒R粯印!?/p>
“太太,你有八千法郎金子要付給我們哪。”拿儂對她說。
“不錯;勞駕你跟我去一趟罷,高諾阿萊太太。”
歐也妮心里已經(jīng)拿定主意,所以態(tài)度很大方、很鎮(zhèn)靜地說:
“請問神父,結(jié)婚以后保持童身,算不算罪過?”
“這是一個宗教里的道德問題,我不能回答。要是你想知道那有名的桑凱士[4]在《神學(xué)要略》的《婚姻篇》內(nèi)怎樣說,明天我可以告訴你。”
神父走了。葛朗臺小姐上樓到父親的密室內(nèi)待了一天,吃飯的時候,拿儂再三催促也不肯下來。直到晚上客人照例登門的時候,她才出現(xiàn)。葛朗臺家從沒有這一晚那樣的賓客滿堂。查理的回來,和奇蠢無比的忘恩負(fù)義的消息,早已傳遍全城。但來客盡管聚精會神地觀察,也無法滿足他們的好奇心。早有準(zhǔn)備的歐也妮,鎮(zhèn)靜的臉上一點兒都不露出在胸中激蕩的慘痛的情緒。人家用哀怨的眼神和感傷的言語對她表示關(guān)切,她居然能報以笑容。她終于以謙恭有禮的態(tài)度,掩飾了她的苦難。
九點左右,牌局完了,打牌的人離開桌子,一邊算賬一邊討論最后的幾局韋斯脫,走來加入談天的圈子。正當(dāng)大家一伙兒起身預(yù)備告辭的時候,忽然展開了富有戲劇性的一幕,震動了索漠,震動了一州,震動了周圍四個州府。
“所長,你慢一步走。”歐也妮看見特·篷風(fēng)先生拿起手杖的時候,這么說。
聽到這句話,個個人都為之一怔。所長臉色發(fā)白,不由得坐了下來。
“千萬家私是所長的了。”特·格里鮑果小姐說。
“還不明白嗎,”特·奧松華太太接著嚷道,“特·篷風(fēng)所長娶定了葛朗臺小姐。”
“這才是最妙的一局哩。”老神父說。
“和了滿貫?zāi)摹!惫C人說。
每個人都有他的妙語,雙關(guān)語,把歐也妮看作高踞在千萬家私之上,好似高踞在寶座上一樣。醞釀了八年的大事到了結(jié)束的階段。當(dāng)了整個索漠城的面,叫所長留下,不就等于宣布她決定嫁給他了嗎?禮節(jié)體統(tǒng)在小城市中是極嚴(yán)格的,像這一類出乎常規(guī)的舉動,當(dāng)然成為最莊嚴(yán)的諾言了。
客人散盡之后,歐也妮聲音激動地說道:
“所長,我知道你喜歡我的什么。你得起誓,在我活著的時候,讓我自由,永遠(yuǎn)不向我提起婚姻給你的權(quán)利,那么我可以答應(yīng)嫁給你。噢!我的話還沒有完呢,”她看見所長跪了下去,便趕緊補充,“我不會對你不忠實,先生。可是我心里有一股熄滅不了的感情。我能夠給丈夫的只有友誼:我既不愿使他難受,也不愿違背我心里的信念。可是你得幫我一次大忙,才能得到我的婚約和產(chǎn)業(yè)?!?/p>
“赴湯蹈火都可以?!彼L回答。
“這兒是一百五十萬法郎,”她從懷中掏出一張法蘭西銀行一百五十股的股票,“請你上巴黎,不是明天,不是今夜,而是當(dāng)場立刻。你到臺·格拉桑先生那里,去找出我叔父的全部債權(quán)人名單,把他們召集起來,把叔父所欠的本金,以及到付款日為止的全部息金,照五厘計算,一律付清,要他們立一張總收據(jù),經(jīng)公證人簽字證明,一切照應(yīng)有的手續(xù)辦理。你是法官,這件事我只信托你一個人。你是一個正直的、有義氣的男子:我將來就憑你一句話,靠你夫家的姓,挨過人生的危難。我們將來相忍相讓。認(rèn)識了這么多年,我們差不多是一家人了,想你一定不會使我痛苦的?!?/p>
所長撲倒在有錢的承繼人腳下,又快活又凄愴地渾身哆嗦。
“我一定做你的奴隸!”他說。
“你拿到了收據(jù),先生,”她冷冷地望了他一眼,“你把它和所有的借券一齊送給我的堂兄弟,另外把這封信交給他。等你回來,我履行我的諾言?!?/p>
所長很明白他的得到葛朗臺小姐,完全是由于愛情的怨望;所以他急急要把她的事趕快辦了,免得兩個情人有講和的機會。
特·篷風(fēng)先生走了,歐也妮倒在沙發(fā)里哭作一團(tuán)。一切都完了。所長雇了驛車,次日晚上到了巴黎。第二日清晨他去見臺·格拉桑。法官邀請債權(quán)人到存放債券的公證人事務(wù)所會齊,他們居然一個也沒有缺席。雖然全是債主,可是說句公道話,這一次他們都準(zhǔn)時而到。然后特·篷風(fēng)所長以葛朗臺小姐的名義,把本利一并付給了他們。照付利息這一點,在巴黎商界中轟動一時。
所長拿到了收據(jù),又依照歐也妮的吩咐,送了五萬法郎給臺·格拉桑做報酬,然后上特·奧勃里翁侯爵府。他進(jìn)門的時候,查理正碰了丈人的釘子回到自己屋里。老爵爺告訴他,一定要等琪奧默·葛朗臺的債務(wù)清償之后,才能把女兒嫁給他。
所長先把下面的一封信交給查理:
堂弟大鑒:叔父所欠的債務(wù),業(yè)已全部清償,特由特·篷風(fēng)所長送上收據(jù)一張。另附收據(jù)一張,證明我上述代墊的款項已由吾弟歸還。外面有破產(chǎn)的傳說,我想一個破產(chǎn)的人的兒子未必能娶特·奧勃里翁小姐。您批評我的頭腦與態(tài)度的話,確有見地:我的確毫無上流社會的氣息,那些計算與風(fēng)氣習(xí)慣,我都不知;您所期待的樂趣,我無法貢獻(xiàn)。您為了服從社會的慣例,犧牲了我們的初戀,但愿您在社會的慣例之下快樂。我只能把您父親的名譽獻(xiàn)給您,來成全您的幸福。別了!愚姊永遠(yuǎn)是您忠實的朋友。
歐也妮
這位野心家拿到正式的文件,不由自主地叫了一聲,使所長看了微笑。
“咱們現(xiàn)在不妨交換喜訊啦?!彼麑Σ槔碚f。
“?。∧阋W也妮?好吧,我很高興,她是一個好人?!?/p>
——他忽然心中一亮,接著說:“哎,那么她很有錢嘍?”
“四天以前,”所長帶著挖苦的口吻回答,“她有將近一千九百萬;可是今天她只有一千七了?!?/p>
查理望著所長,發(fā)呆了。
“一千七百……萬……”
“對,一千七百萬,先生。結(jié)婚之后,我和葛朗臺小姐總共有七十五萬法郎收入?!?/p>
“親愛的姊丈,”查理的態(tài)度又鎮(zhèn)靜了些,“咱們好彼此提攜提攜啦?!?/p>
“行!”所長回答,“這里還有一口小箱子,非當(dāng)面交給你不可。”他把梳妝匣放在了桌上。
“喂,好朋友,”特·奧勃里翁侯爵夫人進(jìn)來的當(dāng)兒,根本沒有注意到克羅旭,“剛才特·奧勃里翁先生說的話,你一點兒不用放在心上,他是給特·旭禮歐公爵夫人迷昏了。我再告訴你一遍,你的婚事絕無問題……”
“絕無問題,”查理應(yīng)聲回答,“我父親欠的三百萬,昨天都還清了?!?/p>
“付了現(xiàn)款嗎?”
“不折不扣,連本帶利:我還得替先父辦復(fù)權(quán)手續(xù)呢?!?/p>
“你太傻了!”他的丈母叫道,“這位是誰?”她看到了克羅旭,咬著女婿的耳朵問。
“我的經(jīng)紀(jì)人?!彼吐暬卮稹?/p>
侯爵夫人對特·篷風(fēng)先生傲慢地點了點頭,走了出去。
“咱們已經(jīng)在彼此提攜啦,”所長拿起帽子說,“再見吧,內(nèi)弟?!?/p>
“他竟開我玩笑,這索漠的臭八哥。恨不得一劍戳破他的肚子才好。”
所長走了。三天以后,特·篷風(fēng)先生回到索漠,公布了他與歐也妮的婚事。過了六個月,他升了安越法院的推事。
離開索漠之前,歐也妮把多少年來心愛的金飾熔掉了,加上堂兄弟償還的八千法郎,鑄了一口黃金的圣體匣,獻(xiàn)給本區(qū)的教堂,在那里,她為他曾經(jīng)向上帝禱告過多少年!
平時她在安越與索漠兩地來來往往。她的丈夫在某次政治運動上出了力,升了高等法院庭長,過了幾年又升了院長。他很焦心地等著大選,好進(jìn)國會。他的念頭已經(jīng)轉(zhuǎn)到貴族院了,那時……
“那時,王上跟他是不是稱兄道弟了?”拿儂,長腳拿儂,高諾阿萊太太,索漠的布爾喬亞,聽見女主人提到將來顯赫的聲勢時,不禁說出這么一句。
注:
[1] 小姐一詞,在法文中亦作蜻蜓解。
[2] 衣袂應(yīng)作衣裾。袂即袖;裾為衣之邊緣。原文此句作:robes bouffantes et soigneusement garnies。(本書責(zé)任編輯注)
[3] 牧師:此處所謂牧師,系指負(fù)責(zé)指導(dǎo)靈修的神父,非新教教士之牧師。
[4] 桑凱士:十六世紀(jì)西班牙神學(xué)家。
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