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there are some amusements even here。〃
She threw him the ogling glance of the provinces； where women put so
much prudence and reserve into their eyes that they impart to them the
prudish concupiscence peculiar to certain ecclesiastics to whom all
pleasure is either a theft or an error。 Charles was so completely out
of his element in this abode； and so far from the vast chateau and the
sumptuous life with which his fancy had endowed his uncle； that as he
looked at Madame des Grassins he perceived a dim likeness to Parisian
faces。 He gracefully responded to the species of invitation addressed
to him； and began very naturally a conversation； in which Madame des
Grassins gradually lowered her voice so as to bring it into harmony
with the nature of the confidences she was making。 With her； as with
Charles； there was the need of conference； so after a few moments
spent in coquettish phrases and a little serious jesting； the clever
provincial said； thinking herself unheard by the others； who were
discussing the sale of wines which at that season filled the heads of
every one in Saumur；
〃Monsieur if you will do us the honor to come and see us； you will
give as much pleasure to my husband as to myself。 Our salon is the
only one in Saumur where you will find the higher business circles
mingling with the nobility。 We belong to both societies； who meet at
our house simply because they find it amusing。 My husbandI say it
with prideis as much valued by the one class as by the other。 We
will try to relieve the monotony of your visit here。 If you stay all
the time with Monsieur Grandet； good heavens！ what will become of you？
Your uncle is a sordid miser who thinks of nothing but his vines； your
aunt is a pious soul who can't put two ideas together； and your cousin
is a little fool； without education； perfectly common； no fortune； who
will spend her life in darning towels。〃
〃She is really very nice； this woman；〃 thought Charles Grandet as he
duly responded to Madame des Grassins' coquetries。
〃It seems to me； wife； that you are taking possession of monsieur；〃
said the stout banker； laughing。
On this remark the notary and the president said a few words that were
more or less significant； but the abbe； looking at them slyly； brought
their thoughts to a focus by taking a pinch of snuff and saying as he
handed round his snuff…box： 〃Who can do the honors of Saumur for
monsieur so well as madame？〃
〃Ah！ what do you mean by that； monsieur l'abbe？〃 demanded Monsieur des
Grassins。
〃I mean it in the best possible sense for you； for madame； for the
town of Saumur； and for monsieur；〃 said the wily old man； turning to
Charles。
The Abbe Cruchot had guessed the conversation between Charles and
Madame des Grassins without seeming to pay attention to it。
〃Monsieur；〃 said Adolphe to Charles with an air which he tried to make
free and easy； 〃I don't know whether you remember me； but I had the
honor of dancing as your /vis…a…vis/ at a ball given by the Baron de
Nucingen； and〃
〃Perfectly； I remember perfectly； monsieur；〃 answered Charles； pleased
to find himself the object of general attention。
〃Monsieur is your son？〃 he said to Madame des Grassins。
The abbe looked at her maliciously。
〃Yes； monsieur；〃 she answered。
〃Then you were very young when you were in Paris？〃 said Charles；
addressing Adolphe。
〃You must know； monsieur；〃 said the abbe； 〃that we send them to
Babylon as soon as they are weaned。〃
Madame des Grassins examined the abbe with a glance of extreme
penetration。
〃It is only in the provinces；〃 he continued； 〃that you will find women
of thirty and more years as fresh as madame； here； with a son about to
take his degree。 I almost fancy myself back in the days when the young
men stood on chairs in the ball…room to see you dance； madame；〃 said
the abbe； turning to his female adversary。 〃To me； your triumphs are
but of yesterday〃
〃The old rogue！〃 thought Madame Grassins； 〃can he have guessed my
intentions？〃
〃It seems that I shall have a good deal of success in Saumur；〃 thought
Charles as he unbuttoned his great…coat； put a hand into his
waistcoat； and cast a glance into the far distance； to imitate the
attitude which Chantrey has given to Lord Byron。
The inattention of Pere Grandet； or； to speak more truly； the
preoccupation of mind into which the reading of the letter had plunged
him； did not escape the vigilance of the notary and the president； who
tried to guess the contents of the letter by the almost imperceptible
motions of the miser's face； which was then under the full light of
the candle。 He maintained the habitual calm of his features with
evident difficulty； we may； in fact； picture to ourselves the
countenance such a man endeavored to preserve as he read the fatal
letter which here follows：
My Brother；It is almost twenty…three years since we have seen
each other。 My marriage was the occasion of our last interview；
after which we parted； and both of us were happy。 Assuredly I
could not then foresee that you would one day be the prop of the
family whose prosperity you then predicted。
When you hold this letter within your hands I shall be no longer
living。 In the position I now hold I cannot survive the disgrace
of bankruptcy。 I have waited on the edge of the gulf until the
last moment； hoping to save myself。 The end has come； I must sink
into it。 The double bankruptcies of my broker and of Roguin； my
notary； have carried off my last resources and left me nothing。 I
have the bitterness of owing nearly four millions； with assets not
more than twenty…five per cent in value to pay them。 The wines in
my warehouses suffer from the fall in prices caused by the
abundance and quality of your vintage。 In three days Paris will
cry out： 〃Monsieur Grandet was a knave！〃 and I； an honest man；
shall be lying in my winding…sheet of infamy。 I deprive my son of
a good name； which I have stained； and the fortune of his mother；
which I have lost。 He knows nothing of all this；my unfortunate
child whom I idolize！ We parted tenderly。 He was ignorant；
happily； that the last beatings of my heart were spent in that
farewell。 Will he not some day curse me？ My brother； my brother！
the curses of our children are horrible； they can appeal against
ours； but theirs are irrevocable。 Grandet； you are my elder
brother； you owe me your protection； act for me so that Charles
may cast no bitter words upon my grave！ My brother； if I were
writing with my blood； with my tears； no greater anguish could I
put into this letter；nor as great； for then I should weep； I
should bleed； I should die； I should suffer no more； but now I
suffer and look at death with dry eyes。
From henceforth you are my son's father； he has no relations； as
you well know； on his mother's side。 Why did I not consider social
prejudices？ Why did I yield to love？ Why did I marry the natural
daughter of a great lord？ Charles has no family。 Oh； my unhappy
son！ my son！ Listen； Grandet！ I implore nothing for myself；
besides； your property may not be large enough to carry a mortgage
of three millions；but for my son！ Brother； my suppliant hands
a