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〃You are not eating your breakfast； wife。〃
The poor helot came forward with a piteous look； cut herself a piece
of bread； and took a pear。 Eugenie boldly offered her father some
grapes； saying；
〃Taste my preserves； papa。 My cousin； you will eat some； will you not？
I went to get these pretty grapes expressly for you。〃
〃If no one stops them； they will pillage Saumur for you； nephew。 When
you have finished； we will go into the garden； I have something to
tell you which can't be sweetened。〃
Eugenie and her mother cast a look on Charles whose meaning the young
man could not mistake。
〃What is it you mean； uncle？ Since the death of my poor mother〃at
these words his voice softened〃no other sorrow can touch me。〃
〃My nephew； who knows by what afflictions God is pleased to try us？〃
said his aunt。
〃Ta； ta； ta； ta；〃 said Grandet； 〃there's your nonsense beginning。 I am
sorry to see those white hands of yours； nephew〃； and he showed the
shoulder…of…mutton fists which Nature had put at the end of his own
arms。 〃There's a pair of hands made to pick up silver pieces。 You've
been brought up to put your feet in the kid out of which we make the
purses we keep our money in。 A bad look…out！ Very bad！〃
〃What do you mean； uncle？ I'll be hanged if I understand a single word
of what you are saying。〃
〃Come！〃 said Grandet。
The miser closed the blade of his knife with a snap； drank the last of
his wine； and opened the door。
〃My cousin； take courage！〃
The tone of the young girl struck terror to Charles's heart； and he
followed his terrible uncle； a prey to disquieting thoughts。 Eugenie；
her mother； and Nanon went into the kitchen； moved by irresistible
curiosity to watch the two actors in the scene which was about to take
place in the garden； where at first the uncle walked silently ahead of
the nephew。 Grandet was not at all troubled at having to tell Charles
of the death of his father； but he did feel a sort of compassion in
knowing him to be without a penny； and he sought for some phrase or
formula by which to soften the communication of that cruel truth。 〃You
have lost your father；〃 seemed to him a mere nothing to say； fathers
die before their children。 But 〃you are absolutely without means；〃
all the misfortunes of life were summed up in those words！ Grandet
walked round the garden three times； the gravel crunching under his
heavy step。
In the crucial moments of life our minds fasten upon the locality
where joys or sorrows overwhelm us。 Charles noticed with minute
attention the box…borders of the little garden； the yellow leaves as
they fluttered down； the dilapidated walls； the gnarled fruit…trees；
picturesque details which were destined to remain forever in his
memory； blending eternally； by the mnemonics that belong exclusively
to the passions； with the recollections of this solemn hour。
〃It is very fine weather； very warm；〃 said Grandet； drawing a long
breath。
〃Yes； uncle； but why〃
〃Well； my lad；〃 answered his uncle； 〃I have some bad news to give you。
Your father is ill〃
〃Then why am I here？〃 said Charles。 〃Nanon；〃 he cried； 〃order post…
horses！ I can get a carriage somewhere？〃 he added； turning to his
uncle； who stood motionless。
〃Horses and carriages are useless；〃 answered Grandet； looking at
Charles； who remained silent； his eyes growing fixed。 〃Yes； my poor
boy； you guess the truth；he is dead。 But that's nothing； there is
something worse： he blew out his brains。〃
〃My father！〃
〃Yes； but that's not the worst； the newspapers are all talking about
it。 Here； read that。〃
Grandet； who had borrowed the fatal article from Cruchot； thrust the
paper under his nephew's eyes。 The poor young man； still a child；
still at an age when feelings wear no mask； burst into tears。
〃That's good！〃 thought Grandet； 〃his eyes frightened me。 He'll be all
right if he weeps；That is not the worst； my poor nephew；〃 he said
aloud； not noticing whether Charles heard him； 〃that is nothing； you
will get over it： but〃
〃Never； never！ My father！ Oh； my father！〃
〃He has ruined you； you haven't a penny。〃
〃What does that matter？ My father！ Where is my father？〃
His sobs resounded horribly against those dreary walls and
reverberated in the echoes。 The three women； filled with pity； wept
also； for tears are often as contagious as laughter。 Charles； without
listening further to his uncle； ran through the court and up the
staircase to his chamber； where he threw himself across the bed and
hid his face in the sheets； to weep in peace for his lost parents。
〃The first burst must have its way；〃 said Grandet； entering the
living…room； where Eugenie and her mother had hastily resumed their
seats and were sewing with trembling hands； after wiping their eyes。
〃But that young man is good for nothing； his head is more taken up
with the dead than with his money。〃
Eugenie shuddered as she heard her father's comment on the most sacred
of all griefs。 From that moment she began to judge him。 Charles's
sobs； though muffled； still sounded through the sepulchral house； and
his deep groans； which seemed to come from the earth beneath； only
ceased towards evening； after growing gradually feebler。
〃Poor young man！〃 said Madame Grandet。
Fatal exclamation！ Pere Grandet looked at his wife； at Eugenie； and at
the sugar…bowl。 He recollected the extraordinary breakfast prepared
for the unfortunate youth； and he took a position in the middle of the
room。
〃Listen to me；〃 he said； with his usual composure。 〃I hope that you
will not continue this extravagance； Madame Grandet。 I don't give you
MY money to stuff that young fellow with sugar。〃
〃My mother had nothing to do with it；〃 said Eugenie； 〃it was I who〃
〃Is it because you are of age；〃 said Grandet； interrupting his
daughter； 〃that you choose to contradict me？ Remember； Eugenie〃
〃Father； the son of your brother ought to receive from us〃
〃Ta； ta； ta； ta！〃 exclaimed the cooper on four chromatic tones； 〃the
son of my brother this； my nephew that！ Charles is nothing at all to
us； he hasn't a farthing； his father has failed； and when this dandy
has cried his fill； off he goes from here。 I won't have him
revolutionize my household。〃
〃What is 'failing；' father？〃 asked Eugenie。
〃To fail；〃 answered her father； 〃is to commit the most dishonorable
action that can disgrace a man。〃
〃It must be a great sin；〃 said Madame Grandet； 〃and our brother may be
damned。〃
〃There； there； don't begin with your litanies！〃 said Grandet；
shrugging his shoulders。 〃To fail； Eugenie；〃 he resumed； 〃is to commit
a theft which the law； unfortunately； takes under its protection。
People have given their property to Guillaume Grandet trusting to his
reputation for honor and integrity； he has made away with it all； and
left them nothing but their eyes to weep with。 A highway robber is
better than a bankrupt： the one attacks you and you can defend
yourself； he risks his own life； but the otherin short； Charles is
dishonored。〃
The words rang in the poor girl's heart and weighed it down with their
heavy meaning。 Upright and delicate as a flower born in the depths of
a forest； she knew nothing of the world's maxims； of its deceitful
arguments and specious sophisms； she therefore believed the atr