按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Soudry； and Gaubertinare not a perfect presentation of the village；
the little town； and the seat of a sub…prefecture？
Without being a man of mind； or a man of talent； Gaubertin had the
appearance of being both。 He owed the accuracy of his perception and
his consummate art to an extreme keenness after gain。 He desired
wealth； not for his wife； not for his children； not for himself； not
for his family； not for the reputation that money gives； after the
gratification of his revenge （the hope of which kept him alive） he
loved the touch of money； like Nucingen； who； it was said； kept
fingering the gold in his pockets。 The rush of business was
Gaubertin's wine； and though he had his belly full of it； he had all
the eagerness of one who was empty。 As with valets of the drama；
intrigues； tricks to play； mischief to organize； deceptions；
commercial over…reachings； accounts to render and receive； disputes；
and quarrels of self…interest； exhilarated him； kept his blood in
circulation； and his bile flowing。 He went and came on foot； on
horseback； in a carriage； by water； he was at all auctions and timber
sales in Paris； thinking of everything； keeping hundreds of wires in
his hands and never getting them tangled。
Quick； decided in his movements as in his ideas； short and squat in
figure； with a thin nose； a fiery eye； an ear on the 〃qui vive；〃 there
was something of the hunting…dog about him。 His brown face； very round
and sunburned； from which the tanned ears stood out predominantly；
for he always wore a cap；was in keeping with that character。 His
nose turned up； his tightly…closed lips could never have opened to say
a kindly thing。 His bushy whiskers formed a pair of black and shiny
tufts beneath the highly…colored cheek…bones； and were lost in his
cravat。 Hair that was pepper…and…salt in color and frizzled naturally
in stages like those of a judge's wig； seeming scorched by the fury of
the fire which heated his brown skull and gleamed in his gray eyes
surrounded by circular wrinkles （no doubt from a habit of always
blinking when he looked across the country in full sunlight）；
completed the characteristics of his physiognomy。 His lean and
vigorous hands were hairy； knobbed； and claw…like； like those of men
who do their share of labor。 His personality was agreeable to those
with whom he had to do； for he wrapped it in a misleading gayety； he
knew how to talk a great deal without saying a word of what he meant
to keep unsaid。 He wrote little； so as to deny anything that escaped
him which might prove unfavorable in its after effects upon his
interests。 His books and papers were kept by a cashier；an honest
man； whom men of Gaubertin's stamp always seek to get hold of； and
whom they make； in their own selfish interests； their first dupe。
When Rigou's little green chaise appeared； towards twelve o'clock； in
the broad avenue which skirts the river； Gaubertin； in cap； boots； and
jacket； was returning from the wharves。 He hastened his steps；
feeling very sure that Rigou's object in coming over could only be
〃the great affair。〃
〃Good morning； gendarme； good morning； paunch of gall and wisdom；〃 he
said； giving a little slap to the stomachs of his two visitors。 〃We
have business to talk over； and； faith！ we'll do it glass in hand；
that's the true way to take things。〃
〃If you do your business that way； you ought to be fatter than you
are；〃 said Rigou。
〃I work too hard； I'm not like you two； confined to the house and
bewitched there； like old dotards。 Well； well； after all that's the
best way； you can do your business comfortably in an arm…chair； with
your back to the fire and your belly at table； custom goes to you； I
have to go after it。 But now； come in； come in！ the house is yours for
the time you stay。〃
A servant； in blue livery edged with scarlet； took the horse by the
bridle and led him into the courtyard； where were the offices and the
stable。
Gaubertin left his guests to walk about the garden for a moment； while
he went to give his orders and arrange about the breakfast。
〃Well； my wolves；〃 he said； as he returned； rubbing his hands； 〃the
gendarmerie of Soulanges were seen this morning at daybreak； marching
towards Conches； no doubt they mean to arrest the peasants for
depredations； ha； ha！ things are getting warm； warm！ By this time；〃 he
added； looking at his watch； 〃those fellows may have been arrested。〃
〃Probably；〃 said Rigou。
〃Well； what do you all say over there？ Has anything been decided？〃
〃What is there to decide？〃 asked Rigou。 〃We have no part in it；〃 he
added； looking at Soudry。
〃How do you mean nothing to decide？ If Les Aigues is sold as the
result of our coalition； who is to gain five or six hundred thousand
francs out of it？ Do you expect me to； all alone？ No； my inside is not
strong enough to split up two millions； with three children to
establish； and a wife who hasn't the first idea about the value of
money； no； I must have associates。 Here's the gendarme； he has plenty
of funds all ready。 I know he doesn't hold a single mortgage that
isn't ready to mature； he only lends now on notes at sight of which I
endorse。 I'll go into this thing by the amount of eight hundred
thousand francs； my son； the judge； two hundred thousand； and I count
on the gendarme for two hundred thousand more； now； how much will you
put in； skull…cap？〃
〃All the rest；〃 replied Rigou； stiffly。
〃The devil！ well； I wish I had my hand where your heart is！〃 exclaimed
Gaubertin。 〃Now what are you going to do？〃
〃Whatever you do； tell your plan。〃
〃My plan；〃 said Gaubertin； 〃is to take double； and sell half to the
Conches； and Cerneux； and Blangy folks who want to buy。 Soudry has his
clients； and you yours； and I； mine。 That's not the difficulty。 The
thing is； how are we going to arrange among ourselves？ How shall we
divide up the great lots？〃
〃Nothing easier；〃 said Rigou。 〃We'll each take what we like best。 I；
for one； shall stand in nobody's way； I'll take the woods in common
with Soudry and my son…in…law； the timber has been so injured that you
won't care for it now； and you may have all the rest。 Faith； it is
worth the money you'll put into it！〃
〃Will you sign that agreement？〃 said Soudry。
〃A written agreement is worth nothing；〃 replied Gaubertin。 〃Besides；
you know I am playing above board； I have perfect confidence in
Rigou； and he shall be the purchaser。〃
〃That will satisfy me；〃 said Rigou。
〃I will make only one condition；〃 added Gaubertin。 〃I must have the
pavilion of the Rendezvous； with all its appurtenances； and fifty
acres of the surrounding land。 I shall make it my country…house； and
it shall be near my woods。 Madame GaubertinMadame Isaure； for that's
what she wants people to call hersays she shall make it her villa。〃
〃I'm willing；〃 said Rigou。
〃Well； now； between ourselves；〃 continued Gaubertin； after looking
about him on all sides a