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！
that he would walk home at daybreak from the dance； as he had
done sometimes on former occasions； after a fete at the Prado； or
a ball at the Odeon； splashing his silk stockings thereby； and
ruining his pumps。
It so happened that Christophe took a look into the street before
drawing the bolts of the door； and Rastignac； coming in at that
moment； could go up to his room without making any noise；
followed by Christophe； who made a great deal。 Eugene exchanged
his dress suit for a shabby overcoat and slippers； kindled a fire
with some blocks of patent fuel； and prepared for his night's
work in such a sort that the faint sounds he made were drowned by
Christophe's heavy tramp on the stairs。
Eugene sat absorbed in thought for a few moments before plunging
into his law books。 He had just become aware of the fact that the
Vicomtesse de Beauseant was one of the queens of fashion； that
her house was thought to be the pleasantest in the Faubourg
Saint…Germain。 And not only so； she was； by right of her fortune；
and the name she bore； one of the most conspicuous figures in
that aristocratic world。 Thanks to the aunt； thanks to Mme。 de
Marcillac's letter of introduction； the poor student had been
kindly received in that house before he knew the extent of the
favor thus shown to him。 It was almost like a patent of nobility
to be admitted to those gilded salons； he had appeared in the
most exclusive circle in Paris； and now all doors were open for
him。 Eugene had been dazzled at first by the brilliant assembly；
and had scarcely exchanged a few words with the Vicomtesse； he
had been content to single out a goddess among this throng of
Parisian divinities； one of those women who are sure to attract a
young man's fancy。
The Comtesse Anastasie de Restaud was tall and gracefully made；
she had one of the prettiest figures in Paris。 Imagine a pair of
great dark eyes； a magnificently moulded hand； a shapely foot。
There was a fiery energy in her movements； the Marquis de
Ronquerolles had called her 〃a thoroughbred；〃 〃a pure pedigree；〃
these figures of speech have replaced the 〃heavenly angel〃 and
Ossianic nomenclature； the old mythology of love is extinct；
doomed to perish by modern dandyism。 But for Rastignac； Mme。
Anastasie de Restaud was the woman for whom he had sighed。 He had
contrived to write his name twice upon the list of partners upon
her fan； and had snatched a few words with her during the first
quadrille。
〃Where shall I meet you again； Madame？〃 he asked abruptly； and
the tones of his voice were full of the vehement energy that
women like so well。
〃Oh； everywhere！〃 said she； 〃in the Bois； at the Bouffons； in my
own house。〃
With the impetuosity of his adventurous southern temper； he did
all he could to cultivate an acquaintance with this lovely
countess； making the best of his opportunities in the quadrille
and during a waltz that she gave him。 When he told her that he
was a cousin of Mme。 de Beauseant's； the Countess； whom he took
for a great lady； asked him to call at her house； and after her
parting smile； Rastignac felt convinced that he must make this
visit。 He was so lucky as to light upon some one who did not
laugh at his ignorance； a fatal defect among the gilded and
insolent youth of that period； the coterie of Maulincourts；
Maximes de Trailles； de Marsays； Ronquerolles； Ajuda…Pintos； and
Vandenesses who shone there in all the glory of coxcombry among
the best…dressed women of fashion in ParisLady Brandon； the
Duchesse de Langeais； the Comtesse de Kergarouet； Mme。 de Serizy；
the Duchesse de Carigliano； the Comtesse Ferraud； Mme。 de Lanty；
the Marquise d'Aiglemont； Mme。 Firmiani； the Marquise de
Listomere and the Marquise d'Espard； the Duchesse de Maufrigneuse
and the Grandlieus。 Luckily； therefore； for him； the novice
happened upon the Marquis de Montriveau； the lover of the
Duchesse de Langeais； a general as simple as a child； from him
Rastignac learned that the Comtesse lived in the Rue du Helder。
Ah； what it is to be young； eager to see the world； greedily on
the watch for any chance that brings you nearer the woman of your
dreams； and behold two houses open their doors to you！ To set
foot in the Vicomtesse de Beauseant's house in the Faubourg
Saint…Germain； to fall on your knees before a Comtesse de Restaud
in the Chaussee d'Antin； to look at one glance across a vista of
Paris drawing…rooms； conscious that； possessing sufficient good
looks； you may hope to find aid and protection there in a
feminine heart！ To feel ambitious enough to spurn the tight…rope
on which you must walk with the steady head of an acrobat for
whom a fall is impossible； and to find in a charming woman the
best of all balancing poles。
He sat there with his thoughts for a while； Law on the one hand；
and Poverty on the other； beholding a radiant vision of a woman
rise above the dull； smouldering fire。 Who would not have paused
and questioned the future as Eugene was doing？ who would not have
pictured it full of success？ His wondering thoughts took wings；
he was transported out of the present into that blissful future；
he was sitting by Mme。 de Restaud's side； when a sort of sigh；
like the grunt of an overburdened St。 Joseph； broke the silence
of the night。 It vibrated through the student； who took the sound
for a death groan。 He opened his door noiselessly； went out upon
the landing； and saw a thin streak of light under Father Goriot's
door。 Eugene feared that his neighbor had been taken ill； he went
over and looked through the keyhole； the old man was busily
engaged in an occupation so singular and so suspicious that
Rastignac thought he was only doing a piece of necessary service
to society to watch the self…styled vermicelli maker's nocturnal
industries。
The table was upturned； and Goriot had doubtless in some way
secured a silver plate and cup to the bar before knotting a thick
rope round them； he was pulling at this rope with such enormous
force that they were being crushed and twisted out of shape； to
all appearance he meant to convert the richly wrought metal into
ingots。
〃Peste！ what a man！〃 said Rastignac； as he watched Goriot's
muscular arms； there was not a sound in the room while the old
man； with the aid of the rope； was kneading the silver like
dough。 〃Was he then； indeed； a thief； or a receiver of stolen
goods； who affected imbecility and decrepitude； and lived like a
beggar that he might carry on his pursuits the more securely？〃
Eugene stood for a moment revolving these questions； then he
looked again through the keyhole。
Father Goriot had unwound his coil of rope； he had covered the
table with a blanket； and was now employed in rolling the
flattened mass of silver into a bar； an operation which he
performed with marvelous dexterity。
〃Why； he must be as strong as Augustus； King of Poland！〃 said
Eugene to himself when the bar was nearly finished。
Father