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respond gladly； and he added to it an appeal to their delicacy by
touching the chord of honor that vibrates so loudly in young and
high…strung natures。
Yet when he had written the letters； he could not help feeling
misgivings in spite of his youthful ambition； his heart beat
fast； and he trembled。 He knew the spotless nobleness of the
lives buried away in the lonely manor house； he knew what trouble
and what joy his request would cause his sisters； and how happy
they would be as they talked at the bottom of the orchard of that
dear brother of theirs in Paris。 Visions rose before his eyes； a
sudden strong light revealed his sisters secretly counting over
their little store； devising some girlish stratagem by which the
money could be sent to him incognito； essaying； for the first
time in their lives； a piece of deceit that reached the sublime
in its unselfishness。
〃A sister's heart is a diamond for purity； a deep sea of
tenderness！〃 he said to himself。 He felt ashamed of those
letters。
What power there must be in the petitions put up by such hearts；
how pure the fervor that bears their souls to Heaven in prayer！
What exquisite joy they would find in self…sacrifice！ What a pang
for his mother's heart if she could not send him all that he
asked for！ And this noble affection； these sacrifices made at
such terrible cost； were to serve as the ladder by which he meant
to climb to Delphine de Nucingen。 A few tears； like the last
grains of incense flung upon the sacred alter fire of the hearth；
fell from his eyes。 He walked up and down； and despair mingled
with his emotion。 Father Goriot saw him through the half…open
door。
〃What is the matter； sir？〃 he asked from the threshold。
〃Ah！ my good neighbor； I am as much a son and brother as you are
a father。 You do well to fear for the Comtesse Anastasie； there
is one M。 Maxime de Trailles； who will be her ruin。〃
Father Goriot withdrew； stammering some words； but Eugene failed
to catch their meaning。
The next morning Rastignac went out to post his letters。 Up to
the last moment he wavered and doubted； but he ended by flinging
them into the box。 〃I shall succeed！〃 he said to himself。 So says
the gambler； so says the great captain； but the three words that
have been the salvation of some few； have been the ruin of many
more。
A few days after this Eugene called at Mme。 de Restaud's house；
she was not at home。 Three times he tried the experiment； and
three times he found her doors closed against him； though he was
careful to choose an hour when M。 de Trailles was not there。 The
Vicomtesse was right。
The student studied no longer。 He put in an appearance at
lectures simply to answer to his name； and after thus attesting
his presence； departed forthwith。 He had been through a reasoning
process familiar to most students。 He had seen the advisability
of deferring his studies to the last moment before going up for
his examinations； he made up his mind to cram his second and
third years' work into the third year； when he meant to begin to
work in earnest； and to complete his studies in law with one
great effort。 In the meantime he had fifteen months in which to
navigate the ocean of Paris； to spread the nets and set the lines
that would bring him a protectress and a fortune。 Twice during
that week he saw Mme。 de Beauseant； he did not go to her house
until he had seen the Marquis d'Ajuda drive away。
Victory for yet a few more days was with the great lady； the most
poetic figure in the Faubourg Saint…Germain； and the marriage of
the Marquis d'Ajuda…Pinto with Mlle。 de Rochefide was postponed。
The dread of losing her happiness filled those days with a fever
of joy unknown before； but the end was only so much the nearer。
The Marquis d'Ajuda and the Rochefides agreed that this quarrel
and reconciliation was a very fortunate thing； Mme。 de Beauseant
（so they hoped） would gradually become reconciled to the idea of
the marriage； and in the end would be brought to sacrifice
d'Ajuda's morning visits to the exigencies of a man's career；
exigencies which she must have foreseen。 In spite of the most
solemn promises； daily renewed； M。 d'Ajuda was playing a part；
and the Vicomtesse was eager to be deceived。 〃Instead of taking a
leap heroically from the window； she is falling headlong down the
staircase；〃 said her most intimate friend； the Duchesse de
Langeais。 Yet this after…glow of happiness lasted long enough for
the Vicomtesse to be of service to her young cousin。 She had a
half…superstitious affection for him。 Eugene had shown her
sympathy and devotion at a crisis when a woman sees no pity； no
real comfort in any eyes； when if a man is ready with soothing
flatteries； it is because he has an interested motive。
Rastignac made up his mind that he must learn the whole of
Goriot's previous history； he would come to his bearings before
attempting to board the Maison de Nucingen。 The results of his
inquiries may be given briefly as follows：
In the days before the Revolution； Jean…Joachim Goriot was simply
a workman in the employ of a vermicelli maker。 He was a skilful；
thrifty workman； sufficiently enterprising to buy his master's
business when the latter fell a chance victim to the disturbances
of 1789。 Goriot established himself in the Rue de la Jussienne；
close to the Corn Exchange。 His plain good sense led him to
accept the position of President of the Section； so as to secure
for his business the protection of those in power at that
dangerous epoch。 This prudent step had led to success； the
foundations of his fortune were laid in the time of the Scarcity
（real or artificial）； when the price of grain of all kinds rose
enormously in Paris。 People used to fight for bread at the
bakers' doors； while other persons went to the grocers' shops and
bought Italian paste foods without brawling over it。 It was
during this year that Goriot made the money； which； at a later
time； was to give him all the advantage of the great capitalist
over the small buyer； he had； moreover； the usual luck of average
ability； his mediocrity was the salvation of him。 He excited no
one's envy； it was not even suspected that he was rich till the
peril of being rich was over； and all his intelligence was
concentrated； not on political； but on commercial speculations。
Goriot was an authority second to none on all questions relating
to corn； flour； and 〃middlings〃； and the production； storage； and
quality of grain。 He could estimate the yield of the harvest； and
foresee market prices； he bought his cereals in Sicily； and
imported Russian wheat。 Any one who had heard him hold forth on
the regulations that control the importation and exportation of
grain； who had seen his grasp of the subject； his clear insight
into the principles involved； his appreciation of weak points in
the way that the system worked； would have thought that here was
the stuff of which a minister is m