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to be taken out of myself。〃
〃But what is the matter？〃
〃You are the very last person whom I should tell；〃 she exclaimed。
〃Then I am connected in some way in this secret。 I wonder what it
is？〃
〃Perhaps。 Yet； no；〃 she went on； 〃it is a domestic quarrel； which
ought to be buried in the depths of the heart。 I am very unhappy；
did I not tell you so the day before yesterday？ Golden chains are
the heaviest of all fetters。〃
When a woman tells a young man that she is very unhappy； and when
the young man is clever； and well dressed； and has fifteen
hundred francs lying idle in his pocket； he is sure to think as
Eugene said； and he becomes a coxcomb。
〃What can you have left to wish for？〃 he answered。 〃You are
young； beautiful； beloved； and rich。〃
〃Do not let us talk of my affairs；〃 she said shaking her head
mournfully。 〃We will dine together tete…a…tete； and afterwards we
will go to hear the most exquisite music。 Am I to your taste？〃
she went on； rising and displaying her gown of white cashmere；
covered with Persian designs in the most superb taste。
〃I wish that you were altogether mine；〃 said Eugene； 〃you are
charming。〃
〃You would have a forlorn piece of property；〃 she said； smiling
bitterly。 〃There is nothing about me that betrays my
wretchedness； and yet； in spite of appearances； I am in despair。
I cannot sleep； my troubles have broken my night's rest； I shall
grow ugly。〃
〃Oh！ that is impossible；〃 cried the law student； 〃but I am
curious to know what these troubles can be that a devoted love
cannot efface。〃
〃Ah！ if I were to tell you about them； you would shun me；〃 she
said。 〃Your love for me is as yet only the conventional gallantry
that men use to masquerade in； and； if you really loved me； you
would be driven to despair。 I must keep silence； you see。 Let us
talk of something else； for pity's sake；〃 she added。 〃Let me show
you my rooms。〃
〃No； let us stay here；〃 answered Eugene； he sat down on the sofa
before the fire； and boldly took Mme。 de Nucingen's hand in his。
She surrendered it to him； he even felt the pressure of her
fingers in one of the spasmodic clutches that betray terrible
agitation。
〃Listen；〃 said Rastignac； 〃if you are in trouble； you ought to
tell me about it。 I want to prove to you that I love you for
yourself alone。 You must speak to me frankly about your troubles；
so that I can put an end to them； even if I have to kill half…a…
dozen men； or I shall go； never to return。〃
〃Very well；〃 she cried； putting her hand to her forehead in an
agony of despair； 〃I will put you to the proof； and this very
moment。 Yes；〃 she said to herself； 〃I have no other resource
left。〃
She rang the bell。
〃Are the horses put in for the master？〃 she asked of the servant。
〃Yes； madame。〃
〃I shall take his carriage myself。 He can have mine and my
horses。 Serve dinner at seven o'clock。〃
〃Now； come with me；〃 she said to Eugene； who thought as he sat in
the banker's carriage beside Mme。 de Nucingen that he must surely
be dreaming。
〃To the Palais…Royal；〃 she said to the coachman； 〃stop near the
Theatre…Francais。〃
She seemed to be too troubled and excited to answer the
innumerable questions that Eugene put to her。 He was at a loss
what to think of her mute resistance； her obstinate silence。
〃Another moment and she will escape me；〃 he said to himself。
When the carriage stopped at last； the Baroness gave the law
student a glance that silenced his wild words； for he was almost
beside himself。
〃Is it true that you love me？〃 she asked。
〃Yes；〃 he answered； and in his manner and tone there was no trace
of the uneasiness that he felt。
〃You will not think ill of me； will you； whatever I may ask of
you？〃
〃No。〃
〃Are you ready to do my bidding？〃
〃Blindly。〃
〃Have you ever been to a gaming…house？〃 she asked in a tremulous
voice。
〃Never。〃
〃Ah！ now I can breathe。 You will have luck。 Here is my purse；〃
she said。 〃Take it！ there are a hundred francs in it； all that
such a fortunate woman as I can call her own。 Go up into one of
the gaming…housesI do not know where they are； but there are
some near the Palais…Royal。 Try your luck with the hundred francs
at a game they call roulette； lose it all or bring me back six
thousand francs。 I will tell you about my troubles when you come
back。〃
〃Devil take me； I'm sure； if I have a glimmer of a notion of what
I am about； but I will obey you；〃 he added； with inward
exultation； as he thought； 〃She has gone too far to draw back
she can refuse me nothing now！〃
Eugene took the dainty little purse； inquired the way of a
second…hand clothes…dealer； and hurried to number 9； which
happened to be the nearest gaming…house。 He mounted the
staircase； surrendered his hat； and asked the way to the
roulette…table； whither the attendant took him； not a little to
the astonishment of the regular comers。 All eyes were fixed on
Eugene as he asked； without bashfulness； where he was to deposit
his stakes。
〃If you put a louis on one only of those thirty…six numbers； and
it turns up； you will win thirty…six louis；〃 said a respectable…
looking； white…haired old man in answer to his inquiry。
Eugene staked the whole of his money on the number 21 （his own
age）。 There was a cry of surprise； before he knew what he had
done； he had won。
〃Take your money off； sir；〃 said the old gentleman； 〃you don't
often win twice running by that system。〃
Eugene took the rake that the old man handed to him； and drew in
his three thousand six hundred francs； and； still perfectly
ignorant of what he was about； staked again on the red。 The
bystanders watched him enviously as they saw him continue to
play。 The disc turned； and again he won； the banker threw him
three thousand six hundred francs once more。
〃You have seven thousand； two hundred francs of your own；〃 the
old gentleman said in his ear。 〃Take my advice and go away with
your winnings； red has turned up eight times already。 If you are
charitable； you will show your gratitude for sound counsel by
giving a trifle to an old prefect of Napoleon who is down on his
luck。〃
Rastignac's head was swimming； he saw ten of his louis pass into
the white…haired man's possession； and went down…stairs with his
seven thousand francs； he was still ignorant of the game； and
stupefied by his luck。
〃So； that is over； and now where will you take me？〃 he asked； as
soon as the door was closed； and he showed the seven thousand
francs to Mme。 de Nucingen。
Delphine flung her arms about him； but there was no passion in
that wild embrace。
〃You have saved me！〃 she cried； and tears of joy flowed fast。
〃I will tell you everything； my friend。 For you will be my
friend； will you not？ I am rich； you think； very rich； I have
everything I want； or I seem as if I had everything。 Very well；
you must know