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Such a gathering contained； as might have been expected； the
elements out of which a complete society might be constructed。
And； as in a school； as in the world itself； there was among the
eighteen men and women who met round the dinner table a poor
creature； despised by all the others； condemned to be the butt of
all their jokes。 At the beginning of Eugene de Rastignac's second
twelvemonth； this figure suddenly started out into bold relief
against the background of human forms and faces among which the
law student was yet to live for another two years to come。 This
laughing…stock was the retired vermicelli…merchant； Father
Goriot； upon whose face a painter； like the historian； would have
concentrated all the light in his picture。
How had it come about that the boarders regarded him with a half…
malignant contempt？ Why did they subject the oldest among their
number to a kind of persecution； in which there was mingled some
pity； but no respect for his misfortunes？ Had he brought it on
himself by some eccentricity or absurdity； which is less easily
forgiven or forgotten than more serious defects？ The question
strikes at the root of many a social injustice。 Perhaps it is
only human nature to inflict suffering on anything that will
endure suffering； whether by reason of its genuine humility； or
indifference； or sheer helplessness。 Do we not； one and all； like
to feel our strength even at the expense of some one or of
something？ The poorest sample of humanity； the street arab； will
pull the bell handle at every street door in bitter weather； and
scramble up to write his name on the unsullied marble of a
monument。
In the year 1813； at the age of sixty…nine or thereabouts；
〃Father Goriot〃 had sold his business and retiredto Mme。
Vauquer's boarding house。 When he first came there he had taken
the rooms now occupied by Mme。 Couture； he had paid twelve
hundred francs a year like a man to whom five louis more or less
was a mere trifle。 For him Mme。 Vauquer had made various
improvements in the three rooms destined for his use； in
consideration of a certain sum paid in advance； so it was said；
for the miserable furniture； that is to say； for some yellow
cotton curtains； a few chairs of stained wood covered with
Utrecht velvet； several wretched colored prints in frames； and
wall papers that a little suburban tavern would have disdained。
Possibly it was the careless generosity with which Father Goriot
allowed himself to be overreached at this period of his life
（they called him Monsieur Goriot very respectfully then） that
gave Mme。 Vauquer the meanest opinion of his business abilities；
she looked on him as an imbecile where money was concerned。
Goriot had brought with him a considerable wardrobe； the gorgeous
outfit of a retired tradesman who denies himself nothing。 Mme。
Vauquer's astonished eyes beheld no less than eighteen cambric…
fronted shirts； the splendor of their fineness being enhanced by
a pair of pins each bearing a large diamond； and connected by a
short chain； an ornament which adorned the vermicelli…maker's
shirt front。 He usually wore a coat of corn…flower blue； his
rotund and portly person was still further set off by a clean
white waistcoat； and a gold chain and seals which dangled over
that broad expanse。 When his hostess accused him of being 〃a bit
of a beau；〃 he smiled with the vanity of a citizen whose foible
is gratified。 His cupboards （ormoires； as he called them in the
popular dialect） were filled with a quantity of plate that he
brought with him。 The widow's eyes gleamed as she obligingly
helped him to unpack the soup ladles； table…spoons； forks； cruet…
stands； tureens； dishes； and breakfast servicesall of silver；
which were duly arranged upon shelves； besides a few more or less
handsome pieces of plate； all weighing no inconsiderable number
of ounces； he could not bring himself to part with these gifts
that reminded him of past domestic festivals。
〃This was my wife's present to me on the first anniversary of our
wedding day；〃 he said to Mme。 Vauquer； as he put away a little
silver posset dish； with two turtle…doves billing on the cover。
〃Poor dear！ she spent on it all the money she had saved before we
were married。 Do you know； I would sooner scratch the earth with
my nails for a living； madame； than part with that。 But I shall
be able to take my coffee out of it every morning for the rest of
my days； thank the Lord！ I am not to be pitied。 There's not much
fear of my starving for some time to come。〃
Finally； Mme。 Vauquer's magpie's eye had discovered and read
certain entries in the list of shareholders in the funds； and；
after a rough calculation； was disposed to credit Goriot （worthy
man） with something like ten thousand francs a year。 From that
day forward Mme。 Vauquer （nee de Conflans）； who； as a matter of
fact； had seen forty…eight summers； though she would only own to
thirty…nine of themMme。 Vauquer had her own ideas。 Though
Goriot's eyes seemed to have shrunk in their sockets； though they
were weak and watery； owing to some glandular affection which
compelled him to wipe them continually； she considered him to be
a very gentlemanly and pleasant…looking man。 Moreover； the widow
saw favorable indications of character in the well…developed
calves of his legs and in his square…shaped nose； indications
still further borne out by the worthy man's full…moon countenance
and look of stupid good…nature。 This； in all probability； was a
strongly…build animal； whose brains mostly consisted in a
capacity for affection。 His hair； worn in ailes de pigeon； and
duly powdered every morning by the barber from the Ecole
Polytechnique； described five points on his low forehead； and
made an elegant setting to his face。 Though his manners were
somewhat boorish； he was always as neat as a new pin and he took
his snuff in a lordly way； like a man who knows that his snuff…
box is always likely to be filled with maccaboy； so that when
Mme。 Vauquer lay down to rest on the day of M。 Goriot's
installation； her heart； like a larded partridge； sweltered
before the fire of a burning desire to shake off the shroud of
Vauquer and rise again as Goriot。 She would marry again； sell her
boarding…house； give her hand to this fine flower of citizenship；
become a lady of consequence in the quarter； and ask for
subscriptions for charitable purposes； she would make little
Sunday excursions to Choisy； Soissy； Gentilly； she would have a
box at the theatre when she liked； instead of waiting for the
author's tickets that one of her boarders sometimes gave her； in
July； the whole Eldorado of a little Parisian household rose up
before Mme。 Vauquer in her dreams。 Nobody knew that she herself
possessed forty thousand francs； accumulated sou by sou； that was
her secret； surely as far as money was concerned she was a very
tolerable match。 〃And in other respects； I am quite his equal；〃
she said to herself； turning as