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surveys the whole course of existence and judges it soberly。
Hitherto he had scarcely so much as shaken off the spell of the
fresh and gracious influences that envelop a childhood in the
country； like green leaves and grass。 He had hesitated on the
brink of the Parisian Rubicon； and in spite of the prickings of
ambition； he still clung to a lingering tradition of an old
idealthe peaceful life of the noble in his chateau。 But
yesterday evening； at the sight of his rooms； those scruples had
vanished。 He had learned what it was to enjoy the material
advantages of fortune； as he had already enjoyed the social
advantages of birth； he ceased to be a provincial from that
moment； and slipped naturally and easily into a position which
opened up a prospect of a brilliant future。
So； as he waited for Delphine； in the pretty boudoir； where he
felt that he had a certain right to be； he felt himself so far
away from the Rastignac who came back to Paris a year ago； that；
turning some power of inner vision upon this latter； he asked
himself whether that past self bore any resemblance to the
Rastignac of that moment。
〃Madame is in her room；〃 Therese came to tell him。 The woman's
voice made him start。
He found Delphine lying back in her low chair by the fireside；
looking fresh and bright。 The sight of her among the flowing
draperies of muslin suggested some beautiful tropical flower；
where the fruit is set amid the blossom。
〃Well；〃 she said； with a tremor in her voice； 〃here you are。〃
〃Guess what I bring for you；〃 said Eugene； sitting down beside
her。 He took possession of her arm to kiss her hand
Mme。 de Nucingen gave a joyful start as she saw the card。 She
turned to Eugene； there were tears in her eyes as she flung her
arms about his neck； and drew him towards her in a frenzy of
gratified vanity。
〃And I owe this happiness to youto THEE〃 （she whispered the
more intimate word in his ear）； 〃but Therese is in my dressing…
room； let us be prudent。This happinessyes； for I may call it
so； when it comes to me through YOUis surely more than a
triumph for self…love？ No one has been willing to introduce me
into that set。 Perhaps just now I may seem to you to be
frivolous； petty； shallow； like a Parisienne； but remember； my
friend； that I am ready to give up all for you； and that if I
long more than ever for an entrance into the Faubourg Saint…
Germain； it is because I shall meet you there。〃
〃Mme。 de Beauseant's note seems to say very plainly that she does
not expect to see the BARON de Nucingen at her ball； don't you
think so？〃 said Eugene。
〃Why； yes；〃 said the Baroness as she returned the letter。 〃Those
women have a talent for insolence。 But it is of no consequence； I
shall go。 My sister is sure to be there； and sure to be very
beautifully dressed。Eugene；〃 she went on； lowering her voice；
〃she will go to dispel ugly suspicions。 You do not know the
things that people are saying about her。 Only this morning
Nucingen came to tell me that they had been discussing her at the
club。 Great heavens！ on what does a woman's character and the
honor of a whole family depend！ I feel that I am nearly touched
and wounded in my poor sister。 According to some people； M。 de
Trailles must have put his name to bills for a hundred thousand
francs； nearly all of them are overdue； and proceedings are
threatened。 In this predicament； it seems that my sister sold her
diamonds to a Jewthe beautiful diamonds that belonged to her
husband's mother； Mme。 de Restaud the elder；you have seen her
wearing them。 In fact； nothing else has been talked about for the
last two days。 So I can see that Anastasie is sure to come to
Mme。 de Beauseant's ball in tissue of gold； and ablaze with
diamonds； to draw all eyes upon her； and I will not be outshone。
She has tried to eclipse me all her life； she has never been kind
to me； and I have helped her so often； and always had money for
her when she had none。But never mind other people now； to…day I
mean to be perfectly happy。〃
At one o'clock that morning Eugene was still with Mme。 de
Nucingen。 In the midst of their lovers' farewell； a farewell full
of hope of bliss to come； she said in a troubled voice； 〃I am
very fearful； superstitious。 Give what name you like to my
presentiments； but I am afraid that my happiness will be paid for
by some horrible catastrophe。〃
〃Child！〃 said Eugene。
〃Ah！ have we changed places； and am I the child to…night？〃 she
asked； laughingly。
Eugene went back to the Maison Vauquer； never doubting but that
he should leave it for good on the morrow； and on the way he fell
to dreaming the bright dreams of youth； when the cup of happiness
has left its sweetness on the lips。
〃Well？〃 cried Goriot； as Rastignac passed by his door。
〃Yes；〃 said Eugene； 〃I will tell you everything to…morrow。〃
〃Everything； will you not？〃 cried the old man。 〃Go to bed。 To…
morrow our happy life will begin。〃
Next day； Goriot and Rastignac were ready to leave the lodging…
house； and only awaited the good pleasure of a porter to move out
of it； but towards noon there was a sound of wheels in the Rue
Neuve…Sainte…Genevieve； and a carriage stopped before the door of
the Maison Vauquer。 Mme。 de Nucingen alighted； and asked if her
father was still in the house； and； receiving an affirmative
reply from Sylvie； ran lightly upstairs。
It so happened that Eugene was at home all unknown to his
neighbor。 At breakfast time he had asked Goriot to superintend
the removal of his goods； saying that he would meet him in the
Rue d'Artois at four o'clock； but Rastignac's name had been
called early on the list at the Ecole de Droit； and he had gone
back at once to the Rue Nueve…Sainte…Genevieve。 No one had seen
him come in； for Goriot had gone to find a porter； and the
mistress of the house was likewise out。 Eugene had thought to pay
her himself； for it struck him that if he left this； Goriot in
his zeal would probably pay for him。 As it was； Eugene went up to
his room to see that nothing had been forgotten； and blessed his
foresight when he saw the blank bill bearing Vautrin's signature
lying in the drawer where he had carelessly thrown it on the day
when he had repaid the amount。 There was no fire in the grate； so
he was about to tear it into little pieces； when he heard a voice
speaking in Goriot's room； and the speaker was Delphine！ He made
no more noise； and stood still to listen； thinking that she
should have no secrets from him； but after the first few words；
the conversation between the father and daughter was so strange
and interesting that it absorbed all his attention。
〃Ah！ thank heaven that you thought of asking him to give an
account of the money settled on me before I was utterly ruined；
father。 Is it safe to talk？〃 she added。
〃Yes； there is no one in the house；〃 said her father faintly。
〃What is the matter with you？〃 asked Mme。 de Nucingen。