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！
〃What is the matter with you？〃 asked Mme。 de Nucingen。
〃God forgive you！ you have just dealt me a staggering blow；
child！〃 said the old man。 〃You cannot know how much I love you；
or you would not have burst in upon me like this； with such news；
especially if all is not lost。 Has something so important
happened that you must come here about it？ In a few minutes we
should have been in the Rue d'Artois。〃
〃Eh！ does one think what one is doing after a catastrophe？ It has
turned my head。 Your attorney has found out the state of things
now； but it was bound to come out sooner or later。 We shall want
your long business experience； and I come to you like a drowning
man who catches at a branch。 When M。 Derville found that Nucingen
was throwing all sorts of difficulties in his way； he threatened
him with proceedings； and told him plainly that he would soon
obtain an order from the President of the Tribunal。 So Nucingen
came to my room this morning； and asked if I meant to ruin us
both。 I told him that I knew nothing whatever about it； that I
had a fortune； and ought to be put into possession of my fortune；
and that my attorney was acting for me in the matter； I said
again that I knew absolutely nothing about it； and could not
possibly go into the subject with him。 Wasn't that what you told
me to tell him？〃
〃Yes； quite right；〃 answered Goriot。
〃Well； then；〃 Delphine continued； 〃he told me all about his
affairs。 He had just invested all his capital and mine in
business speculations； they have only just been started； and very
large sums of money are locked up。 If I were to compel him to
refund my dowry now； he would be forced to file his petition； but
if I will wait a year； he undertakes； on his honor； to double or
treble my fortune； by investing it in building land； and I shall
be mistress at last of the whole of my property。 He was speaking
the truth； father dear； he frightened me！ He asked my pardon for
his conduct； he has given me my liberty； I am free to act as I
please on condition that I leave him to carry on my business in
my name。 To prove his sincerity； he promised that M。 Derville
might inspect the accounts as often as I pleased； so that I might
be assured that everything was being conducted properly。 In
short； he put himself in my power； bound hand and foot。 He wishes
the present arrangements as to the expenses of housekeeping to
continue for two more years； and entreated me not to exceed my
allowance。 He showed me plainly that it was all that he could do
to keep up appearances； he has broken with his opera dancer； he
will be compelled to practise the most strict economy （in secret）
if he is to bide his time with unshaken credit。 I scolded； I did
all I could to drive him to desperation； so as to find out more。
He showed me his ledgershe broke down and cried at last。 I
never saw a man in such a state。 He lost his head completely；
talked of killing himself； and raved till I felt quite sorry for
him。〃
〃Do you really believe that silly rubbish？〃 。 。 。 cried her
father。 〃It was all got up for your benefit！ I have had to do
with Germans in the way of business； honest and straightforward
they are pretty sure to be； but when with their simplicity and
frankness they are sharpers and humbugs as well； they are the
worst rogues of all。 Your husband is taking advantage of you。 As
soon as pressure is brought to bear on him he shams dead； he
means to be more the master under your name than in his own。 He
will take advantage of the position to secure himself against the
risks of business。 He is as sharp as he is treacherous； he is a
bad lot！ No； no； I am not going to leave my girls behind me
without a penny when I go to Pere…Lachaise。 I know something
about business still。 He has sunk his money in speculation； he
says； very well then； there is something to show for itbills；
receipts； papers of some sort。 Let him produce them； and come to
an arrangement with you。 We will choose the most promising of his
speculations； take them over at our own risk； and have the
securities transferred into your name； they shall represent the
separate estate of Delphine Goriot； wife of the Baron de
Nucingen。 Does that fellow really take us for idiots？ Does he
imagine that I could stand the idea of your being without
fortune； without bread； for forty…eight hours？ I would not stand
it a dayno； not a night； not a couple of hours！ If there had
been any foundation for the idea； I should never get over it。
What！ I have worked hard for forty years； carried sacks on my
back； and sweated and pinched and saved all my life for you； my
darlings； for you who made the toil and every burden borne for
you seem light； and now； my fortune； my whole life； is to vanish
in smoke！ I should die raving mad if I believed a word of it。 By
all that's holiest in heaven and earth； we will have this cleared
up at once； go through the books； have the whole business looked
thoroughly into！ I will not sleep； nor rest； nor eat until I have
satisfied myself that all your fortune is in existence。 Your
money is settled upon you； God be thanked！ and； luckily； your
attorney； Maitre Derville； is an honest man。 Good Lord！ you shall
have your snug little million； your fifty thousand francs a year；
as long as you live； or I will raise a racket in Paris； I will
so！ If the Tribunals put upon us； I will appeal to the Chambers。
If I knew that you were well and comfortably off as far as money
is concerned； that thought would keep me easy in spite of bad
health and troubles。 Money？ why； it is life！ Money does
everything。 That great dolt of an Alsatian shall sing to another
tune！ Look here； Delphine； don't give way； don't make a
concession of half a quarter of a farthing to that fathead； who
has ground you down and made you miserable。 If he can't do
without you； we will give him a good cudgeling； and keep him in
order。 Great heavens！ my brain is on fire； it is as if there were
something redhot inside my head。 My Delphine lying on straw！ You！
my Fifine！ Good gracious！ Where are my gloves？ Come； let us go at
once； I mean to see everything with my own eyesbooks； cash； and
correspondence； the whole business。 I shall have no peace until I
know for certain that your fortune is secure。〃
〃Oh！ father dear； be careful how you set about it！ If there is
the least hint of vengeance in the business； if you show yourself
openly hostile； it will be all over with me。 He knows whom he has
to deal with； he thinks it quite natural that if you put the idea
into my head； I should be uneasy about my money； but I swear to
you that he has it in his own hands； and that he had meant to
keep it。 He is just the man to abscond with all the money and
leave us in the lurch； the scoundrel！ He knows quite well that I
will not dishonor the name I bear by bringing him into a court of
law。 His position is strong and weak at the same time。 If we
drive him to despair； I am lost。〃
〃Why； then；