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eyes。 The sight of her was scarcely calculated to lighten
Rastignac's sad thougths； through the blaze of those diamonds he
seemed to see the wretched pallet…bed on which Father Goriot was
lying。 The Vicomtesse misread his melancholy； she withdrew her
hand from his arm。
〃Come；〃 she said； 〃I must not deprive you of a pleasure。〃
Eugene was soon claimed by Delphine。 She was delighted by the
impression that she had made； and eager to lay at her lover's
feet the homage she had received in this new world in which she
hoped to live and move henceforth。
〃What do you think of Nasie？〃 she asked him。
〃She has discounted everything； even her own father's death；〃
said Rastignac。
Towards four o'clock in the morning the rooms began to empty。 A
little later the music ceased； and the Duchesse de Langeais and
Rastignac were left in the great ballroom。 The Vicomtesse； who
thought to find the student there alone； came back there at last。
She had taken leave of M。 de Beauseant； who had gone off to bed；
saying again as he went； 〃It is a great pity； my dear； to shut
yourself up at your age！ Pray stay among us。〃
Mme。 de Beauseant saw the Duchesse； and； in spite of herself； an
exclamation broke from her。
〃I saw how it was； Clara；〃 said Mme。 de Langeais。 〃You are going
from among us； and you will never come back。 But you must not go
until you have heard me； until we have understood each other。〃
She took her friend's arm； and they went together into the next
room。 There the Duchess looked at her with tears in her eyes； she
held her friend in close embrace and kissed her cheek。
〃I could not let you go without a word； dearest； the remorse
would have been too hard to bear。 You can count upon me as surely
as upon yourself。 You have shown yourself great this evening； I
feel that I am worthy of our friendship； and I mean to prove
myself worthy of it。 I have not always been kind； I was in the
wrong； forgive me； dearest； I wish I could unsay anything that
may have hurt you； I take back those words。 One common sorrow has
brought us together again； for I do not know which of us is the
more miserable。 M。 de Montriveau was not here to…night； do you
understand what that means？None of those who saw you to…night；
Clara； will ever forget you。 I mean to make one last effort。 If I
fail； I shall go into a convent。 Clara； where are you going？〃
〃Into Normandy； to Courcelles。 I shall love and pray there until
the day when God shall take me from this world。M。 de
Rastignac！〃 called the Vicomtesse； in a tremulous voice；
remembering that the young man was waiting there。
The student knelt to kiss his cousin's hand。
〃Good…bye； Antoinette！〃 said Mme。 de Beauseant。 〃May you be
happy。〃She turned to the student。 〃You are young；〃 she said；
〃you have some beliefs still left。 I have been privileged； like
some dying people； to find sincere and reverent feeling in those
about me as I take my leave of this world。〃
It was nearly five o'clock that morning when Rastignac came away。
He had put Mme。 de Beauseant into her traveling carriage； and
received her last farewells； spoken amid fast…falling tears； for
no greatness is so great that it can rise above the laws of human
affection； or live beyond the jurisdiction of pain； as certain
demagogues would have the people believe。 Eugene returned on foot
to the Maison Vauquer through the cold and darkness。 His
education was nearly complete。
〃There is no hope for poor Father Goriot；〃 said Bianchon； as
Rastignac came into the room。 Eugene looked for a while at the
sleeping man； then he turned to his friend。 〃Dear fellow； you are
content with the modest career you have marked out for yourself；
keep to it。 I am in hell； and I must stay there。 Believe
everything that you hear said of the world； nothing is too
impossibly bad。 No Juvenal could paint the horrors hidden away
under the covering of gems and gold。〃
At two o'clock in the afternoon Bianchon came to wake Rastignac；
and begged him to take charge of Goriot； who had grown worse as
the day wore on。 The medical student was obliged to go out。
〃Poor old man； he has not two days to live； maybe not many
hours；〃 he said； 〃but we must do our utmost； all the same； to
fight the disease。 It will be a very troublesome case； and we
shall want money。 We can nurse him between us； of course； but；
for my own part； I have not a penny。 I have turned out his
pockets； and rummaged through his drawersresult； nix。 I asked
him about it while his mind was clear； and he told me he had not
a farthing of his own。 What have you？〃
〃I have twenty francs left；〃 said Rastignac； 〃but I will take
them to the roulette table； I shall be sure to win。〃
〃And if you lose？〃
〃Then I shall go to his sons…in…law and his daughters and ask
them for money。〃
〃And suppose they refuse？〃 Bianchon retorted。 〃The most pressing
thing just now is not really money； we must put mustard
poultices； as hot as they can be made； on his feet and legs。 If
he calls out； there is still some hope for him。 You know how to
set about doing it； and besides； Christophe will help you。 I am
going round to the dispensary to persuade them to let us have the
things we want on credit。 It is a pity that we could not move him
to the hospital； poor fellow； he would be better there。 Well；
come along； I leave you in charge； you must stay with him till I
come back。〃
The two young men went back to the room where the old man was
lying。 Eugene was startled at the change in Goriot's face； so
livid； distorted； and feeble。
〃How are you； papa？〃 he said； bending over the pallet…bed。 Goriot
turned his dull eyes upon Eugene； looked at him attentively； and
did not recognize him。 It was more than the student could bear；
the tears came into his eyes。
〃Bianchon； ought we to have the curtains put up in the windows？〃
〃No； the temperature and the light do not affect him now。 It
would be a good thing for him if he felt heat or cold； but we
must have a fire in any case to make tisanes and heat the other
things。 I will send round a few sticks； they will last till we
can have in some firewood。 I burned all the bark fuel you had
left； as well as his； poor man； yesterday and during the night。
The place is so damp that the water stood in drops on the walls；
I could hardly get the room dry。 Christophe came in and swept the
floor； but the place is like a stable； I had to burn juniper； the
smell was something horrible。
〃MON DIEU！〃 said Rastignac。 〃To think of those daughters of his。〃
〃One moment； if he asks for something to drink； give him this；〃
said the house student； pointing to a large white jar。 〃If he
begins to groan； and the belly feels hot and hard to the touch；
you know what to do； get Christophe to help you。 If he should
happen to grow much excited； and begin to talk a good deal and
even to ramble in his talk； do not be alarmed。 It would not be a
bad symptom