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much？ They themselves have been the instruments of vengeance；
they have tortured me for my sin of affection。
〃Ah； well！ fathers know no better； I loved them so； I went back
to them as a gambler goes to the gaming table。 This love was my
vice； you see； my mistressthey were everything in the world to
me。 They were always wanting something or other； dresses and
ornaments； and what not； their maids used to tell me what they
wanted； and I used to give them the things for the sake of the
welcome that they bought for me。 But； at the same time； they used
to give me little lectures on my behavior in society； they began
about it at once。 Then they began to feel ashamed of me。 That is
what comes of having your children well brought up。 I could not
go to school again at my time of life。 （This pain is fearful！ MON
DIEU！ These doctors！ these doctors！ If they would open my head；
it would give me some relief！） Oh； my daughters； my daughters！
Anastasie！ Delphine！ If I could only see them！ Send for the
police； and make them come to me！ Justice is on my side； the
whole world is on my side； I have natural rights； and the law
with me。 I protest！ The country will go to ruin if a father's
rights are trampled under foot。 That is easy to see。 The whole
world turns on fatherly love； fatherly love is the foundation of
society； it will crumble into ruin when children do not love
their fathers。 Oh！ if I could only see them； and hear them； no
matter what they said； if I could simply hear their voices； it
would soothe the pain。 Delphine！ Delphine most of all。 But tell
them when they come not to look so coldly at me as they do。 Oh！
my friend； my good Monsieur Eugene； you do not know that it is
when all the golden light in a glance suddenly turns to a leaden
gray。 It has been one long winter here since the light in their
eyes shone no more for me。 I have had nothing but disappointments
to devour。 Disappointment has been my daily bread； I have lived
on humiliation and insults。 I have swallowed down all the
affronts for which they sold me my poor stealthy little moments
of joy； for I love them so！ Think of it！ a father hiding himself
to get a glimpse of his children！ I have given all my life to
them； and to…day they will not give me one hour！ I am hungering
and thirsting for them； my heart is burning in me； but they will
not come to bring relief in the agony； for I am dying now； I feel
that this is death。 Do they not know what it means to trample on
a father's corpse？ There is a God in heaven who avenges us
fathers whether we will or no。
〃Oh！ they will come！ Come to me； darlings； and give me one more
kiss； one last kiss； the Viaticum for your father； who will pray
God for you in heaven。 I will tell Him that you have been good
children to your father； and plead your cause with God！ After
all； it is not their fault。 I tell you they are innocent； my
friend。 Tell every one that it is not their fault； and no one
need be distressed on my account。 It is all my own fault； I
taught them to trample upon me。 I loved to have it so。 It is no
one's affair but mine； man's justice and God's justice have
nothing to do in it。 God would be unjust if He condemned them for
anything they may have done to me。 I did not behave to them
properly； I was stupid enough to resign my rights。 I would have
humbled myself in the dust for them。 What could you expect？ The
most beautiful nature； the noblest soul； would have been spoiled
by such indulgence。 I am a wretch； I am justly punished。 I； and I
only； am to blame for all their sins； I spoiled them。 To…day they
are as eager for pleasure as they used to be for sugar…plums。
When they were little girls I indulged them in every whim。 They
had a carriage of their own when they were fifteen。 They have
never been crossed。 I am guilty； and not theybut I sinned
through love。
〃My heart would open at the sound of their voices。 I can hear
them； they are coming。 Yes！ yes！ they are coming。 The law demands
that they should be present at their father's deathbed； the law
is on my side。 It would only cost them the hire of a cab。 I would
pay that。 Write to them； tell them that I have millions to leave
to them！ On my word of honor； yes。 I am going to manufacture
Italian paste foods at Odessa。 I understand the trade。 There are
millions to be made in it。 Nobody has thought of the scheme as
yet。 You see； there will be no waste； no damage in transit； as
there always is with wheat and flour。 Hey！ hey！ and starch too；
there are millions to be made in the starch trade！ You will not
be telling a lie。 Millions； tell them； and even if they really
come because they covet the money； I would rather let them
deceive me； and I shall see them in any case。 I want my children！
I gave them life； they are mine； mine！〃 and he sat upright。 The
head thus raised； with its scanty white hair； seemed to Eugene
like a threat； every line that could still speak spoke of menace。
〃There； there； dear father；〃 said Eugene； 〃lie down again； I will
write to them at once。 As soon as Bianchon comes back I will go
for them myself； if they do not come before。〃
〃If they do not come？〃 repeated the old man； sobbing。 〃Why； I
shall be dead before then； I shall die in a fit of rage； of rage！
Anger is getting the better of me。 I can see my whole life at
this minute。 I have been cheated！ They do not love methey have
never loved me all their lives！ It is all clear to me。 They have
not come； and they will not come。 The longer they put off their
coming； the less they are likely to give me this joy。 I know
them。 They have never cared to guess my disappointments； my
sorrows； my wants； they never cared to know my life； they will
have no presentiment of my death； they do not even know the
secret of my tenderness for them。 Yes； I see it all now。 I have
laid my heart open so often； that they take everything I do for
them as a matter of course。 They might have asked me for the very
eyes out of my head and I would have bidden them to pluck them
out。 They think that all fathers are like theirs。 You should
always make your value felt。 Their own children will avenge me。
Why； for their own sakes they should come to me！ Make them
understand that they are laying up retribution for their own
deathbeds。 All crimes are summed up in this one。 。 。 。 Go to
them； just tell them that if they stay away it will be parricide！
There is enough laid to their charge already without adding that
to the list。 Cry aloud as I do now； 'Nasie！ Delphine！ here！ Come
to your father； the father who has been so kind to you is lying
ill！'Not a sound； no one comes！ Then am I do die like a dog？
This is to be my rewardI am forsaken at the last。 They are
wicked； heartless women； curses on them； I loathe them。 I shall
rise at night from my grave to curse them again； for； after all；
my friends； have I done wrong？ They are behaving very badly to
me； eh？ 。 。 。 What am I saying？ Did you not tell me just now that
Delph