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hip that grew up between the old man and his neighbor； but for this friendship the catastrophe of the drama must have remained a mystery。
The affection with which Father Goriot regarded Eugene； by whom he seated himself at breakfast； the change in Goriot's face； which as a rule； looked as expressionless as a plaster cast； and a few words that passed between the two； surprised the other lodgers。 Vautrin； who saw Eugene for the first time since their interview； seemed as if he would fain read the student's very soul。 During the night Eugene had had some time in which to scan the vast field which lay before him； and now； as he remembered yesterday's proposal； the thought of Mlle。 Taillefer's dowry came； of course； to his mind； and he could not help thinking of Victorine as the most exemplary youth may think of an heiress。 It chanced that their eyes met。 The poor girl did not fail to see that Eugene looked very handsome in his new clothes。 So much was said in the glance； thus exchanged； that Eugene could not doubt but that he was associated in her mind with the vague hopes that lie dormant in a girl's heart and gather round the first attractive newcomer。 〃Eight hundred thousand francs！〃 a voice cried in his ears； but suddenly he took refuge in the memories of yesterday evening； thinking that his extemporized passion for Mme。 de Nucingen was a talisman that would preserve him from this temptation。
〃They gave Rossini's Barber of Seville at the Italiens yesterday evening；〃 he remarked。 〃I never heard such delicious music。 Good gracious！ how lucky people are to have a box at the Italiens！〃
Father Goriot drank in every word that Eugene let fall； and watched him as a dog watches his master's slightest movement。
〃You men are like fighting cocks；〃 said Mme。 Vauquer； 〃you do what you like。〃
〃How did you get back？〃 inquired Vautrin。
〃I walked；〃 answered Eugene。
〃For my own part；〃 remarked the tempter； 〃I do not care about doing things by halves。 If I want to enjoy myself that way； I should prefer to go in my carriage； sit in my own box； and do the thing comfortably。 Everything or nothing； that is my motto。〃
〃And a good one； too；〃 commented Mme。 Vauquer。
〃Perhaps you will see Mme。 de Nucingen to…day；〃 said Eugene； addressing Goriot in an undertone。 〃She will welcome you with open arms； I am sure； she would want to ask you for all sorts of little details about me。 I have found out that she will do anything in the world to be known by my cousin Mme。 de Beauseant； don't forget to tell her that I love her too well not to think of trying to arrange this。〃
Rastignac went at once to the Ecole de Droit。 He had no mind to stay a moment longer than was necessary in that odious house。 He wasted his time that day； he had fallen a victim to that fever of the brain that accompanies the too vivid hopes of youth。 Vautrin's arguments had set him meditating on social life； and he was deep in these reflections when he happened on his friend Bianchon in the Jardin du Luxembourg。
〃What makes you look so solemn？〃 said the medical student； putting an arm through Eugene's as they went towards the Palais。
〃I am tormented by temptations。〃
〃What kind？ There is a cure for temptation。〃
〃What？〃
〃Yielding to it。〃
〃You laugh； but you don't know what it is all about。 Have you read Rousseau？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Do you remember that he asks the reader somewhere what he would do if he could make a fortune by killing an old mandarin somewhere in China by mere force of wishing it； and without stirring from Paris？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Well； then？〃
〃Pshaw！ I am at my thirty…third mandarin。〃
〃Seriously； though。 Look here； suppose you were sure that you could do it； and had only to give a nod。 Would you do it？〃
〃Is he well stricken in years； this mandarin of yours？ Pshaw！ after all； young or old； paralytic； or well and sound； my word for it。 。 。 。 Well； then。 Hang it； no！〃
〃You are a good fellow； Bianchon。 But suppose you loved a woman well enough to lose your soul in hell for her； and that she wanted money for dresses and a carriage； and all her whims； in fact？〃
〃Why； here you are taking away my reason； and want me to reason！〃
〃Well； then； Bianchon； I am mad； bring me to my senses。 I have two sisters as beautiful and innocent as angels； and I want them to be happy。 How am I to find two hundred thousand francs apiece for them in the next five years？ Now and then in life； you see； you must play for heavy stakes； and it is no use wasting your luck on low play。〃
〃But you are only stating the problem that lies before every one at the outset of his life； and you want to cut the Gordian knot with a sword。 If that is the way of it； dear boy； you must be an Alexander； or to the hulks you go。 For my own part； I am quite contented with the little lot I mean to make for myself somewhere in the country； when I mean to step into my father's shoes and plod along。 A man's affections are just as fully satisfied by the smallest circle as they can be by a vast circumference。 Napoleon himself could only dine once； and he could not have more mistresses than a house student at the Capuchins。 Happiness； old man； depends on what lies between the sole of your foot and the crown of your head； and whether it costs a million or a hundred louis； the actual amount of pleasure that you receive rests entirely with you； and is just exactly the same in any case。 I am for letting that Chinaman live。〃
〃Thank you； Bianchon； you have done me good。 We will always be friends。〃
〃I say；〃 remarked the medical student； as they came to the end of a broad walk in the Jardin des Plantes； 〃I saw the Michonneau and Poiret a few minutes ago on a bench chatting with a gentleman whom I used to see in last year's troubles hanging about the Chamber of Deputies； he seems to me； in fact； to be a detective dressed up like a decent retired tradesman。 Let us keep an eye on that couple； I will tell you why some time。 Good…bye； it is nearly four o'clock； and I must be in to answer to my name。〃
When Eugene reached the lodging…house； he found Father Goriot waiting for him。
〃Here；〃 cried the old man； 〃here is a letter from her。 Pretty handwriting； eh？〃
Eugene broke the seal and read：
〃Sir；I have heard from my father that you are fond of Italian music。 I shall be delighted if you will do me the pleasure of accepting a seat in my box。 La Fodor and Pellegrini will sing on Saturday； so I am sure that you will not refuse me。 M。 de Nucingen and I shall be pleased if you will dine with us； we shall be quite by ourselves。 If you will come and be my escort； my husband will be glad to be relieved from his conjugal duties。 Do not answer； but simply come。Yours sincerely； D。 DE N。〃
〃Let me see it；〃 said Father Goriot； when Eugene had read the letter。 〃You are going； aren't you？〃 he added； when he had smelled the writing…paper。 〃How nice it smells！ Her fingers have touched it； that is certain。〃
〃A woman does not fling herself at a man's head in this way；〃 the student was thinking。 〃She wants to use me to bring back de Marsay； nothing but pique makes a woman do a thing like this。〃
〃Well；〃 said Father Goriot； 〃what are you thinking about？〃
Eugene did not know the fever or vanit