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him in more than two hundred and forty thousand francs。
Financially speaking； Monsieur Grandet was something between a tiger
and a boa…constrictor。 He could crouch and lie low； watch his prey a
long while； spring upon it； open his jaws； swallow a mass of louis；
and then rest tranquilly like a snake in process of digestion；
impassible； methodical； and cold。 No one saw him pass without a
feeling of admiration mingled with respect and fear； had not every man
in Saumur felt the rending of those polished steel claws？ For this
one； Maitre Cruchot had procured the money required for the purchase
of a domain； but at eleven per cent。 For that one； Monsieur des
Grassins discounted bills of exchange； but at a frightful deduction of
interest。 Few days ever passed that Monsieur Grandet's name was not
mentioned either in the markets or in social conversations at the
evening gatherings。 To some the fortune of the old wine…grower was an
object of patriotic pride。 More than one merchant； more than one
innkeeper； said to strangers with a certain complacency： 〃Monsieur； we
have two or three millionaire establishments； but as for Monsieur
Grandet； he does not himself know how much he is worth。〃
In 1816 the best reckoners in Saumur estimated the landed property of
the worthy man at nearly four millions； but as； on an average； he had
made yearly； from 1793 to 1817； a hundred thousand francs out of that
property； it was fair to presume that he possessed in actual money a
sum nearly equal to the value of his estate。 So that when； after a
game of boston or an evening discussion on the matter of vines； the
talk fell upon Monsieur Grandet； knowing people said： 〃Le Pere
Grandet？ le Pere Grandet must have at least five or six millions。〃
〃You are cleverer than I am； I have never been able to find out the
amount；〃 answered Monsieur Cruchot or Monsieur des Grassins； when
either chanced to overhear the remark。
If some Parisian mentioned Rothschild or Monsieur Lafitte； the people
of Saumur asked if he were as rich as Monsieur Grandet。 When the
Parisian； with a smile； tossed them a disdainful affirmative； they
looked at each other and shook their heads with an incredulous air。 So
large a fortune covered with a golden mantle all the actions of this
man。 If in early days some peculiarities of his life gave occasion for
laughter or ridicule； laughter and ridicule had long since died away。
His least important actions had the authority of results repeatedly
shown。 His speech； his clothing； his gestures； the blinking of his
eyes； were law to the country…side； where every one； after studying
him as a naturalist studies the result of instinct in the lower
animals； had come to understand the deep mute wisdom of his slightest
actions。
〃It will be a hard winter；〃 said one； 〃Pere Grandet has put on his fur
gloves。〃
〃Pere Grandet is buying quantities of staves； there will be plenty of
wine this year。〃
Monsieur Grandet never bought either bread or meat。 His farmers
supplied him weekly with a sufficiency of capons； chickens； eggs；
butter； and his tithe of wheat。 He owned a mill； and the tenant was
bound； over and above his rent； to take a certain quantity of grain
and return him the flour and bran。 La Grande Nanon； his only servant；
though she was no longer young； baked the bread of the household
herself every Saturday。 Monsieur Grandet arranged with kitchen…
gardeners who were his tenants to supply him with vegetables。 As to
fruits； he gathered such quantities that he sold the greater part in
the market。 His fire…wood was cut from his own hedgerows or taken from
the half…rotten old sheds which he built at the corners of his fields；
and whose planks the farmers carted into town for him； all cut up； and
obligingly stacked in his wood…house； receiving in return his thanks。
His only known expenditures were for the consecrated bread； the
clothing of his wife and daughter； the hire of their chairs in church；
the wages of la Grand Nanon； the tinning of the saucepans； lights；
taxes； repairs on his buildings； and the costs of his various
industries。 He had six hundred acres of woodland； lately purchased；
which he induced a neighbor's keeper to watch； under the promise of an
indemnity。 After the acquisition of this property he ate game for the
first time。
Monsieur Grandet's manners were very simple。 He spoke little。 He
usually expressed his meaning by short sententious phrases uttered in
a soft voice。 After the Revolution； the epoch at which he first came
into notice； the good man stuttered in a wearisome way as soon as he
was required to speak at length or to maintain an argument。 This
stammering； the incoherence of his language； the flux of words in
which he drowned his thought； his apparent lack of logic； attributed
to defects of education； were in reality assumed； and will be
sufficiently explained by certain events in the following history。
Four sentences； precise as algebraic formulas； sufficed him usually to
grasp and solve all difficulties of life and commerce： 〃I don't know；
I cannot； I will not； I will see about it。〃 He never said yes； or no；
and never committed himself to writing。 If people talked to him he
listened coldly； holding his chin in his right hand and resting his
right elbow in the back of his left hand； forming in his own mind
opinions on all matters； from which he never receded。 He reflected
long before making any business agreement。 When his opponent； after
careful conversation； avowed the secret of his own purposes； confident
that he had secured his listener's assent； Grandet answered： 〃I can
decide nothing without consulting my wife。〃 His wife； whom he had
reduced to a state of helpless slavery； was a useful screen to him in
business。 He went nowhere among friends； he neither gave nor accepted
dinners； he made no stir or noise； seeming to economize in everything；
even movement。 He never disturbed or disarranged the things of other
people； out of respect for the rights of property。 Nevertheless； in
spite of his soft voice； in spite of his circumspect bearing； the
language and habits of a coarse nature came to the surface； especially
in his own home； where he controlled himself less than elsewhere。
Physically； Grandet was a man five feet high； thick…set； square…built；
with calves twelve inches in circumference； knotted knee…joints； and
broad shoulders； his face was round； tanned； and pitted by the small…
pox； his chin was straight； his lips had no curves； his teeth were
white； his eyes had that calm； devouring expression which people
attribute to the basilisk； his forehead； full of transverse wrinkles；
was not without certain significant protuberances； his yellow…grayish
hair was said to be silver and gold by certain young people who did
not realize the impropriety of making a jest about Monsieur Grandet。
His nose； thick at the end； bore a veined wen； which the common people
said； not without reason； was full of malice。 The whole countenance
showed a dangerous cunning； an integrity without warmth； the egotism
of a man long used to concentrate every feeling upon the enjoyments of
avarice and upon the only human being who was anything whateve