t moment。
〃It is hideous； is it not；〃 she cried； 〃to speak in a breath of money and affection。 You cannot love me after this；〃 she added。
The incongruity between the ideas of honor which make women so great； and the errors in conduct which are forced upon them by the constitution of society； had thrown Eugene's thoughts into confusion； he uttered soothing and consoling words； and wondered at the beautiful woman before him； and at the artless imprudence of her cry of pain。
〃You will not remember this against me？〃 she asked； 〃promise me that you will not。〃
〃Ah！ madame； I am incapable of doing so；〃 he said。 She took his hand and held it to her heart； a movement full of grace that expressed her deep gratitude。
〃I am free and happy once more； thanks to you；〃 she said。 〃Oh！ I have felt lately as if I were in the grasp of an iron hand。 But after this I mean to live simply and to spend nothing。 You will think me just as pretty； will you not； my friend？ Keep this；〃 she went on； as she took only six of the banknotes。 〃In conscience I owe you a thousand crowns； for I really ought to go halves with you。〃
Eugene's maiden conscience resisted； but when the Baroness said； 〃I am bound to look on you as an accomplice or as an enemy；〃 he took the money。
〃It shall be a last stake in reserve；〃 he said； 〃in case of misfortune。〃
〃That was what I was dreading to hear；〃 she cried； turning pale。 〃Oh； if you would that I should be anything to you； swear to me that you will never re…enter a gaming…house。 Great Heaven！ that I should corrupt you！ I should die of sorrow！〃
They had reached the Rue Saint…Lazare by this time。 The contrast between the ostentation of wealth in the house； and the wretched condition of its mistress； dazed the student； and Vautrin's cynical words began to ring in his ears。
〃Seat yourself there；〃 said the Baroness； pointing to a low chair beside the fire。 〃I have a difficult letter to write；〃 she added。 〃Tell me what to say。〃
〃Say nothing；〃 Eugene answered her。 〃Put the bills in an envelope； direct it； and send it by your maid。〃
〃Why； you are a love of a man；〃 she said。 〃Ah！ see what it is to have been well brought up。 That is the Beauseant through and through；〃 she went on； smiling at him。
〃She is charming；〃 thought Eugene； more and more in love。 He looked round him at the room； there was an ostentatious character about the luxury； a meretricious taste in the splendor。
〃Do you like it？〃 she asked； as she rang for the maid。
〃Therese； take this to M。 de Marsay； and give it into his hands yourself。 If he is not at home； bring the letter back to me。〃
Therese went； but not before she had given Eugene a spiteful glance。
Dinner was announced。 Rastignac gave his arm to Mme。 de Nucingen； she led the way into a pretty dining…room； and again he saw the luxury of the table which he had admired in his cousin's house。
〃Come and dine with me on opera evenings； and we will go to the Italiens afterwards；〃 she said。
〃I should soon grow used to the pleasant life if it could last； but I am a poor student； and I have my way to make。〃
〃Oh！ you will succeed；〃 she said laughing。 〃You will see。 All that you wish will come to pass。 _I_ did not expect to be so happy。〃
It is the wont of women to prove the impossible by the possible； and to annihilate facts by presentiments。 When Mme。 de Nucingen and Rastignac took their places in her box at the Bouffons； her face wore a look of happiness that made her so lovely that every one indulged in those small slanders against which women are defenceless； for the scandal that is uttered lightly is often seriously believed。 Those who know Paris； believe nothing that is said； and say nothing of what is done there。
Eugene took the Baroness' hand in his； and by some light pressure of the fingers； or a closer grasp of the hand； they found a language in which to express the sensations which the music gave them。 It was an evening of intoxicating delight for both； and when it ended； and they went out together； Mme。 de Nucingen insisted on taking Eugene with her as far as the Pont Neuf； he disputing with her the whole of the way for a single kiss after all those that she had showered upon him so passionately at the Palais…Royal； Eugene reproached her with inconsistency。
〃That was gratitude；〃 she said； 〃for devotion that I did not dare to hope for； but now it would be a promise。〃
〃And will you give me no promise； ingrate？〃
He grew vexed。 Then； with one of those impatient gestures that fill a lover with ecstasy； she gave him her hand to kiss； and he took it with a discontented air that delighted her。
〃I shall see you at the ball on Monday；〃 she said。
As Eugene went home in the moonlight； he fell to serious reflections。 He was satisfied； and yet dissatisfied。 He was pleased with an adventure which would probably give him his desire； for in the end one of the prettiest and best…dressed women in Paris would be his； but； as a set…off； he saw his hopes of fortune brought to nothing； and as soon as he realized this fact； the vague thoughts of yesterday evening began to take a more decided shape in his mind。 A check is sure to reveal to us the strength of our hopes。 The more Eugene learned of the pleasures of life in Paris； the more impatient he felt of poverty and obscurity。 He crumpled the banknote in his pocket； and found any quantity of plausible excuses for appropriating it。
He reached the Rue Neuve…Sainte…Genevieve at last； and from the stairhead he saw a light in Goriot's room； the old man had lighted a candle； and set the door ajar； lest the student should pass him by； and go to his room without 〃telling him all about his daughter；〃 to use his own expression。 Eugene； accordingly； told him everything without reserve。
〃Then they think that I am ruined！〃 cried Father Goriot； in an agony of jealousy and desperation。 〃Why； I have still thirteen hundred livres a year！ MON DIEU！ Poor little girl！ why did she not come to me？ I would have sold my rentes； she should have had some of the principal； and I would have bought a life…annuity with the rest。 My good neighbor； why did not YOU come to tell me of her difficulty？ How had you the heart to go and risk her poor little hundred francs at play？ This is heart…breaking work。 You see what it is to have sons…in…law。 Oh！ if I had hold of them； I would wring their necks。 MON DIEU！ CRYING！ Did you say she was crying？〃
〃With her head on my waistcoat；〃 said Eugene。
〃Oh！ give it to me；〃 said Father Goriot。 〃What！ my daughter's tears have fallen theremy darling Delphine； who never used to cry when she was a little girl！ Oh！ I will buy you another； do not wear it again； let me have it。 By the terms of her marriage… contract； she ought to have the use of her property。 To…morrow morning I will go and see Derville； he is an attorney。 I will demand that her money should be invested in her own name。 I know the law。 I am an old wolf； I will show my teeth。〃
〃Here； father； this is a banknote for a thousand francs that she wanted me to keep out of our winnings。 Keep them for her； in the pocket of the waistcoat。〃
Goriot looked hard at Eugene； reached out and took the law student's hand； and Eugene felt a tear fall on it。
〃You will succeed；〃 the old man said。 〃God is just； you see。 I know an honest man when I see him； and I can tell you； there are not many men like you。 I am to have another dear child in you； am I？ There； go to sleep； you can sleep； you are not yet a father。 She was crying！ and I have to be told about it！and I was quietly eating my dinner； like an idiot； all the timeI； who would sell the Father； Son and Holy Ghost to save one tear to either of them。〃
〃An honest man！〃 said Eugene to himself as he lay down。 〃Upon my word； I think I will be an honest man all my life； it is so pleasant to obey the voice of conscience。〃 Perhaps none but believers in God do good in secret； and Eugene believed in a God。
The next day Rastignac went at the appointed time to Mme。 de Beauseant； who took him with her to the Duchesse de Carigliano's ball。 The Marechale received Eugene most graciously。 Mme。 de Nucingen was there。 Delphine's dress seemed to suggest that she wished for the admiration of others； so that she might shine the more in Eugene's eyes； she was eagerly expecting a glance from him； hiding； as she thought； this eagerness from all beholders。 This moment is full of charm for one who can guess all that passes in a woman's mind。 Who has not refrained from giving his opinion； to prolong her suspense； concealing his pleasure from a desire to tantalize； seeking a confession of love in her uneasiness； enjoying the fears that he can dissipate by a smile？ In the course of the evening the law student suddenly comprehended his position； he saw that； as the cousin of Mme。 de Beauseant； he was a personage in this world。 He was already credited with the conquest of Mme。 de Nucingen； and for this reason was a conspicuous figure； he caught the envious glances of other young men； and experienced the earliest pleasures of coxcombry。 People wondered at his luck； and scraps of these conversations came to his ears as he went from room to room； all the women prophesied his success； and Delphine； in her dread of losing him； promised that this evening she would not refuse the kiss that all his entreaties could scarcely win yesterday。
Rastignac received several invitations。 His cousin presented him to other women who were present； women who could claim to be of the highest fashion； whose houses were looked upon as pleasant； and this was the loftiest and most fashionable society in Paris into which he was launched。 So this evening had all the charm of a brilliant debut； it was an evening that he was to remember even in old age； as a woman looks back upon her first ball and the memories of her girlish triumphs。
The next morning； at breakfast； he related the story of his success for the benefit of Father Goriot and the lodgers。 Vautrin began to smile in a diabolical fashion。
〃And do you suppose；〃 cried that cold…blooded logician； 〃that a young man of fashion can live here in the Rue Neuve…Sainte… Genevieve； in the Maison Vauqueran exceedingly respectable boarding…house in every way； I grant you； but an establishment that； none th