father goriot(高老头)- 第50部分

They　set　out。　Eugene　said　nothing　for　a　while。

〃What　is　it　now？〃　she　asked。

〃I　can　hear　the　death…rattle　in　your　father's　throat；〃　he　said　almost　angrily。　And　with　the　hot　indignation　of　youth；　he　told　the　story　of　Mme。　de　Restaud's　vanity　and　cruelty；　of　her　father's　final　act　of　self…sacrifice；　that　had　brought　about　this　struggle　between　life　and　death；　of　the　price　that　had　been　paid　for　Anastasie's　golden　embroideries。　Delphine　cried。

〃I　shall　look　frightful；〃　she　thought。　She　dried　her　tears。

〃I　will　nurse　my　father；　I　will　not　leave　his　bedside；〃　she　said　aloud。

〃Ah！　now　you　are　as　I　would　have　you；〃　exclaimed　Rastignac。

The　lamps　of　five　hundred　carriages　lit　up　the　darkness　about　the　Hotel　de　Beauseant。　A　gendarme　in　all　the　glory　of　his　uniform　stood　on　either　side　of　the　brightly　lighted　gateway。　The　great　world　was　flocking　thither　that　night　in　its　eager　curiosity　to　see　the　great　lady　at　the　moment　of　her　fall；　and　the　rooms　on　the　ground　floor　were　already　full　to　overflowing；　when　Mme。　de　Nucingen　and　Rastignac　appeared。　Never　since　Louis　XIV。　tore　her　lover　away　from　La　grand　Mademoiselle；　and　the　whole　court　hastened　to　visit　that　unfortunate　princess；　had　a　disastrous　love　affair　made　such　a　sensation　in　Paris。　But　the　youngest　daughter　of　the　almost　royal　house　of　Burgundy　had　risen　proudly　above　her　pain；　and　moved　till　the　last　moment　like　a　queen　in　this　worldits　vanities　had　always　been　valueless　for　her；　save　in　so　far　as　they　contributed　to　the　triumph　of　her　passion。　The　salons　were　filled　with　the　most　beautiful　women　in　Paris；　resplendent　in　their　toilettes；　and　radiant　with　smiles。　Ministers　and　ambassadors；　the　most　distinguished　men　at　court；　men　bedizened　with　decorations；　stars；　and　ribbons；　men　who　bore　the　most　illustrious　names　in　France；　had　gathered　about　the　Vicomtesse。

The　music　of　the　orchestra　vibrated　in　wave　after　wave　of　sound　from　the　golden　ceiling　of　the　palace；　now　made　desolate　for　its　queen。

Madame　de　Beauseant　stood　at　the　door　of　the　first　salon　to　receive　the　guests　who　were　styled　her　friends。　She　was　dressed　in　white；　and　wore　no　ornament　in　the　plaits　of　hair　braided　about　her　head；　her　face　was　calm；　there　was　no　sign　there　of　pride；　nor　of　pain；　nor　of　joy　that　she　did　not　feel。　No　one　could　read　her　soul；　she　stood　there　like　some　Niobe　carved　in　marble。　For　a　few　intimate　friends　there　was　a　tinge　of　satire　in　her　smile；　but　no　scrutiny　saw　any　change　in　her；　nor　had　she　looked　otherwise　in　the　days　of　the　glory　of　her　happiness。　The　most　callous　of　her　guests　admired　her　as　young　Rome　applauded　some　gladiator　who　could　die　smiling。　It　seemed　as　if　society　had　adorned　itself　for　a　last　audience　of　one　of　its　sovereigns。

〃I　was　afraid　that　you　would　not　come；〃　she　said　to　Rastignac。

〃Madame；〃　he　said；　in　an　unsteady　voice；　taking　her　speech　as　a　reproach；　〃I　shall　be　the　last　to　go；　that　is　why　I　am　here。〃

〃Good；〃　she　said；　and　she　took　his　hand。　〃You　are　perhaps　the　only　one　I　can　trust　here　among　all　these。　Oh；　my　friend；　when　you　love；　love　a　woman　whom　you　are　sure　that　you　can　love　always。　Never　forsake　a　woman。〃

She　took　Rastignac's　arm；　and　went　towards　a　sofa　in　the　card…　room。

〃I　want　you　to　go　to　the　Marquis；〃　she　said。　〃Jacques；　my　footman；　will　go　with　you；　he　has　a　letter　that　you　will　take。　I　am　asking　the　Marquis　to　give　my　letters　back　to　me。　He　will　give　them　all　up；　I　like　to　think　that。　When　you　have　my　letters；　go　up　to　my　room　with　them。　Some　one　shall　bring　me　word。〃

She　rose　to　go　to　meet　the　Duchesse　de　Langeais；　her　most　intimate　friend；　who　had　come　like　the　rest　of　the　world。

Rastignac　went。　He　asked　for　the　Marquis　d'Ajuda　at　the　Hotel　Rochefide；　feeling　certain　that　the　latter　would　be　spending　his　evening　there；　and　so　it　proved。　The　Marquis　went　to　his　own　house　with　Rastignac；　and　gave　a　casket　to　the　student；　saying　as　he　did　so；　〃They　are　all　there。〃

He　seemed　as　if　he　was　about　to　say　something　to　Eugene；　to　ask　about　the　ball；　or　the　Vicomtesse；　perhaps　he　was　on　the　brink　of　the　confession　that；　even　then；　he　was　in　despair；　and　knew　that　his　marriage　had　been　a　fatal　mistake；　but　a　proud　gleam　shone　in　his　eyes；　and　with　deplorable　courage　he　kept　his　noblest　feelings　a　secret。

〃Do　not　even　mention　my　name　to　her；　my　dear　Eugene。〃　He　grasped　Rastignac's　hand　sadly　and　affectionately；　and　turned　away　from　him。　Eugene　went　back　to　the　Hotel　Beauseant；　the　servant　took　him　to　the　Vicomtesse's　room。　There　were　signs　there　of　preparations　for　a　journey。　He　sat　down　by　the　fire；　fixed　his　eyes　on　the　cedar　wood　casket；　and　fell　into　deep　mournful　musings。　Mme。　de　Beauseant　loomed　large　in　these　imaginings；　like　a　goddess　in　the　Iliad。

〃Ah！　my　friend！　。　。　。〃　said　the　Vicomtesse；　she　crossed　the　room　and　laid　her　hand　on　Rastignac's　shoulder。　He　saw　the　tears　in　his　cousin's　uplifted　eyes；　saw　that　one　hand　was　raised　to　take　the　casket；　and　that　the　fingers　of　the　other　trembled。　Suddenly　she　took　the　casket；　put　it　in　the　fire；　and　watched　it　burn。

〃They　are　dancing；〃　she　said。　〃They　all　came　very　early；　but　death　will　be　long　in　coming。　Hush！　my　friend；〃　and　she　laid　a　finger　on　Rastignac's　lips；　seeing　that　he　was　about　to　speak。　〃I　shall　never　see　Paris　again。　I　am　taking　my　leave　of　the　world。　At　five　o'clock　this　morning　I　shall　set　out　on　my　journey；　I　mean　to　bury　myself　in　the　remotest　part　of　Normandy。　I　have　had　very　little　time　to　make　my　arrangements；　since　three　o'clock　this　afternoon　I　have　been　busy　signing　documents；　setting　my　affairs　in　order；　there　was　no　one　whom　I　could　send　to　。　。　。〃

She　broke　off。

〃He　was　sure　to　be　。　。　。〃

Again　she　broke　off；　the　weight　of　her　sorrow　was　more　than　she　could　bear。　In　such　moments　as　these　everything　is　agony；　and　some　words　are　impossible　to　utter。

〃And　so　I　counted　upon　you　to　do　me　this　last　piece　of　service　this　evening；〃　she　said。　〃I　should　like　to　give　you　some　pledge　of　friendship。　I　shall　often　think　of　you。　You　have　seemed　to　me　to　be　kind　and　noble；　fresh…hearted　and　true；　in　this　world　where　such　qualities　are　seldom　found。　I　should　like　you　to　think　sometimes　of　me。　Stay；〃　she　said；　glancing　about　her；　〃there　is　this　box　that　has　held　my　gloves。　Every　time　I　opened　it　before　going　to　a　ball　or　to　the　theatre；　I　used　to　feel　that　I　must　be　beautiful；　because　I　was　so　happy；　and　I　never　touched　it　except　to　lay　some　gracious　memory　in　it：　there　is　so　much　of　my　old　self　in　it；　of　a　Madame　de　Beauseant　who　now　lives　no　longer。　Will　you　take　it？　I　will　leave　directions　that　it　is　to　be　sent　to　you　in　the　Rue　d'Artois。Mme。　de　Nucingen　looked　very　charming　this　evening。　Eugene；　you　must　love　her。　Perhaps　we　may　never　see　each　other　again；　my　friend；　but　be　sure　of　this；　that　I　shall　pray　for　you　who　have　been　kind　to　me。Now；　let　us　go　downstairs。　People　shall　not　think　that　I　am　weeping。　I　have　all　time　and　eternity　before　me；　and　where　I　am　going　I　shall　be　alone；　and　no　one　will　ask　me　the　reason　of　my　tears。　One　last　look　round　first。〃

She　stood　for　a　moment。　Then　she　covered　her　eyes　with　her　hands　for　an　instant；　dashed　away　the　tears；　bathed　her　face　with　cold　water；　and　took　the　student's　arm。

〃Let　us　go！〃　she　said。

This　suffering；　endured　with　such　noble　fortitude；　shook　Eugene　with　a　more　violent　emotion　than　he　had　felt　before。　They　went　back　to　the　ballroom；　and　Mme。　de　Beauseant　went　through　the　rooms　on　Eugene's　armthe　last　delicately　gracious　act　of　a　gracious　woman。　In　another　moment　he　saw　the　sisters；　Mme。　de　Restaud　and　Mme。　de　Nucingen。　The　Countess　shone　in　all　the　glory　of　her　magnificent　diamonds；　every　stone　must　have　scorched　like　fire；　she　was　never　to　wear　them　again。　Strong　as　love　and　pride　might　be　in　her；　she　found　it　difficult　to　meet　her　husband's　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