father goriot- 第42部分

hell　seemed　to　gleam　from　his　eyes。　In　that　flash　the　real

Vautrin　shone　forth；　revealed　at　once　before　them　all；　they

understood　his　past；　his　present；　and　future；　his　pitiless

doctrines；　his　actions；　the　religion　of　his　own　good　pleasure；

the　majesty　with　which　his　cynicism　and　contempt　for　mankind

invested　him；　the　physical　strength　of　an　organization　proof

against　all　trials。　The　blood　flew　to　his　face；　and　his　eyes

glared　like　the　eyes　of　a　wild　cat。　He　started　back　with　savage

energy　and　a　fierce　growl　that　drew　exclamations　of　alarm　from

the　lodgers。　At　that　leonine　start　the　police　caught　at　their

pistols　under　cover　of　the　general　clamor。　Collin　saw　the

gleaming　muzzles　of　the　weapons；　saw　his　danger；　and　instantly

gave　proof　of　a　power　of　the　highest　order。　There　was　something

horrible　and　majestic　in　the　spectacle　of　the　sudden

transformation　in　his　face；　he　could　only　be　compared　to　a

cauldron　full　of　the　steam　that　can　send　mountains　flying；　a

terrific　force　dispelled　in　a　moment　by　a　drop　of　cold　water。　The

drop　of　water　that　cooled　his　wrathful　fury　was　a　reflection　that

flashed　across　his　brain　like　lightning。　He　began　to　smile；　and

looked　down　at　his　wig。



〃You　are　not　in　the　politest　of　humors　to…day；〃　he　remarked　to

the　chief；　and　he　held　out　his　hands　to　the　policemen　with　a　jerk

of　his　head。



〃Gentlemen；〃　he　said；　〃put　on　the　bracelets　or　the　handcuffs。　I

call　on　those　present　to　witness　that　I　make　no　resistance。〃



A　murmur　of　admiration　ran　through　the　room　at　the　sudden

outpouring　like　fire　and　lava　flood　from　this　human　volcano；　and

its　equally　sudden　cessation。



〃There's　a　sell　for　you；　master　crusher；〃　the　convict　added；

looking　at　the　famous　director　of　police。



〃Come；　strip！〃　said　he　of　the　Petite　Rue　Saint…Anne；

contemptuously。



〃Why？〃　asked　Collin。　〃There　are　ladies　present；　I　deny　nothing；

and　surrender。〃



He　paused；　and　looked　round　the　room　like　an　orator　who　is　about

to　overwhelm　his　audience。



〃Take　this　down；　Daddy　Lachapelle；〃　he　went　on；　addressing　a

little；　white…haired　old　man　who　had　seated　himself　at　the　end　of

the　table；　and　after　drawing　a　printed　form　from　the　portfolio；

was　proceeding　to　draw　up　a　document。　〃I　acknowledge　myself　to　be

Jacques　Collin；　otherwise　known　as　Trompe…la…Mort；　condemned　to

twenty　years'　penal　servitude；　and　I　have　just　proved　that　I　have

come　fairly　by　my　nickname。If　I　had　as　much　as　raised　my　hand；〃

he　went　on；　addressing　the　other　lodgers；　〃those　three　sneaking

wretches　yonder　would　have　drawn　claret　on　Mamma　Vauquer's

domestic　hearth。　The　rogues　have　laid　their　heads　together　to　set

a　trap　for　me。〃



Mme。　Vauquer　felt　sick　and　faint　at　these　words。



〃Good　Lord！〃　she　cried；　〃this　does　give　one　a　turn；　and　me　at　the

Gaite　with　him　only　last　night！〃　she　said　to　Sylvie。



〃Summon　your　philosophy；　mamma；〃　Collin　resumed。　〃Is　it　a

misfortune　to　have　sat　in　my　box　at　the　Gaite　yesterday　evening？

After　all；　are　you　better　than　we　are？　The　brand　upon　our

shoulders　is　less　shameful　than　the　brand　set　on　your　hearts；　you

flabby　members　of　a　society　rotten　to　the　core。　Not　the　best　man

among　you　could　stand　up　to　me。〃　His　eyes　rested　upon　Rastignac；

to　whom　he　spoke　with　a　pleasant　smile　that　seemed　strangely　at

variance　with　the　savage　expression　in　his　eyes。〃Our　little

bargain　still　holds　good；　dear　boy；　you　can　accept　any　time　you

like！　Do　you　understand？〃　And　he　sang：



　　〃A　charming　girl　is　my　Fanchette

　　In　her　simplicity。〃



〃Don't　you　trouble　yourself；〃　he　went　on；　〃I　can　get　in　my　money。

They　are　too　much　afraid　of　me　to　swindle　me。〃



The　convicts'　prison；　its　language　and　customs；　its　sudden　sharp

transitions　from　the　humorous　to　the　horrible；　its　appalling

grandeur；　its　triviality　and　its　dark　depths；　were　all　revealed

in　turn　by　the　speaker's　discourse；　he　seemed　to　be　no　longer　a

man；　but　the　type　and　mouthpiece　of　a　degenerate　race；　a　brutal；

supple；　clear…headed　race　of　savages。　In　one　moment　Collin　became

the　poet　of　an　inferno；　wherein　all　thoughts　and　passions　that

move　human　nature　（save　repentance）　find　a　place。　He　looked　about

him　like　a　fallen　archangel　who　is　for　war　to　the　end。　Rastignac

lowered　his　eyes；　and　acknowledged　this　kinship　claimed　by　crime

as　an　expiation　of　his　own　evil　thoughts。



〃Who　betrayed　me？〃　said　Collin；　and　his　terrible　eyes　traveled

round　the　room。　Suddenly　they　rested　on　Mlle。　Michonneau。



〃It　was　you；　old　cat！〃　he　said。　〃That　sham　stroke　of　apoplexy　was

your　doing；　lynx　eyes！　。　。　。　Two　words　from　me；　and　your　throat

would　be　cut　in　less　than　a　week；　but　I　forgive　you；　I　am　a

Christian。　You　did　not　sell　me　either。　But　who　did？Aha！　you

may　rummage　upstairs；〃　he　shouted；　hearing　the　police　officers

opening　his　cupboards　and　taking　possession　of　his　effects。　〃The

nest　is　empty；　the　birds　flew　away　yesterday；　and　you　will　be

none　the　wiser。　My　ledgers　are　here；〃　he　said　tapping　his

forehead。　〃Now　I　know　who　sold　me！　It　could　only　be　that

blackguard　Fil…de…Soie。　That　is　who　it　was；　old　catchpoll；　eh？〃

he　said；　turning　to　the　chief。　〃It　was　timed　so　neatly　to　get　the

banknotes　up　above　there。　There　is　nothing　left　for　youspies！

As　for　Fil…de…Soie；　he　will　be　under　the　daisies　in　less　than　a

fortnight；　even　if　you　were　to　tell　off　the　whole　force　to

protect　him。　How　much　did　you　give　the　Michonnette？〃　he　asked　of

the　police　officers。　〃A　thousand　crowns？　Oh　you　Ninon　in　decay；

Pompadour　in　tatters；　Venus　of　the　graveyard；　I　was　worth　more

than　that！　If　you　had　given　me　warning；　you　should　have　had　six

thousand　francs。　Ah！　you　had　no　suspicion　of　that；　old　trafficker

in　flesh　and　blood；　or　I　should　have　had　the　preference。　Yes；　I

would　have　given　six　thousand　francs　to　save　myself　an

inconvenient　journey　and　some　loss　of　money；〃　he　said；　as　they

fastened　the　handcuffs　on　his　wrists。　〃These　folks　will　amuse

themselves　by　dragging　out　this　business　till　the　end　of　time　to

keep　me　idle。　If　they　were　to　send　me　straight　to　jail；　I　should

soon　be　back　at　my　old　tricks　in　spite　of　the　duffers　at　the　Quai

des　Orfevres。　Down　yonder　they　will　all　turn　themselves　inside

out　to　help　their　generaltheir　good　Trompe…la…Mortto　get

clear　away。　Is　there　a　single　one　among　you　that　can　say；　as　I

can；　that　he　has　ten　thousand　brothers　ready　to　do　anything　for

him？〃　he　asked　proudly。　〃There　is　some　good　there；〃　he　said

tapping　his　heart；　〃I　have　never　betrayed　any　one！Look　you

here；　you　slut；〃　he　said　to　the　old　maid；　〃they　are　all　afraid　of

me；　do　you　see？　but　the　sight　of　you　turns　them　sick。　Rake　in

your　gains。〃



He　was　silent　for　a　moment；　and　looked　round　at　the　lodgers'

faces。



〃What　dolts　you　are；　all　of　you！　Have　you　never　seen　a　convict

before？　A　convict　of　Collin's　stamp；　whom　you　see　before　you；　is

a　man　less　weak…kneed　than　others；　he　lifts　up　his　voice　against

the　colossal　fraud　of　the　Social　Contract；　as　Jean　Jacques　did；

whose　pupil　he　is　proud　to　declare　himself。　In　short；　I　stand

here　single…handed　against　a　Government　and　a　whole　subsidized

machinery　of　tribunals　and　police；　and　I　am　a　match　for　them

all。〃



〃Ye　gods！〃　cried　the　painter；　〃what　a　magnificent　sketch　one

might　make　of　him！〃



〃Look　here；　you　gentlemen…in…waiting　to　his　highness　the　gibbet；

master　of　ceremonies　to　the　widow〃　（a　nickname　full　of　sombre

poetry；　given　by　prisoners　to　the　guillotine）；　〃be　a　good　fellow；

and　tell　me　if　it　really　was　Fil…de…Soie　who　sold　me。　I　don't

want　him　to　suffer　for　some　one　else；　that　would　not　be　fair。〃



But　before　the　chief　had　time　to　answer；　the　rest　of　the　party

returned　from　making　their　investigations　upstairs。　Everything

had　been　opened　and　inventoried。　A　few　words　passed　between　them

and　the　chief；　and　the　official　preliminaries　were　complete。



〃Gentlemen；〃　said　Collin；　addressing　the　lodgers；　〃they　will　take

me　away　directly。　You　have　all　made　my　stay　among　you　very

agreeable；　and　I　shall　look　back　upon　it　with　gratitude。　Receive

my　adieux；　and　permit　me　to　send　you　figs　from　Provence。〃



He　advanced　a　step　or　two；　and　then　turned　to　look　once　more　at

Rastignac。



〃Good…bye；　Eugene；〃　he　said；　in　a　sad　and　gentle　tone；　a　strange

transition　from　his　previous　rough　and　stern　manner。　〃If　you

should　be　hard　up；　I　have　left　you　a　devoted　friend；〃　and；　in

spite　of　his　shackles；　he　managed　to　assume　a　posture　of　defence；

called；　〃One；　two！〃　like　a　fencing…master；　and　lunged。　〃If

anything　goes　wrong；　apply　in　that　quarter。　Man　and　money；　all　at

your　service。〃



The　strange　speaker's　manner　was　sufficiently　burlesque；　so　that

no　one　but　Rastignac　knew　that　there　was　a　serious　meaning

underlying　the　pantomime。



As　soon　as　the　police；　soldiers；　and　detectives　had　left　the

house；　Sylvie；　who　was　rubbing　her　mistress'　temples　with

vinegar；　looked　round　at　the　bewildered　lodgers。



〃Well；〃　said　she；　〃he　was　a　man；　he　was；　for　all　that。〃



Her　words　broke　the　spell。　Every　one　had　been　too　much　excited；

too　much　moved　by　very　various　feelings　to　speak。　But　now　the

lodgers　began　to　look　at　each　other；　and　then　all　eyes　were

turned　at　once　on　Mlle。　Michonneau；　a　thin；　shriveled；　dead…

alive；　mummy…like　figure；　crouching　by　the　stove；　her　eyes　were

downcast；　as　if　she　feared　that　the　green　eye…shade　could　not

shut　out　the　expression　of　those　faces　from　her。　This　figure　and

the　feeling　of　repulsion　she　had　so　long　excited　were　explained

all　at　once。　A　smothered　murmur　filled　the　room；　it　was　so

unanimous；　that　it　seemed　as　if　the　same　feeling　of　loathing　had

pitched　all　the　voices　in　one　key。　Mlle。　Michonneau　heard　it；　and

did　not　stir。　It　was　Bianchon　who　was　the　first　to　move；　he　bent

over　his　neighbor；　and　said　in　a　low　voice；　〃If　that　creature　is

going　to　stop　here；　and　have　dinner　with　us；　I　shall　clear　out。〃



In　the　twinkling　of　an　eye　it　was　clear　that　every　one　in　the

room；　save