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eugenie grandet(欧也妮·葛朗台)-第25节

小说: eugenie grandet(欧也妮·葛朗台) 字数: 每页4000字

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of pleasure passed over her as she opened the drawer of an old oak
cabinet; a fine specimen of the period called the Renaissance; on
which could still be seen; partly effaced; the famous royal
salamander。 She took from the drawer a large purse of red velvet with
gold tassels; edged with a tarnished fringe of gold wire;a relic
inherited from her grandmother。 She weighed it proudly in her hand;
and began with delight to count over the forgotten items of her little
hoard。 First she took out twenty /portugaises/; still new; struck in
the reign of John V。; 1725; worth by exchange; as her father told her;
five /lisbonnines/; or a hundred and sixty…eight francs; sixty…four
centimes each; their conventional value; however; was a hundred and
eighty francs apiece; on account of the rarity and beauty of the
coins; which shone like little suns。 Item; five /genovines/; or five
hundred…franc pieces of Genoa; another very rare coin worth eighty…
seven francs on exchange; but a hundred francs to collectors。 These
had formerly belonged to old Monsieur de la Bertelliere。 Item; three
gold /quadruples/; Spanish; of Philip V。; struck in 1729; given to her
one by one by Madame Gentillet; who never failed to say; using the
same words; when she made the gift; 〃This dear little canary; this
little yellow…boy; is worth ninety…eight francs! Keep it; my pretty
one; it will be the flower of your treasure。〃 Item (that which her
father valued most of all; the gold of these coins being twenty…three
carats and a fraction); a hundred Dutch ducats; made in the year 1756;
and worth thirteen francs apiece。 Item; a great curiosity; a species
of medal precious to the soul of misers;three rupees with the sign
of the Scales; and five rupees with the sign of the Virgin; all in
pure gold of twenty…four carats; the magnificent money of the Great
Mogul; each of which was worth by mere weight thirty…seven francs;
forty centimes; but at least fifty francs to those connoisseurs who
love to handle gold。 Item; the napoleon of forty francs received the
day before; which she had forgotten to put away in the velvet purse。
This treasure was all in virgin coins; true works of art; which
Grandet from time to time inquired after and asked to see; pointing
out to his daughter their intrinsic merits;such as the beauty of the
milled edge; the clearness of the flat surface; the richness of the
lettering; whose angles were not yet rubbed off。
Eugenie gave no thought to these rarities; nor to her father's mania
for them; nor to the danger she incurred in depriving herself of a
treasure so dear to him; no; she thought only of her cousin; and soon
made out; after a few mistakes of calculation; that she possessed
about five thousand eight hundred francs in actual value; which might
be sold for their additional value to collectors for nearly six
thousand。 She looked at her wealth and clapped her hands like a happy
child forced to spend its overflowing joy in artless movements of the
body。 Father and daughter had each counted up their fortune this
night;he; to sell his gold; Eugenie to fling hers into the ocean of
affection。 She put the pieces back into the old purse; took it in her
hand; and ran upstairs without hesitation。 The secret misery of her
cousin made her forget the hour and conventional propriety; she was
strong in her conscience; in her devotion; in her happiness。
As she stood upon the threshold of the door; holding the candle in one
hand and the purse in the other; Charles woke; caught sight of her;
and remained speechless with surprise。 Eugenie came forward; put the
candle on the table; and said in a quivering voice:
〃My cousin; I must beg pardon for a wrong I have done you; but God
will pardon meif youwill help me to wipe it out。〃
〃What is it?〃 asked Charles; rubbing his eyes。
〃I have read those letters。〃
Charles colored。
〃How did it happen?〃 she continued; 〃how came I here? Truly; I do not
know。 I am tempted not to regret too much that I have read them; they
have made me know your heart; your soul; and〃
〃And what?〃 asked Charles。
〃Your plans; your need of a sum〃
〃My dear cousin〃
〃Hush; hush! my cousin; not so loud; we must not wake others。 See;〃
she said; opening her purse; 〃here are the savings of a poor girl who
wants nothing。 Charles; accept them! This morning I was ignorant of
the value of money; you have taught it to me。 It is but a means; after
all。 A cousin is almost a brother; you can surely borrow the purse of
your sister。〃
Eugenie; as much a woman as a young girl; never dreamed of refusal;
but her cousin remained silent。
〃Oh! you will not refuse?〃 cried Eugenie; the beatings of whose heart
could be heard in the deep silence。
Her cousin's hesitation mortified her; but the sore need of his
position came clearer still to her mind; and she knelt down。
〃I will never rise till you have taken that gold!〃 she said。 〃My
cousin; I implore you; answer me! let me know if you respect me; if
you are generous; if〃
As he heard this cry of noble distress the young man's tears fell upon
his cousin's hands; which he had caught in his own to keep her from
kneeling。 As the warm tears touched her; Eugenie sprang to the purse
and poured its contents upon the table。
〃Ah! yes; yes; you consent?〃 she said; weeping with joy。 〃Fear
nothing; my cousin; you will be rich。 This gold will bring you
happiness; some day you shall bring it back to me;are we not
partners? I will obey all conditions。 But you should not attach such
value to the gift。〃
Charles was at last able to express his feelings。
〃Yes; Eugenie; my soul would be small indeed if I did not accept。 And
yet;gift for gift; confidence for confidence。〃
〃What do you mean?〃 she said; frightened。
〃Listen; dear cousin; I have here〃 He interrupted himself to point
out a square box covered with an outer case of leather which was on
the drawers。 〃There;〃 he continued; 〃is something as precious to me as
life itself。 This box was a present from my mother。 All day I have
been thinking that if she could rise from her grave; she would herself
sell the gold which her love for me lavished on this dressing…case;
but were I to do so; the act would seem to me a sacrilege。〃 Eugenie
pressed his hand as she heard these last words。 〃No;〃 he added; after
a slight pause; during which a liquid glance of tenderness passed
between them; 〃no; I will neither sell it nor risk its safety on my
journey。 Dear Eugenie; you shall be its guardian。 Never did friend
commit anything more sacred to another。 Let me show it to you。〃
He went to the box; took it from its outer coverings; opened it; and
showed his delighted cousin a dressing…case where the rich workmanship
gave to the gold ornaments a value far above their weight。
〃What you admire there is nothing;〃 he said; pushing a secret spring
which opened a hidden drawer。 〃Here is something which to me is worth
the whole world。〃 He drew out two portraits; masterpieces of Madame
Mirbel; richly set with pearls。
〃Oh; how beautiful! Is it the lady to whom you wrote that〃
〃No;〃 he said; smiling; 〃this is my mother; and here is my father;
your aunt and uncle。 Eugenie; I beg you on my knees; keep my treasure
safely。 If I die and your little fortune is lost; this gold and these
pearls will repay you。 To you alone could I leave these portraits; you
are worthy to keep them。 But destroy them at last; so that they may
pass into no other hands。〃 Eugenie was silent。 〃Ah; yes; say yes! You
consent?〃 he added with winning grace。
Hearing the very words she had just used to her cousin now addressed
to herself; she turned upon him a look of love; her first look of
loving womanhood;a glance in which there is nearly as much of
coquetry as of inmost depth。 He took her hand and kissed it。
〃Angel of purity! between us two money is nothing; never can be
anything。 Feeling; sentiment; must be all henceforth。〃
〃You are like your mother;was her voice as soft as yours?〃
〃Oh! much softer〃
〃Yes; for you;〃 she said; dropping her eyelids。 〃Come; Charles; go to
bed; I wish it; you must be tired。 Good…night。〃 She gently disengaged
her hand from those of her cousin; who followed her to her room;
lighting the way。 When they were both upon the threshold;
〃Ah!〃 he said; 〃why am I ruined?〃
〃What matter?my father is rich; I think so;〃 she answered。
〃Poor child!〃 said Charles; making a step into her room and leaning
his back against the wall; 〃if that were so; he would never have let
my father die; he would not let you live in this poor way; he would
live otherwise himself。〃
〃But he owns Froidfond。〃
〃What is Froidfond worth?〃
〃I don't know; but he has Noyers。〃
〃Nothing but a poor farm!〃
〃He has vineyards and fields。〃
〃Mere nothing;〃 said Charles disdainfully。 〃If your father had only
twenty…four thousand francs a year do you suppose you would live in
this cold; barren room?〃 he added; making a step in advance。 〃Ah!
there you will keep my treasures;〃 he said; glancing at the old
cabinet; as if to hide his thoughts。
〃Go and sleep;〃 she said; hindering his entrance into the disordered
room。
Charles stepped back; and they bid each other good…night with a mutual
smile。
Both fell asleep in the same dream; and from that moment the youth
bega

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