father goriot(高老头)-第13节

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on。

〃This　way　to　the　drawing…room；　sir；〃　said　the　servant；　with　the　exaggerated　respect　which　seemed　to　be　one　more　jest　at　his　expense。

Eugene　turned　so　quickly　that　he　stumbled　against　a　bath。　By　good　luck；　he　managed　to　keep　his　hat　on　his　head；　and　saved　it　from　immersion　in　the　water；　but　just　as　he　turned；　a　door　opened　at　the　further　end　of　the　dark　passage；　dimly　lighted　by　a　small　lamp。　Rastignac　heard　voices　and　the　sound　of　a　kiss；　one　of　the　speakers　was　Mme。　de　Restaud；　the　other　was　Father　Goriot。　Eugene　followed　the　servant　through　the　dining…room　into　the　drawing…　room；　he　went　to　a　window　that　looked　out　into　the　courtyard；　and　stood　there　for　a　while。　He　meant　to　know　whether　this　Goriot　was　really　the　Goriot　that　he　knew。　His　heart　beat　unwontedly　fast；　he　remembered　Vautrin's　hideous　insinuations。　A　well…dressed　young　man　suddenly　emerged　from　the　room　almost　as　Eugene　entered　it；　saying　impatiently　to　the　servant　who　stood　at　the　door：　〃I　am　going；　Maurice。　Tell　Madame　la　Comtesse　that　I　waited　more　than　half　an　hour　for　her。〃

Whereupon　this　insolent　being；　who；　doubtless；　had　a　right　to　be　insolent；　sang　an　Italian　trill；　and　went　towards　the　window　where　Eugene　was　standing；　moved　thereto　quite　as　much　by　a　desire　to　see　the　student's　face　as　by　a　wish　to　look　out　into　the　courtyard。

〃But　M。　le　Comte　had　better　wait　a　moment　longer；　madame　is　disengaged；〃　said　Maurice；　as　he　returned　to　the　ante…chamber。

Just　at　that　moment　Father　Goriot　appeared　close　to　the　gate；　he　had　emerged　from　a　door　at　the　foot　of　the　back　staircase。　The　worthy　soul　was　preparing　to　open　his　umbrella　regardless　of　the　fact　that　the　great　gate　had　opened　to　admit　a　tilbury；　in　which　a　young　man　with　a　ribbon　at　his　button…hole　was　seated。　Father　Goriot　had　scarcely　time　to　start　back　and　save　himself。　The　horse　took　fright　at　the　umbrella；　swerved；　and　dashed　forward　towards　the　flight　of　steps。　The　young　man　looked　round　in　annoyance；　saw　Father　Goriot；　and　greeted　him　as　he　went　out　with　constrained　courtesy；　such　as　people　usually　show　to　a　money…　lender　so　long　as　they　require　his　services；　or　the　sort　of　respect　they　feel　it　necessary　to　show　for　some　one　whose　reputation　has　been　blown　upon；　so　that　they　blush　to　acknowledge　his　acquaintance。　Father　Goriot　gave　him　a　little　friendly　nod　and　a　good…natured　smile。　All　this　happened　with　lightning　speed。　Eugene　was　so　deeply　interested　that　he　forgot　that　he　was　not　alone　till　he　suddenly　heard　the　Countess'　voice。

〃Oh！　Maxime；　were　you　going　away？〃　she　said　reproachfully；　with　a　shade　of　pique　in　her　manner。　The　Countess　had　not　seen　the　incident　nor　the　entrance　of　the　tilbury。　Rastignac　turned　abruptly　and　saw　her　standing　before　him；　coquettishly　dressed　in　a　loose　white　cashmere　gown　with　knots　of　rose…colored　ribbon　here　and　there；　her　hair　was　carelessly　coiled　about　her　head；　as　is　the　wont　of　Parisian　women　in　the　morning；　there　was　a　soft　fragrance　about　herdoubtless　she　was　fresh　from　a　bath；her　graceful　form　seemed　more　flexible；　her　beauty　more　luxuriant。　Her　eyes　glistened。　A　young　man　can　see　everything　at　a　glance；　he　feels　the　radiant　influence　of　woman　as　a　plant　discerns　and　absorbs　its　nutriment　from　the　air；　he　did　not　need　to　touch　her　hands　to　feel　their　cool　freshness。　He　saw　faint　rose　tints　through　the　cashmere　of　the　dressing　gown；　it　had　fallen　slightly　open；　giving　glimpses　of　a　bare　throat；　on　which　the　student's　eyes　rested。　The　Countess　had　no　need　of　the　adventitious　aid　of　corsets；　her　girdle　defined　the　outlines　of　her　slender　waist；　her　throat　was　a　challenge　to　love；　her　feet；　thrust　into　slippers；　were　daintily　small。　As　Maxime　took　her　hand　and　kissed　it；　Eugene　became　aware　of　Maxime's　existence；　and　the　Countess　saw　Eugene。

〃Oh！　is　that　you　M。　de　Rastignac？　I　am　very　glad　to　see　you；〃　she　said；　but　there　was　something　in　her　manner　that　a　shrewd　observer　would　have　taken　as　a　hint　to　depart。

Maxime；　as　the　Countess　Anastasie　had　called　the　young　man　with　the　haughty　insolence　of　bearing；　looked　from　Eugene　to　the　lady；　and　from　the　lady　to　Eugene；　it　was　sufficiently　evident　that　he　wished　to　be　rid　of　the　latter。　An　exact　and　faithful　rendering　of　the　glance　might　be　given　in　the　words：　〃Look　here；　my　dear；　I　hope　you　intend　to　send　this　little　whipper…snapper　about　his　business。〃

The　Countess　consulted　the　young　man's　face　with　an　intent　submissiveness　that　betrays　all　the　secrets　of　a　woman's　heart；　and　Rastignac　all　at　once　began　to　hate　him　violently。　To　begin　with；　the　sight　of　the　fair　carefully　arranged　curls　on　the　other's　comely　head　had　convinced　him　that　his　own　crop　was　hideous；　Maxime's　boots；　moreover；　were　elegant　and　spotless；　while　his　own；　in　spite　of　all　his　care；　bore　some　traces　of　his　recent　walk；　and；　finally；　Maxime's　overcoat　fitted　the　outline　of　his　figure　gracefully；　he　looked　like　a　pretty　woman；　while　Eugene　was　wearing　a　black　coat　at　half…past　two。　The　quick…　witted　child　of　the　Charente　felt　the　disadvantage　at　which　he　was　placed　beside　this　tall；　slender　dandy；　with　the　clear　gaze　and　the　pale　face；　one　of　those　men　who　would　ruin　orphan　children　without　scruple。　Mme。　de　Restaud　fled　into　the　next　room　without　waiting　for　Eugene　to　speak；　shaking　out　the　skirts　of　her　dressing…gown　in　her　flight；　so　that　she　looked　like　a　white　butterfly；　and　Maxime　hurried　after　her。　Eugene；　in　a　fury；　followed　Maxime　and　the　Countess；　and　the　three　stood　once　more　face　to　face　by　the　hearth　in　the　large　drawing…room。　The　law　student　felt　quite　sure　that　the　odious　Maxime　found　him　in　the　way；　and　even　at　the　risk　of　displeasing　Mme。　de　Restaud；　he　meant　to　annoy　the　dandy。　It　had　struck　him　all　at　once　that　he　had　seen　the　young　man　before　at　Mme。　de　Beauseant's　ball；　he　guessed　the　relation　between　Maxime　and　Mme。　de　Restaud；　and　with　the　youthful　audacity　that　commits　prodigious　blunders　or　achieves　signal　success；　he　said　to　himself；　〃This　is　my　rival；　I　mean　to　cut　him　out。〃

Rash　resolve！　He　did　not　know　that　M。　le　Comte　Maxime　de　Trailles　would　wait　till　he　was　insulted；　so　as　to　fire　first　and　kill　his　man。　Eugene　was　a　sportsman　and　a　good　shot；　but　he　had　not　yet　hit　the　bulls's　eye　twenty　times　out　of　twenty…two。　The　young　Count　dropped　into　a　low　chair　by　the　hearth；　took　up　the　tongs；　and　made　up　the　fire　so　violently　and　so　sulkily；　that　Anastasie's　fair　face　suddenly　clouded　over。　She　turned　to　Eugene；　with　a　cool；　questioning　glance　that　asked　plainly；　〃Why　do　you　not　go？〃　a　glance　which　well…bred　people　regard　as　a　cue　to　make　their　exit。

Eugene　assumed　an　amiable　expression。

〃Madame；〃　he　began；　〃I　hastened　to　call　upon　you〃

He　stopped　short。　The　door　opened；　and　the　owner　of　the　tilbury　suddenly　appeared。　He　had　left　his　hat　outside；　and　did　not　greet　the　Countess；　he　looked　meditatively　at　Rastignac；　and　held　out　his　hand　to　Maxime　with　a　cordial　〃Good　morning；〃　that　astonished　Eugene　not　a　little。　The　young　provincial　did　not　understand　the　amenities　of　a　triple　alliance。

〃M。　de　Restaud；〃　said　the　Countess；　introducing　her　husband　to　the　law　student。

Eugene　bowed　profoundly。

〃This　gentleman；〃　she　continued；　presenting　Eugene　to　her　husband；　〃is　M。　de　Rastignac；　he　is　related　to　Mme。　la　Vicomtesse　de　Beauseant　through　the　Marcillacs；　I　had　the　pleasure　of　meeting　him　at　her　last　ball。〃

Related　to　Mme。　la　Vicomtesse　de　Beauseant　through　the　Marcillacs！　These　words；　on　which　the　countess　threw　ever　so　slight　an　emphasis；　by　reason　of　the　pride　that　the　mistress　of　a　house　takes　in　showing　that　she　only　receives　people　of　distinction　as　visitors　in　her　house；　produced　a　magical　effect。　The　Count's　stiff　manner　relaxed　at　once　as　he　returned　the　student's　bow。

〃Delighted　to　have　an　opportunity　of　making　your　acquaintance；〃　he　said。

Maxime　de　Trailles　himself　gave　Eugene　an　uneasy　glance；　and　suddenly　dropped　his　insolent　manner。　The　mighty　name　had　all　the　power　of　a　fairy's　wand；　those　closed　compartments　in　the　southern　brain　flew　open　again；　Rastignac's　carefully　drilled　faculties　returned。　It　was　as　if　a　sudden　light　had　pierced　the　obscurity　of　this　upper　world　of　Paris；　and　he　began　to　see；　though　everything　was　indistinct　as　yet。　Mme。　Vauquer's　lodging…　house　and　Father　Goriot　were　very　far　remote　from　his　thoughts。

〃I　thought　that　the　Marcillacs　were　extinct；〃　the　Comte　de　Restaud　said；　addressing　Eugene。

〃Yes；　they　are　extinct；〃　answered　the　law　student。　〃My　great…　uncle；　the　Chevalier　de　Rastignac；　married　the　heiress　of　the　Marcillac　family。　They　had　only　one　daughter；　who　married　the　Marechal　de　Clarimbault；　Mme。　de　Beauseant's　grandfather　on　the　mother's　side。　We　are　the　younger　branch　of　the　family；　and　the　younger　branch　is　all　the　poorer　because　my　great…uncle；　the　Vice…Admiral；　lost　all　that　he　had　in　the　King's　service。　The　Government　during　the　Revolution　refused　to　admit　our　claims　when　the　Compagnie　des　Indes　was　liquidated。〃

〃Was　not　your　great…uncle　in　command　of　the　Vengeur　before　1789？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Then　he　would　be　acquainted　with　my　grandfather；　who　commanded　the　Warwick。〃

Maxime　looked　at　Mme。　de　Restaud　and　shrugged　his　shoulders；　as　who　should　say；　〃If　he　is　going　to　discuss　nautical　matters　with　that　fellow；　it　is　a