father goriot(高老头)-第45节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


il…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　Poiret；　was　of　the　medical　student's　opinion；　so　that　the　latter；　strong　in　the　support　of　the　majority；　went　up　to　that　elderly　person。

〃You　are　more　intimate　with　Mlle。　Michonneau　than　the　rest　of　us；〃　he　said；　〃speak　to　her；　make　her　understand　that　she　must　go；　and　go　at　once。〃

〃At　once！〃　echoed　Poiret　in　amazement。

Then　he　went　across　to　the　crouching　figure；　and　spoke　a　few　words　in　her　ear。

〃I　have　paid　beforehand　for　the　quarter；　I　have　as　much　right　to　be　here　as　any　one　else；〃　she　said；　with　a　viperous　look　at　the　boarders。

〃Never　mind　that！　we　will　club　together　and　pay　you　the　money　back；〃　said　Rastignac。

〃Monsieur　is　taking　Collin's　part〃　she　said；　with　a　questioning；　malignant　glance　at　the　law　student；　〃it　is　not　difficult　to　guess　why。〃

Eugene　started　forward　at　the　words；　as　if　he　meant　to　spring　upon　her　and　wring　her　neck。　That　glance；　and　the　depths　of　treachery　that　it　revealed；　had　been　a　hideous　enlightenment。

〃Let　her　alone！〃　cried　the　boarders。

Rastignac　folded　his　arms　and　was　silent。

〃Let　us　have　no　more　of　Mlle。　Judas；〃　said　the　painter；　turning　to　Mme。　Vauquer。　〃If　you　don't　show　the　Michonneau　the　door；　madame；　we　shall　all　leave　your　shop；　and　wherever　we　go　we　shall　say　that　there　are　only　convicts　and　spies　left　there。　If　you　do　the　other　thing；　we　will　hold　our　tongues　about　the　business；　for　when　all　is　said　and　done；　it　might　happen　in　the　best　society　until　they　brand　them　on　the　forehead；　when　they　send　them　to　the　hulks。　They　ought　not　to　let　convicts　go　about　Paris　disguised　like　decent　citizens；　so　as　to　carry　on　their　antics　like　a　set　of　rascally　humbugs；　which　they　are。〃

At　this　Mme。　Vauquer　recovered　miraculously。　She　sat　up　and　folded　her　arms；　her　eyes　were　wide　open　now；　and　there　was　no　sign　of　tears　in　them。

〃Why；　do　you　really　mean　to　be　the　ruin　of　my　establishment；　my　dear　sir？　There　is　M。　VautrinGoodness；〃　she　cried；　interrupting　herself；　〃I　can't　help　calling　him　by　the　name　he　passed　himself　off　by　for　an　honest　man！　There　is　one　room　to　let　already；　and　you　want　me　to　turn　out　two　more　lodgers　in　the　middle　of　the　season；　when　no　one　is　moving〃

〃Gentlemen；　let　us　take　our　hats　and　go　and　dine　at　Flicoteaux's　in　the　Place　Sorbonne；〃　cried　Bianchon。

Mme。　Vauquer　glanced　round；　and　saw　in　a　moment　on　which　side　her　interest　lay。　She　waddled　across　to　Mlle。　Michonneau。

〃Come；　now；〃　she　said；　〃you　would　not　be　the　ruin　of　my　establishment；　would　you；　eh？　There's　a　dear；　kind　soul。　You　see　what　a　pass　these　gentlemen　have　brought　me　to；　just　go　up　to　your　room　for　this　evening。〃

〃Never　a　bit　of　it！〃　cried　the　boarders。　〃She　must　go；　and　go　this　minute！〃

〃But　the　poor　lady　has　had　no　dinner；〃　said　Poiret；　with　piteous　entreaty。

〃She　can　go　and　dine　where　she　likes；〃　shouted　several　voices。

〃Turn　her　out；　the　spy！〃

〃Turn　them　both　out！　Spies！〃

〃Gentlemen；〃　cried　Poiret；　his　heart　swelling　with　the　courage　that　love　gives　to　the　ovine　male；　〃respect　the　weaker　sex。〃

〃Spies　are　of　no　sex！〃　said　the　painter。

〃A　precious　sexorama！〃

〃Turn　her　into　the　streetorama！〃

〃Gentlemen；　this　is　not　manners！　If　you　turn　people　out　of　the　house；　it　ought　not　to　be　done　so　unceremoniously　and　with　no　notice　at　all。　We　have　paid　our　money；　and　we　are　not　going；〃　said　Poiret；　putting　on　his　cap；　and　taking　a　chair　beside　Mlle。　Michonneau；　with　whom　Mme。　Vauquer　was　remonstrating。

〃Naughty　boy！〃　said　the　painter；　with　a　comical　look；　〃run　away；　naughty　little　boy！〃

〃Look　here；〃　said　Bianchon；　〃if　you　do　not　go；　all　the　rest　of　us　will；〃　and　the　boarders；　to　a　man；　made　for　the　sitting…room…　door。

〃Oh！　mademoiselle；　what　is　to　be　done？〃　cried　Mme。　Vauquer。　〃I　am　a　ruined　woman。　You　can't　stay　here；　they　will　go　further；　do　something　violent。〃

Mlle。　Michonneau　rose　to　her　feet。

〃She　is　going！She　is　not　going！She　is　going！No；　she　isn't。〃

These　alternate　exclamations；　and　a　suggestion　of　hostile　intentions；　borne　out　by　the　behavior　of　the　insurgents；　compelled　Mlle。　Michonneau　to　take　her　departure。　She　made　some　stipulations；　speaking　in　a　low　voice　in　her　hostess'　ear；　and　then〃I　shall　go　to　Mme。　Buneaud's；〃　she　said；　with　a　threatening　look。

〃Go　where　you　please；　mademoiselle；〃　said　Mme。　Vauquer；　who　regarded　this　choice　of　an　opposition　establishment　as　an　atrocious　insult。　〃Go　and　lodge　with　the　Buneaud；　the　wine　would　give　a　cat　the　colic；　and　the　food　is　cheap　and　nasty。〃

The　boarders　stood　aside　in　two　rows　to　let　her　pass；　not　a　word　was　spoken。　Poiret　looked　so　wistfully　after　Mlle。　Michonneau；　and　so　artlessly　revealed　that　he　was　in　two　minds　whether　to　go　or　stay；　that　the　boarders；　in　their　joy　at　being　quit　of　Mlle。　Michonneau；　burst　out　laughing　at　the　sight　of　him。

〃Hist！st！st！　Poiret；〃　shouted　the　painter。　〃Hallo！　I　say；　Poiret；　hallo！〃　The　employe　from　the　Museum　began　to　sing：

　　〃Partant　pour　la　Syrie；　　　Le　jeune　et　beau　Dunois　。　。　。〃

〃Get　along　with　you；　you　must　be　dying　to　go；　trahit　sua　quemque　voluptas！〃　said　Bianchon。

〃Every　one　to　his　tastefree　rendering　from　Virgil；〃　said　the　tutor。

Mlle。　Michonneau　made　a　movement　as　if　to　take　Poiret's　arm；　with　an　appealing　glance　that　he　could　not　resist。　The　two　went　out　together；　the　old　maid　leaning　upon　him；　and　there　was　a　burst　of　applause；　followed　by　peals　of　laughter。

〃Bravo；　Poiret！〃

〃Who　would　have　thought　it　of　old　Poiret！〃

〃Apollo　Poiret！〃

〃Mars　Poiret！〃

〃Intrepid　Poiret！〃

A　messenger　came　in　at　that　moment　with　a　letter　for　Mme。　Vauquer；　who　read　it　through；　and　collapsed　in　her　chair。

〃The　house　might　as　well　be　burned　down　at　once；〃　cried　she；　〃if　there　are　to　be　any　more　of　these　thunderbolts！　Young　Taillefer　died　at　three　o'clock　this　afternoon。　It　serves　me　right　for　wishing　well　to　those　ladies　at　that　poor　man's　expense。　Mme。　Couture　and　Victorine　want　me　to　send　their　things；　because　they　are　going　to　live　with　her　father。　M。　Taillefer　allows　his　daughter　to　keep　old　Mme。　Couture　as　her　lady　companion。　Four　rooms　to　let！　and　five　lodgers　gone！　。　。　。〃

She　sat　up；　and　seemed　about　to　burst　into　tears。

〃Bad　luck　has　come　to　lodge　here；　I　think；〃　she　cried。

Once　more　there　came　a　sound　of　wheels　from　the　street　outside。

〃What！　another　windfall　for　somebody！〃　was　Sylvie's　comment。

But　it　was　Goriot　who　came　in；　looking　so　radiant；　so　flushed　with　happiness；　that　he　seemed　to　have　grown　young　again。

〃Goriot　in　a　cab！〃　cried　the　boarders；　〃the　world　is　coming　to　an　end。〃

The　good　soul　made　straight　for　Eugene；　who　was　standing　wrapped　in　thought　in　a　corner；　and　laid　a　hand　on　the　young　man's　arm。

〃Come；〃　he　said；　with　gladness　in　his　eyes。

〃Then　you　haven't　heard　the　news？〃　said　Eugene。　〃Vautrin　was　an　escaped　convict；　they　have　just　arrested　him；　and　young　Taillefer　is　dead。〃

〃Very　well；　but　w