father goriot(高老头)-第52节

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and　when　papa　has　made　me　presents；　it　has　never　been　because　I　came　and　begged　for　them。〃

〃You　were　better　off　than　I。　M。　de　Marsay　was　rich；　as　you　have　reason　to　know。　You　always　were　as　slippery　as　gold。　Good…bye；　I　have　neither　sister　nor〃

〃Oh！　hush；　hush；　Nasie！〃　cried　her　father。

〃Nobody　else　would　repeat　what　everybody　has　ceased　to　believe。　You　are　an　unnatural　sister！〃　cried　Delphine。

〃Oh；　children；　children！　hush！　hush！　or　I　will　kill　myself　before　your　eyes。〃

〃There；　Nasie；　I　forgive　you；〃　said　Mme。　de　Nucingen；　〃you　are　very　unhappy。　But　I　am　kinder　than　you　are。　How　could　you　say　THAT　just　when　I　was　ready　to　do　anything　in　the　world　to　help　you；　even　to　be　reconciled　with　my　husband；　which　for　my　own　sake　I　Oh！　it　is　just　like　you；　you　have　behaved　cruelly　to　me　all　through　these　nine　years。〃

〃Children；　children；　kiss　each　other！〃　cried　the　father。　〃You　are　angels；　both　of　you。〃

〃No。　Let　me　alone；〃　cried　the　Countess　shaking　off　the　hand　that　her　father　had　laid　on　her　arm。　〃She　is　more　merciless　than　my　husband。　Any　one　might　think　she　was　a　model　of　all　the　virtues　herself！〃

〃I　would　rather　have　people　think　that　I　owed　money　to　M。　de　Marsay　than　own　that　M。　de　Trailles　had　cost　me　more　than　two　hundred　thousand　francs；〃　retorted　Mme。　de　Nucingen。

〃DELPHINE！〃　cried　the　Countess；　stepping　towards　her　sister。

〃I　shall　tell　you　the　truth　about　yourself　if　you　begin　to　slander　me；〃　said　the　Baroness　coldly。

〃Delphine！　you　are　a　〃

Father　Goriot　sprang　between　them；　grasped　the　Countess'　hand；　and　laid　his　own　over　her　mouth。

〃Good　heavens；　father！　What　have　you　been　handling　this　morning？〃　said　Anastasie。

〃Ah！　well；　yes；　I　ought　not　to　have　touched　you；〃　said　the　poor　father；　wiping　his　hands　on　his　trousers；　〃but　I　have　been　packing　up　my　things；　I　did　not　know　that　you　were　coming　to　see　me。〃

He　was　glad　that　he　had　drawn　down　her　wrath　upon　himself。

〃Ah！〃　he　sighed；　as　he　sat　down；　〃you　children　have　broken　my　heart　between　you。　This　is　killing　me。　My　head　feels　as　if　it　were　on　fire。　Be　good　to　each　other　and　love　each　other！　This　will　be　the　death　of　me！　Delphine！　Nasie！　come；　be　sensible；　you　are　both　in　the　wrong。　Come；　Dedel；〃　he　added；　looking　through　his　tears　at　the　Baroness；　〃she　must　have　twelve　thousand　francs；　you　see；　let　us　see　if　we　can　find　them　for　her。　Oh；　my　girls；　do　not　look　at　each　other　like　that！〃　and　he　sank　on　his　knees　beside　Delphine。　〃Ask　her　to　forgive　youjust　to　please　me；〃　he　said　in　her　ear。　〃She　is　more　miserable　than　you　are。　Come　now；　Dedel。〃

〃Poor　Nasie！〃　said　Delphine；　alarmed　at　the　wild　extravagant　grief　in　her　father's　face；　〃I　was　in　the　wrong；　kiss　me〃

〃Ah！　that　is　like　balm　to　my　heart；〃　cried　Father　Goriot。　〃But　how　are　we　to　find　twelve　thousand　francs？　I　might　offer　myself　as　a　substitute　in　the　army〃

〃Oh！　father　dear！〃　they　both　cried；　flinging　their　arms　about　him。　〃No；　no！〃

〃God　reward　you　for　the　thought。　We　are　not　worth　it；　are　we；　Nasie？〃　asked　Delphine。

〃And　besides；　father　dear；　it　would　only　be　a　drop　in　the　bucket；〃　observed　the　Countess。

〃But　is　flesh　and　blood　worth　nothing？〃　cried　the　old　man　in　his　despair。　〃I　would　give　body　and　soul　to　save　you；　Nasie。　I　would　do　a　murder　for　the　man　who　would　rescue　you。　I　would　do；　as　Vautrin　did；　go　to　the　hulks；　go〃　he　stopped　as　if　struck　by　a　thunderbolt；　and　put　both　hands　to　his　head。　〃Nothing　left！〃　he　cried；　tearing　his　hair。　〃If　I　only　knew　of　a　way　to　steal　money；　but　it　is　so　hard　to　do　it；　and　then　you　can't　set　to　work　by　yourself；　and　it　takes　time　to　rob　a　bank。　Yes；　it　is　time　I　was　dead；　there　is　nothing　left　me　to　do　but　to　die。　I　am　no　good　in　the　world；　I　am　no　longer　a　father！　No。　She　has　come　to　me　in　her　extremity；　and；　wretch　that　I　am；　I　have　nothing　to　give　her。　Ah！　you　put　your　money　into　a　life　annuity；　old　scoundrel；　and　had　you　not　daughters？　You　did　not　love　them。　Die；　die　in　a　ditch；　like　the　dog　that　you　are！　Yes；　I　am　worse　than　a　dog；　a　beast　would　not　have　done　as　I　have　done！　Oh！　my　head　。　。　。　it　throbs　as　if　it　would　burst。〃

〃Papa！〃　cried　both　the　young　women　at　once；　〃do；　pray；　be　reasonable！〃　and　they　clung　to　him　to　prevent　him　from　dashing　his　head　against　the　wall。　There　was　a　sound　of　sobbing。

Eugene；　greatly　alarmed；　took　the　bill　that　bore　Vautrin's　signature；　saw　that　the　stamp　would　suffice　for　a　larger　sum；　altered　the　figures；　made　it　into　a　regular　bill　for　twelve　thousand　francs；　payable　to　Goriot's　order；　and　went　to　his　neighbor's　room。

〃Here　is　the　money；　madame；〃　he　said；　handing　the　piece　of　paper　to　her。　〃I　was　asleep；　your　conversation　awoke　me；　and　by　this　means　I　learned　all　that　I　owed　to　M。　Goriot。　This　bill　can　be　discounted；　and　I　shall　meet　it　punctually　at　the　due　date。〃

The　Countess　stood　motionless　and　speechless；　but　she　held　the　bill　in　her　fingers。

〃Delphine；〃　she　said；　with　a　white　face；　and　her　whole　frame　quivering　with　indignation；　anger；　and　rage；　〃I　forgave　you　everything；　God　is　my　witness　that　I　forgave　you；　but　I　cannot　forgive　this！　So　this　gentleman　was　there　all　the　time；　and　you　knew　it！　Your　petty　spite　has　let　you　to　wreak　your　vengeance　on　me　by　betraying　my　secrets；　my　life；　my　children's　lives；　my　shame；　my　honor！　There；　you　are　nothing　to　me　any　longer。　I　hate　you。　I　will　do　all　that　I　can　to　injure　you。　I　will　。　。　。〃

Anger　paralyzed　her；　the　words　died　in　her　dry　parched　throat。

〃Why；　he　is　my　son；　my　child；　he　is　your　brother；　your　preserver！〃　cried　Goriot。　〃Kiss　his　hand；　Nasie！　Stay；　I　will　embrace　him　myself；〃　he　said；　straining　Eugene　to　his　breast　in　a　frenzied　clasp。　〃Oh　my　boy！　I　will　be　more　than　a　father　to　you；　if　I　had　God's　power；　I　would　fling　worlds　at　your　feet。　Why　don't　you　kiss　him；　Nasie？　He　is　not　a　man；　but　an　angel；　a　angel　out　of　heaven。〃

〃Never　mind　her；　father；　she　is　mad　just　now。〃

〃Mad！　am　I？　And　what　are　you？〃　cried　Mme。　de　Restaud。

〃Children；　children；　I　shall　die　if　you　go　on　like　this；〃　cried　the　old　man；　and　he　staggered　and　fell　on　the　bed　as　if　a　bullet　had　struck　him。〃They　are　killing　me　between　them；〃　he　said　to　himself。

The　Countess　fixed　her　eyes　on　Eugene；　who　stood　stock　still；　all　his　faculties　were　numbed　by　this　violent　scene。

〃Sir？　。　。　。〃　she　said；　doubt　and　inquiry　in　her　face；　tone；　and　bearing；　she　took　no　notice　now　of　her　father　nor　of　Delphine；　who　was　hastily　unfastening　his　waistcoat。

〃Madame；〃　said　Eugene；　answering　the　question　before　it　was　asked；　〃I　will　meet　the　bill；　and　keep　silence　about　it。〃

〃You　have　killed　our　father；　Nasie！〃　said　Delphine；　pointing　to　Goriot；　who　lay　unconscious　on　the　bed。　The　Countess　fled。

〃I　freely　forgive　her；〃　said　the　old　man；　opening　his　eyes；　〃her　position　is　horrible；　it　would　turn　an　older　head　than　hers。　Comfort　Nasie；　and　be　nice　to　her；　Delphine；　promise　it　to　your　poor　father　before　he　dies；〃　he　asked；　holding　Delphine's　hand　in　a　convulsive　clasp。

〃Oh！　what　ails　you；　father？〃　she　cried　in　real　alarm。

〃Nothing；　nothing；〃　said　Goriot；　〃it　will　go　off。　There　is　something　heavy　pressing　on　my　forehead；　a　little　headache。　。　。　。　Ah！　poor　Nasie；　what　a　life　lies　before　her！〃

Just　as　he　spoke；　the　Countess　came　back　again　and　flung　herself　on　her　knees　before　him。　〃Forgive　me！〃　she　cried。

〃Come；〃　said　her　father；　〃you　are　hurting　me　still　more。〃

〃Monsieur；〃　the　Countess　said；　turning　to　Rastignac；　〃misery　made　me　unjust　to　you。　You　will　be　a　brother　to　me；　will　you　not？〃　and　she　held　out　her　hand。　Her　eyes　were　full　of　tears　as　she　spoke。

〃Nasie；〃　cried　Delphine；　flinging　her　arms　round　her　sister；　〃my　little　Nasie；　let　us　forget　and　forgive。〃

〃No；　no；〃　cried　Nasie；　〃I　shall　never　forget！〃

〃Dear　angels；〃　cried　Goriot；　〃it　is　as　if　a　dark　curtain　over　my　eyes　had　been　raised；　your　voices　have　called　me　back　to　life。　Kiss　each　other　once　more。　Well；　now；　Nasie；　that　bill　will　save　you；　won't　it？〃

〃I　hope　so。　I　say；　papa；　will　you　write　your　name　on　it？〃

〃There！　how　stupid　of　me　to　forget　that！　But　I　am　not　feeling　at　all　well；　Nasie；　so　you　must　not　remember　it　against　me。　Send　and　let　me　know　as　soon　as　you　are　out　of　your　strait。　No；　I　will　go　to　you。　No；　after　all；　I　will　not　go；　I　might　meet　your　husband；　and　I　should　kill　him　on　the　spot。　And　as　for　signing　away　your　property；　I　shall　have　a　word　to　say　about　that。　Quick；　my　child；　and　keep　Maxime　in　order　in　future。〃

Eugene　was　too　bewildered　to　speak。

〃Poor　Anastasie；　she　always　had　a　violent　temper；〃　said　Mme。　de　Nucingen；　〃but　she　has　a　good　heart。〃

〃She　came　back　for　the　endorsement；〃　said　Eugene　in　Delphine's　ear。

〃Do　you　think　so？〃

〃I　only　wish　I　could　think　otherwise。　Do　not　trust　her；〃　he　answered；　raising　his　eyes　as　if　he　confided　to　heaven　the　thoughts　that　he　did　not　venture　to　express。

〃Yes。　She　is　always　acting　a　part　to　some　extent。〃

〃How　do　you　feel　now；　dear　Father　Goriot？〃　asked　Rastignac。

〃I　should　like　to　go　to　sleep；〃　he　replied。

Eugene　helped　him　to　bed；　and　Delphine　sat　by　the　bedside；　holding　his　hand　until　he　fell　asleep。　Then　she　went。

〃This　evening　at　the　Italiens；〃　she　said　to　Eugene；　〃and　you　can　let　me　know　how　he　is。　To…morrow　you　will　leave　this　place；　monsieur。　Let　us　go　into　your　room。Oh！　how