a daughter of eve-第22节
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sister。 It is the nature of our mind to see effects before we analyze
their causes。 Eugenie recurred to her first idea of consulting Madame
Delphine de Nucingen； with whom she was to dine； and she resolved to
make the attempt； not doubting of success。 Generous； like all persons
who are not bound in the polished steel armor of modern society；
Madame du Tillet resolved to take the whole matter upon herself。
The countess； on the other hand； happy in the thought that she had
saved Raoul's life； spent the night in devising means to obtain the
forty thousand francs。 In emergencies like these women are sublime；
they find contrivances which would astonish thieves； business men； and
usurers； if those three classes of industrials were capable of being
astonished。 First； the countess sold her diamonds and decided on
wearing paste； then she resolved to ask the money from Vandenesse on
her sister's account； but these were dishonorable means； and her soul
was too noble not to recoil at them； she merely conceived them； and
cast them from her。 Ask money of Vandenesse to give to Nathan！ She
bounded in her bed with horror at such baseness。 Wear false diamonds
to deceive her husband！ Next she thought of borrowing the money from
the Rothschilds； who had so much； or from the archbishop of Paris；
whose mission it was to help persons in distress； darting thus from
thought to thought； seeking help in all。 She deplored belonging to a
class opposed to the government。 Formerly； she could easily have
borrowed the money on the steps of the throne。 She thought of
appealing to her father； the Comte de Granville。 But that great
magistrate had a horror of illegalities； his children knew how little
he sympathized with the trials of love； he was now a misanthrope and
held all affairs of the heart in horror。 As for the Comtesse de
Granville； she was living a retired life on one of her estates in
Normandy； economizing and praying； ending her days between priests and
money…bags； cold as ever to her dying moment。 Even supposing that
Marie had time to go to Bayeux and implore her； would her mother give
her such a sum unless she explained why she wanted it？ Could she say
she had debts？ Yes； perhaps her mother would be softened by the wants
of her favorite child。 Well； then！ in case all other means failed； she
WOULD go to Normandy。 The dreadful sight of the morning； the effects
she had made to revive Nathan； the hours passed beside his pillow； his
broken confession； the agony of a great soul； a vast genius stopped in
its upward flight by a sordid vulgar obstacle；all these things
rushed into her memory and stimulated her love。 She went over and over
her emotions； and felt her love to be deeper in these days of misery
than in those of Nathan's fame and grandeur。 She felt the nobility of
his last words said to her in Lady Dudley's boudoir。 What sacredness
in that farewell！ What grandeur in the immolation of a selfish
happiness which would have been her torture！ The countess had longed
for emotions； and now she had them；terrible； cruel； and yet most
precious。 She lived a deeper life in pain than in pleasure。 With what
delight she said to herself： 〃I have saved him once； and I will save
him again。〃 She heard him cry out when he felt her lips upon his
forehead； 〃Many a poor wretch does not know what love is！〃
〃Are you ill？〃 said her husband； coming into her room to take her to
breakfast。
〃I am dreadfully worried about a matter that is happening at my
sister's；〃 she replied； without actually telling a lie。
〃Your sister has fallen into bad hands；〃 replied Felix。 〃It is a shame
for any family to have a du Tillet in it；a man without honor of any
kind。 If disaster happened to her she would get no pity from him。〃
〃What woman wants pity？〃 said the countess； with a convulsive motion。
〃A man's sternness is to us our only pardon。〃
〃This is not the first time that I read your noble heart；〃 said the
count。 〃A woman who thinks as you do needs no watching。〃
〃Watching！〃 she said； 〃another shame that recoils on you。〃
Felix smiled； but Marie blushed。 When women are secretly to blame they
often show ostensibly the utmost womanly pride。 It is a dissimulation
of mind for which we ought to be obliged to them。 The deception is
full of dignity； if not of grandeur。 Marie wrote two lines to Nathan
under the name of Monsieur Quillet； to tell him that all went well；
and sent them by a street porter to the hotel du Mail。 That night； at
the Opera； Felix thought it very natural that she should wish to leave
her box and go to that of her sister； and he waited till du Tillet had
left his wife to give Marie his arm and take her there。 Who can tell
what emotions agitated her as she went through the corridors and
entered her sister's box with a face that was outwardly serene and
calm！
〃Well？〃 she said； as soon as they were alone。
Eugenie's face was an answer； it was bright with a joy which some
persons might have attributed to the satisfaction of vanity。
〃He can be saved； dear； but for three months only； during which time
we must plan some other means of doing it permanently。 Madame de
Nucingen wants four notes of hand； each for ten thousand francs；
endorsed by any one； no matter who； so as not to compromise you。 She
explained to me how they were made； but I couldn't understand her。
Monsieur Nathan； however； can make them for us。 I thought of Schmucke；
our old master。 I am sure he could be very useful in this emergency；
he will endorse the notes。 You must add to the four notes a letter in
which you guarantee their payment to Madame de Nucingen； and she will
give you the money to…morrow。 Do the whole thing yourself； don't trust
it to any one。 I feel sure that Schmucke will make no objection。 To
divert all suspicion I told Madame de Nucingen you wanted to oblige
our old music…master who was in distress； and I asked her to keep the
matter secret。〃
〃You have the sense of angels！ I only hope Madame de Nucingen won't
tell of it until after she gives me the money；〃 said the countess。
〃Schmucke lives in the rue de Nevers on the quai Conti； don't forget
the address； and go yourself。〃
〃Thanks！〃 said the countess； pressing her sister's hand。 〃Ah！ I'd give
ten years of life〃
〃Out of your old age〃
〃If I could put an end to these anxieties；〃 said the countess； smiling
at the interruption。
The persons who were at that moment levelling their opera…glasses at
the two sisters might well have supposed them engaged in some light…
hearted talk； but any observer who had come to the Opera more for the
pleasure of watching faces than for mere idle amusement might have
guessed them in trouble； from the anxious look which followed the
momentary smiles on their charming faces。 Raoul； who did not fear the
bailiffs at night； appeared； pale and ashy； with anxious eye and
gloomy brow； on the step of the staircase where he regularly took his
stand。 He looked for the Countess in her box and； finding it empty；
buried his face in his hands； leaning his elbows on the balustrade。
〃Can she be here！〃 he thought。
〃Look up； unhappy hero；〃 whispered Mme。 du Tillet。
As for Marie； at all risks she fixed on him that steady magnetic gaze；
in which the will flashes from the eye； as rays of light from the sun。
Such a look； mesmerizers say； penetrates to the person on whom it is
directed； and certainly Raoul seemed as though struck by a magic wand。
Raising his head； his eyes met those of the sisters。 With that
charming feminine readiness which is never at fault； Mme。 de
Vandenesse seized a cross； sparkling on her neck； and directed his
attention to it by a swift smile； full of meaning。 The brilliance of
the gem radiated even upon Raoul's forehead； and he replied with a
look of joy； he had understood。
〃Is it nothing then； Eugenie；〃 said the Countess； 〃thus to restore
life to the dead？〃
〃You have a chance yet with the Royal Humane Society；〃 replied
Eugenie； with a smile。〃
〃How wretched and depressed he looked when he came； and how happy he
will go away！〃
At this moment du Tillet； coming up to Raoul with every mark of
friendliness； pressed his hand； and said：
〃Well； old fellow； how are you？〃
〃As well as a man is likely to be who has just got the best possible
news of the election。 I shall be successful；〃 replied Raoul； radiant。
〃Delighted；〃 said du Tillet。 〃We shall want money for the paper。〃
〃The money will be found；〃 said Raoul。
〃The devil is with these woemn！〃 exclaimed du Tillet； still
unconvinced by the words of Raoul； whom he had nicknamed Charnathan。
〃What are you talking about？〃 said Raoul。
〃My sister…in…law is there with my wife； and they are hatching
something together。 You seem in high favor with the Countess； she is
bowing to you right across the house。〃
〃Look；〃 said Mme。 du Tillet to her sister； 〃they told us wrong。 Se
