gobseck-第15节
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vast quantity of stuff had been deposited with him in the shape of
pledges； and had been left on his hands in default of payment。 I
noticed jewel…cases； with ciphers and armorial bearings stamped upon
them； and sets of fine table…linen； and weapons of price； but none of
the things were docketed。 I opened a book which seemed to be
misplaced； and found a thousand…franc note in it。 I promised myself
that I would go through everything thoroughly； I would try the
ceilings； and floors； and walls； and cornices to discover all the
gold； hoarded with such passionate greed by a Dutch miser worthy of a
Rembrandt's brush。 In all the course of my professional career I have
never seen such impressive signs of the eccentricity of avarice。
〃I went back to his room； and found an explanation of this chaos and
accumulation of riches in a pile of letters lying under the paper…
weights on his deskGobseck's correspondence with the various dealers
to whom doubtless he usually sold his presents。 These persons had；
perhaps； fallen victims to Gobseck's cleverness； or Gobseck may have
wanted fancy prices for his goods； at any rate； every bargain hung in
suspense。 He had not disposed of the eatables to Chevet； because
Chevet would only take them of him at a loss of thirty per cent。
Gobseck haggled for a few francs between the prices； and while they
wrangled the goods became unsalable。 Again； Gobseck had refused free
delivery of his silver…plate； and declined to guarantee the weights of
his coffees。 There had been a dispute over each article； the first
indication in Gobseck of the childishness and incomprehensible
obstinacy of age； a condition of mind reached at last by all men in
whom a strong passion survives the intellect。
〃I said to myself； as he had said； 'To whom will all these riches go？'
。 。 。 And then I think of the grotesque information he gave me as to
the present address of his heiress； I foresee that it will be my duty
to search all the houses of ill…fame in Paris to pour out an immense
fortune on some worthless jade。 But； in the first place； know this
that in a few days time Ernest de Restaud will come into a fortune to
which his title is unquestionable； a fortune which will put him in a
position to marry Mlle。 Camille； even after adequate provision has
been made for his mother the Comtesse de Restaud and his sister and
brother。〃
ADDENDUM
The following personages appear in other stories of the Human Comedy。
Bidault （known as Gigonnet）
The Government Clerks
The Vendetta
Cesar Birotteau
The Firm of Nucingen
A Daughter of Eve
Derville
A Start in Life
The Gondreville Mystery
Father Goriot
Colonel Chabert
Scenes from a Courtesan's Life
Derville； Madame
Cesar Birotteau
Gobseck； Jean…Esther Van
Father Goriot
Cesar Birotteau
The Government Clerks
The Unconscious Humoriists
Gobseck； Sarah Van
Cesar Birotteau
The Maranas
Scenes from a Courtesan's Life
The Member for Arcis
Gobseck； Esther Van
The Firm of Nucingen
A Bachelor's Establishment
Scenes from a Courtesan's Life
Grandlieu； Vicomtesse de
Scenes from a Courtesan's Life
Colonel Chabert
Grandlieu； Vicomte Juste de
Scenes from a Courtesan's Life
Grandlieu； Vicomtesse Juste de
Scenes from a Courtesan's Life
A Daughter of Eve
Maurice （de Restaud's valet）
Father Goriot
Palma （banker）
The Firm of Nucingen
Cesar Birotteau
Lost Illusions
A Distinguished Provincial at Paris
The Ball at Sceaux
Restaud； Comte de
Father Goriot
Restaud； Comtesse Anastasie de
Father Goriot
Restaud； Ernest de
The Member for Arcis
Restaud； Madame Ernest de
The Member for Arcis
Restaud； Felix…Georges de
The Member for Arcis
Trailles； Comte Maxime de
Cesar Birotteau
Father Goriot
Ursule Mirouet
A Man of Business
The Member for Arcis
The Secrets of a Princess
Cousin Betty
The Member for Arcis
Beatrix
The Unconscious Humorists
End
