father goriot(高老头)-第41部分

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e。　How　handsome　he　looks　sleeping！　Just　let　his　head　rest　on　your　shoulder；　Mme。　Couture。　Pshaw！　he　falls　over　towards　Mlle。　Victorine。　There's　a　special　providence　for　young　things。　A　little　more；　and　he　would　have　broken　his　head　against　the　knob　of　the　chair。　They'd　make　a　pretty　pair　those　two　would！〃

〃Hush；　my　good　neighbor；〃　cried　Mme。　Couture；　〃you　are　saying　such　things〃

〃Pooh！〃　put　in　Mme。　Vauquer；　〃he　does　not　hear。Here；　Sylvie！　come　and　help　me　to　dress。　I　shall　put　on　my　best　stays。〃

〃What！　your　best　stays　just　after　dinner；　madame？〃　said　Sylvie。　〃No；　you　can　get　some　one　else　to　lace　you。　I　am　not　going　to　be　your　murderer。　It's　a　rash　thing　to　do；　and　might　cost　you　your　life。〃

〃I　don't　care；　I　must　do　honor　to　M。　Vautrin。〃

〃Are　you　so　fond　of　your　heirs　as　all　that？〃

〃Come；　Sylvie；　don't　argue；〃　said　the　widow；　as　she　left　the　room。

〃At　her　age；　too！〃　said　the　cook　to　Victorine；　pointing　to　her　mistress　as　she　spoke。

Mme。　Couture　and　her　ward　were　left　in　the　dining…room；　and　Eugene　slept　on　Victorine's　shoulder。　The　sound　of　Christophe's　snoring　echoed　through　the　silent　house；　Eugene's　quiet　breathing　seemed　all　the　quieter　by　force　of　contrast；　he　was　sleeping　as　peacefully　as　a　child。　Victorine　was　very　happy；　she　was　free　to　perform　one　of　those　acts　of　charity　which　form　an　innocent　outlet　for　all　the　overflowing　sentiments　of　a　woman's　nature；　he　was　so　close　to　her　that　she　could　feel　the　throbbing　of　his　heart；　there　was　a　look　of　almost　maternal　protection　and　conscious　pride　in　Victorine's　face。　Among　the　countless　thoughts　that　crowded　up　in　her　young　innocent　heart；　there　was　a　wild　flutter　of　joy　at　this　close　contact。

〃Poor；　dear　child！〃　said　Mme。　Couture；　squeezing　her　hand。

The　old　lady　looked　at　the　girl。　Victorine's　innocent；　pathetic　face；　so　radiant　with　the　new　happiness　that　had　befallen　her；　called　to　mind　some　naive　work　of　mediaeval　art；　when　the　painter　neglected　the　accessories；　reserving　all　the　magic　of　his　brush　for　the　quiet；　austere　outlines　and　ivory　tints　of　the　face；　which　seems　to　have　caught　something　of　the　golden　glory　of　heaven。

〃After　all；　he　only　took　two　glasses；　mamma；〃　said　Victorine；　passing　her　fingers　through　Eugene's　hair。

〃Indeed；　if　he　had　been　a　dissipated　young　man；　child；　he　would　have　carried　his　wine　like　the　rest　of　them。　His　drowsiness　does　him　credit。〃

There　was　a　sound　of　wheels　outside　in　the　street。

〃There　is　M。　Vautrin；　mamma；〃　said　the　girl。　〃Just　take　M。　Eugene。　I　would　rather　not　have　that　man　see　me　like　this；　there　are　some　ways　of　looking　at　you　that　seem　to　sully　your　soul　and　make　you　feel　as　though　you　had　nothing　on。〃

〃Oh；　no；　you　are　wrong！〃　said　Mme。　Couture。　〃M。　Vautrin　is　a　worthy　man；　he　reminds　me　a　little　of　my　late　husband；　poor　dear　M。　Couture；　rough　but　kind…hearted；　his　bark　is　worse　than　his　bite。〃

Vautrin　came　in　while　she　was　speaking；　he　did　not　make　a　sound；　but　looked　for　a　while　at　the　picture　of　the　two　young　facesthe　lamplight　falling　full　upon　them　seemed　to　caress　them。

〃Well；〃　he　remarked；　folding　his　arms；　〃here　is　a　picture！　It　would　have　suggested　some　pleasing　pages　to　Bernardin　de　Saint…　Pierre　（good　soul）；　who　wrote　Paul　et　Virginie。　Youth　is　very　charming；　Mme。　Couture！Sleep　on；　poor　boy；〃　he　added；　looking　at　Eugene；　〃luck　sometimes　comes　while　you　are　sleeping。There　is　something　touching　and　attractive　to　me　about　this　young　man；　madame；〃　he　continued；　〃I　know　that　his　nature　is　in　harmony　with　his　face。　Just　look；　the　head　of　a　cherub　on　an　angel's　shoulder！　He　deserves　to　be　loved。　If　I　were　a　woman；　I　would　die　（nonot　such　a　fool）；　I　would　live　for　him。〃　He　bent　lower　and　spoke　in　the　widow's　ear。　〃When　I　see　those　two　together；　madame；　I　cannot　help　thinking　that　Providence　meant　them　for　each　other；　He　works　by　secret　ways；　and　tries　the　reins　and　the　heart；〃　he　said　in　a　loud　voice。　〃And　when　I　see　you；　my　children；　thus　united　by　a　like　purity　and　by　all　human　affections；　I　say　to　myself　that　it　is　quite　impossible　that　the　future　should　separate　you。　God　is　just。〃He　turned　to　Victorine。　〃It　seems　to　me；〃　he　said；　〃that　I　have　seen　the　line　of　success　in　your　hand。　Let　me　look　at　it；　Mlle。　Victorine；　I　am　well　up　in　palmistry；　and　I　have　told　fortunes　many　a　time。　Come；　now；　don't　be　frightened。　Ah！　what　do　I　see？　Upon　my　word；　you　will　be　one　of　the　richest　heiresses　in　Paris　before　very　long。　You　will　heap　riches　on　the　man　who　loves　you。　Your　father　will　want　you　to　go　and　live　with　him。　You　will　marry　a　young　and　handsome　man　with　a　title；　and　he　will　idolize　you。〃

The　heavy　footsteps　of　the　coquettish　widow；　who　was　coming　down　the　stairs；　interrupted　Vautrin's　fortune…telling。　〃Here　is　Mamma　Vauquerre；　fair　as　a　starr…r…r；　dressed　within　an　inch　of　her　life。Aren't　we　a　trifle　pinched　for　room？〃　he　inquired；　with　his　arm　round　the　lady；　〃we　are　screwed　up　very　tightly　about　the　bust；　mamma！　If　we　are　much　agitated；　there　may　be　an　explosion；　but　I　will　pick　up　the　fragments　with　all　the　care　of　an　antiquary。〃

〃There　is　a　man　who　can　talk　the　language　of　French　gallantry！〃　said　the　widow；　bending　to　speak　in　Mme。　Couture's　ear。

〃Good…bye；　little　ones！〃　said　Vautrin；　turning　to　Eugene　and　Victorine。　〃Bless　you　both！〃　and　he　laid　a　hand　on　either　head。　〃Take　my　word　for　it；　young　lady；　an　honest　man's　prayers　are　worth　something；　they　should　bring　you　happiness；　for　God　hears　them。〃

〃Good…bye；　dear；〃　said　Mme。　Vauquer　to　her　lodger。　〃Do　you　think　that　M。　Vautrin　means　to　run　away　with　me？〃　she　added；　lowering　her　voice。

〃Lack…a…day！〃　said　the　widow。

〃Oh！　mamma　dear；　suppose　it　should　really　happen　as　that　kind　M。　Vautrin　said！〃　said　Victorine　with　a　sigh　as　she　looked　at　her　hands。　The　two　women　were　alone　together。

〃Why；　it　wouldn't　take　much　to　bring　it　to　pass；〃　said　the　elderly　lady；　〃just　a　fall　from　his　horse；　and　your　monster　of　a　brother〃

〃Oh！　mamma。〃

〃Good　Lord！　Well；　perhaps　it　is　a　sin　to　wish　bad　luck　to　an　enemy；〃　the　widow　remarked。　〃I　will　do　penance　for　it。　Still；　I　would　strew　flowers　on　his　grave　with　the　greatest　pleasure；　and　that　is　the　truth。　Black…hearted；　that　he　is！　The　coward　couldn't　speak　up　for　his　own　mother；　and　cheats　you　out　of　your　share　by　deceit　and　trickery。　My　cousin　had　a　pretty　fortune　of　her　own；　but　unluckily　for　you；　nothing　was　said　in　the　marriage…contract　about　anything　that　she　might　come　in　for。〃

〃It　would　be　very　hard　if　my　fortune　is　to　cost　some　one　else　his　life；〃　said　Victorine。　〃If　I　cannot　be　happy　unless　my　brother　is　to　be　taken　out　of　the　world；　I　would　rather　stay　here　all　my　life。〃

〃MON　DIEU！　it　is　just　as　that　good　M。　Vautrin　says；　and　he　is　full　of　piety；　you　see；〃　Mme。　Couture　remarked。　〃I　am　very　glad　to　find　that　he　is　not　an　unbeliever　like　the　rest　of　them　that　talk　of　the　Almighty　with　less　respect　than　they　do　of　the　Devil。　Well；　as　he　was　saying；　who　can　know　the　ways　by　which　it　may　please　Providence　to　lead　us？〃

With　Sylvie's　help　the　two　women　at　last　succeeded　in　getting　Eugene　up　to　his　room；　they　laid　him　on　the　bed；　and　the　cook　unfastened　his　clothes　to　make　him　more　comfortable。　Before　they　left　the　room；　Victorine　snatched　an　opportunity　when　her　guardian's　back　was　turned；　and　pressed　a　kiss　on　Eugene's　forehead；　feeling　all　the　joy　that　this　stolen　pleasure　could　give　her。　Then　she　looked　round　the　room；　and　gathering　up；　as　it　were；　into　one　single　thought　all　the　untold　bliss　of　that　day；　she　made　a　picture　of　her　memories；　and　dwelt　upon　it　until　she　slept；　the　happiest　creature　in　Paris。

That　evening's　merry…making；　in　the　course　of　which　Vautrin　had　given　the　drugged　wine　to　Eugene　and　Father　Goriot；　was　his　own　ruin。　Bianchon；　flustered　with　wine；　forgot　to　open　the　subject　of　Trompe…la…Mort　with　Mlle。　Michonneau。　The　mere　mention　of　the　name　would　have　set　Vautrin　on　his　guard；　for　Vautrin；　or；　to　give　him　his　real　name；　Jacques　Collin；　was　in　fact　the　notorious　escaped　convict。

But　it　was　the　joke　about　the　Venus　of　Pere…Lachaise　that　finally　decided　his　fate。　Mlle。　Michonneau　had　very　nearly　made　up　her　mind　to　warn　the　convict　and　to　throw　herself　on　his　generosity；　with　the　idea　of　making　a　better　bargain　for　herself　by　helping　him　to　escape　that　night；　but　as　it　was；　she　went　out　escorted　by　Poiret　in　search　of　the　famous　chief　of　detectives　in　the　Petite　Rue　Saint…Anne；　still　thinking　that　it　was　the　district　superintendentone　Gondureauwith　whom　she　had　to　do。　The　head　of　the　department　received　his　visitors　courteously。　There　was　a　little　talk；　and　the　details　were　definitely　arranged。　Mlle。　Michonneau　asked　for　the　draught　that　she　was　to　administer　in　order　to　set　about　her　investigation。　But　the　great　man's　evident　satisfaction　set　Mlle。　Michonneau　thinking；　and　she　began　to　see　that　this　business　involved　something　more　than　the　mere　capture　of　a　runaway　convict。　She　racked　her　brains　while　he　looked　in　a　drawer　in　his　desk　for　the　little　phial；　and　it　dawned　upon　her　that　in　consequence　of　treacherous　revelations　made　by　the　prisoners　the　police　were　hoping　to　lay　their　hands　on　a　considerable　sum　of　money。　But　on　hinting　her　suspicions　to　the　old　fox　of　the　Petite　Rue　Saint…Anne；　that　officer　began　to　smile；　and　tried　t