old man goriot

Chapter 17
In this way, as if by fate, all the little things in his life pushed him into the role of life; Vautrin was really a terrible sphinx in Vauquer's apartment, as he said, life is like a battlefield, in order not to If you are killed, you have to kill, in order not to be cheated, you have to lie; you have to put aside your conscience and feelings, put on a mask, and play with people ruthlessly; you have to be as invisible as in ancient Sparta To hunt for riches, to be crowned with glory.When he came to the viscountess' house again, he found that the lady was as kind and amiable to him as usual.The two walked into the dining room, where the Viscount was already waiting for his wife; the dining room was full of beautiful things and shining brightly; as we all know, during the Restoration era, sophistication of food was pushed to the extreme.M. de Beauseant, like many people, is tired of everything, and has no other pleasures than eating and drinking; .His dining table layout can be called a double masterpiece, which has the essence of cups and plates, and the beauty of wine and dishes.Eugene had never seen such a scene, and it was the first time he dined in a noble home for generations.It was no longer the fashion to have a supper, as in the days of the Empire, there was always a supper after a ball, because soldiers needed to recharge their batteries for all the battles that awaited them, at home and abroad.Eugene had only been to balls in the past.Fortunately, he had already begun to develop a calm demeanor, and he will be very good at this point in the future, so he can still control it now, without any fuss.However, after witnessing these silver-carved utensils and all kinds of exquisiteness on the gorgeous banquet table, it is difficult for an imaginative person not to envy this kind of elegant life all the time and to dislike him. In the morning, I still plan to live a hard life.For a while, his thoughts went back to the civilian apartment he lived in, feeling disgusted, and vowed to move out in January, firstly, to change to a clean place, and secondly, to avoid Vautrin, so as not to feel like him all the time. The big hands are at the mercy of themselves.One might just think about it, since there are thousands of vile deeds in Paris, both heard and heard, people of conscience will really wonder why the country is so foolish as to set up schools in this place and let the young people concentrate here?How come beautiful women are respected here?How can the gold displayed by the money changer not disappear from the wooden bowl?And think of the youth, who seldom commit crimes, even delinquency, should we not admire those stoic Tantalus[43]?They beat themselves, and almost always win!If the struggle between poor college students and Parisian society is well described, it must be an extremely tragic subject of modern civilization.Madame de Beauseant kept looking at Eugene and urged him to speak, but in vain, he was in the viscount's presence and did not want to say anything.

"Will you take me to the Italian theater tonight?" the Vicomtesse asked her husband.

"Undoubtedly, it would be a pleasure for me to follow your orders," the Viscount replied with a hint of teasing in his graciousness, but the university student couldn't hear it; "but I'm going to meet friends at the vaudeville theater."

"His mistress?" she thought to herself.

"Won't De Arjuda come to accompany you tonight?" asked the Viscount.

"No." She replied unhappily.

"Very well! If you must have company, let M. de Rastignac accompany you."

The Viscountess looked at Eugene with a smile.

"That would be an inconvenience to you," she said.

"The French like to take risks, because there will be glory in the adventure, this is Chateaubriand's famous saying." Rastignac bowed and said in response.

After a while, he sat next to Madame de Beauseant, and was driven by a fast limousine to the fashionable theater.He walked into a front box, and saw himself and the graceful and luxurious Viscountess, both became the targets of all theater mirrors; Eugene felt as if he had entered a fairyland, and was fascinated by it for a while.

"You must have something to say to me," said the Vicomtesse to him. "Well, there is Madame de Nucingen, three boxes from us. Her sister and M. de Trail are in another room." side."

As the Viscountess said, she looked towards the box where Miss de Rochefield often sat, and saw that Mr. de Ajuda was not in there, and her face immediately showed a strange brilliance.

"She is charming," said Eugene, looking at Madame de Nucingen.

"Her eyelashes are white."

"Not bad, but really slim!"

"Hands are big."

"The eyes are beautiful!"

"The face is longer."

"But a long face looks noble."

"Then she is blessed. Look at the way she puts and puts on her spectacles! There is something Goriot about every movement," said the vicomtesse, much to the surprise of Eugene.

Madame de Beauseant put her long-handled spectacles to her eyes, looked around the arena, and seemed to pay no attention to Madame de Nucingen, in fact, she did not miss her every move.The theater was packed.But Mrs. de Beauseant, a young, handsome and handsome cousin, only cared about Danfina de Nucingen, and only stared at her like that, which really made Danfina very proud.

"If you look at her any longer, you will make a fool of yourself, M. de Rastignac. You will get nowhere with your flattery."

"My dear cousin," said Eugene, "you have supported me; if you wish to carry out your good deeds, I have no other request from you than to do me a favor, which will be of little use to you. It's worked out for me. I'm hooked."

"So fast?"

"Yes."

"Just this woman?"

"If I change the place, my idea is acceptable?" He said, and he took a deep look at his cousin. "The Duchess de Carigliano is inseparable from the Duchess de Berry," he continued after a short pause, "you will see her, please introduce me to her and take me to her Monday." I'll meet Madame de Nucingen there, for a first round."

"Well," she said, "if you're interested in her, you'll be fine emotionally. Here, de Marcel is in the box of the Princesse Galationa. Madame de Nucingen is very happy." Difficult, she's pissed off. There's never been a better time to get close to a woman, especially a banker's wife. These ladies in Ang Tandao love revenge."

"What would you do if you were replaced?"

"For me, I'm suffering in silence."

At this moment the Marquis de Arjuda entered Madame de Beauseant's box.

"I made a mistake in order to come with you," said he, "and I tell you so that my sacrifice would not be in vain."

The vicomtesse's face immediately glowed, and Eugene saw that it was an expression of true love, which could not be confused with Parisian ostentation and posturing.He admired his cousin so much that he stopped talking and gave up his seat to Mr. de Ajuda with a sigh.

"How noble, how great, for a woman to love so much!" thought he. "This guy would betray her for a chick! How could he betray her?"

Like a child, he was extremely angry; he really wanted to roll at Madame de Beauseant's feet, and wished he had the power of a devil to capture her into his heart; The white-haired lamb, plundered from the plains to its eagle's nest.He felt humiliated to be in this great museum of purples and reds, not a single picture that belonged to him, not a single one that belonged to his mistress.

"Having a mistress is almost royal status," he thought, "that's the sign of power!"

He looked at Madame de Nucingen as an insulted man looks at his opponent.The Viscountess turned around and gave him a wink, expressing her gratitude to him for his knowledge and insight.By this time the first act was over.

"You are acquainted with Mme. de Nucingen. May I introduce M. de Rastignac to her?" she asked the Marquis de Arjuda.

"She must be delighted to see Monsieur," said the Marquis.

The handsome Portuguese stood up, took the student's arm, and in an instant he was beside Madame de Nucingen.

"Barononess," said the Marquis, "I have the honor to present you the Chevalier Eugene de Rastignac, cousin of the Vicomtesse de Beauseant. He made a great impression on you, and I Have the heart to fulfill him and lead him to his idol."

These words were somewhat joking and abrupt, but they were so skillfully embellished that they would never offend a woman.Madame de Nucingen smiled, and gave Eugene the seat vacated by her husband's departure.

"I dare not ask you to stay with me, monsieur," she said. "A man who has the honor of being with Mme. de Beauseant never leaves."

"But, Madame," said Eugene to her in a low voice, "if I wanted to please my cousin, I should have stayed with you. We were talking about you before Monsieur the Marquis arrived, and said you were a wonderful character." he said aloud.

Mr. de Ajuda withdrew.

"Really? Monsieur," said the baroness, "do you really want to stay with me? Then we can get to know each other. Madame de Resto has mentioned you to me, and I have admired you for a long time."

"She's a fake, she let me shut the door."

"how?"

"Madame, I will tell you the truth; but I beg you to be magnanimous in telling you such a secret. I am a neighbor of your lordship; I did not know at the time that Madame de Restore was his daughter. I had no intention. You have offended your sister and brother-in-law by mentioning this in the book. You cannot believe it, the Duchess de Langeais and my cousin both felt that such unfilial conduct was outrageous. I will describe the situation in full detail. Let them hear it, and they both shook their heads with laughter. At this moment, Madame de Beauseant compared you two sisters, and praised you in my presence, saying that you are very filial to my neighbor M. Goriot. In fact, how could you not be filial to him? He loves you so much that even I am jealous. We talked about you for two hours this morning. What your father said to me, My mind is full; when I was at dinner with my cousin just now, I was telling her that your love is better than your beauty. Madame de Beauseant probably wanted to take care of a passionate admiration. Just take me here, and tell me with her usual kindness, I can see you here."

"Why, sir," said Mrs. Banker, "I owe you already? We shall be old friends soon."

"Though it may be a fine friendship to be your friend," said Rastignac, "I will never be your friend alone."

Women always find the boring clichés of fledgling people very pleasant, and only when they are calmly considered will they feel that the content is poor.A young man's gestures, tone of voice, and eyes give it immeasurable meaning.Madame de Nucingen thought the people from Rastignac were lovely.Then, like all women, she couldn't say anything about straightforward questions like college students, so she had to talk about him.

"Yes, it was wrong for my sister to treat poor father like that; and he used to be such a patron saint to us. It can't be helped, M. de Nucingen only allows me to see my father in the morning, so I have to make up my mind on this point." Concession. But I was sorry for it for a long time; I cried and cried. This tyranny, besides marital abuse, is a cause of great destruction of family relations. I am the happiest woman in Paris in the eyes of the world, In fact it is the most unfortunate. You would think me crazy if I told you that. But you know my father, so you are no stranger."

"He who is more eager to give himself to you," Eugene said to her, "you will never find it. What do you women seek? Happiness," he said in that heart-pounding voice. "That's good! If in a woman's mind, happiness is someone who loves someone and someone hurts her, she has a confidant who can tell her desires and fantasies, sorrows and joys in her heart, and can reveal her heart, along with her beautiful flaws and beautiful advantages. , not afraid of the other party's change of heart, then please believe me, this fiery loyalty can only be found in a young man, he is full of fantasy, as long as you give him a hint, he can go through fire and water; To know, for you are his whole world. It's me, look, you're laughing at my childishness; I'm from the far outlands, I'm new here, I know only a few good people; I didn't intend to have any love. But I met Cousin, she told me so much; made me realize how precious love is. Like Cherubin, I am now the lover of all women, until I can give my heart to them One of you. When I came in and saw you just now, I felt as if there was a flowing force, engulfing me and running towards you. I have been thinking of you for a long time! But I never dreamed that you are so beautiful in reality Madame de Beauseant asked me not to look so hard at you. She doesn't know how charming you look with your beautiful red lips, fair skin, and soft eyes. I'm talking nonsense in front of you ; but let me tell you."

There is nothing a woman likes more than to hear sweet talk; even the most prudish woman loves to hear it, even if she shouldn't answer it.At this beginning, Rastignac lowered his voice affectionately and continued to speak; Madame de Nucingen smiled frequently to encourage him.From time to time she glanced at de Marsay, who had not yet left the box of the Princesse Galationa.Rastignac stayed with Madame de Nucingen until her husband came to fetch her.

"Madame," Eugene said to her, "I would like to call on you before the Duchess de Carigliano's ball."

"Since Madame (Madame) has invited you," said the Baron, with a heavy accent, a stout Alsatian with a round face of sinister cunning, "you will certainly show (be) welcome. "

"Things are going well, no, she didn't feel disgusted when I asked her, 'Will you love me?' The animal has been bitten, just jump on it and drive it." Eugene thought as he went to say goodbye , because Madame de Beauseant was getting up to leave with de Arjuda.Unbeknownst to the poor student, the baroness, absent-minded, was expecting a letter from de Marsay, a heartrending and decisive one.Eugene mistakenly thought that he had succeeded, so complacent, he sent the vicomtesse to the porch of the door, where everyone was waiting for his car.

"Your cousin looks like a different person," the Portuguese said to the vicomtesse with a smile after Eugene left. "He will make the dealer lose his money. He is as flexible as an eel, and I think he will have a lot of achievements in the future." .Only you will really pick and choose carefully, and choose a woman for him who is in need of comfort."

"However," said Madame de Beauseant, "it is still necessary to know whether the woman is still in love with the betrayer."

The university students walked back from the Italian theater to the rue Neuve Saint-Geneviève, thinking of wonderful plans along the way.He had already noticed that Madame de Resto was watching him carefully, whether he was in the box of the Vicomtesse or that of Madame de Nucingen; he expected that the Countess would never shut him down again.He intended to win the favor of the marshal's wife, so that he had four important connections in the inner circle of Parisian high society.Although he didn't quite understand the method, he had a premonition that in the socially complicated Vanity Fair, he had to grasp a wheel axle to reach the top of the machine; he felt that he had the power to control the wheels to stop.

"If Madame de Nucingen is interested in me, I will teach her how to control her husband. The fellow is in the money business and can make me a windfall."

(End of this chapter)