old man goriot

Chapter 19
Eugene didn't know that some women at that time were maddened with vanity; nor that a banker's wife could sacrifice anything to knock on the door of the Saint-Germain Quarter.At that time, the trend was to regard the women accepted by the aristocratic society in the Saint-Germain district as superior, and they were called the ladies of the petit palace. The leaders of the group were Madame de Beauseant and her friend the Duchess de Langeais. , and the Duchess de Moufreeze.Only Rastignac did not know that the women of the Angtanau district were all crazy, and they wanted to join the high society where the actress was brilliant.His wariness, however, did him great good, calming him down and giving him a small right to make terms rather than accept them.

"Yes, I'm going," he replied.

In this way, curiosity drove him to visit Madame de Nucingen, and even if the woman didn't think much of him, he might be driven by lust.Even so, he still eagerly waited for the moment of departure tomorrow.

Young people's first tryst may be as ecstasy as first love.Confidence in success brings a thousand joys, which men do not admit, but which make some women all their charm.Ease of attainment and difficulty of attainment can also make people's desire spontaneously arise.Both can arouse or sustain a man's passions and divide the world of love in two.Perhaps this division is due to differences in temperament, which, after all, dominate human society.Melancholic people need women to refresh themselves; while neurotic or sanguine people may turn around and leave when encountering women's pushback.In other words, dirge-singers are mainly of the lymphatic nature, while carol-singers are of the choleric nature.While dressing, Eugene was complacent; ordinary young people dare not speak out for fear of being laughed at, but their self-esteem was satisfied.As he was arranging his hair, he thought that the eyes of some beautiful woman would linger in his black curls.He did all sorts of naughty things, like a girl dressing for a ball.While smoothing his clothes, he looked at his slender figure proudly.

"I'm sure," he thought to himself, "there are plenty of people who are not as tall as they are!"

Immediately he came downstairs. At this time, the whole apartment was at the dining table. Seeing him dressed so well, they couldn't help applauding, and he was very happy.There is a special ethos in civilian apartments, which is to make a fuss when someone is well-dressed.Whenever someone wears a new dress, everyone has to say something.

"Ket, Ket, Ket, Ket." Bianchon clicked his tongue on the palate, as if riding a horse.

"What a majestic and aristocratic style!" Madame Vauquer said.

"Sir, are you going to the love scene?" Miss Mi Xunuo expressed her opinion.

"Lover, oh-oh-oh!" the painter croaked like a rooster.

"My regards to Mrs. Zun." The museum staff said.

"Monsieur has a wife?" asked Poiret.

"Madam with many cabins, sailing on water, the bag does not fade, the price is 25 to [-], the new checkered pattern, can be washed, beautiful to wear, half silk, half cotton and half wool, cure toothache, and cure all medicines approved by the Royal Medical Association Miscellaneous diseases! The effect is excellent for young children! It is especially effective in treating headaches, abdominal distension, esophageal problems, eye and ear problems." Vautrin, like a quack drug seller, said a series of strange words in his voice. "Gentlemen want to ask, how much does this treasure cost? Two coppers! No. Not a penny. This was originally a tribute to the Mongol emperor. Kings all over Europe, including the Grand Duke of Baden, wanted to feast their eyes on it." Go in straight, everybody! Go to the box office. Now, play music! Bloom, pull, pull, special order! Pull, pull, Bloom, Bloom! Mr. Clarinet, out of tune," He shouted hoarsely, "Look at me to treat you."

"My God! He's such a funny man," said Madame Vauquer to Madame Couture. "It's never dull to be around him."

This grotesque yelling caused the crowd to burst into laughter and jokes; at this moment, Eugene noticed that Mademoiselle Tayfan had glanced at him secretly, and leaning sideways said something in Madame Couture's ear.

"Here comes the carriage," said Sylvie.

"Where is he going for dinner?" Bianchon asked.

"The House of the Baroness de Nucingen."

"Mr. Goriot's daughter," replied the student.

When everyone heard this name, all eyes turned to the old noodle merchant, who was looking enviously at Eugene.

Rastignac arrived at the Rue Saint-Lazare; a light house, thin colonnades, petty cloisters, that is what Paris calls beauty, a veritable banker's house; Decorative, parquet marble landings.He met Madame de Nucingen in the small drawing room, hung with Italian paintings and decorated like a café.The Baroness looked sad.The way she tried to hide was not a fake, and Eugene was quite concerned when he saw it.He thought that his presence would cheer up a woman, but unexpectedly she was frowning.The disappointment hurt his pride.

"I have no right to ask you to trust me, ma'am," said the student, teasing herself with her preoccupied look, "if I bother you, you may as well just say, I trust you."

"Don't go," she said, "I'll be alone when you go. Nucingen has dinner outside, and I don't want to be alone. I need to relax."

"What's the matter with you?"

"Tell it to nobody," she said aloud.

"I should like to know; perhaps I can play a part in this mystery."

"Perhaps! Oh, no," she went on, "it's nothing more than a quarrel between husband and wife, and you should keep it to yourself. Didn't I tell you the day before yesterday? I'm not happy. Golden chains are the heaviest."

A woman who speaks of her misfortune in front of a young man, if the young man is intelligent, well-dressed, and has fifteen hundred francs in his pocket, will certainly feel the same way Eugene thought and would be elated.

"What more can you want?" he continued. "You are young and beautiful, you have money, and you are loved."

"Don't mention me," she said, shaking her head sadly, "we'll have dinner together later, just the two of us; and then go to the most beautiful music. Am I to your liking?" She stood up, showing her A white cashmere dress with a very rich Persian pattern on it.

"I wish you were all mine," said Eugene. "You are charming."

"Then what you got is so pitiful," she said with a slight wry smile, "You can't see any misfortune here, it's really just a superficial thing, I'm so distressed, I can't sleep because of worry, I'm going to turn into an ugly monster. "

"Oh! no," said the student, "but I should like to know what kind of pain, which even faithful love cannot take away?"

"Oh! if I tell you, you will run away," she said. "You still like me, but with a man's attention; if you really loved me, you will be in a terrible disappointment. You see Well, I'd better not talk. Do me a favor," she said, "let's talk about something else. Come and see my house."

"No, let's stay here," replied Eugene, sitting down next to Madame de Nucingen on a loveseat in front of the fireplace, and taking her hand quite confidently.

She let him hold it, and even pressed hard on the young man's hand, showing that she was very excited.

"Listen to me," said Rastignac to her, "if you have anything to worry about, you must tell me. I want to prove to you that I love you for your sake. You must speak." , tell me the pain, let me solve your problems, even if you have to kill half a dozen people; otherwise, I will leave and never return."

"That's good!" She suddenly had a desperate thought, and she couldn't help patting her forehead and said loudly, "I'll test you right away." She thought to herself: "Yes, this is the only way." She rang the bell to call for someone.

"Is sir's car harnessed?" she asked the errand.

"It's on, ma'am."

"I'll use it. Let him use my chariot. Wait until seven o'clock for dinner."

"Well, come," she called to Eugene, who was sitting next to the lady in M. de Nucingen's car, as if in a dream.

"Go to the Royal Palace market," she told the coachman, "near the French Opera."

She was restless along the way, and even though Eugene asked her all kinds of questions, she refused to answer them.He really didn't understand what it meant to be so indifferent and silent.

"I can't hold her in the blink of an eye," he thought to himself.

When the carriage came to a stop, the baroness gave the student a look which made him stop talking nonsense, for then he could no longer control himself.

"You really love me?" she asked.

"Yes." He replied calmly.

"No matter what I tell you to do, you won't think ill of me?"

"will not."

"Are you going to obey my command?"

"Obey with eyes closed."

"Have you ever been to a casino?" she asked tremblingly.

"there has never been."

"Oh! I'm relieved. You'll be lucky. Here's my purse," she said. "Take it! There's a hundred francs in it; and here's all the fortune of a woman so happy." Yes. You go to the casino, I don't know where, but I know it's in the Market of the Royal Palace. You put the hundred francs on the roulette wheel, and you will lose it all, or you will win me six thousand francs. You When I get back, I'll tell you what I'm worried about."

"This thing I'm about to do, if I know a thing or two, let the devil take me; but I'll do it." He was beaming as he said this, for he thought, "Since she's with I am in collusion, and nothing will refuse me in the future."

Eugene took the beautiful purse and asked a merchant who sold old clothes to point it out. After learning the address of the nearest casino, he went straight to door No. [-].When he went upstairs, he had his hat given to him, and as soon as he entered the house he asked where the roulette was.The regulars were amazed, and the waiter led him to a long table.Eugene, followed by all the spectators, asked nonchalantly where the bet should be placed.

"You can bet on one of these 36 numbers. If you win, you win 36." A decent old man with white hair told him.

Eugene, who was twenty-one years old, bet one hundred francs on this figure.Before he could gather his composure, he heard an exclamation.He was stunned.

"Put the money away," said the old gentleman to him, "this game ain't going to be won twice."

Eugene took the rake that the old gentleman handed him, and transferred over three thousand six hundred francs; he still did not understand the game, and bet all this money on red.[50]The audience watched him continue to gamble, and looked at him with envy.As soon as the roulette wheel was turned, he won again, and the dealer threw him another three thousand six hundred francs.

"You have seven thousand and two hundred francs," said the old gentleman, whispering in his ear; "if you believe me, go away; you have made eight reds. If you will be kind, reward me." Please help me with your advice; I was prefect under Napoleon, and I'm down."

Rastignac let the white-haired old man take two hundred francs in a bewilderment, and went downstairs with seven thousand francs in his pocket; he still knew nothing about this game, and only wondered at his good luck.

"Hey! Where are you taking me now?" said he, as soon as the door closed, showing Madame de Nucingen the seven thousand francs.

But Fei Na hugged him crazily and kissed him vigorously, but there was no element of love. "You saved me!" Tears of joy streamed down her face. "I'm going to tell you everything, my friend. You must be my friend, aren't you? In your eyes, I'm rich, rich, and wanting everything, at least in appearance! Oh! You know, de M. Mr. Nucingen doesn't let me have a dime at my disposal. He pays for the house, my car, and box; but he doesn't pay me enough for my clothes, and he deliberately drives me into misery. I'm too virtuous to want Begging him. If you want his money, you have to comply with his conditions. Then I am a shameless person. I have a property of 70 francs, how can I be exploited by others? It is not because of nobility, but because of anger. Just now When we got married, we were so young, so naive! I couldn’t say that when I had to ask my husband for money; I never dared, but spent my savings and the money my poor father gave me; I'm in debt. Marriage broke my heart, and I can't tell you; you just need to know this: If I and Nucingen didn't live in separate houses, I would really jump out of the window and jump from the building. I am a young woman who wants to buy jewelry , to spend money temporarily (poor father used to spoil us at the beginning, and always gave us what he wanted), so he had to borrow money. When I had to explain it to him, it was really hard for me, but I finally got up the courage to say it. Did I Haven't got a piece of property of my own? Nucingen got angry, and said I'd ruin him, it's a bad word! I'd like to go underground. He got my dowry, and had to pay his debts; but since then, They limited my pocket money to a certain amount, and I had no choice but to accept it for peace. Later, I was moved and satisfied the vanity of that person, you know who he is," she said. "Although he was sorry for me, I still have to say to be fair, his personality is noble. But he finally dumped me, it's shameless! Since a man gave a troubled woman a lot of money, he should never abandon her You should love her forever! You are 21 years old, young and noble, pure and innocent, you will definitely ask me: How can a woman accept money from a man? God! He made us happy, and it is not natural to share weal and woe with him Is it? Who cares about part of it when you give yourself completely to others? Money becomes a problem only when feelings cease to exist. Don’t two people want to love each other for the rest of their lives? When they think they are loved by others, who would think Will we break up in the future? You swear to us that you will love forever, why are you so divided in interests? You don't know how miserable I am today. Nucingen clearly refused to give me six thousand francs, but he paid me every month Such a sum for his mistress, a woman at the opera! I wanted to kill myself, and the wildest thoughts flashed through my mind. For a while, I envied the life of the maid, my maid. Go to my father, What madness! Anastasia and I have squeezed him dry; poor father, he would have sold himself if he had been worth six thousand francs. I could only make him anxious. You Saved my face, saved my life. At that time, I was confused with pain. Oh, sir, I should have made it clear to you at that time. I was just crazy in front of you. You go Afterwards, as soon as I was out of sight, I wanted to flee on foot... Where? I don't know. Half the women in Paris live like this: gold on the outside, and sorrow on the inside. I've known poor people more than I It's worse. Some have to ask merchants to open false accounts, and some have to steal money from their husbands; some husbands think that a cashmere shawl of two thousand francs can be bought for five hundred; some think that a cashmere shawl of five hundred francs is worth Up to two thousand. There are some poor women who starve their children and button up a long skirt. I have never done such disgusting things. This is my biggest trouble. Some women, in order to control their husbands, Sold myself to my husband; I, at least, am free! I might have Nucingen piled upon me with gold, but I would rather lay my head and weep on the arms of a man I respect. Ah! to-night, De Monsieur Marsay can no longer think of me as a woman whom he pays for."

She covered her drooping face with her hands, so that Eugene could not see her weep;

"Isn't it ugly to mix money and affection? You won't love me," she said.

(End of this chapter)