old man goriot

Chapter 23
"Your appearance is exactly what I want." Vautrin told him. "You know what you do. Well, my little eagle! You must be a master in the future; you are capable, cheerful, and brave; I admire you."

Vautrin wanted to take his hand, but Rastignac hastily withdrew it; he turned pale and sat down on his chair, seeing a pool of blood before his eyes.

"Hey! We're still a little sorry," said Vautrin in a low voice. "Old Man Dolibon [65] has three million dollars, and I know his fortune. Such a dowry will wipe you clean, and the bride's wedding dress." Just as white, even in your eyes."

Rastignac didn't hesitate anymore, and decided to inform Taifan and his son that night.At this time Vautrin walked away, and old man Goriot leaned into his ear and said: "You are very upset, boy! Let me make you happy, come!"

As he spoke, the old noodle merchant leaned over to light a candle on the lamp; Eugene followed him curiously.

"Come to your room," said the old man, who had asked Sylvie for the student's key. "You thought she didn't love you this morning, hey!" he went on. "She made you go, and you went away angry and hopeless. Little fool! She's waiting for me. Understand? We're going to To finish furnishing a little house for you to move in in three days. Don't betray me. She wants to surprise you; but I don't want to keep it a secret from you. You're going to live in the Rue d'Artois , two steps from the Rue Saint-Lazare. You live there like a prince. We furnish you like a bride. We have done a lot for you this month. My The litigation attorney has already started activities. In the future, my daughter will have an annual income of 80 francs, which is the interest of her dowry; I will ask her [-] francs to be invested in real estate."

Eugene was silent, pacing up and down in his messy little room with folded arms.While the student turned his back, Old Man Goriot put a red leather box on the mantelpiece, on the outside of which was the gilded coat of arms of the Rastignac family. "My dear boy," said the poor old man, "I've put a lot of effort into all this. But you see, I'm selfish too, and it would do me good if you lived elsewhere. If I ask you for one thing, well , you won't reject me, will you?"

"what's up?"

"You have an annex bedroom on the sixth floor of your new house, and I'll live in it, okay? I'm old now, and too far away from my two daughters. I won't get in your way; just live there. You Talk to me about her every night. You don't hate it, don't you? I heard your voice in bed when you came home and thought: 'He just saw my little Danfina; take her to made her happy at the ball.' If I were sick, I would be comforted to hear you come back, walk, go out. You smell of my daughter! I'm only a few steps from the Champs-Elysees She Street, they go there every day, I can always see them, and I don't go late sometimes like now. And she might come to your place! I can hear her voice, see her in her morning dress. Jacket, she walks in small steps, walking around cutely like a kitten. In the past month, she has returned to her former girlish appearance, happy and beautiful. Her mood is recovering, and you gave her happiness. Oh! What! What I can't do, I can do for you. She said to me just now on the way home, 'Papa, I'm so happy!' My heart would go cold if they called me daddy politely. But as soon as I called my father, I seemed to see them again when they were young, and recalled all the past. In this way, I was really their father. I feel that they don't belong to others yet!"

The old man wiped his eyes, he was crying.

"It's been a long time since I heard my daughter cry like that, and I haven't held her arm for a long time. Oh! Yes, I haven't walked side by side with my daughter for ten years. Next to her skirt, following her steps, feeling her heat Oh, how pleasant it is! This morning I took Dafina about; I went shopping with her; I am here. Oh! If that Alsatian stake dies, if his gout goes into his stomach, how happy my poor daughter will be! Then you will be my son-in-law, rightly Her husband. Alas! She is so wretched that she has no taste of the world's pleasures, so I forgive her everything. The good God must be on the side of the good father. She loves you so much!" He paused After a while, he shook his head and said. "As she walked, she was talking to me about you: 'Isn't he, papa, he's a nice man! He's a good man! Does he mention me a lot?' Well, from the Rue d'Artois to the Rue Panorama, she and I said a lot! In short, she poured her heart into mine. It was a good morning, and I don't feel old and light. I told her, you give me the thousand francs. Oh, my dear, she shed tears of emotion. Well, what do you have on the mantelpiece?" asked Old Man Goriot at last, for he could not restrain his impatience when he saw that Rastignac was motionless.

Dazed Eugene stared blankly at his neighbor.On the one hand, Vautrin announced that the duel would be due tomorrow; on the other hand, his most ardent hopes were about to come true.The contrast between the two was so strong that he felt like he was experiencing a nightmare.He turned towards the fireplace, saw the little square box above it, opened it, and found a piece of paper inside, with a Breguet watch under it.Written on the paper are these words:
I want you to always think of me...

Danfina

The last sentence probably referred to a quarrel they had had; Eugene was greatly moved by it.His coat of arms was inlaid in enamel on the gold case.This long-awaited treasure, chain, wrench style, pattern, he likes everything.Old Man Gao was overjoyed.He may have promised his daughter that he would tell her exactly how surprised Eugene was when he saw the gift; as far as the excitement of the young man was concerned, he was only a third party, but his joy was no less.He was already fond of Rastignac, for his daughter as well as for himself.

"You're going to see her tonight, she's waiting for you. That Alsatian stump eating at his dancing girl. Haha! My lawyer pointed out to him what he was doing, and he was dumbfounded .Didn't he say he loves my daughter like hell? I'll kill him if he touches her. Thinking of my Danfina being... (He sighs) I can really do something illegal Come on; but that's not murder, he's just a bull-headed pig-body monster. You'll take me in, won't you?"

"Yes, my good old Goriot, you know I respect you..."

"I can see that, you don't think I've lost your face! Let me hug you." As he said, he hugged the college student. "You must make her happy, you must promise me! You are going to-night, are you not?"

"Oh, yes! I'm going out on some errands, and there's no delay."

"Can I help you?"

"Oh, yes! I'm going to Madame de Nucingen's. You go to old Taipin and ask him to give me some time in the evening. I have something important to talk to him about."

"Is it true, young man," said old man Goriot, his face suddenly changed, "you are chasing his daughter, the fools downstairs say so. The sky is thundering! You don't know what is called Goriot's old punch. If you want to be sorry for us, then meet each other with fists. Oh! That's impossible."

"I swear to you, I only love one woman in the world," said the student, "and I just found out."

"Ah, that's great!" Old Man Gao said.

"But," said the student again, "Taifan's son is going to a duel tomorrow, and I hear he will die."

"What does this have to do with you?" said Old Man Goriot.

"But you must tell him not to let his son go..." Eugene said loudly.

At this moment, his words were interrupted, and only Vautrin's voice sang at the door:
O Richard, O my lord!
The world has abandoned you...[66]
"Bron! Bron! Bron! Bron! Bron!"

I have traveled the world for a long time,

people see me...

"Te la la, la, la, la..."

"Gentlemen," cried Christophe, "dinner is served, and everyone is seated in the dining-room."

"Well," said Vautrin, "bring me a bottle of my Bordeaux."

"Do you think it looks good, that watch?" Old Man Gao asked, "She is very good at picking, huh!"

Vautrin, Old Man Goriot and Rastignac went downstairs together, and because they were late, they sat next to each other at the dinner table.At dinner, Eugene was extremely indifferent to Vautrin; but in the eyes of Madame Vauquer, Vautrin was really cute, he had never been so funny.He made a lot of witty remarks and amused all the people who were eating.This poise, this composure, surprised Eugene.

"What is the matter with you today?" asked Madame Vauquer. "As happy as a lark."

"I'm always happy when I do a good deal."

"Business?" said Eugene.

"Yes. I have delivered part of the goods, and I will earn a large commission. Miss Michno," he said, noticing that the old girl was looking at him, "you are staring at me like this, is there something wrong with my face?" Makes you uncomfortable? Tell me! I can change it to please you."

"We won't be offended, Poiret, will we?" he said, casting a glance at the old clerk.

"Damn it! You should be a model, a funny Hercules." said the young painter to Vautrin.

"Yes, yes! As long as Mademoiselle Michnot is willing to act as the Venus of the Pere Lachaise Cemetery." Vautrin responded.

"And what about Poiret?" Bianchon asked.

"Oh! Poiret, let's play Poiret. He's the garden god!" exclaimed Vautrin.

"And it's a soft and ripe pear!" Bianxun rushed to say. "Then you're between pears and cheese[68]."

"It's all nonsense," said Madame Vauquer. "You'd better bring us your Bordeaux, I see a bottle already showing its face! It's good for the stomach and good for the fun."

"Gentlemen," Vautrin said, "Madam Chairman told us to be more behaved. You guys are laughing, Mrs. Couture and Miss Videline will not be angry, but they must respect the honest old man Goriot. As for the Bordeaux wine, I ask you Suggest a little bottle of Lamar; the name Lafitte makes it famous, and I say that without political insinuation[69]. Come on, fool!" he said, looking at Christophe, who stood still. move. "Here, Christopher! What's the matter, I didn't hear your name? You idiot, bring me some wine!"

"Here, sir," said Christopher, handing him the bottle.

Vautrin first filled the glasses of Eugene and Goriot, and then slowly poured himself a few drops.When the two drinkers next to him were drinking, he also tasted it himself, and suddenly made a strange face.

"Damn! Damn! It smells of corks. Here's to you, Christopher, and we'll get another one; on the right, you know? There's sixteen of us, take eight bottles down."

"Since you have spent the money," said the painter, "I will pay for a hundred bunches of chestnuts."

"Whoa whoa!"

"Yoyo!"

"Hey!"

Everyone cheered, like fireworks bursting from a flower tube.

"Hey, mother Vauquer, two bottles of champagne," Vautrin called to her.

"You can figure it out! Why don't you want the house? Two bottles of champagne! Twelve francs! Where will I earn twelve francs! If M. Eugene will pay the bill, I'll treat you with sherbet."

"Her sherbet, it's laxative like fruit juice." The medical student whispered.

"Don't talk, Bianchon," cried Rastignac, "I heard the juice and thought... well, go get the champagne, and I'll pay the bill," the student continued.

"Sylvie," said Madame Vauquer, "bring biscuits and biscuits."

"Your biscuits are too big," said Vautrin, "and they have grown beards. Better get biscuits."

All of a sudden, the Bordeaux wine was turned around, and everyone at the dinner table was excited and happier.Amidst the savage laughter, the sounds imitating various animals appeared from time to time.The staff of the museum actually imitated the street cries of Paris, just like a cat meowing for spring; immediately eight people raised their voices in unison and screamed strangely:

"Sharpen the knife!"

"Sell bird food!"

"Burrito, ladies, burrito!"

"Fill the casserole!"

"Fish has arrived!"

"Beat your wife, beat your clothes!"

"Old clothes, old ribbons, old hats!"

"Selling cherries, such sweet cherries!"

The most wonderful thing is Bianxun's nasal voice, he called: "Here comes the umbrella seller!"

All of a sudden there was such a commotion that your brains were blown out; what you said and what you said were all nonsense, like a real farce; The two of them seemed to be drunk, leaning back against the chair, looking solemnly, staring straight at this unusual chaotic scene. They didn't drink much, and both were thinking about things to do at night, but they both felt unable to stand up .Vautrin glanced at them from time to time, not to miss the change in their expressions, and when their eyes flickered and were about to close, he leaned against Rastignac's ear and said to him:
"Little fellow, you're not cunning enough to fight old Vautrin; he's too fond of you to let you fool around. Only God can stop me when I make up my mind. Humph! We want to go to Tayfan The old man tipped off the news, and wanted to make the mistake of a primary school student! The stove is hot, the dough is kneaded, and the bread is on the shovel; tomorrow we can throw small balls of bread, and open our mouths to catch bites, but you won’t let the bread in. Oven? . . . No, no, the dough must be baked into bread! If there is any small apology, it will be all right after your food is digested. While we sleep peacefully, Colonel Franchesini Count Sword With a wave of the head, Michel Tayfan's estate is arranged for you. Védoline inherits from her brother, who has a small income of fifteen thousand francs a year. I have made inquiries, mother. His inheritance is more than 30 yuan..."

Eugene couldn't respond when he heard these words, he just felt his tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth, and he couldn't let go of drowsiness.He could only see the tables and the faces of the diners through the bright fog.Soon, the sound died down, and the guests left one by one; only Madame Vauquer, Madame Couture, Mademoiselle Védoline, Vautrin, and Old Man Goriot remained, and Rastignac seemed to be in a dream, vaguely I saw Mrs. Vauquer busy taking the wine bottle and pouring out the remaining wine, and filling the other bottles.

"Ah! they're so bonkers, so young!" muttered the widow.

These were the last words Eugene understood.

"Only Monsieur Vautrin can pull off such farce," said Sylvie. "Oh! Look at Christopher, snoring like a top."

"Good-bye, ma'am," said Vautrin, "I'm going to the street to see Mr. Marty in "The Barren Hill," which is based on "The Lonely Man." If you like, I'll take you and The two ladies are going together."

"I appreciate it, thank you," said Mrs. Couture.

"Why, my neighbour!" exclaimed Madame Vauquer, "you don't want to see an adaptation of The Lonely Man? It's a book by Adara de Chateaubriand, and we're still enjoying it." , very well written, last summer we were under the linden tree, and wept like Magdalene over what happened to Elodie; in short, it is an enlightening work, not something that can be used to educate you Mademoiselle?"

"According to the rules, we are not allowed to go to the theatre." Vidoline continued the conversation.

"Oh, these two are drunk," said Vautrin, shaking the heads of Old Man Goriot and Eugene comically.

He rested the student's head on the back of the chair, made him sleep more comfortably, kissed his forehead passionately, and sang:
Go to sleep, dear baby!

I will always stand guard for you.

"I'm afraid he's ill," said Vidoline.

(End of this chapter)