old man goriot

Chapter 9 Civilian Apartments (8)
"Well," he thought to himself, "I've made a fool of myself on this trip, and I don't know why and how much it will do; besides, I've got to spoil my clothes and hats. I should just sit in a corner and eat my ass." The law, trying only to be an iron judge. To be decent in society, you need a carriage, well-polished boots, the necessary clothes, gold chains, and six-franc chamois in the morning. Leather white gloves, yellow gloves must be worn at night; can I go to the social scene? Old man Goriot, old monster, fuck you!"

Walking to the gate facing the street, a coachman drove a cab, probably just sent off the bride and groom, and was about to make some extra trips without telling his master; he saw Eugene without an umbrella, wearing a black coat, a white waistcoat, and a yellow Gloves, oiled boots, and beckons to him.Eugene was suffocating his unknown anger, like a young man who had fallen into a big hole, and continued to drill in as if he had lost his head, thinking that he could find a lucky way out.He nodded his assent to the coachman, and got into the carriage regardless of the fact that he had only twenty-two sous in his pocket.Chrysanthemums and copper wires were scattered here and there in the carriage, indicating that there were indeed newcomers.

"Where are you going, sir?" asked the coachman, who had already taken off his white gloves.

"Forget it!" Eugene thought to himself, "Since I'm digging in, it must be of some use to me!" Then she replied loudly, "Bauseian Mansion."

"Which House of Bossian?" said the coachman.

A witty remark immediately stopped Eugene from asking.The fledgling handsome guy didn't know that there were two Bossian mansions, and he couldn't figure out how many relatives he had left behind.

"Viscount de Beausian, the name of the street is..."

"Rue de Grenelle," the coachman continued, turning his head on one side. "You know, there is also the house of the Comte de Beauseant and the Marquis, in the Rue Saint-Dominique," he said, raising the footboard.

"I know." Eugene replied with a straight face. "Everybody made fun of me today!" he said, throwing his hat on the front cushion. "It costs me like a king's ransom to make a fuss like this. But at least I have the aristocratic pomp of visiting my so-called cousin. Old Man Goriot has cost me at least ten francs, the old man Bastard! Really, I'm going to tell Madame de Beauseant what happened today, maybe it will make her laugh. That old bald-tailed mouse is hooking up with that beautiful woman, and she may know the inside story .That shameless woman is too expensive for me. Instead of touching her, I'd rather please my cousin. The beautiful Viscountess has so much power just by her surname, so how important is she herself? Let's still Let’s go to the upper level. If a person wants to make plans in the sky, he should look at God to do it!”

His heart was ups and downs, and his thoughts were full of thoughts, which can be seen from the above words.Looking at the rainy scene, he regained some composure and confidence.He thought that if he tossed two of the only five-franc coins left this month, it would be well spent, after all, he would save his clothes, shoes and hats.Only the coachman yelled: Excuse me, please open the door!He couldn't help shaking it triumphantly.A doorman in a gold and red uniform rattled the door of the mansion. Rastignac was satisfied, watching the carriage pass through the doorway, circle into the courtyard, and stop under the canopy of the steps.The coachman in the blue coat with red trim came over and put down the running board.When Eugene got out of the car, he heard laughing laughter coming from the corridor.Three or four servants were already arguing with the vulgar bride-in-carriage.Hearing their laughter, the college students suddenly realized when they compared this car with other people's cars: it was the most gorgeous car in Paris, with two horses harnessed, roses in their ears, biting bits, and the coachman's hair. Wearing powder, wearing a tie, reining in the horse with the rein, for fear that the horse will run away.In the courtyard of Mrs. de Restaut in the Angtandau district, a 26-year-old man’s exquisite two-wheeled vehicle was parked; the one on standby in the Saint-Germain district was another luxurious ceremonial guard of a grand lord, and a pair could not be bought for [-] francs. chariots and horses.

"Who's here?" thought Eugene; and, though belatedly, at last he understood that it is rare to find a woman in Paris who is free from entanglement, and that to conquer such a queen one must pay A price higher than blood. "Damn it! Maybe my cousin has her Maxim."

Dejected, he walked up the steps.The glass door opened towards him; the servants in front of him were all serious, like donkeys being whipped.The last party he attended at the mansion de Beauseant was held in the hall downstairs.After receiving the invitation and before attending the ball, he had no time to visit his cousin, so he had not entered Madame de Beauseant's upper room; now he was about to experience the exquisite environment for the first time; The state of mind and taste of a lady.He had Madame de Resto's drawing room for comparison, and the study was all the more interesting at this time.At 04:30 in the afternoon, the Viscountess can see guests; 5 minutes earlier, even her cousin will not be able to see her.Eugene, ignorant of Parisian red tape, went up a grand staircase with gilded balustrades, white steps covered with a red carpet and surrounded by flowers; then he entered Madame de Beauseant's room.Every night, in the Parisian salons, whispers were being circulated, and various stories were circulated, which were different from day to day. Among them was the rumor of this lady, but Eugene knew nothing about it.

For three years, the Viscountess had been intimate with one of the most famous and richest noblemen in Portugal, the Marquis de Arjuda-Pinto.That kind of dignified friendship is really interesting to the parties involved, and they can't stand the presence of a third party.Therefore, Viscount Lien de Bossian also set an example before others; whether he wanted to or not, he always respected this strange relationship.At the beginning of their friendship, all the guests who came to visit the Viscountess at two o'clock in the afternoon would always meet the Marquis de Ajuda-Pinto.Madame de Beauseant could not thank guests behind closed doors, it would be inappropriate, but she always ignored her guests and kept her eyes on the moldings on the wall, so that everyone understood that she was very important to her at that time. What an inconvenience.She was completely quiet until it became known in Paris that seeing Madame de Beauseant between two and four o'clock would disturb her.She went to the burlesque theater or the opera, though she was accompanied by Messrs. de Beausian and de Ajuda-Pinto; but the old and sophisticated M. de Beauseon, after he had settled his wife and the Portuguese, Excuse me and walk away.Recently, Mr. de Ajuda was getting married.The woman was a young lady of the Roshfield family.There is only one person in the whole of high society who does not know it, and that person is Madame de Beauseant.Several girlfriends mentioned it to her briefly; she just laughed it off, thinking that they were jealous of her happiness and wanted to spoil it.But the church's wedding announcement is about to be released.Although this handsome Portuguese man came to announce his marriage to the Viscountess, he dared not utter a word.Why?Because there is probably nothing more difficult than giving such an ultimatum to a woman.Some men find it easier to have a sword pointed at their chest in a duel than a woman who has been crying for two hours and looking for an antidote.Mr. de Arjuda-Pinto was on pins and needles at this moment, and wanted to leave, thinking that Mrs. de Beausian would know the news sooner or later, and he could write to her; It's better than talking.At this time, the Viscountess' servant announced that Mr. Eugene de Rastigne was visiting, and the Marquis de Ajuda-Pinto was surprised when he heard it.You know, a woman who is moved by true feelings is good at changing ways to have fun, but she is more sensitive and suspicious.Once at the moment of being abandoned, she can guess the meaning of a bodily reaction faster than Virgil's horse can smell the estrus from a distance[23].Therefore, it is conceivable that Madame de Beauseant really caught the involuntary reaction at a glance, although it was subtle, it was frighteningly exposed.Eugene didn't know that, in Paris, you should never go to anyone's house rashly, unless you have inquired about the details of the husband, wife or children from the friends of the family in advance, so as not to make a mess that is hard to deal with, which corresponds to the image of the Polish saying , Use a five-ox cart!It probably means that it can pull you out of the quagmire.There is no word in France for such disturbances in conversation, because gossip will be widely reported, and people think that it will probably never happen.Eugene was wading in the mud at Madame de Restaut's, and the master didn't give him time to harness his five oxen to a cart. After that, only he, a cowherd, would repeat the same mistakes and break into Madame Bossian's house.However, he had relieved Mr. de Arjuda, who had previously seriously disturbed Mrs. de Resto and Mr. de Tray.

"Goodbye." The Portuguese said, and hurried to the door. At this moment, Eugene came in. This was a small and exquisite living room, with gray and pink as the main tone, full of luxury and elegance.

"I'll see you tonight then," said Madame de Beauseant, turning her head to look at the Marquis. "Aren't we going to the Burlesque?"

"I can't go," he said, holding the doorknob.

Madame de Beauseant got up and called him back to her, paying no attention to Eugene; who stood there, dazzled by the splendor and splendor, thinking that he was in the Arabian Nights. He felt ashamed to face this woman who did not take him seriously.The Viscountess stretched out her right index finger and pointed towards the Marquis with a graceful gesture.The gesture had such indisputable emotional force that the Marquis had to let go of the knob and come back.Eugene looked at him enviously.

"Here's the man in the limousine!" he thought to himself. "Do you have to have horses and servants and a lot of money to win the favor of Parisian women?" Luxury gnawed at his heart like a devil, the desire for acquisition seized him, and the desire for money made his throat dry.He had 130 francs for the season; and his father, mother, brothers, sisters, and aunt, all together did not make more than two hundred francs a month.He quickly compared his situation with his ideal goal, and couldn't help being surprised.

"Why," asked the Vicomtesse, smiling, "you can't go to the Italian theater?"

"I'm busy! The British ambassador is here tonight."

"You can take a step first."

When a man cheats, he will inevitably lie a lot.Mr. de Ajuda said with a smile: "Do you really want me to be like this?"

"of course."

"That's what I want." He interjected, throwing such a wink that any other woman would be relieved.He took the Vicomtesse's hand, kissed it, and went away.

Eugene smoothed her hair with her hands, and prepared to salute, thinking that Madame de Beauseant was about to think of him; but suddenly she rushed to the corridor, ran to the window, and looked at de Aqué. Monsieur Da got into the car; she listened attentively to his orders, and she heard a message from the footman to the coachman: "Come to Monsieur de Rochefield's house." It was lightning and thunderbolts to this woman; she came back terrified.There is no worse evil in high society than this.The Viscountess returned to the bedroom, sat down at the table and took out a beautiful piece of paper, writing:

Since you dined at Roshfield's and not at the British Embassy, ​​give me an explanation.I am waiting for you.

A few letters were out of shape with trembling hands, and she traced them again, signed a C in place of her full name, Claire de Burgundy; and rang the bell.

"Jacques," she told the servant who heard the voice, "go to the mansion de Rochefield at 07:30 and ask to see the Marquis de Ajuda. If Mr. Marquis is here, give him this note without waiting for a reply." ; If not, bring the original letter back to me."

"There are people waiting for the Viscountess in the living room."

"Oh! That's right." She said as she pushed the door open.

Eugene, who was already beginning to feel very uncomfortable, saw the Vicomtesse at last; the Vicomtesse spoke to him, and the emotional tone touched his heartstrings again: "Excuse me, sir, I just wanted to write a note. Now I'll be with you." She didn't know what she was talking about, because what she was thinking was: "Oh! He wants to marry Mademoiselle de Rochefield. But is he really free? This evening The marriage has to be blown off, otherwise I...but the dust will be settled tomorrow."

"Cousin..." Eugene responded.

"Huh?" the Viscountess glanced at him as she spoke, her haughty gaze made the college student feel cold for a while.

Eugene recognized the meaning of the "hmm".He has learned a lot in these three hours, and he has already become wary in his heart.

"Ma'am," he corrected, blushing.After hesitating for a while, he continued, "Forgive me, I need backing too much, and it's always a good thing to have a little kiss."

Madame de Beauseant smiled, but sadly: she already felt that doom was approaching her side by step.

"If you knew the situation of my family," he went on, "you would become a fairy in the myth, willing to help the people to solve their problems."

"Then cousin," she laughed, "how can I help you?"

"How should I say it? I am lucky to have climbed up to you through a long-lost relationship. You have made me so flustered that I can hardly remember what to say to you. You are the only person I know in Paris." Oh! I want to ask you for advice, please accept me as a poor child, I am willing to wrap around your skirt and die for you."

"Will you kill someone for me?"

"Kill both." Eugene replied.

"My child! Yes, you are a child," she said, holding back tears, "and you love truly, you!"

"Oh!" he said and nodded.

After hearing such a generous answer, the Viscountess immediately became concerned about the college student.This southern youth is carrying out his first steps.From Madame de Restaut's blue drawing room to Madame de Beauseant's pink drawing room, he had studied the Paris Code for three years.Although this code is the essence of social laws, no one mentions it. Once learned and used properly, the road will be smooth.

"Oh! I remember," said Eugene. "I met Madame de Restaut at your ball; I went to her house this morning."

"You must have disturbed her," said Madame de Beauseant, smiling.

"Oh! yes, I am so ignorant, and if you don't help me, I will surely turn everyone against me. I think that if you want to meet a young, beautiful, rich and elegant woman in Paris, and have no one to pester you It is difficult and difficult to be a woman; I need such a woman to teach me life, and you women teach life so well. I will meet some M. de Tray everywhere. Therefore I came to you to ask you for an answer to a mystery, please tell me what happened to the trick I made there. I mentioned an old man..."

"The Duchesse de Langeais is here." Jacques came to announce, and he interrupted the student, who made a very annoyed gesture.

"If you want to succeed," whispered the Viscountess, "first of all, don't show your emotions so much."

"Oh! how do you do, my dear," she said, getting up, and going to meet the Duchess, and taking her hand, with the kindness and tenderness which is no more than that of a sister; .

"These are two good friends," thought Rastignac, "and from now on I have two supporters; these two women must agree, and this one may care for me."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, my dear Antoinette. How did you think of coming?" said Madame de Beauseant.

"I saw Mr. de Arjuda-Pinto enter the Roshfield House, and thought you were home alone."

When the Duchess said these fatal words, Madame de Beauseant did not bite her lips, nor did she blush, but her eyes remained the same, and her face became brighter.

(End of this chapter)