第46章

"No, uncle; only to tell me of an honest man who--""Give me those things, I will go upstairs and estimate their value; Iwill come back and tell you what it is to a fraction. Jeweller's gold," examining a long chain, "eighteen or nineteen carats."The goodman held out his huge hand and received the mass of gold, which he carried away.

"Cousin," said Grandet, "may I offer you these two buttons? They can fasten ribbons round your wrists; that sort of bracelet is much the fashion just now.""I accept without hesitation," she answered, giving him an understanding look.

"Aunt, here is my mother's thimble; I have always kept it carefully in my dressing-case," said Charles, presenting a pretty gold thimble to Madame Grandet, who for many years had longed for one.

"I cannot thank you; no words are possible, my nephew," said the poor mother, whose eyes filled with tears. "Night and morning in my prayers I shall add one for you, the most earnest of all--for those who travel. If I die, Eugenie will keep this treasure for you.""They are worth nine hundred and eighty-nine francs, seventy-five centimes," said Grandet, opening the door. "To save you the pain of selling them, I will advance the money--in /livres/."The word /livres/ on the littoral of the Loire signifies that crown prices of six /livres/ are to be accepted as six francs without deduction.

"I dared not propose it to you," answered Charles; "but it was most repugnant to me to sell my jewels to some second-hand dealer in your own town. People should wash their dirty linen at home, as Napoleon said. I thank you for your kindness."Grandet scratched his ear, and there was a moment's silence.

"My dear uncle," resumed Charles, looking at him with an uneasy air, as if he feared to wound his feelings, "my aunt and cousin have been kind enough to accept a trifling remembrance of me. Will you allow me to give you these sleeve-buttons, which are useless to me now? They will remind you of a poor fellow who, far away, will always think of those who are henceforth all his family.""My lad, my lad, you mustn't rob yourself this way! Let me see, wife, what have you got?" he added, turning eagerly to her. "Ah! a gold thimble. And you, little girl? What! diamond buttons? Yes, I'll accept your present, nephew," he answered, shaking Charles by the hand. "But --you must let me--pay--your--yes, your passage to the Indies. Yes, Iwish to pay your passage because--d'ye see, my boy?--in valuing your jewels I estimated only the weight of the gold; very likely the workmanship is worth something. So let us settle it that I am to give you fifteen hundred francs--in /livres/; Cruchot will lend them to me.

I haven't got a copper farthing here,--unless Perrotet, who is behindhand with his rent, should pay up. By the bye, I'll go and see him."He took his hat, put on his gloves, and went out.

"Then you are really going?" said Eugenie to her cousin, with a sad look, mingled with admiration.

"I must," he said, bowing his head.

For some days past, Charles's whole bearing, manners, and speech had become those of a man who, in spite of his profound affliction, feels the weight of immense obligations and has the strength to gather courage from misfortune. He no longer repined, he became a man.

Eugenie never augured better of her cousin's character than when she saw him come down in the plain black clothes which suited well with his pale face and sombre countenance. On that day the two women put on their own mourning, and all three assisted at a Requiem celebrated in the parish church for the soul of the late Guillaume Grandet.

At the second breakfast Charles received letters from Paris and began to read them.

"Well, cousin, are you satisfied with the management of your affairs?"said Eugenie in a low voice.

"Never ask such questions, my daughter," said Grandet. "What the devil! do I tell you my affairs? Why do you poke your nose into your cousin's? Let the lad alone!""Oh! I haven't any secrets," said Charles.

"Ta, ta, ta, ta, nephew; you'll soon find out that you must hold your tongue in business."When the two lovers were alone in the garden, Charles said to Eugenie, drawing her down on the old bench beneath the walnut-tree,--"I did right to trust Alphonse; he has done famously. He has managed my affairs with prudence and good faith. I now owe nothing in Paris.

All my things have been sold; and he tells me that he has taken the advice of an old sea-captain and spent three thousand francs on a commercial outfit of European curiosities which will be sure to be in demand in the Indies. He has sent my trunks to Nantes, where a ship is loading for San Domingo. In five days, Eugenie, we must bid each other farewell--perhaps forever, at least for years. My outfit and ten thousand francs, which two of my friends send me, are a very small beginning. I cannot look to return for many years. My dear cousin, do not weight your life in the scales with mine; I may perish; some good marriage may be offered to you--""Do you love me?" she said.

"Oh, yes! indeed, yes!" he answered, with a depth of tone that revealed an equal depth of feeling.

"I shall wait, Charles--Good heavens! there is my father at his window," she said, repulsing her cousin, who leaned forward to kiss her.

She ran quickly under the archway. Charles followed her. When she saw him, she retreated to the foot of the staircase and opened the swing-door; then, scarcely knowing where she was going, Eugenie reached the corner near Nanon's den, in the darkest end of the passage. There Charles caught her hand and drew her to his heart. Passing his arm about her waist, he made her lean gently upon him. Eugenie no longer resisted; she received and gave the purest, the sweetest, and yet, withal, the most unreserved of kisses.

"Dear Eugenie, a cousin is better than a brother, for he can marry you," said Charles.

"So be it!" cried Nanon, opening the door of her lair.