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
farewellperhaps 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； CharlesGood 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。
The two lovers； alarmed； fled into the hall； where Eugenie took up her
work and Charles began to read the litanies of the Virgin in Madame
Grandet's prayer…book。
〃Mercy！〃 cried Nanon； 〃now they're saying their prayers。〃
As soon as Charles announced his immediate departure； Grandet
bestirred himself to testify much interest in his nephew。 He became
very liberal of all that cost him nothing； took pains to find a
packer； declared the man asked too much for his cases； insisted on
making them himself out of old planks； got up early in the morning to
fit and plane and nail together the strips； out of which he made； to
his own satisfaction； some strong cases； in which he packed all
Charles's effects； he also took upon himself to send them by boat down
the Loire； to insure them； and get them to Nantes in proper time。
After the kiss taken in the passage； the hours fled for Eugenie with
frightful rapidity。 Sometimes she thought of following her cousin。
Those who have known that most endearing of all passions；the one
whose duration is each day shortened by time； by age； by mortal
illness； by human chances and fatalities；they will understand the
poor girl's tortures。 She wept as she walked in the garden； now so
narrow to her； as indeed the court； the house； the town all seemed。
She launched in thought upon the wide expanse of the ocean he was
about to traverse。 At last the eve of his departure came。 That
morning； in the absence of Grandet and of Nanon； the precious case
which contained the two portraits was solemnly installed in the only
drawer of the old cabinet which could be locked； where the now empty
velvet purse was lying。 This deposit was not made without a goodly
number of tears and kisses。 When Eugenie placed the key within her
bosom she had no courage to forbid the kiss with which Charles sealed
the act。
〃It shall never leave that place； my friend；〃 she said。
〃Then my heart will be always there。〃
〃Ah！ Charles； it is not right；〃 she said； as though she blamed him。
〃Are we not married？〃 he said。 〃I have thy promise；then take mine。〃
〃Thine； I am thine forever！〃 they each said； repeating the words twice
over。
No promise made upon this earth was ever purer。 The innocent sincerity
of Eugenie had sanctified for a moment the young man's love。
On the morrow the breakfast was sad。 Nanon herself； in spite of the
gold…embroidered robe and the Jeannette cross bestowed by Charles； had
tears in her eyes。
〃The poor dear monsieur who is going on the seasoh； may God guide
him！〃
At half…past ten the whole family started to escort Charles to the
diligence for Nantes。 Nanon let loose the dog； locked the door； and
insisted on carrying the young man's carpet…bag。 All the tradesmen in
the tortuous old street were on the sill of their shop…doors to watch
the procession； which was joined in the market…place by Maitre
Cruchot。
〃Eugenie； be sure you don't cry；〃 said her mother。
〃Nephew；〃 said Grandet； in the doorway of the inn from which the coach
started； kissing Charles on both cheeks； 〃depart poor； return rich；
you will find the honor of your father safe。 I answer for that myself；
IGrandet； for it will only depend on you to〃
〃Ah！ my uncle； you soften the bitterness of my departure。 Is it not
the best gift that you could make me？〃
Not understanding his uncle's words which he had thus interrupted；
Charles shed tears of gratitude upon the tanned cheeks of the old
miser； while Eugenie pressed the hand of her cousin and that of her
father with all her strength。 The notary smiled； admiring the sly
speech of the old man； which he alone had understood。 The family stood
about the coach until it started； then as it disappeared upon the
bridge； and its rumble grew fainter in the distance； Grandet said：
〃Good…by to you！〃
Happily no one but Maitre Cruchot heard the exclamation。 Eugenie and
her mother had gone to a corner of the quay from which they could
still see the diligence and wave their white handkerchiefs； to which
Charles made answer by displaying his。
〃Ah！ mother； would that I had the power of God for a single moment；〃
said Eugenie； when she could no longer see her lover's handkerchief。
*****
Not to interrupt the current of events which are about to take place
in the bosom of the Grandet family； it is necessary to cast a
forestalling eye upon the various operations which the goodman carried
on in Paris by means of Monsieur des Grassins。 A month after the
latter's departure from Saumur； Grandet； became possessed of a
certificate of a hundred thousand francs a year from his investment in
the Funds； bought at eighty francs net。 The particulars revealed at
his death by the inventory of his property threw no light upon the
means which his suspicious nature took to remit the price of the
investment and receive the certificate thereof。 Maitre Cruchot was of
opinion that Nanon； unknown to herself； was the trusty instrument by
which the money was transported； for about this time she was absent
five days； under a pretext of putting things to rights at Froidfond；
as if the goodman were capable of leaving anything lying about or out
of order！
In all that concerned the business of the house of Guillaume Grandet
the old cooper's intentions were fulfilled to the letter。 The Bank of
France； as everybody knows； affords exact information about all the
large fortunes in Paris and the provinces。 The names of des Grassins
and Felix Grandet of Saumur were well known there； and they enjoyed
the esteem bestowed on financial celebrities whose wealth comes from
immense and unencumbered territorial possessions。 The arrival of the
Saumur banker for the purpose； it was said； of honorably liquidating
the affairs of Grandet of Paris； was enough to avert the shame of
protested notes from the memory of the defunct merchant。 The seals on
the property were taken off in presence of the creditors； and the
notary employed by Grandet went to work at once on the inventory of
the assets。 Soon after this； des Grassins called a meeting of the
creditors； who unanimously elected him； conjointly with Francois
Keller； the head of a rich banking…house and one of those principally
interested in the affair； as liquidators； with full power to protect
both the honor of the family and the interests of the claimants。 The
credit of Grandet of Saumur； the hopes he diffused by means of des
Grassins in the minds of all concerned； facilitated the transactions。
Not a single creditor proved recalcitrant； no one thought of passing
his claim to his profit…and…loss account； each and all said
confidently； 〃Grandet of Saumur will pay。〃
Six months went by。 The Parisians had redeemed the notes in
circulation as they fell due； and held them under lock and key in
their desks。 First result aimed at by the old cooper！ Nine months
after this preliminary meeting； the two liquidators distributed forty…
seven per cent to each creditor on his claim。 This amount was obtained
by the sale of the securities； property； and possessions of all kinds
belonging to the late Guillaume Grandet； and was paid over with
scrupulous fidelity。 Unimpeachable integrity was shown in the
transaction。 The creditors gratefully acknowledged the remarkable and
incontestable honor displayed by the Grandets。 When these praises had
circulated for a certain length of time； the creditors asked for the
rest of their money。 It became necessary to write a collective letter
to Grandet of Saumur。
〃Here it comes！〃 said the old man as he threw the letter into the
fire。 〃Patience； my good friends！〃
In answer to the proposals contained in the letter； Grandet of Saumur
demanded that all vouchers for claims against the estate of his
brother should be deposited with a notary； together with aquittances
for the forty…seven