luminous。 Who has not seen the phenomenon of a like transfiguration on
sacred faces where the habits of the soul have triumphed over the
plainest features； giving them that spiritual illumination whose light
comes from the purity and nobility of the inward thought？ The
spectacle of this transformation wrought by the struggle which
consumed the last shreds of the human life of this woman； did somewhat
affect the old cooper； though feebly； for his nature was of iron； if
his language ceased to be contemptuous； an imperturbable silence；
which saved his dignity as master of the household； took its place and
ruled his conduct。
When the faithful Nanon appeared in the market； many quips and quirks
and complaints about the master whistled in her ears； but however
loudly public opinion condemned Monsieur Grandet； the old servant
defended him； for the honor of the family。
〃Well！〃 she would say to his detractors； 〃don't we all get hard as we
grow old？ Why shouldn't he get horny too？ Stop telling lies。
Mademoiselle lives like a queen。 She's alone； that's true； but she
likes it。 Besides； my masters have good reasons。〃
At last； towards the end of spring； Madame Grandet； worn out by grief
even more than by illness； having failed； in spite of her prayers； to
reconcile the father and daughter； confided her secret troubles to the
Cruchots。
〃Keep a girl of twenty…three on bread and water！〃 cried Monsieur de
Bonfons； 〃without any reason； too！ Why； that constitutes wrongful
cruelty； she can contest； as much in as upon〃
〃Come； nephew； spare us your legal jargon；〃 said the notary。 〃Set your
mind at ease； madame； I will put a stop to such treatment to…morrow。〃
Eugenie； hearing herself mentioned； came out of her room。
〃Gentlemen；〃 she said； coming forward with a proud step； 〃I beg you
not to interfere in this matter。 My father is master in his own house。
As long as I live under his roof I am bound to obey him。 His conduct
is not subject to the approbation or the disapprobation of the world；
he is accountable to God only。 I appeal to your friendship to keep
total silence in this affair。 To blame my father is to attack our
family honor。 I am much obliged to you for the interest you have shown
in me； you will do me an additional service if you will put a stop to
the offensive rumors which are current in the town； of which I am
accidentally informed。〃
〃She is right；〃 said Madame Grandet。
〃Mademoiselle； the best way to stop such rumors is to procure your
liberty；〃 answered the old notary respectfully； struck with the beauty
which seclusion； melancholy； and love had stamped upon her face。
〃Well； my daughter； let Monsieur Cruchot manage the matter if he is so
sure of success。 He understands your father； and how to manage him。 If
you wish to see me happy for my few remaining days； you must； at any
cost； be reconciled to your father。〃
On the morrow Grandet； in pursuance of a custom he had begun since
Eugenie's imprisonment； took a certain number of turns up and down the
little garden； he had chosen the hour when Eugenie brushed and
arranged her hair。 When the old man reached the walnut…tree he hid
behind its trunk and remained for a few moments watching his
daughter's movements； hesitating； perhaps； between the course to which
the obstinacy of his character impelled him and his natural desire to
embrace his child。 Sometimes he sat down on the rotten old bench where
Charles and Eugenie had vowed eternal love； and then she； too； looked
at her father secretly in the mirror before which she stood。 If he
rose and continued his walk； she sat down obligingly at the window and
looked at the angle of the wall where the pale flowers hung； where the
Venus…hair grew from the crevices with the bindweed and the sedum；a
white or yellow stone…crop very abundant in the vineyards of Saumur
and at Tours。 Maitre Cruchot came early； and found the old wine…grower
sitting in the fine June weather on the little bench； his back against
the division wall of the garden； engaged in watching his daughter。
〃What may you want； Maitre Cruchot？〃 he said； perceiving the notary。
〃I came to speak to you on business。〃
〃Ah！ ah！ have you brought some gold in exchange for my silver？〃
〃No； no； I have not come about money； it is about your daughter
Eugenie。 All the town is talking of her and you。〃
〃What does the town meddle for？ A man's house is his castle。〃
〃Very true； and a man may kill himself if he likes； or； what is worse；
he may fling his money into the gutter。〃
〃What do you mean？〃
〃Why； your wife is very ill； my friend。 You ought to consult Monsieur
Bergerin； she is likely to die。 If she does die without receiving
proper care； you will not be very easy in mind； I take it。〃
〃Ta； ta； ta； ta！ you know a deal about my wife！ These doctors； if they
once get their foot in your house； will come five and six times a
day。〃
〃Of course you will do as you think best。 We are old friends； there is
no one in all Saumur who takes more interest than I in what concerns
you。 Therefore； I was bound to tell you this。 However； happen what
may； you have the right to do as you please； you can choose your own
course。 Besides； that is not what brings me here。 There is another
thing which may have serious results for you。 After all； you can't
wish to kill your wife； her life is too important to you。 Think of
your situation in connection with your daughter if Madame Grandet
dies。 You must render an account to Eugenie； because you enjoy your
wife's estate only during her lifetime。 At her death your daughter can
claim a division of property； and she may force you to sell Froidfond。
In short； she is her mother's heir； and you are not。〃
These words fell like a thunderbolt on the old man； who was not as
wise about law as he was about business。 He had never thought of a
legal division of the estate。
〃Therefore I advise you to treat her kindly；〃 added Cruchot； in
conclusion。
〃But do you know what she has done； Cruchot？〃
〃What？〃 asked the notary； curious to hear the truth and find out the
cause of the quarrel。
〃She has given away her gold！〃
〃Well； wasn't it hers？〃 said the notary。
〃They all tell me that！〃 exclaimed the old man； letting his arms fall
to his sides with a movement that was truly tragic。
〃Are you goingfor a mere nothing；〃resumed Cruchot； 〃to put
obstacles in the way of the concessions which you will be obliged to
ask from your daughter as soon as her mother dies？〃
〃Do you call six thousand francs a mere nothing？〃
〃Hey！ my old friend； do you know what the inventory of your wife's
property will cost； if Eugenie demands the division？〃
〃How much？〃
〃Two； three； four thousand francs； perhaps！ The property would have to
be put up at auction and sold； to get at its actual value。 Instead of
that； if you are on good terms with〃
〃By the shears of my father！〃 cried Grandet； turning pale as he
suddenly sat down； 〃we will see about it； Cruchot。〃
After a moment's silence； full of anguish perhaps； the old man looked
at the notary and said；
〃Life is very hard！ It has many griefs！ Cruchot；〃 he continued
solemnly； 〃you would not deceive me？ Swear to me upon your honor that
all you've told me is legally true。 Show me the law； I must see the
law！〃
〃My poor friend；〃 said the notary； 〃don't I know my own business？〃
〃Then it is true！ I am robbed； betrayed； killed； destroyed by my own
daughter！〃
〃It is true that your daughter is her mother's heir。〃
〃Why do we have children？ Ah！ my wife； I love her！ Luckily she's sound
and healthy； she's a Bertelliere。〃
〃She has not a month to live。〃
Grandet struck his forehead； went a few steps； came back； cast a
dreadful look on Cruchot； and said；
〃What can be done？〃
〃Eugenie can relinquish her claim to her mother's property。 Should she
do this you would not disinherit her； I presume？but if you want to
come to such a settlement； you must not treat her harshly。 What I am
telling you； old man； is against my own interests。 What do I live by；
if it isn't liquidations； inventories； conveyances； divisions of
property？〃
〃We'll see； we'll see！ Don't let's talk any more about it； Cruchot； it
wrings my vitals。 Have you received any gold？〃
〃No； but I have a few old louis； a dozen or so； which you may have。 My
good friend； make it up with Eugenie。 Don't you know all Saumur is
pelting you with stones？〃
〃The scoundrels！〃
〃Come； the Funds are at ninety…nine。 Do be satisfied for once in your
life。〃
〃At ninety…nine！ Are they； Cruchot？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Hey； hey！ Ninety…nine！〃 repeated the old man； accompanying the notary
to the street…door。 Then； too agitated by what he had just heard to
stay in the house； he went up to his wife's room and said；
〃Come； mother； you may have your daughter to spend the day with you。
I'm going to Froidfond。 Enjoy yourselves； both of you。 This is our
wedding…day； wife。 See！ here are sixty francs for your altar at the
Fete…Dieu； you've wanted one for a long time。 Come； cheer up； enjoy
yourself； and get well！ Hurrah for happiness！〃
He threw ten silver pieces of six francs each upon the bed； and took
his wife's head between his hands and kissed her forehead。
〃My good wife； you are getting well； are not you？〃
〃How can you think of receiving the God of mercy in your house when
you refuse to forgive your daughter？〃 she said with emotion。
〃Ta； ta； ta； ta！〃 said Grandet in a coaxing voice。 〃We'll see about
that。〃
〃Merciful heaven！ Eugenie；〃 cried the mother； flushing with joy； 〃come
and kiss your father； he forgives you！〃
But the old man had disappeared。 He was going as fast as his legs
could carry him towards his vineyards； trying to get his confused
ideas into order。 Grandet had entered his seventy…sixth year。 During
the last two years his avarice had increased upon him； as all the
persistent passions of men increase at a certain age。 As if to
illustrate an observation which applies equally to misers； ambitious
men； and others whose lives are controlled by any dominant idea； his
affections had fastened upon one special symbol of his passion。 The
sight of gold； the possession of gold； had become a monomania。 His
despotic spirit had grown in proportion to his avarice； and to part
with the control of the smallest fraction of his property at the death
of his wi