all jumped in their chairs。
〃There is no man in Saumur who would knock like that；〃 said the
notary。
〃How can they bang in that way！〃 exclaimed Nanon； 〃do they want to
break in the door？〃
〃Who the devil is it？〃 cried Grandet。
III
Nanon took one of the candles and went to open the door； followed by
her master。
〃Grandet！ Grandet！〃 cried his wife； moved by a sudden impulse of fear；
and running to the door of the room。
All the players looked at each other。
〃Suppose we all go？〃 said Monsieur des Grassins； 〃that knock strikes
me as evil…intentioned。〃
Hardly was Monsieur des Grassins allowed to see the figure of a young
man； accompanied by a porter from the coach…office carrying two large
trunks and dragging a carpet…bag after him； than Monsieur Grandet
turned roughly on his wife and said；
〃Madame Grandet； go back to your loto； leave me to speak with
monsieur。〃
Then he pulled the door quickly to； and the excited players returned
to their seats； but did not continue the game。
〃Is it any one belonging to Saumur； Monsieur des Grassins？〃 asked his
wife。
〃No； it is a traveller。〃
〃He must have come from Paris。〃
〃Just so；〃 said the notary； pulling out his watch； which was two
inches thick and looked like a Dutch man…of…war； 〃it's nine o'clock；
the diligence of the Grand Bureau is never late。〃
〃Is the gentleman young？〃 inquired the Abbe Cruchot。
〃Yes；〃 answered Monsieur des Grassins； 〃and he has brought luggage
which must weigh nearly three tons。〃
〃Nanon does not come back；〃 said Eugenie。
〃It must be one of your relations；〃 remarked the president。
〃Let us go on with our game；〃 said Madame Grandet gently。 〃I know from
Monsieur Grandet's tone of voice that he is annoyed； perhaps he would
not like to find us talking of his affairs。〃
〃Mademoiselle；〃 said Adolphe to his neighbor； 〃it is no doubt your
cousin Grandet；a very good…looking young man； I met him at the ball
of Monsieur de Nucingen。〃 Adolphe did not go on； for his mother trod
on his toes； and then； asking him aloud for two sous to put on her
stake； she whispered： 〃Will you hold your tongue； you great goose！〃
At this moment Grandet returned； without la Grande Nanon； whose steps；
together with those of the porter； echoed up the staircase； and he was
followed by the traveller who had excited such curiosity and so filled
the lively imaginations of those present that his arrival at this
dwelling； and his sudden fall into the midst of this assembly； can
only be likened to that of a snail into a beehive； or the introduction
of a peacock into some village poultry…yard。
〃Sit down near the fire；〃 said Grandet。
Before seating himself； the young stranger saluted the assembled
company very gracefully。 The men rose to answer by a courteous
inclination； and the women made a ceremonious bow。
〃You are cold； no doubt； monsieur；〃 said Madame Grandet； 〃you have；
perhaps； travelled from〃
〃Just like all women！〃 said the old wine…grower； looking up from a
letter he was reading。 〃Do let monsieur rest himself！〃
〃But； father； perhaps monsieur would like to take something；〃 said
Eugenie。
〃He has got a tongue；〃 said the old man sternly。
The stranger was the only person surprised by this scene； all the
others were well…used to the despotic ways of the master。 However；
after the two questions and the two replies had been exchanged； the
newcomer rose； turned his back towards the fire； lifted one foot so as
to warm the sole of its boot； and said to Eugenie；
〃Thank you； my cousin； but I dined at Tours。 And；〃 he added； looking
at Grandet； 〃I need nothing； I am not even tired。〃
〃Monsieur has come from the capital？〃 asked Madame des Grassins。
Monsieur Charles；such was the name of the son of Monsieur Grandet of
Paris；hearing himself addressed； took a little eye…glass； suspended
by a chain from his neck； applied it to his right eye to examine what
was on the table； and also the persons sitting round it。 He ogled
Madame des Grassins with much impertinence； and said to her； after he
had observed all he wished；
〃Yes； madame。 You are playing at loto； aunt；〃 he added。 〃Do not let me
interrupt you； I beg； go on with your game： it is too amusing to
leave。〃
〃I was certain it was the cousin；〃 thought Madame des Grassins；
casting repeated glances at him。
〃Forty…seven！〃 cried the old abbe。 〃Mark it down； Madame des Grassins。
Isn't that your number？〃
Monsieur des Grassins put a counter on his wife's card； who sat
watching first the cousin from Paris and then Eugenie； without
thinking of her loto； a prey to mournful presentiments。 From time to
time the young the heiress glanced furtively at her cousin； and the
banker's wife easily detected a /crescendo/ of surprise and curiosity
in her mind。
Monsieur Charles Grandet； a handsome young man of twenty…two；
presented at this moment a singular contrast to the worthy
provincials； who； considerably disgusted by his aristocratic manners；
were all studying him with sarcastic intent。 This needs an
explanation。 At twenty…two； young people are still so near childhood
that they often conduct themselves childishly。 In all probability； out
of every hundred of them fully ninety…nine would have behaved
precisely as Monsieur Charles Grandet was now behaving。
Some days earlier than this his father had told him to go and spend
several months with his uncle at Saumur。 Perhaps Monsieur Grandet was
thinking of Eugenie。 Charles； sent for the first time in his life into
the provinces； took a fancy to make his appearance with the
superiority of a man of fashion； to reduce the whole arrondissement to
despair by his luxury； and to make his visit an epoch； importing into
those country regions all the refinements of Parisian life。 In short；
to explain it in one word； he mean to pass more time at Saumur in
brushing his nails than he ever thought of doing in Paris； and to
assume the extra nicety and elegance of dress which a young man of
fashion often lays aside for a certain negligence which in itself is
not devoid of grace。 Charles therefore brought with him a complete
hunting…costume； the finest gun； the best hunting…knife in the
prettiest sheath to be found in all Paris。 He brought his whole
collection of waistcoats。 They were of all kinds；gray； black； white；
scarabaeus…colored： some were shot with gold； some spangled； some
/chined/； some were double…breasted and crossed like a shawl； others
were straight in the collar； some had turned…over collars； some
buttoned up to the top with gilt buttons。 He brought every variety of
collar and cravat in fashion at that epoch。 He brought two of
Buisson's coats and all his finest linen He brought his pretty gold
toilet…set；a present from his mother。 He brought all his dandy
knick…knacks； not forgetting a ravishing little desk presented to him
by the most amiable of women；amiable for him； at least；a fine lady
whom he called Annette and who at this moment was travelling；
matrimonially and wearily； in Scotland； a victim to certain suspicions
which required a passing sacrifice of happiness； in the desk was much
pretty note…paper on which to write to her once a fortnight。
In short； it was as complete a cargo of Parisian frivolities as it was
possible for him to get together；a collection of all the implements
of husbandry with which the youth of leisure tills his life； from the
little whip which helps to begin a duel； to the handsomely chased
pistols which end it。 His father having told him to travel alone and
modestly； he had taken the coupe of the diligence all to himself；
rather pleased at not having to damage a delightful travelling…
carriage ordered for a journey on which he was to meet his Annette；
the great lady who； etc。；whom he intended to rejoin at Baden in the
following June。 Charles expected to meet scores of people at his
uncle's house； to hunt in his uncle's forests；to live； in short； the
usual chateau life； he did not know that his uncle was in Saumur； and
had only inquired about him incidentally when asking the way to
Froidfond。 Hearing that he was in town； he supposed that he should
find him in a suitable mansion。
In order that he might make a becoming first appearance before his
uncle either at Saumur or at Froidfond； he had put on his most elegant
travelling attire； simple yet exquisite；〃adorable；〃 to use the word
which in those days summed up the special perfections of a man or a
thing。 At Tours a hairdresser had re…curled his beautiful chestnut
locks； there he changed his linen and put on a black satin cravat；
which； combined with a round shirt…collar； framed his fair and smiling
countenance agreeably。 A travelling great…coat； only half buttoned up；
nipped in his waist and disclosed a cashmere waistcoat crossed in
front； beneath which was another waistcoat of white material。 His
watch； negligently slipped into a pocket； was fastened by a short gold
chain to a buttonhole。 His gray trousers； buttoned up at the sides；
were set off at the seams with patterns of black silk embroidery。 He
gracefully twirled a cane； whose chased gold knob did not mar the
freshness of his gray gloves。 And to complete all； his cap was in
excellent taste。 None but a Parisian； and a Parisian of the upper
spheres； could thus array himself without appearing ridiculous； none
other could give the harmony of self…conceit to all these fopperies；
which were carried off； however； with a dashing air；the air of a
young man who has fine pistols； a sure aim； and Annette。
Now if you wish to understand the mutual amazement of the provincial
party and the young Parisian； if you would clearly see the brilliance
which the traveller's elegance cast among the gray shadows of the room
and upon the faces of this family group；endeavor to picture to your
minds the Cruchots。 All three took snuff； and had long ceased to
repress the habit of snivelling or to remove the brown blotches which
strewed the frills of their dingy shirts and the yellowing creases of
their crumpled collars。 Their flabby cravats were twisted into ropes
as soon as they wound them about their throats。 The enormous quantity
of linen which allowed these people to have their clothing washed only
once in six months； and to keep it during that time in the depths of
their closets； also enabled time