Parisians； to decoy and dupe and snare them； to drive them into a
trap； and make them go and come and sweat and hope and turn pale；a
plot by which to amuse himself； the old provincial cooper； sitting
there beneath his gloomy rafters； or passing up and down the rotten
staircase of his house in Saumur。 His nephew filled his mind。 He
wished to save the honor of his dead brother without the cost of a
penny to the son or to himself。 His own funds he was about to invest
for three years； he had therefore nothing further to do than to manage
his property in Saumur。 He needed some nutriment for his malicious
activity； and he found it suddenly in his brother's failure。 Feeling
nothing to squeeze between his own paws； he resolved to crush the
Parisians in behalf of Charles； and to play the part of a good brother
on the cheapest terms。 The honor of the family counted for so little
in this scheme that his good intentions might be likened to the
interest a gambler takes in seeing a game well played in which he has
no stake。 The Cruchots were a necessary part of his plan； but he would
not seek them；he resolved to make them come to him； and to lead up
that very evening to a comedy whose plot he had just conceived； which
should make him on the morrow an object of admiration to the whole
town without its costing him a single penny。
In her father's absence Eugenie had the happiness of busying herself
openly with her much…loved cousin； of spending upon him fearlessly the
treasures of her pity；woman's sublime superiority； the sole she
desires to have recognized； the sole she pardons man for letting her
assume。 Three or four times the young girl went to listen to her
cousin's breathing； to know if he were sleeping or awake； then； when
he had risen； she turned her thoughts to the cream； the eggs； the
fruits； the plates； the glasses；all that was a part of his breakfast
became the object of some special care。 At length she ran lightly up
the old staircase to listen to the noise her cousin made。 Was he
dressing？ Did he still weep？ She reached the door。
〃My cousin！〃
〃Yes； cousin。〃
〃Will you breakfast downstairs； or in your room？〃
〃Where you like。〃
〃How do you feel？〃
〃Dear cousin； I am ashamed of being hungry。〃
This conversation； held through the closed door； was like an episode
in a poem to Eugenie。
〃Well； then； we will bring your breakfast to your own room； so as not
to annoy my father。〃
She ran to the kitchen with the swiftness and lightness of a bird。
〃Nanon； go and do his room！〃
That staircase； so often traversed； which echoed to the slightest
noise； now lost its decaying aspect in the eyes of Eugenie。 It grew
luminous； it had a voice and spoke to her； it was young like herself；
young like the love it was now serving。 Her mother； her kind；
indulgent mother； lent herself to the caprices of the child's love；
and after the room was put in order； both went to sit with the unhappy
youth and keep him company。 Does not Christian charity make
consolation a duty？ The two women drew a goodly number of little
sophistries from their religion wherewith to justify their conduct。
Charles was made the object of the tenderest and most loving care。 His
saddened heart felt the sweetness of the gentle friendship； the
exquisite sympathy which these two souls； crushed under perpetual
restraint； knew so well how to display when； for an instant； they were
left unfettered in the regions of suffering； their natural sphere。
Claiming the right of relationship； Eugenie began to fold the linen
and put in order the toilet articles which Charles had brought； thus
she could marvel at her ease over each luxurious bauble and the
various knick…knacks of silver or chased gold； which she held long in
her hand under a pretext of examining them。 Charles could not see
without emotion the generous interest his aunt and cousin felt in him；
he knew society in Paris well enough to feel assured that； placed as
he now was； he would find all hearts indifferent or cold。 Eugenie thus
appeared to him in the splendor of a special beauty； and from
thenceforth he admired the innocence of life and manners which the
previous evening he had been inclined to ridicule。 So when Eugenie
took from Nanon the bowl of coffee and cream； and began to pour it out
for her cousin with the simplicity of real feeling； giving him a
kindly glance； the eyes of the Parisian filled with tears； he took her
hand and kissed it。
〃What troubles you？〃 she said。
〃Oh！ these are tears of gratitude；〃 he answered。
Eugenie turned abruptly to the chimney…piece to take the candlesticks。
〃Here； Nanon； carry them away！〃 she said。
When she looked again towards her cousin she was still blushing； but
her looks could at least deceive； and did not betray the excess of joy
which innundated her heart； yet the eyes of both expressed the same
sentiment as their souls flowed together in one thought；the future
was theirs。 This soft emotion was all the more precious to Charles in
the midst of his heavy grief because it was wholly unexpected。 The
sound of the knocker recalled the women to their usual station。
Happily they were able to run downstairs with sufficient rapidity to
be seated at their work when Grandet entered； had he met them under
the archway it would have been enough to rouse his suspicions。 After
breakfast； which the goodman took standing； the keeper from Froidfond；
to whom the promised indemnity had never yet been paid； made his
appearance； bearing a hare and some partridges shot in the park； with
eels and two pike sent as tribute by the millers。
〃Ha； ha！ poor Cornoiller； here he comes； like fish in Lent。 Is all
that fit to eat？〃
〃Yes； my dear； generous master； it has been killed two days。〃
〃Come； Nanon； bestir yourself；〃 said Grandet； 〃take these things；
they'll do for dinner。 I have invited the two Cruchots。〃
Nanon opened her eyes； stupid with amazement； and looked at everybody
in the room。
〃Well！〃 she said； 〃and how am I to get the lard and the spices？〃
〃Wife；〃 said Grandet； 〃give Nanon six francs； and remind me to get
some of the good wine out of the cellar。〃
〃Well； then； Monsieur Grandet；〃 said the keeper； who had come prepared
with an harangue for the purpose of settling the question of the
indemnity； 〃Monsieur Grandet〃
〃Ta； ta； ta； ta！〃 said Grandet； 〃I know what you want to say。 You are
a good fellow； we will see about it to…morrow； I'm too busy to…day。
Wife； give him five francs；〃 he added to Madame Grandet as he
decamped。
The poor woman was only too happy to buy peace at the cost of eleven
francs。 She knew that Grandet would let her alone for a fortnight
after he had thus taken back； franc by franc； the money he had given
her。
〃Here； Cornoiller；〃 she said； slipping ten francs into the man's hand；
〃some day we will reward your services。〃
Cornoiller could say nothing； so he went away。
〃Madame；〃 said Nanon； who had put on her black coif and taken her
basket； 〃I want only three francs。 You keep the rest； it'll go fast
enough somehow。〃
〃Have a good dinner； Nanon； my cousin will come down；〃 said Eugenie。
〃Something very extraordinary is going on； I am certain of it；〃 said
Madame Grandet。 〃This is only the third time since our marriage that
your father has given a dinner。〃
*****
About four o'clock； just as Eugenie and her mother had finished
setting the table for six persons； and after the master of the house
had brought up a few bottles of the exquisite wine which provincials
cherish with true affection； Charles came down into the hall。 The
young fellow was pale； his gestures； the expression of his face； his
glance； and the tones of his voice； all had a sadness which was full
of grace。 He was not pretending grief； he truly suffered； and the veil
of pain cast over his features gave him an interesting air dear to the
heart of women。 Eugenie loved him the more for it。 Perhaps she felt
that sorrow drew him nearer to her。 Charles was no longer the rich and
distinguished young man placed in a sphere far above her； but a
relation plunged into frightful misery。 Misery begets equality。 Women
have this in common with the angels；suffering humanity belongs to
them。 Charles and Eugenie understood each other and spoke only with
their eyes； for the poor fallen dandy； orphaned and impoverished； sat
apart in a corner of the room； and was proudly calm and silent。 Yet；
from time to time； the gentle and caressing glance of the young girl
shone upon him and constrained him away from his sad thoughts； drawing
him with her into the fields of hope and of futurity； where she loved
to hold him at her side。
VII
At this moment the town of Saumur was more excited about the dinner
given by Grandet to the Cruchots than it had been the night before at
the sale of his vintage； though that constituted a crime of high…
treason against the whole wine…growing community。 If the politic old
miser had given his dinner from the same idea that cost the dog of
Alcibiades his tail； he might perhaps have been called a great man；
but the fact is； considering himself superior to a community which he
could trick on all occasions； he paid very little heed to what Saumur
might say。
The des Grassins soon learned the facts of the failure and the violent
death of Guillaume Grandet； and they determined to go to their
client's house that very evening to commiserate his misfortune and
show him some marks of friendship； with a view of ascertaining the
motives which had led him to invite the Cruchots to dinner。 At
precisely five o'clock Monsieur C。 de Bonfons and his uncle the notary
arrived in their Sunday clothes。 The party sat down to table and began
to dine with good appetites。 Grandet was grave； Charles silent；
Eugenie dumb； and Madame Grandet did not say more than usual； so that
the dinner was； very properly； a repast of condolence。 When they rose
from table Charles said to his aunt and uncle；
〃Will you permit me to retire？ I am obliged to undertake a long and
painful correspondence。〃
〃Certainly； nephew。〃
As soon as the goodman was certain that Charles could hear nothing and
was probably deep in his letter…writing； he said； with a dissimulating
glance a