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room directly above the kitchen； was evidently walled up。 In fact； the
only entrance to that room was through Grandet's bedchamber； the room
itself was his office。 The single window which lighted it； on the side
of the court； was protected by a lattice of strong iron bars。 No one；
not even Madame Grandet； had permission to enter it。 The old man chose
to be alone； like an alchemist in his laboratory。 There； no doubt；
some hiding…place had been ingeniously constructed； there the title…
deeds of property were stored； there hung the scales on which to weigh
the louis； there were devised； by night and secretly； the estimates；
the profits； the receipts； so that business men； finding Grandet
prepared at all points； imagined that he got his cue from fairies or
demons； there； no doubt； while Nanon's loud snoring shook the rafters；
while the wolf…dog watched and yawned in the courtyard； while Madame
and Mademoiselle Grandet were quietly sleeping； came the old cooper to
cuddle； to con over； to caress and clutch and clasp his gold。 The
walls were thick； the screens sure。 He alone had the key of this
laboratory； whereso people declaredhe studied the maps on which
his fruit…trees were marked； and calculated his profits to a vine； and
almost to a twig。
The door of Eugenie's chamber was opposite to the walled…up entrance
to this room。 At the other end of the landing were the appartements of
the married pair； which occupied the whole front of the house。 Madame
Grandet had a room next to that of Eugenie； which was entered through
a glass door。 The master's chamber was separated from that of his wife
by a partition； and from the mysterious strong…room by a thick wall。
Pere Grandet lodged his nephew on the second floor； in the high
mansarde attic which was above his own bedroom； so that he might hear
him if the young man took it into his head to go and come。 When
Eugenie and her mother reached the middle of the landing they kissed
each other for good…night； then with a few words of adieu to Charles；
cold upon the lips； but certainly very warm in the heart of the young
girl； they withdrew into their own chambers。
〃Here you are in your room； my nephew；〃 said Pere Grandet as he opened
the door。 〃If you need to go out； call Nanon； without her； beware！ the
dog would eat you up without a word。 Sleep well。 Good…night。 Ha！ why；
they have made you a fire！〃 he cried。
At this moment Nanon appeared with the warming pan。
〃Here's something more！〃 said Monsieur Grandet。 〃Do you take my nephew
for a lying…in woman？ Carry off your brazier； Nanon！〃
〃But； monsieur； the sheets are damp； and this gentleman is as delicate
as a woman。〃
〃Well； go on； as you've taken it into your head；〃 said Grandet；
pushing her by the shoulders； 〃but don't set things on fire。〃 So
saying； the miser went down…stairs； grumbling indistinct sentences。
Charles stood aghast in the midst of his trunks。 After casting his
eyes on the attic…walls covered with that yellow paper sprinkled with
bouquets so well known in dance…houses； on the fireplace of ribbed
stone whose very look was chilling； on the chairs of yellow wood with
varnished cane seats that seemed to have more than the usual four
angles； on the open night…table capacious enough to hold a small
sergeant…at…arms； on the meagre bit of rag…carpet beside the bed； on
the tester whose cloth valance shook as if； devoured by moths； it was
about to fall； he turned gravely to la Grande Nanon and said；
〃Look here！ my dear woman； just tell me； am I in the house of Monsieur
Grandet； formerly mayor of Saumur； and brother to Monsieur Grandet of
Paris？〃
〃Yes； monsieur； and a very good； a very kind； a very perfect
gentleman。 Shall I help you to unpack your trunks？〃
〃Faith！ yes； if you will； my old trooper。 Didn't you serve in the
marines of the Imperial Guard？〃
〃Ho； ho； ho！〃 laughed Nanon。 〃What's that；the marines of the guard？
Is it salt？ Does it go in the water？〃
〃Here； get me my dressing…gown out of that valise； there's the key。〃
Nanon was wonder…struck by the sight of a dressing…gown made of green
silk； brocaded with gold flowers of an antique design。
〃Are you going to put that on to go to bed with？〃 she asked。
〃Yes。〃
〃Holy Virgin！ what a beautiful altar…cloth it would make for the
parish church！ My dear darling monsieur； give it to the church； and
you'll save your soul； if you don't； you'll lose it。 Oh； how nice you
look in it！ I must call mademoiselle to see you。〃
〃Come； Nanon； if Nanon you are； hold your tongue； let me go to bed。
I'll arrange my things to…morrow。 If my dressing…gown pleases you so
much； you shall save your soul。 I'm too good a Christian not to give
it to you when I go away； and you can do what you like with it。〃
Nanon stood rooted to the ground； gazing at Charles and unable to put
faith into his words。
〃Good night； Nanon。〃
〃What in the world have I come here for？〃 thought Charles as he went
to sleep。 〃My father is not a fool； my journey must have some object。
Pshaw！ put off serious thought till the morrow； as some Greek idiot
said。〃
〃Blessed Virgin！ how charming he is； my cousin！〃 Eugenie was saying；
interrupting her prayers； which that night at least were never
finished。
Madame Grandet had no thoughts at all as she went to bed。 She heard
the miser walking up and down his room through the door of
communication which was in the middle of the partition。 Like all timid
women； she had studied the character of her lord。 Just as the petrel
foresees the storm； she knew by imperceptible signs when an inward
tempest shook her husband； and at such times； to use an expression of
her own； she 〃feigned dead。〃
Grandet gazed at the door lined with sheet…iron which he lately put to
his sanctum； and said to himself；
〃What a crazy idea of my brother to bequeath his son to me！ A fine
legacy！ I have not fifty francs to give him。 What are fifty francs to
a dandy who looked at my barometer as if he meant to make firewood of
it！〃
In thinking over the consequences of that legacy of anguish Grandet
was perhaps more agitated than his brother had been at the moment of
writing it。
〃I shall have that golden robe；〃 thought Nanon； who went to sleep
tricked out in her altar…cloth； dreaming for the first time in her
life of flowers； embroidery； and damask； just as Eugenie was dreaming
of love。
*****
In the pure and monotonous life of young girls there comes a delicious
hour when the sun sheds its rays into their soul； when the flowers
express their thoughts； when the throbbings of the heart send upward
to the brain their fertilizing warmth and melt all thoughts into a
vague desire；day of innocent melancholy and of dulcet joys！ When
babes begin to see； they smile； when a young girl first perceives the
sentiment of nature； she smiles as she smiled when an infant。 If light
is the first love of life； is not love a light to the heart？ The
moment to see within the veil of earthly things had come for Eugenie。
An early riser； like all provincial girls； she was up betimes and said
her prayers； and then began the business of dressing；a business
which henceforth was to have a meaning。 First she brushed and smoothed
her chestnut hair and twisted its heavy masses to the top of her head
with the utmost care； preventing the loose tresses from straying； and
giving to her head a symmetry which heightened the timid candor of her
face； for the simplicity of these accessories accorded well with the
innocent sincerity of its lines。 As she washed her hands again and
again in the cold water which hardened and reddened the skin； she
looked at her handsome round arms and asked herself what her cousin
did to make his hands so softly white； his nails so delicately curved。
She put on new stockings and her prettiest shoes。 She laced her corset
straight； without skipping a single eyelet。 And then； wishing for the
first time in her life to appear to advantage； she felt the joy of
having a new gown； well made； which rendered her attractive。
As she finished her toilet the clock of the parish church struck the
hour； to her astonishment； it was only seven。 The desire of having
plenty of time for dressing carefully had led her to get up too early。
Ignorant of the art of retou