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〃Oh！ nothing；〃 said Pere Grandet。
〃Besides； we shall go fast；〃 added the man； 〃your farmers have picked
out their best horses。〃
〃Very good。 You did not tell them where I was going？〃
〃I didn't know where。〃
〃Very good。 Is the carriage strong？〃
〃Strong？ hear to that； now！ Why； it can carry three thousand weight。
How much does that old keg weigh？〃
〃Goodness！〃 exclaimed Nanon。 〃I ought to know！ There's pretty nigh
eighteen hundred〃
〃Will you hold your tongue； Nanon！ You are to tell my wife I have gone
into the country。 I shall be back to dinner。 Drive fast； Cornoiller； I
must get to Angers before nine o'clock。〃
The carriage drove off。 Nanon bolted the great door； let loose the
dog； and went off to bed with a bruised shoulder； no one in the
neighborhood suspecting either the departure of Grandet or the object
of his journey。 The precautions of the old miser and his reticence
were never relaxed。 No one had ever seen a penny in that house； filled
as it was with gold。 Hearing in the morning； through the gossip of the
port； that exchange on gold had doubled in price in consequence of
certain military preparations undertaken at Nantes； and that
speculators had arrived at Angers to buy coin； the old wine…grower； by
the simple process of borrowing horses from his farmers； seized the
chance of selling his gold and of bringing back in the form of
treasury notes the sum he intended to put into the Funds； having
swelled it considerably by the exchange。
VIII
〃My father has gone；〃 thought Eugenie； who heard all that took place
from the head of the stairs。 Silence was restored in the house； and
the distant rumbling of the carriage； ceasing by degrees； no longer
echoed through the sleeping town。 At this moment Eugenie heard in her
heart； before the sound caught her ears； a cry which pierced the
partitions and came from her cousin's chamber。 A line of light； thin
as the blade of a sabre； shone through a chink in the door and fell
horizontally on the balusters of the rotten staircase。
〃He suffers！〃 she said； springing up the stairs。 A second moan brought
her to the landing near his room。 The door was ajar； she pushed it
open。 Charles was sleeping； his head hung over the side of the old
armchair； and his hand； from which the pen had fallen； nearly touched
the floor。 The oppressed breathing caused by the strained posture
suddenly frightened Eugenie； who entered the room hastily。
〃He must be very tired；〃 she said to herself； glancing at a dozen
letters lying sealed upon the table。 She read their addresses： 〃To
Messrs。 Farry； Breilmann； & Co。； carriage…makers〃； 〃To Monsieur
Buisson； tailor；〃 etc。
〃He has been settling all his affairs； so as to leave France at once；〃
she thought。 Her eyes fell upon two open letters。 The words； 〃My dear
Annette；〃 at the head of one of them； blinded her for a moment。 Her
heart beat fast； her feet were nailed to the floor。
〃His dear Annette！ He loves！ he is loved！ No hope！ What does he say to
her？〃
These thoughts rushed through her head and heart。 She saw the words
everywhere； even on the bricks of the floor； in letters of fire。
〃Resign him already？ No； no！ I will not read the letter。 I ought to go
awayWhat if I do read it？〃
She looked at Charles； then she gently took his head and placed it
against the back of the chair； he let her do so； like a child which；
though asleep； knows its mother's touch and receives； without awaking；
her kisses and watchful care。 Like a mother Eugenie raised the
drooping hand； and like a mother she gently kissed the chestnut hair
〃Dear Annette！〃 a demon shrieked the words in her ear。
〃I am doing wrong； but I must read it； that letter；〃 she said。 She
turned away her head； for her noble sense of honor reproached her。 For
the first time in her life good and evil struggled together in her
heart。 Up to that moment she had never had to blush for any action。
Passion and curiosity triumphed。 As she read each sentence her heart
swelled more and more； and the keen glow which filled her being as she
did so； only made the joys of first love still more precious。
My dear Annette；Nothing could ever have separated us but the
great misfortune which has now overwhelmed me； and which no human
foresight could have prevented。 My father has killed himself； his
fortune and mine are irretrievably lost。 I am orphaned at an age
when； through the nature of my education； I am still a child； and
yet I must lift myself as a man out of the abyss into which I am
plunged。 I have just spent half the night in facing my position。
If I wish to leave France an honest man；and there is no doubt of
that；I have not a hundred francs of my own with which to try my
fate in the Indies or in America。 Yes； my poor Anna； I must seek
my fortune in those deadly climates。 Under those skies； they tell
me； I am sure to make it。 As for remaining in Paris； I cannot do
so。 Neither my nature nor my face are made to bear the affronts；
the neglect； the disdain shown to a ruined man； the son of a
bankrupt！ Good God！ think of owing two millions！ I should be
killed in a duel the first week； therefore I shall not return
there。 Your lovethe most tender and devoted love which ever
ennobled the heart of mancannot draw me back。 Alas！ my beloved；
I have no money with which to go to you； to give and receive a
last kiss from which I might derive some strength for my forlorn
enterprise。
〃Poor Charles！ I did well to read the letter。 I have gold； I will give
it to him；〃 thought Eugenie。
She wiped her eyes； and went on reading。
I have never thought of the miseries of poverty。 If I have the
hundred louis required for the mere costs of the journey； I have
not a sou for an outfit。 But no； I have not the hundred louis； not
even one louis。 I don't know that anything will be left after I
have paid my debts in Paris。 If I have nothing； I shall go quietly
to Nantes and ship as a common sailor； and I will begin in the new
world like other men who have started young without a sou and
brought back the wealth of the Indies。 During this long day I have
faced my future coolly。 It seems more horrible for me than for
another； because I have been so petted by a mother who adored me；
so indulged by the kindest of fathers； so blessed by meeting； on
my entrance into life； with the love of an Anna！ The flowers of
life are all I have ever known。 Such happiness could not last。
Nevertheless； my dear Annette； I feel more courage than a careless
young man is supposed to feel；above all a young man used to the
caressing ways of the dearest woman in all Paris； cradled in
family joys； on whom all things smiled in his home； whose wishes
were a law to his fatheroh； my father！ Annette； he is dead！
Well； I have thought over my position； and yours as well。 I have
grown old in twenty…four hours。 Dear Anna； if in order to keep me
with you in Paris you were to sacrifice your luxury； your dress；
your opera…box； we should even then not have enough for the
expenses of my extravagant ways of living。 Besides； I would never
accept such sacrifices。 No； we must part now and forever
〃He gives her up！ Blessed Virgin！ What happiness！〃
Eugenie quivered with joy。 Charles made a movement； and a chill of
terror ran through her。 Fortunately； he did not wake； and she resumed
her reading。
When shall I return？ I do not know。 The climate of the West Indies
ages a European； so they say； especially a European who works
hard。 Let us think what may happen ten years hence。 In ten years
your daughter will be eighteen； she will be your companion； your
spy。 To you society will be cruel； and your daughter perhaps more
cruel still。 We have seen cases of the harsh social judgment and
ingratitude of daughters； let us take warning by them。 Keep in the
depths of your soul； as I shall in mine； the memory of four years
of happiness； and be faithful； if you can； to the memory of your
poor friend。 I cannot exact such faithfulness； because； do you
see； dear Annette； I must conform to the exigencies of my new
life； I must take a commonplace view of them and do the best I
can。 Therefore I must think of marriag