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life； I must take a commonplace view of them and do the best I
can。 Therefore I must think of marriage； which becomes one of the
necessities of my future existence； and I will admit to you that I
have found； here in Saumur； in my uncle's house； a cousin whose
face； manners； mind； and heart would please you； and who； besides；
seems to me
〃He must have been very weary to have ceased writing to her；〃 thought
Eugenie； as she gazed at the letter which stopped abruptly in the
middle of the last sentence。
Already she defended him。 How was it possible that an innocent girl
should perceive the cold…heartedness evinced by this letter？ To young
girls religiously brought up； whose minds are ignorant and pure； all
is love from the moment they set their feet within the enchanted
regions of that passion。 They walk there bathed in a celestial light
shed from their own souls； which reflects its rays upon their lover；
they color all with the flame of their own emotion and attribute to
him their highest thoughts。 A woman's errors come almost always from
her belief in good or her confidence in truth。 In Eugenie's simple
heart the words； 〃My dear Annette； my loved one；〃 echoed like the
sweetest language of love； they caressed her soul as； in childhood；
the divine notes of the /Venite adoremus/； repeated by the organ；
caressed her ear。 Moreover； the tears which still lingered on the
young man's lashes gave signs of that nobility of heart by which young
girls are rightly won。 How could she know that Charles； though he
loved his father and mourned him truly； was moved far more by paternal
goodness than by the goodness of his own heart？ Monsieur and Madame
Guillaume Grandet； by gratifying every fancy of their son； and
lavishing upon him the pleasures of a large fortune； had kept him from
making the horrible calculations of which so many sons in Paris become
more or less guilty when； face to face with the enjoyments of the
world； they form desires and conceive schemes which they see with
bitterness must be put off or laid aside during the lifetime of their
parents。 The liberality of the father in this instance had shed into
the heart of the son a real love； in which there was no afterthought
of self…interest。
Nevertheless； Charles was a true child of Paris； taught by the customs
of society and by Annette herself to calculate everything； already an
old man under the mask of youth。 He had gone through the frightful
education of social life； of that world where in one evening more
crimes are committed in thought and speech than justice ever punishes
at the assizes； where jests and clever sayings assassinate the noblest
ideas； where no one is counted strong unless his mind sees clear： and
to see clear in that world is to believe in nothing； neither in
feelings； nor in men； nor even in events；for events are falsified。
There； to 〃see clear〃 we must weigh a friend's purse daily； learn how
to keep ourselves adroitly on the top of the wave； cautiously admire
nothing； neither works of art nor glorious actions； and remember that
self…interest is the mainspring of all things here below。 After
committing many follies； the great ladythe beautiful Annette
compelled Charles to think seriously； with her perfumed hand among his
curls； she talked to him of his future position； as she rearranged his
locks； she taught him lessons of worldly prudence； she made him
effeminate and materialized him；a double corruption； but a delicate
and elegant corruption； in the best taste。
〃You are very foolish； Charles；〃 she would say to him。 〃I shall have a
great deal of trouble in teaching you to understand the world。 You
behaved extremely ill to Monsieur des Lupeaulx。 I know very well he is
not an honorable man； but wait till he is no longer in power； then you
may despise him as much as you like。 Do you know what Madame Campan
used to tell us？'My dears； as long as a man is a minister； adore
him； when he falls； help to drag him in the gutter。 Powerful； he is a
sort of god； fallen； he is lower than Marat in the sewer； because he
is living； and Marat is dead。 Life is a series of combinations； and
you must study them and understand them if you want to keep yourselves
always in good position。'〃
Charles was too much a man of the world； his parents had made him too
happy； he had received too much adulation in society； to be possessed
of noble sentiments。 The grain of gold dropped by his mother into his
heart was beaten thin in the smithy of Parisian society； he had spread
it superficially； and it was worn away by the friction of life。
Charles was only twenty…one years old。 At that age the freshness of
youth seems inseparable from candor and sincerity of soul。 The voice；
the glance； the face itself； seem in harmony with the feelings； and
thus it happens that the sternest judge； the most sceptical lawyer；
the least complying of usurers； always hesitate to admit decrepitude
of heart or the corruption of worldly calculation while the eyes are
still bathed in purity and no wrinkles seam the brow。 Charles； so far；
had had no occasion to apply the maxims of Parisian morality； up to
this time he was still endowed with the beauty of inexperience。 And
yet； unknown to himself； he had been inoculated with selfishness。 The
germs of Parisian political economy； latent in his heart； would
assuredly burst forth； sooner or later； whenever the careless
spectator became an actor in the drama of real life。
Nearly all young girls succumb to the tender promises such an outward
appearance seems to offer： even if Eugenie had been as prudent and
observing as provincial girls are often found to be； she was not
likely to distrust her cousin when his manners； words； and actions
were still in unison with the aspirations of a youthful heart。 A mere
chancea fatal chancethrew in her way the last effusions of real
feeling which stirred the young man's soul； she heard as it were the
last breathings of his conscience。 She laid down the letterto her so
full of loveand began smilingly to watch her sleeping cousin； the
fresh illusions of life were still； for her at least； upon his face；
she vowed to herself to love him always。 Then she cast her eyes on the
other letter； without attaching much importance to this second
indiscretion； and though she read it； it was only to obtain new proofs
of the noble qualities which； like all women； she attributed to the
man her heart had chosen。
My dear Alphonse；When you receive this letter I shall be without
friends； but let me assure you that while I doubt the friendship
of the world； I have never doubted yours。 I beg you therefore to
settle all my affairs； and I trust to you to get as much as you
can out of my possessions。 By this time you know my situation。 I
have nothing left； and I intend to go at once to the Indies。 I
have just written to all the people to whom I think I owe money；
and you will find enclosed a list of their names； as correct as I
can make it from memory。 My books； my furniture； my pictures； my
horses； etc。； ought； I think； to pay my debts。 I do not wish to
keep anything； except； perhaps； a few baubles which might serve as
the beginning of an outfit for my enterprise。 My dear Alphonse； I
will send you a proper power of attorney under which you can make
these sales。 Send me all my weapons。 Keep Briton for yourself；
nobody would pay the value of that noble beast； and I would rather
give him to youlike a mourning…ring bequeathed by a dying man to
his executor。 Farry； Breilmann； & Co。 built me a very comfortable
travelling…carriage； which they have not yet delivered； persuade
them to keep it and not ask for any payment on it。 If they refuse；
do what you can in the matter； and avoid everything that might
seem dishonorable in me under my present circumstances。 I owe the
British Islander six louis； which I lost at cards； don't fail to
pay him
〃Dear cousin！〃 whispered Eugenie； throwing down the letter and running
softly back to her room； carrying one of the lighted candles。 A thrill
of pleasure passed over her as she opened the drawer of an old oak
cabinet； a fine specimen of the period called the Renaissance； o