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lodged at the same hotel and started together for Paris。 The hotel
d'Aubrion was hampered with mortgages； Charles was destined to free
it。 The mother told him how delighted she would be to give up the
ground…floor to a son…in…law。 Not sharing Monsieur d'Aubrion's
prejudices on the score of nobility； she promised Charles Grandet to
obtain a royal ordinance from Charles X。 which would authorize him；
Grandet； to take the name and arms of d'Aubrion and to succeed； by
purchasing the entailed estate for thirty…six thousand francs a year；
to the titles of Captal de Buch and Marquis d'Aubrion。 By thus uniting
their fortunes； living on good terms； and profiting by sinecures； the
two families might occupy the hotel d'Aubrion with an income of over a
hundred thousand francs。
〃And when a man has a hundred thousand francs a year； a name； a
family； and a position at court；for I will get you appointed as
gentleman…of…the…bedchamber；he can do what he likes；〃 she said to
Charles。 〃You can then become anything you choose；master of the
rolls in the council of State； prefect； secretary to an embassy； the
ambassador himself； if you like。 Charles X。 is fond of d'Aubrion； they
have known each other from childhood。〃
Intoxicated with ambition； Charles toyed with the hopes thus cleverly
presented to him in the guise of confidences poured from heart to
heart。 Believing his father's affairs to have been settled by his
uncle； he imagined himself suddenly anchored in the Faubourg Saint…
Germain；that social object of all desire； where； under shelter of
Mademoiselle Mathilde's purple nose； he was to reappear as the Comte
d'Aubrion； very much as the Dreux reappeared in Breze。 Dazzled by the
prosperity of the Restoration； which was tottering when he left
France； fascinated by the splendor of aristocratic ideas； his
intoxication； which began on the brig； increased after he reached
Paris； and he finally determined to take the course and reach the high
position which the selfish hopes of his would…be mother…in…law pointed
out to him。 His cousin counted for no more than a speck in this
brilliant perspective； but he went to see Annette。 True woman of the
world； Annette advised her old friend to make the marriage； and
promised him her support in all his ambitious projects。 In her heart
she was enchanted to fasten an ugly and uninteresting girl on Charles；
whose life in the West Indies had rendered him very attractive。 His
complexion had bronzed； his manners had grown decided and bold； like
those of a man accustomed to make sharp decisions； to rule； and to
succeed。 Charles breathed more at his ease in Paris； conscious that he
now had a part to play。
Des Grassins； hearing of his return； of his approaching marriage and
his large fortune； came to see him； and inquired about the three
hundred thousand francs still required to settle his father's debts。
He found Grandet in conference with a goldsmith； from whom he had
ordered jewels for Mademoiselle d'Aubrion's /corbeille/； and who was
then submitting the designs。 Charles had brought back magnificent
diamonds； and the value of their setting； together with the plate and
jewelry of the new establishment； amounted to more than two hundred
thousand francs。 He received des Grassins； whom he did not recognize；
with the impertinence of a young man of fashion conscious of having
killed four men in as many duels in the Indies。 Monsieur des Grassins
had already called several times。 Charles listened to him coldly； and
then replied； without fully understanding what had been said to him；
〃My father's affairs are not mine。 I am much obliged； monsieur； for
the trouble you have been good enough to take；by which； however； I
really cannot profit。 I have not earned two millions by the sweat of
my brow to fling them at the head of my father's creditors。〃
〃But suppose that your father's estate were within a few days to be
declared bankrupt？〃
〃Monsieur； in a few days I shall be called the Comte d'Aubrion； you
will understand； therefore； that what you threaten is of no
consequence to me。 Besides； you know as well as I do that when a man
has an income of a hundred thousand francs his father has /never
failed/。〃 So saying； he politely edged Monsieur des Grassins to the
door。
*****
At the beginning of August in the same year； Eugenie was sitting on
the little wooden bench where her cousin had sworn to love her
eternally； and where she usually breakfasted if the weather were fine。
The poor girl was happy； for the moment； in the fresh and joyous
summer air； letting her memory recall the great and the little events
of her love and the catastrophes which had followed it。 The sun had
just reached the angle of the ruined wall； so full of chinks； which no
one； through a caprice of the mistress； was allowed to touch； though
Cornoiller often remarked to his wife that 〃it would fall and crush
somebody one of these days。〃 At this moment the postman knocked； and
gave a letter to Madame Cornoiller； who ran into the garden； crying
out：
〃Mademoiselle； a letter！〃 She gave it to her mistress； adding； 〃Is it
the one you expected？〃
The words rang as loudly in the heart of Eugenie as they echoed in
sound from wall to wall of the court and garden。
〃Parisfrom himhe has returned！〃
Eugenie turned pale and held the letter for a moment。 She trembled so
violently that she could not break the seal。 La Grande Nanon stood
before her； both hands on her hips； her joy puffing as it were like
smoke through the cracks of her brown face。
〃Read it； mademoiselle！〃
〃Ah； Nanon； why did he return to Paris？ He went from Saumur。〃
〃Read it； and you'll find out。〃
Eugenie opened the letter with trembling fingers。 A cheque on the
house of 〃Madame des Grassins and Coret； of Saumur；〃 fluttered down。
Nanon picked it up。
My dear Cousin；
〃No longer 'Eugenie；'〃 she thought； and her heart quailed。
You
〃He once said 'thou。'〃 She folded her arms and dared not read another
word； great tears gathered in her eyes。
〃Is he dead？〃 asked Nanon。
〃If he were； he could not write；〃 said Eugenie。
She then read the whole letter； which was as follows：
My dear Cousin；You will； I am sure； hear with pleasure of the
success of my enterprise。 You brought me luck； I have come back
rich； and I have followed the advice of my uncle； whose death；
together with that of my aunt； I have just learned from Monsieur
des Grassins。 The death of parents is in the course of nature； and
we must succeed them。 I trust you are by this time consoled。
Nothing can resist time； as I am well aware。 Yes； my dear cousin；
the day of illusions is； unfortunately； gone for me。 How could it
be otherwise？ Travelling through many lands； I have reflected upon
life。 I was a child when I went away；I have come back a man。
To…day； I think of many I did not dream of then。 You are free； my
dear cousin； and I am free still。 Nothing apparently hinders the
realization of our early hopes； but my nature is too loyal to hide
from you the situation in which I find myself。 I have not
forgotten our relations； I have always remembered； throughout my
long wanderings； the little wooden seat
Eugenie rose as if she were sitting on live coals； and went away and
sat down on the stone steps of the court。
the little wooden seat where we vowed to love each other
forever； the passage； the gray hall； my attic chamber； and the
night when； by your delicate kindness； you made my future easier
to me。 Yes； these recollections sustained my courage； I said in my
heart that you were thinking of me at the hour we had agreed upon。
Have you always looked at the clouds at nine o'clock？ Yes； I am
sure of it。 I cannot betray so true a friendship；no； I must not
deceive you。 An alliance has been proposed to me which satisfies
all my ideas of matrimony。 Love in marriage is a delusion。 My
present experience warns me that in marrying we are bound to obey
all social laws and meet the conventional demands of the world。
Now； between you and me there are differences which might affect
your future； my dear cousin； even more than they would mine。 I
will not here speak of your customs and inclinations； your
education