, 1872-10-14

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come and live at Saumur. But, # we do no
! frighten you too MUCH you will see TINT per
son can amuse himself here" =
ShegaVe him q genuine provincial look; fo
there, from habit, the women put so much re
serve in their eyes, that thsy impart to them tn
savory concupiscence peculiar to these Of ecc1e
slastlcs, to whom every pleasure seems o thief
! or an error. Charles was go lost in this sitting
room, SC, dihferent from the vsst country=houst
and the lordly existence be had presupposed biz
| Grassins; be at last saw a half f-oblterated like
ness Of Pariaian faces. He replied with courtesy
! to the sort Of Invitation extended to
him.. and g. conversation naturally sprung
| up, in which Madame des Grazsins gradu-
ally lowered her voice so as to harmonize
it with the nature Of her condolences. There ex-
listed in her, and in Charles, q common need OF
trust SO, after some moments Of coquettish
talk and sober pleasantres, the adroit provincial
was able to say to him. without being heard by
tne Tlne-rnarket; which was busying all the peo-
pie Of Sanmur at that time, 'tH you will do us
the honor of calling upon us, you will certainly
grati1y my husband, as much as you will me-.
where you will find together leading business men
and the nobility; We belong to both sets; which
| amusa themselves: My husband, T say it with
pride, is equally respected By both. So We will
try to relieve the e'anui OF your stay here. II
you stop with Monsieur Grandet, what will be-
come Of you !? Your uncle is O miser, who
thinks only of his vine-layers your aunt is
deyotee, who. cannot put two ideas together !;
and your cousin a little fool, uneducated, COM
in mending dishcloths."
"This woman is quite passable, said Charles
Grandet to himself, as he responded to the at
tentions Of Madame des Grazsins.
ss1t seems to me, my dear, that you want to
fascinate Monsieur Charles" said tie stout and
tall banker, with laugh.
+ At this observation the notary aud the Presi-
dent made more or less malicious remarks; but
the Able looked at them with q shrewd air, and
epitomized their thoughts BY saying, as he took
q pinch Of snuff, and opened his box to the COM
pany, +: Who can do the honors Of Saumuf for
Monsieur bettar than Madame? ?"
"Ah! but how do you mean that, Abbe 2"
asked Monsieur des Grassins.
IT mean it, Monsieur, in the sense most
favorable for you, for Madame, for the toEn Of
Saumur, and for Monsiuer," added the cunning
old Ian, turning to Charles.
Without seeming to pay the least attention to
ton Of Charles and Madame des Grassins.
"sir," said Adolphe, finally, to Charles with
an cir which he would gladly have made easy,
II do not know whether you have kept any re-
membrance OF me-. had the pleasure OF being
your Vls-a-Vls at ball given by the Baron de
Nucingen, and"
Perfectly, sir, perfectly replied Charles,
general attentions
rs this gentleman your soma" inquired he Of
Madame des GTasBinH.
The Able looked at the mother ra1iciously.
"Yes, Sir" she said
"You went to Paris very. young, then?' re-
sumed Charles. addressing himself to Adolphe.
What would you have, sir ?" said the Able;
I'VE send them to Babylon as soon as they are
weaned."
Madame de Grassins questioned the Able
with . look Of astounding depth. st1t is necces-
ing, s.to find women Of thi1ty-odd years % 81
fresh as Madame is, after having had sons who
will soon be admitted to the bar. I wildly re-
member the day when the young folks and the
married ladies' stood on chairs to see you dance,
Madame," added the Able, turning to his fe-
male adversary. "For ne, your successes are
OF yesterday"
sob, the old ecoundrel!' said Madame des
Grassins to herself 81 has he found me out ?" i.
It seems that am to have a decided SUCCESS
his overcoat, put his hand outside his vest, and
gazed through space, to initiate the attitude
giyen Lord Byron by Chantrey.
The inattention Of Father Grandet, or, rather,
the absorption in which the reading Of his letter
plunged him, escaped neither the Notary nor the
President, who tried to make out it's contents by
the slight motions Of the face Of the good man,
then distinctly lit by the candle. The vine
dresser preserved with difficulty the habitual
fancy for himself the counteaance worn BY that
man as he read the following fatal letter:
"My brother, it will soon be twenty-three
years since We met; my marriage was the sub
jact Of our last Interview, after which re parted,
both happy. Certainly could not foreEee that
you would one day be the stay Of the family
whose prosperity you then applauded. When
you hold this letter in your hands, shall no
longer exist. In the position in which was, I
did not wish to survive the shame Of q failure.
7 have sustained myself on the edge of the abyss
till the last moment, always hoping to escape
it. But I must fall. The united bankruptcy
OF my broker, and of Roquin, my notary, takes
away my last resources and leaves me 'noth- i
millions, while my assets viii meet only twenty
ave per cent OF It, Ny wines in store are af-
fected by the 1uinous fall of prices, caused by
the abundance and quality Of your vintages. In
tire three days I Paris vii say, Monsieur Grandet
wrapped in . shroud Of infamy. ! take from
my son both his names, which I stain, and bis
@other,s z! fortune. He knows nothing of
{R{stha W. aa?5 unhspRy oae child 1onGae ThG% dozs
be did not not know th2f the isss rcps of nsPPs 9 ss
flowed out in that farewell. Will he not curse |
me- some day7 Ny brother! my brother! the |
curse Of our children is frightful; they can ap-
peal from ours, but theirs Is irrevocable. Gran
protection so act that Charles may cast no re-
proaches on my grave NY brother, if 1 wrote |
you with my blood and my tears, there would !
1ot be as much sorrow as have put into this |
etter, for then I should weep-I should bleed, |
suffer, and see death with my dry eyes. So now
7ou are Charles father. He has no relations on
,ht ,is mothers moth side; you know why: Why aid
,!ield to love? Why did marry the natural
laughter Of q great Lord Now, Charles has no
ami1y: Oh, my unhappy son! my son! Pay
'ttention, Grandet have not come to beseech /
Fou for myself; besides, your means may not |
70 great enough to stand q mortgage
+ three mil!ions; but for my son!
Understand it, my brother; my suppliant hands /
re clasped as T. think of you. Grandet, now
hat am dying, I contids Charles to you. Then
hat yon will be father to him. Charles really
owed me; was SO kind to him; never crossed
i'm he will not curse me. Then, as you will
ee, he is gentle; he is like his mother;
10 will never cause you grief. |
'oor child! used to the enjoyments of wealth,
e knows none OF the privationa to which our
aTly poverty condemned us. And now he is
uined, alone. Yes, all my friends will shun
i'm, and shall be the cause Of his humiliations.
b! wish my arm we're strong enough to send
i'm with one blow to Heaven, to be with his
1other. Madness T return to my misfortune,-
n that nf Ghartea T have fharafora sent him IN |