the firm of nucingen-第6章
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of that dressing…closet in a furious rage； and never went back again。 She discovered nothing 'improper' in it。 Godefroid used to keep a little cupboard full of〃
〃Waistcoats？〃 suggested Finot。
〃Come； now； just like you； great Turcaret that you are。 （I shall never form that fellow。） Why； no。 Full of cakes； and fruit； and dainty little flasks of Malaga and Lunel； an en cas de nuit in Louis Quatorze's style； anything that can tickle the delicate and well…bred appetite of sixteen quarterings。 A knowing old man…servant； very strong in matters veterinary； waited on the horses and groomed Godefroid。 He had been with the late M。 de Beaudenord； Godefroid's father； and bore Godefroid an inveterate affection； a kind of heart complaint which has almost disappeared among domestic servants since savings banks were established。
〃All material well…being is based upon arithmetic。 You to whom Paris is known down to its very excrescences； will see that Beaudenord must have acquired about seventeen thousand livres per annum； for he paid some seventeen francs of taxes and spent a thousand crowns on his own whims。 Well； dear boys； when Godefroid came of age； the Marquis d'Aiglemont submitted to him such an account of his trust as none of us would be likely to give a nephew； Godefroid's name was inscribed as the owner of eighteen thousand livres of rentes； a remnant of his father's wealth spared by the harrow of the great reduction under the Republic and the hailstorms of Imperial arrears。 D'Aiglemont； that upright guardian； also put his ward in possession of some thirty thousand francs of savings invested with the firm of Nucingen； saying with all the charm of a grand seigneur and the indulgence of a soldier of the Empire； that he had contrived to put it aside for his ward's young man's follies。 'If you will take my advice； Godefroid；' added he； 'instead of squandering the money like a fool； as so many young men do； let it go in follies that will be useful to you afterwards。 Take an attache's post at Turin； and then go to Naples； and from Naples to London； and you will be amused and learn something for your money。 Afterwards； if you think of a career； the time and the money will not have been thrown away。' The late lamented d'Aiglemont had more sense than people credited him with； which is more than can be said of some of us。〃
〃A young fellow that starts with an assured income of eighteen thousand livres at one…and…twenty is lost；〃 said Couture。
〃Unless he is miserly； or very much above the ordinary level；〃 added Blondet。
〃Well； Godefroid sojourned in the four capitals of Italy；〃 continued Bixiou。 〃He lived in England and Germany； he spent some little time at St。 Petersburg； he ran over Holland but he parted company with the aforesaid thirty thousand francs by living as if he had thirty thousand a year。 Everywhere he found the same supreme de volaille； the same aspics； and French wines； he heard French spoken wherever he went in short； he never got away from Paris。 He ought； of course； to have tried to deprave his disposition； to fence himself in triple brass； to get rid of his illusions； to learn to hear anything said without a blush； and to master the inmost secrets of the Powers。Pooh！ with a good deal of trouble he equipped himself with four languagesthat is to say； he laid in a stock of four words for one idea。 Then he came back； and certain tedious dowagers； styled 'conquests' abroad； were left disconsolate。 Godefroid came back； shy； scarcely formed； a good fellow with a confiding disposition； incapable of saying ill of any one who honored him with an admittance to his house； too staunch to be a diplomatist； altogether he was what we call a thoroughly good fellow。〃
〃To cut it short； a brat with eighteen thousand livres per annum to drop over the first investment that turns up；〃 said Couture。
〃That confounded Couture has such a habit of anticipating dividends； that he is anticipating the end of my tale。 Where was I？ Oh！ Beaudenord came back。 When he took up his abode on the Quai Malaquais； it came to pass that a thousand francs over and above his needs was altogether insufficient to keep up his share of a box at the Italiens and the Opera properly。 When he lost twenty…five or thirty louis at play at one swoop； naturally he paid； when he won； he spent the money； so should we if we were fools enough to be drawn into a bet。 Beaudenord； feeling pinched with his eighteen thousand francs； saw the necessity of creating what we to…day call a balance in hand。 It was a great notion of his 'not to get too deep。' He took counsel of his sometime guardian。 'The funds are now at par； my dear boy；' quoth d'Aiglemont； 'sell out。 I have sold mine and my wife's。 Nucingen has all my capital； and is giving me six per cent； do likewise； you will have one per cent the more upon your capital； and with that you will be quite comfortable。'
〃In three days' time our Godefroid was comfortable。 His increase of income exactly supplied his superfluities； his material happiness was complete。
〃Suppose that it were possible to read the minds of all the young men in Paris at one glance （as； it appears； will be done at the Day of Judgment with all the millions upon millions that have groveled in all spheres； and worn all uniforms or the uniform of nature）； and to ask them whether happiness at six…and…twenty is or is not made up of the following itemsto wit； to own a saddle…horse and a tilbury； or a cab； with a fresh； rosy…faced Toby Joby Paddy no bigger than your fist； and to hire an unimpeachable brougham for twelve francs an evening； to appear elegantly arrayed； agreeably to the laws that regulate a man's clothes； at eight o'clock； at noon； four o'clock in the afternoon； and in the evening； to be well received at every embassy； and to cull the short…lived flowers of superficial； cosmopolitan friendships； to be not insufferably handsome； to carry your head； your coat； and your name well； to inhabit a charming little entresol after the pattern of the rooms just described on the Quai Malaquais； to be able to ask a party of friends to dine at the Rocher de Cancale without a previous consultation with your trousers' pocket； never to be pulled up in any rational project by the words； 'And the money？' and finally； to be able to renew at pleasure the pink rosettes that adorn the ears of three thoroughbreds and the lining of your hat？
〃To such inquiry any ordinary young man （and we ourselves that are not ordinary men） would reply that the happiness is incomplete； that it is like the Madeleine without the altar； that a man must love and be loved； or love without return； or be loved without loving； or love at cross purposes。 Now for happiness as a mental condition。
〃In January 1823； after Godefroid de Beaudenord had set foot in the various social circles which it pleased him to enter； and knew his way about in them； and felt himself secure amid these joys； he saw the necessity of a sunshadethe advantage of having a great lady to complain of； instead of chewing the stems of roses bought for fivepence apiece of Mme。 Prevost； after the manner of the callow youngsters that chirp and cackle in the lobbies of the Opera； like chickens in a coop。 In short； he resolved to centre his ideas； his sentiments； his affections upon a woman； ONE WOMAN？LA PHAMME！ Ah！ 。 。 。 。
〃At first he conceived the preposterous notion of an unhappy passion； and gyrated for a while about his fair cousin； Mme。 d'Aiglemont； not perceiving that she had already danced the waltz in Faust with a diplomatist。 The year '25 went by； spent in tentatives； in futile flirtations； and an unsuccessful quest。 The loving object of which he was in search did not appear。 Passion is extremely rare； and in our time as many barriers have been raised against passion in social life as barricades in the streets。 In truth； my brothers； the 'improper' is gaining upon us； I tell you！
〃As we may incur reproach for following on the heels of portrait painters； auctioneers； and fashionable dressmakers； I will not inflict any description upon you of HER in whom Godefroid recognized the female of his species。 Age； nineteen； height； four feet eleven inches； fair hair； eyebrows idem； blue eyes； forehead neither high nor low
