gobseck-第3部分

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that　nature　has　implanted　in　us；　is　the　instinct　of　self…interest。　If

you　had　lived　as　long　as　I　have；　you　would　know　that　there　is　but　one

concrete　reality　invariable　enough　to　be　worth　caring　about；　and　that

isGOLD。　Gold　represents　every　form　of　human　power。　I　have　traveled。

I　found　out　that　there　were　either　hills　or　plains　everywhere：　the

plains　are　monotonous；　the　hills　a　weariness；　consequently；　place　may

be　left　out　of　the　question。　As　to　manners；　man　is　man　all　the　world

over。　The　same　battle　between　the　poor　and　the　rich　is　going　on

everywhere；　it　is　inevitable　everywhere；　consequently；　it　is　better　to

exploit　than　to　be　exploited。　Everywhere　you　find　the　man　of　thews　and

sinews　who　toils；　and　the　lymphatic　man　who　torments　himself；　and

pleasures　are　everywhere　the　same；　for　when　all　sensations　are

exhausted；　all　that　survives　is　VanityVanity　is　the　abiding

substance　of　us；　the　_I_　in　us。　Vanity　is　only　to　be　satisfied　by　gold

in　floods。　Our　dreams　need　time　and　physical　means　and　painstaking

thought　before　they　can　be　realized。　Well；　gold　contains　all　things　in

embryo；　gold　realizes　all　things　for　us。



〃　'None　but　fools　and　invalids　can　find　pleasure　in　shuffling　cards

all　evening　long　to　find　out　whether　they　shall　win　a　few　pence　at　the

end。　None　but　driveling　idiots　could　spend　time　in　inquiring　into　all

that　is　happening　around　them；　whether　Madame　Such…an…One　slept　single

on　her　couch　or　in　company；　whether　she　has　more　blood　than　lymph；

more　temperament　than　virtue。　None　but　the　dupes；　who　fondly　imagine

that　they　are　useful　to　their　like；　can　interest　themselves　in　laying

down　rules　for　political　guidance　amid　events　which　neither　they　nor

any　one　else　foresees；　nor　ever　will　foresee。　None　but　simpletons　can

delight　in　talking　about　stage　players　and　repeating　their　sayings；

making　the　daily　promenade　of　a　caged　animal　over　a　rather　larger

area；　dressing　for　others；　eating　for　others；　priding　themselves　on　a

horse　or　a　carriage　such　as　no　neighbor　can　have　until　three　days

later。　What　is　all　this　but　Parisian　life　summed　up　in　a　few　phrases？

Let　us　find　a　higher　outlook　on　life　than　theirs。　Happiness　consists

either　in　strong　emotions　which　drain　our　vitality；　or　in　methodical

occupation　which　makes　existence　like　a　bit　of　English　machinery；

working　with　the　regularity　of　clockwork。　A　higher　happiness　than

either　consists　in　a　curiosity；　styled　noble；　a　wish　to　learn　Nature's

secrets；　or　to　attempt　by　artificial　means　to　imitate　Nature　to　some

extent。　What　is　this　in　two　words　but　Science　and　Art；　or　passion　or

calm？Ah！　well；　every　human　passion　wrought　up　to　its　highest　pitch

in　the　struggle　for　existence　comes　to　parade　itself　before　meas　I

live　in　calm。　As　for　your　scientific　curiosity；　a　kind　of　wrestling

bout　in　which　man　is　never　uppermost；　I　replace　it　by　an　insight　into

all　the　springs　of　action　in　man　and　woman。　To　sum　up；　the　world　is

mine　without　effort　of　mine；　and　the　world　has　not　the　slightest　hold

on　me。　Listen　to　this；'　he　went　on；　'I　will　tell　you　the　history　of　my

morning；　and　you　will　divine　my　pleasures。'



〃He　got　up；　pushed　the　bolt　of　the　door；　drew　a　tapestry　curtain

across　it　with　a　sharp　grating　sound　of　the　rings　on　the　rod；　then　he

sat　down　again。



〃　'This　morning；'　he　said；　'I　had　only　two　amounts　to　collect；　the

rest　of　the　bills　that　were　due　I　gave　away　instead　of　cash　to　my

customers　yesterday。　So　much　saved；　you　see；　for　when　I　discount　a

bill　I　always　deduct　two　francs　for　a　hired　broughamexpenses　of

collection。　A　pretty　thing　it　would　be；　would　it　not；　if　my　clients

were　to　set　ME　trudging　all　over　Paris　for　half…a…dozen　francs　of

discount；　when　no　man　is　my　master；　and　I　only　pay　seven　francs　in　the

shape　of　taxes？



〃　'The　first　bill　for　a　thousand　francs　was　presented　by　a　young

fellow；　a　smart　buck　with　a　spangled　waistcoat；　and　an　eyeglass；　and　a

tilbury　and　an　English　horse；　and　all　the　rest　of　it。　The　bill　bore

the　signature　of　one　of　the　prettiest　women　in　Paris；　married　to　a

Count；　a　great　landowner。　Now；　how　came　that　Countess　to　put　her　name

to　a　bill　of　exchange；　legally　not　worth　the　paper　it　was　written

upon；　but　practically　very　good　business；　for　these　women；　poor

things；　are　afraid　of　the　scandal　that　a　protested　bill　makes　in　a

family；　and　would　give　themselves　away　in　payment　sooner　than　fail？　I

wanted　to　find　out　what　that　bill　of　exchange　really　represented。　Was

it　stupidity；　imprudence；　love　or　charity？



〃　'The　second　bill；　bearing　the　signature　〃Fanny　Malvaut；〃　came　to　me

from　a　linen…draper　on　the　highway　to　bankruptcy。　Now；　no　creature　who

has　any　credit　with　a　bank　comes　to　ME。　The　first　step　to　my　door

means　that　a　man　is　desperately　hard　up；　that　the　news　of　his　failure

will　soon　come　out：　and；　most　of　all；　it　means　that　he　has　been

everywhere　else　first。　The　stag　is　always　at　bay　when　I　see　him；　and　a

pack　of　creditors　are　hard　upon　his　track。　The　Countess　lived　in　the

Rue　du　Helder；　and　my　Fanny　in　the　Rue　Montmartre。　How　many

conjectures　I　made　as　I　set　out　this　morning！　If　these　two　women　were

not　able　to　pay；　they　would　show　me　more　respect　than　they　would　show

their　own　fathers。　What　tricks　and　grimaces　would　not　the　Countess　try

for　a　thousand　francs！　She　would　be　so　nice　to　me；　she　would　talk　to

me　in　that　ingratiating　tone　peculiar　to　endorsers　of　bills；　she　would

pour　out　a　torrent　of　coaxing　words；　perhaps　she　would　beg　and　pray；

and　I　。　。　。'　（here　the　old　man　turned　his　pale　eyes　upon　me）'and　I

not　to　be　moved；　inexorable！'　he　continued。　'I　am　there　as　the

avenger；　the　apparition　of　Remorse。　So　much　for　hypotheses。　I　reached

the　house。



〃　'　〃Madame　la　Comtesse　is　asleep；〃　says　the　maid。



〃　'　〃When　can　I　see　her？〃



〃　'　〃At　twelve　o'clock。〃



〃　'　〃Is　Madame　la　Comtesse　ill？〃



〃　'　〃No；　sir；　but　she　only　came　home　at　three　o'clock　this　morning

from　a　ball。〃



〃　'　〃My　name　is　Gobseck；　tell　her　that　I　shall　call　again　at　twelve

o'clock；〃　and　I　went　out；　leaving　traces　of　my　muddy　boots　on　the

carpet　which　covered　the　paved　staircase。　I　like　to　leave　mud　on　a

rich　man's　carpet；　it　is　not　petty　spite；　I　like　to　make　them　feel　a

touch　of　the　claws　of　Necessity。　In　the　Rue　Montmartre　I　thrust　open

the　old　gateway　of　a　poor…looking　house；　and　looked　into　a　dark

courtyard　where　the　sunlight　never　shines。　The　porter's　lodge　was

grimy；　the　window　looked　like　the　sleeve　of　some　shabby　wadded　gown

greasy；　dirty；　and　full　of　holes。



〃　'　〃Mlle。　Fanny　Malvaut？〃



〃　'　〃She　has　gone　out；　but　if　you　have　come　about　a　bill；　the　money　is

waiting　for　you。〃



〃　'　〃I　will　look　in　again；〃　said　I。



〃　'As　soon　as　I　knew　that　the　porter　had　the　money　for　me；　I　wanted　to

know　what　the　girl　was　like；　I　pictured　her　as　pretty。　The　rest　of　the

morning　I　spent　in　looking　at　the　prints　in　the　shop　windows　along　the

boulevard；　then；　just　as　it　struck　twelve；　I　went　through　the

Countess'　ante…chamber。



〃　'　〃Madame　has　just　this　minute　rung　for　me；〃　said　the　maid；　〃I　don't

think　she　can　see　you　yet。〃



〃　'　〃I　will　wait；〃　said　I；　and　sat　down　in　an　easy…chair。



〃　'Venetian　shutters　were　opened；　and　presently　the　maid　came　hurrying

back。



〃　'　〃Come　in；　sir。〃



〃　'From　the　sweet　tone　of　the　girl's　voice；　I　knew　that　the　mistress

could　not　be　ready　to　pay。　What　a　handsome　woman　it　was　that　I　saw　in

another　moment！　She　had　flung　an　Indian　shawl　hastily　over　her　bare

shoulders；　covering　herself　with　it　completely；　while　it　revealed　the

bare　outlines　of　the　form　beneath。　She　wore　a　loose　gown　trimmed　with

snowy　ruffles；　which　told　plainly　that　her　laundress'　bills　amounted

to　something　like　two　thousand　francs　in　the　course　of　a　year。　Her

dark　curls　escaped　from　beneath　a　bright　Indian　handkerchief；　knotted

carelessly　about　her　head　after　the　fashion　of　Creole　women。　The　bed

lay　in　disorder　that　told　of　broken　slumber。　A　painter　would　have　paid

money　to　stay　a　while　to　see　the　scene　that　I　saw。　Under　the　luxurious

hanging　draperies；　the　pillow；　crushed　into　the　depths　of　an　eider…

down　quilt；　its　lace　border　standing　out　in　contrast　against　the

background　of　blue　silk；　bore　a　vague　impress　that　kindled　the

imagination。　A　pair　of　satin　slippers　gleamed　from　the　great　bear…skin

rug　spread　by　the　carved　mahogany　lions　at　the　bed…foot；　where　she　had

flung　them　off　in　her　weariness　after　the　ball。　A　crumpled　gown　hung

over　a　chair；　the　sleeves　touching　the　floor；　stockings　which　a　breath

would　have　blown　away　were　twisted　about　the　leg　of　an　easy…chair；

while　ribbon　garters　straggled　over　a　settee。　A　fan　of　price；　half

unfolded；　glittered　on　the　chimney…piece。　Drawers　stood　open；　flowers；

diamonds；　gloves；　a　bouquet；　a　girdle；　were　littered　about。　The　room

was　full　of　vague　sweet　perfume。　Andbeneath　all　the　luxury　and

disorder；　beauty　and　incongruity；　I　saw　Misery　crouching　in　wait　for

her　or　for　her　adorer；　Misery　rearing　its　head；　for　the　Countess　had

begun　to　feel　the　edge　of　those　fangs。　Her　tired　face　was　an　epitome

of　the　room　strewn　with　relics　of　past　festival。　The　scattered

gewgaws；　pitiable　this　morning；　when　gathered　together　and　coherent；

had　turned　heads　the　night　before。



〃　'What　efforts　to　drink　of　the　Tantalus　cup　of　bliss　I　could　read　in

these　traces　of　love　stricken　by　the　thunderbolt　remorsein　this

visible　presentment　of　a　life　of　luxury；　extravagance；　and　riot。　There

were　faint　red　marks　on　her　young　face；　signs　of　the　fineness　of　the

skin；　but　her　features　were　coarsened；　as　it　were；　and　the　circles

about　her　eyes　were　unwontedly　dark。　Nature　nevertheless　was　so

vigorous　in　her；　that　these　traces　of　past　folly　did　not　spoil　her

beauty。　Her　eyes　glittered。　She　looked　like　some　Herodias　of　da

Vinci's　（I　have　dealt　in　pictures）；　so　magnificently　full　of　life　and

energy　was　she；　there　was　nothing　starved　nor　stinted　in　feature　or

outline；　she　awakened　desire；　it　seemed　to