Part 22 (1/2)
”Yes, dear Father Goriot; you know very well how fond I am of you----”
”Yes, I do know very well. You are not ashamed of me, are you? Not you!
Let me embrace you,” and he flung his arms around the student's neck.
”You will make her very happy; promise me that you will! You will go to her this evening, will you not?”
”Oh! yes. I must go out; I have some urgent business on hand.”
”Can I be of any use?”
”My word, yes! Will you go to old Taillefer's while I go to Mme. de Nucingen? Ask him to make an appointment with me some time this evening; it is a matter of life and death.”
”Really, young man!” cried Father Goriot, with a change of countenance; ”are you really paying court to his daughter, as those simpletons were saying down below?... _Tonnerre de dieu!_ you have no notion what a tap _a la Goriot_ is like, and if you are playing a double game, I shall put a stop to it by one blow of the fist... Oh! the thing is impossible!”
”I swear to you that I love but one woman in the world,” said the student. ”I only knew it a moment ago.”
”Oh! what happiness!” cried Goriot.
”But young Taillefer has been called out; the duel comes off to-morrow morning, and I have heard it said that he may lose his life in it.”
”But what business is it of yours?” said Goriot.
”Why, I ought to tell him so, that he may prevent his son from putting in an appearance----”
Just at that moment Vautrin's voice broke in upon them; he was standing at the threshold of his door and singing:
”Oh! Richard, oh my king!
All the world abandons thee!
Broum! broum! broum! broum! broum!
The same old story everywhere, A roving heart and a... tra la la.”
”Gentlemen!” shouted Christophe, ”the soup is ready, and every one is waiting for you.”
”Here,” Vautrin called down to him, ”come and take a bottle of my Bordeaux.”
”Do you think your watch is pretty?” asked Goriot. ”She has good taste, hasn't she? Eh?”
Vautrin, Father Goriot, and Rastignac came downstairs in company, and, all three of them being late, were obliged to sit together.
Eugene was as distant as possible in his manner to Vautrin during dinner; but the other, so charming in Mme. Vauquer's opinion, had never been so witty. His lively sallies and sparkling talk put the whole table in good humor. His a.s.surance and coolness filled Eugene with consternation.
”Why, what has come to you to-day?” inquired Mme. Vauquer. ”You are as merry as a skylark.”
”I am always in spirits after I have made a good bargain.”
”Bargain?” said Eugene.
”Well, yes, bargain. I have just delivered a lot of goods, and I shall be paid a handsome commission on them--Mlle. Michonneau,” he went on, seeing that the elderly spinster was scrutinizing him intently, ”have you any objection to some feature in my face, that you are making those lynx eyes at me? Just let me know, and I will have it changed to oblige you... We shall not fall out about it, Poiret, I dare say?” he added, winking at the superannuated clerk.