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a third of the jewels he had taken from his nephew； and gave them to
her。
〃There； little one；〃 he said in a sarcastic tone； 〃do you want those
for your twelve hundred francs？〃
〃Oh！ father； truly？ will you really give them to me？〃
〃I'll give you as many more next year；〃 he said； throwing them into
her apron。 〃So before long you'll get all his gewgaws；〃 he added；
rubbing his hands； delighted to be able to speculate on his daughter's
feelings。
Nevertheless； the old man； though still robust； felt the importance of
initiating his daughter into the secrets of his thrift and its
management。 For two consecutive years he made her order the household
meals in his presence and receive the rents； and he taught her slowly
and successively the names and remunerative capacity of his vineyards
and his farms。 About the third year he had so thoroughly accustomed
her to his avaricious methods that they had turned into the settled
habits of her own life； and he was able to leave the household keys in
her charge without anxiety； and to install her as mistress of the
house。
*****
Five years passed away without a single event to relieve the
monotonous existence of Eugenie and her father。 The same actions were
performed daily with the automatic regularity of clockwork。 The deep
sadness of Mademoiselle Grandet was known to every one； but if others
surmised the cause； she herself never uttered a word that justified
the suspicions which all Saumur entertained about the state of the
rich heiress's heart。 Her only society was made up of the three
Cruchots and a few of their particular friends whom they had； little
by little； introduced into the Grandet household。 They had taught her
to play whist； and they came every night for their game。 During the
year 1827 her father； feeling the weight of his infirmities； was
obliged to initiate her still further into the secrets of his landed
property； and told her that in case of difficulty she was to have
recourse to Maitre Cruchot； whose integrity was well known to him。
Towards the end of this year the old man； then eighty…two； was seized
by paralysis； which made rapid progress。 Dr。 Bergerin gave him up。
Eugenie； feeling that she was about to be left alone in the world；
came； as it were； nearer to her father； and clasped more tightly this
last living link of affection。 To her mind； as in that of all loving
women； love was the whole of life。 Charles was not there； and she
devoted all her care and attention to the old father； whose faculties
had begun to weaken； though his avarice remained instinctively acute。
The death of this man offered no contrast to his life。 In the morning
he made them roll him to a spot between the chimney of his chamber and
the door of the secret room； which was filled； no doubt； with gold。 He
asked for an explanation of every noise he heard； even the slightest；
to the great astonishment of the notary； he even heard the watch…dog
yawning in the court…yard。 He woke up from his apparent stupor at the
day and hour when the rents were due； or when accounts had to be
settled with his vine…dressers； and receipts given。 At such times he
worked his chair forward on its castors until he faced the door of the
inner room。 He made his daughter open it； and watched while she placed
the bags of money one upon another in his secret receptacles and
relocked the door。 Then she returned silently to her seat； after
giving him the key； which he replaced in his waistcoat pocket and
fingered from time to time。 His old friend the notary； feeling sure
that the rich heiress would inevitably marry his nephew the president；
if Charles Grandet did not return； redoubled all his attentions； he
came every day to take Grandet's orders； went on his errands to
Froidfond； to the farms and the fields and the vineyards； sold the
vintages； and turned everything into gold and silver； which found
their way in sacks to the secret hiding…place。
At length the last struggle came； in which the strong frame of the old
man slowly yielded to destruction。 He was determined to sit at the
chimney…corner facing the door of the secret room。 He drew off and
rolled up all the coverings which were laid over him； saying to Nanon；
〃Put them away； lock them up； for fear they should be stolen。〃
So long as he could open his eyes； in which his whole being had now
taken refuge； he turned them to the door behind which lay his
treasures； saying to his daughter； 〃Are they there？ are they there？〃
in a tone of voice which revealed a sort of panic fear。
〃Yes； my father；〃 she would answer。
〃Take care of the goldput gold before me。〃
Eugenie would then spread coins on a table before him； and he would
sit for hours together with his eyes fixed upon them； like a child
who； at the moment it first begins to see； gazes in stupid
contemplation at the same object； and like the child； a distressful
smile would flicker upon his face。
〃It warms me！〃 he would sometimes say； as an expression of beatitude
stole across his features。
When the cure of the parish came to administer the last sacraments；
the old man's eyes； sightless； apparently； for some hours； kindled at
the sight of the cross； the candlesticks； and the holy…water vessel of
silver； he gazed at them fixedly； and his wen moved for the last time。
When the priest put the crucifix of silver…gilt to his lips； that he
might kiss the Christ； he made a frightful gesture； as if to seize it；
and that last effort cost him his life。 He called Eugenie； whom he did
not see； though she was kneeling beside him bathing with tears his
stiffening hand； which was already cold。
〃My father； bless me！〃 she entreated。
〃Take care of it all。 You will render me an account yonder！〃 he said；
proving by these last words that Christianity must always be the
religion of misers。
*****
Eugenie Grandet was now alone in the world in that gray house； with
none but Nanon to whom she could turn with the certainty of being
heard and understood；Nanon the sole being who loved her for herself
and with whom she could speak of her sorrows。 La Grande Nanon was a
providence for Eugenie。 She was not a servant； but a humble friend。
After her father's death Eugenie learned from Maitre Cruchot that she
possessed an income of three hundred thousand francs from landed and
personal property in the arrondissement of Saumur； also six millions
invested at three per cent in the Funds （bought at sixty； and now
worth seventy…six francs）； also two millions in gold coin； and a
hundred thousand francs in silver crown…pieces； besides all the
interest which was still to be collected。 The sum total of her
property reached seventeen millions。
〃Where is my cousin？〃 was her one thought。
The day on which Maitre Cruchot handed in to his client a clear and
exact schedule of the whole inheritance； Eugenie remained alone with
Nanon； sitting beside the fireplace in the vacant hall； where all was
now a memory； from the chair on castors which her mother had sat in；
to the glass from which her cousin drank。
〃Nanon； we are alone〃
〃Yes； mademoiselle； and if I knew where he was； the darling； I'd go on
foot to find him。〃
〃The ocean is between us；〃 she said。
While the poor heiress wept in company of an old servant； in that cold
dark house； which was to her the universe； the whole province rang；
from Nantes to Orleans； with the seventeen millions of Mademoiselle
Grandet。 Among her first acts she had settled an annuity of twelve
hundred francs on Nanon； who； already possessed of six hundred more；
became a rich and enviable match。 In less than a month that good soul
passed from single to wedded life under the protection of Antoine
Cornoiller； who was appointed keeper of all Mademoiselle Grandet's
estates。 Madame Cornoiller possessed one striking advantage over her
contemporaries。 Although she was fifty…nine years of age； she did not
look more than forty。 Her strong features had resisted the ravages of
time。 Thanks to the healthy customs of her semi…conventual life； she
laughed at old age from the vantage…ground of a rosy skin and an iron
constitution。 Perhaps she never looked as well in her life as she did
on her marriage…day。 She had all the benefits of her ugliness； and was
big and fat and strong； with a look of happiness on her indestructible
features which made a good many people envy Cornoiller。
〃Fast colors！〃 said the draper。
〃Quite likely to have children；〃 said the salt merchant。 〃She's
pickled in brine； saving your presence。〃
〃She is rich； and that fellow Cornoiller has done a good thing for
himself；〃 said a third man。
When she came forth from the old house on her way to the parish
church； Nanon； who was loved by all the neighborhood； received many
compliments as she walked down the tortuous street。 Eugenie had given
her three dozen silver forks and spoons as a wedding present。
Cornoiller； amazed at such magnificence； spoke of his mistress with
tears in his eyes； he would willingly have been hacked in pieces in
her behalf。 Madame Cornoiller； appointed housekeeper to Mademoiselle
Grandet； got as much happiness out of her new position as she did from
the possession of a husband。 She took charge of the w