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should not be allowed to go near the dying man。 I augured ill of all
this； and earnestly wished for an interview； for I was not easy in my
mind about the fate of the counter…deed。 If it should fall into the
Countess' hands； she might turn it to her own account； and that would
be the beginning of a series of interminable lawsuits between her and
Gobseck。 I knew the usurer well enough to feel convinced that he would
never give up the property to her； there was room for plenty of legal
quibbling over a series of transfers； and I alone knew all the ins and
outs of the matter。 I was minded to prevent such a tissue of
misfortune； so I went to the Countess a second time。
〃I have noticed； madame；〃 said Derville； turning to the Vicomtesse；
and speaking in a confidential tone； 〃certain moral phenomena to which
we do not pay enough attention。 I am naturally an observer of human
nature； and instinctively I bring a spirit of analysis to the business
that I transact in the interest of others； when human passions are
called into lively play。 Now； I have often noticed； and always with
new wonder； that two antagonists almost always divine each other's
inmost thoughts and ideas。 Two enemies sometimes possess a power of
clear insight into mental processes； and read each other's minds as
two lovers read in either soul。 So when we came together； the Countess
and I； I understood at once the reason of her antipathy for me；
disguised though it was by the most gracious forms of politeness and
civility。 I had been forced to be her confidant； and a woman cannot
but hate the man before whom she is compelled to blush。 And she on her
side knew that if I was the man in whom her husband placed confidence；
that husband had not as yet given up his fortune。
〃I will spare you the conversation； but it abides in my memory as one
of the most dangerous encounters in my career。 Nature had bestowed on
her all the qualities which； combined； are irresistibly fascinating；
she could be pliant and proud by turns； and confiding and coaxing in
her manner； she even went so far as to try to subjugate me。 It was a
failure。 As I took my leave of her； I caught a gleam of hate and rage
in her eyes that made me shudder。 We parted enemies。 She would fain
have crushed me out of existence； and for my own part； I felt pity for
her； and for some natures pity is the deadliest of insults。 This
feeling pervaded the last representations I put before her； and when I
left her； I left； I think； dread in the depths of her soul； by
declaring that； turn which way she would； ruin lay inevitably before
her。
〃 'If I were to see M。 le Comte； your children's property at any rate
would'
〃 'I should be at your mercy；' she said； breaking in upon me； disgust
in her gesture。
〃Now that we had spoken frankly； I made up my mind to save the family
from impending destitution。 I resolved to strain the law at need to
gain my ends； and this was what I did。 I sued the Comte de Restaud for
a sum of money； ostensibly due to Gobseck； and gained judgment。 The
Countess； of course； did not allow him to know of this； but I had
gained on my point； I had a right to affix seals to everything on the
death of the Count。 I bribed one of the servants in the housethe man
undertook to let me know at any hour of the day or night if his master
should be at the point of death； so that I could intervene at once；
scare the Countess with a threat of affixing seals； and so secure the
counter…deed。
〃I learned later on that the woman was studying the Code； with her
husband's dying moans in her ears。 If we could picture the thoughts of
those who stand about a deathbed； what fearful sights should we not
see？ Money is always the motive…spring of the schemes elaborated； of
all the plans that are made and the plots that are woven about it！ Let
us leave these details； nauseating in the nature of them； but perhaps
they may have given you some insight into all that this husband and
wife endured； perhaps too they may unveil much that is passing in
secret in other houses。
〃For two months the Comte de Restaud lay on his bed； alone； and
resigned to his fate。 Mortal disease was slowly sapping the strength
of mind and body。 Unaccountable and grotesque sick fancies preyed upon
him； he would not suffer them to set his room in order； no one could
nurse him； he would not even allow them to make his bed。 All his
surroundings bore the marks of this last degree of apathy； the
furniture was out of place； the daintiest trifles were covered with
dust and cobwebs。 In health he had been a man of refined and expensive
tastes； now he positively delighted in the comfortless look of the
room。 A host of objects required in illnessrows of medicine bottles；
empty and full； most of them dirty； crumpled linen； and broken plates；
littered the writing…table； chairs； and chimney…piece。 An open
warming…pan lay on the floor before the grate； a bath； still full of
mineral water had not been taken away。 The sense of coming dissolution
pervaded all the details of an unsightly chaos。 Signs of death
appeared in things inanimate before the Destroyer came to the body on
the bed。 The Comte de Restaud could not bear the daylight； the
Venetian shutters were closed； darkness deepened the gloom in the
dismal chamber。 The sick man himself had wasted greatly。 All the life
in him seemed to have taken refuge in the still brilliant eyes。 The
livid whiteness of his face was something horrible to see； enhanced as
it was by the long dank locks of hair that straggled along his cheeks；
for he would never suffer them to cut it。 He looked like some
religious fanatic in the desert。 Mental suffering was extinguishing
all human instincts in this man of scarce fifty years of age； whom all
Paris had known as so brilliant and so successful。
〃One morning at the beginning of December 1824； he looked up at
Ernest； who sat at the foot of his bed gazing at his father with
wistful eyes。
〃 'Are you in pain？' the little Vicomte asked。
〃 'No；' said the Count； with a ghastly smile； 'it all lies HERE AND
ABOUT MY HEART！'
〃He pointed to his forehead； and then laid his wasted fingers on his
hollow chest。 Ernest began to cry at the sight。
〃 'How is it that M。 Derville does not come to me？' the Count asked
his servant （he thought that Maurice was really attached to him； but
the man was entirely in the Countess' interest）'What！ Maurice！' and
the dying man suddenly sat upright in his bed； and seemed to recover
all his presence of mind； 'I have sent for my attorney seven or eight
times during the last fortnight； and he does not come！' he cried。 'Do
you imagine that I am to be trifled with？ Go for him； at once； this
very instant； and bring him back with you。 If you do not carry out my
orders； I shall get up and go myself。'
〃 'Madame；' said the man as he came into the salon； 'you heard M。 le
Comte； what ought I to do？'
〃 'Pretend to go to the attorney； and when you come back tell your
master that his man of business is forty leagues away from Paris on an
important lawsuit。 Say that he is expected back at the end of the
week。Sick people never know how ill they are；' thought the Countess；
'he will wait till the man comes home。'
〃The doctor had said on the previous evening that the Count could
scarcely live through the day。 When the servant came back two hours
later to give that hopeless answer； the dying man seemed to be greatly
agitated。
〃 'Oh God！' he cried again and again； 'I put my trust in none but
Thee。'
〃For a long while he lay and gazed at his son； and spoke in a feeble
voice at last。
〃 'Ernest； my boy； you are very young； but you have a good heart； you
can understand； no doubt； that a promise given to a dying man is
sacred； a promise to a father 。 。 。 Do you feel that you can be
trusted with a secret； and keep it so well and so closely that even
your mother herself shall not know that you have a secret to keep？
There is no one else in this house whom I can trust to…day。 You will
not betray my trust； will you？'
〃 'No； father。'
〃 'Very well； then； Ernest； in a minute or two I will give you a
sealed packet that belongs to M。 Derville； you must take such care of
it that no one can know that you have it； then you must slip out of
the house and put the letter into the post…box at the corner。'
〃 'Yes； father。'
〃 'Can I depend upon you？'
〃 'Yes； father。'
〃 'Come and kiss me。 You have made death less bitter to me； dear boy。
In six or seven years' time you will understand the importance of this
secret； and you will be well rewarded then for your quickness and
obedience； you will know then how much I love you。 Leave me alone for
a minute； and let no oneno matter whomcome in meanwhile。'
〃Ernest went out and saw his mother standing in the next room。
〃 'Ernest；' said she； 'come here。'
〃She sat down； drew her son to he