Gobseck | Page 3

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Etext prepared by Dagny, [email protected] and Bonnie Sala

GOBSECK
BY
HONORE DE BALZAC

Translated By Ellen Marriage

DEDICATION

To M. le Baron Barchou de Penhoen.
Among all the pupils of the Oratorian school at Vendome, we are, I
think, the only two who have afterwards met in mid-career of a life of
letters--we who once were cultivating Philosophy when by rights we
should have been minding our De viris. When we met, you were
engaged upon your noble works on German philosophy, and I upon this
study. So neither of us has missed his vocation; and you, when you see
your name here, will feel, no doubt, as much pleasure as he who
inscribes his work to you.--Your old schoolfellow,
1840
De Balzac

GOBSECK
It was one o'clock in the morning, during the winter of 1829-30, but in
the Vicomtesse de Grandlieu's salon two persons stayed on who did not
belong to her family circle. A young and good-looking man heard the
clock strike, and took his leave. When the courtyard echoed with the
sound of a departing carriage, the Vicomtesse looked up, saw that no
one was present save her brother and a friend of the family finishing
their game of piquet, and went across to her daughter. The girl,
standing by the chimney-piece, apparently examining a transparent
fire-screen, was listening to the sounds from the courtyard in a way that
justified certain maternal fears.
"Camille," said the Vicomtesse, "if you continue to behave to young
Comte de Restaud as you have done this evening, you will oblige me to
see no more of him here. Listen, child, and if you have any confidence
in my love, let me guide you in life. At seventeen one cannot judge of
past or future, nor of certain social considerations. I have only one
thing to say to you. M. de Restaud has a mother, a mother who would
waste millions of francs; a woman of no birth, a Mlle. Goriot; people
talked a good deal about her at one time. She behaved so badly to her

own father, that she certainly does not deserve to have so good a son.
The young Count adores her, and maintains her in her position with
dutifulness worthy of all praise, and he is extremely good to his brother
and sister.--But however admirable HIS behavior may be," the
Vicomtesse added with a shrewd expression, "so long as his mother
lives, any family would take alarm at the idea of intrusting a daughter's
fortune and future to young Restaud."
"I overheard a word now and again in your talk with Mlle. de
Grandlieu," cried the friend of the family, "and it made me anxious to
put in a word of my own.--I have won, M. le Comte," he added, turning
to his opponent. "I shall throw you over and go to your niece's
assistance."
"See what it is to have an attorney's ears!" exclaimed the Vicomtesse.
"My dear Derville, how could you know what I was saying to Camille
in a whisper?"
"I knew it from your looks," answered Derville, seating himself in a
low chair by the fire.
Camille's uncle went to her side, and Mme. de Grandlieu took up her
position on a hearth stool between her daughter and Derville.
"The time has come for telling a story, which should modify your
judgment as to Ernest de Restaud's prospects."
"A story?" cried Camille. "Do begin at once, monsieur."
The glance that Derville gave the Vicomtesse told her that this tale was
meant for her. The Vicomtesse de Grandlieu, be it said, was one of the
greatest ladies in the Faubourg Saint-Germain, by reason of her fortune
and her ancient name; and though it may seem improbable that a Paris
attorney should speak so familiarly to her, or be so much at home in her
house, the fact is nevertheless easily explained.
When Mme. de Grandlieu returned to France with the Royal family,
she came to Paris, and at first lived