United States or Vanuatu ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Each took his or her two sous from the chipped saucer in which they had been put; then the party moved in a body toward the fire. "Have you finished your game?" said Grandet, without looking up from his letter. "Yes, yes!" replied Madame des Grassins, taking a seat near Charles.
"She is really very nice, this woman," thought Charles Grandet as he duly responded to Madame des Grassins' coquetries. "It seems to me, wife, that you are taking possession of monsieur," said the stout banker, laughing.
For this one, Maitre Cruchot had procured the money required for the purchase of a domain, but at eleven per cent. For that one, Monsieur des Grassins discounted bills of exchange, but at a frightful deduction of interest. Few days ever passed that Monsieur Grandet's name was not mentioned either in the markets or in social conversations at the evening gatherings.
"Des Grassins, my friend, I have invited the young man to dinner. You must go and ask Monsieur and Madame de Larsonniere and the du Hautoys, with the beautiful demoiselle du Hautoy, of course. I hope she will be properly dressed; that jealous mother of hers does make such a fright of her!
At half-past eight in the evening the two card-tables were set out. Madame des Grassins succeeded in putting her son beside Eugenie.
Presently des Grassins gave a start of astonishment; probably Grandet was then instructing him to invest the sum which was to give him a hundred thousand francs a year in the Funds. "Monsieur Grandet," said the banker to Charles, "I am starting for Paris; if you have any commissions " "None, monsieur, I thank you," answered Charles. "Thank him better than that, nephew.
The old cooper, with inward self-conceit, was contemplating the pink feathers and the fresh toilet of Madame des Grassins, the martial head of the banker, the faces of Adolphe, the president, the abbe, and the notary, saying to himself: "They are all after my money. Hey! neither the one nor the other shall have my daughter; but they are useful useful as harpoons to fish with."
The pack were still pursuing Eugenie and her millions; but the hounds, more in number, lay better on the scent, and beset the prey more unitedly. If Charles could have dropped from the Indian Isles, he would have found the same people and the same interests. Madame des Grassins, to whom Eugenie was full of kindness and courtesy, still persisted in tormenting the Cruchots.
Early in the spring, Madame des Grassins attempted to trouble the peace of the Cruchotines by talking to Eugenie of the Marquis de Froidfond, whose ancient and ruined family might be restored if the heiress would give him back his estates through marriage.
The abbe looked at her maliciously. "Yes, monsieur," she answered. "Then you were very young when you were in Paris?" said Charles, addressing Adolphe. "You must know, monsieur," said the abbe, "that we send them to Babylon as soon as they are weaned." Madame des Grassins examined the abbe with a glance of extreme penetration.
Word Of The Day