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He therefore profited by the entrance of the des Grassins to take the nephew by the arm and lead him into the embrasure of the window, "You have said enough, nephew; you've shown enough devotion. Your desire to win the girl blinds you. The devil! you mustn't go at it tooth and nail. Let me sail the ship now; you can haul on the braces.
The three des Grassins likewise had their adherents, their cousins, their faithful allies. On the Cruchot side the abbe, the Talleyrand of the family, well backed-up by his brother the notary, sharply contested every inch of ground with his female adversary, and tried to obtain the rich heiress for his nephew the president.
On this remark the notary and the president said a few words that were more or less significant; but the abbe, looking at them slyly, brought their thoughts to a focus by taking a pinch of snuff and saying as he handed round his snuff-box: "Who can do the honors of Saumur for monsieur so well as madame?" "Ah! what do you mean by that, monsieur l'abbe?" demanded Monsieur des Grassins.
"Suppose we all go?" said Monsieur des Grassins; "that knock strikes me as evil-intentioned." Hardly was Monsieur des Grassins allowed to see the figure of a young man, accompanied by a porter from the coach-office carrying two large trunks and dragging a carpet-bag after him, than Monsieur Grandet turned roughly on his wife and said,
"Ah! you have the voice and manner of your deceased father," Madame des Grassins replied. "Madame, you have eight thousand francs to pay us," said Nanon, producing Charles's cheque. "That's true; have the kindness to come with me now, Madame Cornoiller."
The loto-numbers were drawn very slowly, and presently the game came suddenly to an end. La Grand Nanon entered and said aloud: "Madame, I want the sheets for monsieur's bed." Madame Grandet followed her out. Madame des Grassins said in a low voice: "Let us keep our sous and stop playing."
Madame des Grassins was one of those lively, plump little women, with pink-and-white skins, who, thanks to the claustral calm of the provinces and the habits of a virtuous life, keep their youth until they are past forty. She was like the last rose of autumn, pleasant to the eye, though the petals have a certain frostiness, and their perfume is slight.
"I have never in my life been so pleased," the heiress said to her; "I have never seen anything so pretty." "Adolphe brought it from Paris, and he chose it," Madame des Grassins whispered in her ear. "Go on! go on! damned intriguing thing!" thought the president. "If you ever have a suit in court, you or your husband, it shall go hard with you."
Eat as much as you like, my children, it costs nothing. Des Grassins is getting along very well. I am satisfied with him. The old fish is doing Charles a good service, and gratis too. He is making a very good settlement of that poor deceased Grandet's business. Hoo! hoo!" he muttered, with his mouth full, after a pause, "how good it is! Eat some, wife; that will feed you for at least two days."
"Heaven is my witness, madame, that up to the last moment I did all I could to prevent him from going. Monsieur le president was most anxious to take his place; but he was determined to go, and now we all see why." In this way Grandet made it quite plain that he was under no obligation to des Grassins. In all situations women have more cause for suffering than men, and they suffer more.
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