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Suppose they are sent off empty-handed for once, faith! they'll come back." "Yes, but let us mind what we are about," said Grandet in a tone which made the president tremble. "Is he driving some bargain?" thought Cruchot. At this moment the knocker announced the des Grassins family, and their arrival interrupted a conversation which had begun between Madame Grandet and the abbe.
"My nephew is a blockhead," thought the abbe as he looked at the president, whose rumpled hair added to the ill grace of his brown countenance. "Couldn't he have found some little trifle which cost money?" "We will join you at cards, Madame Grandet," said Madame des Grassins. "We might have two tables, as we are all here."
Monsieur des Grassins put a counter on his wife's card, who sat watching first the cousin from Paris and then Eugenie, without thinking of her loto, a prey to mournful presentiments. From time to time the young the heiress glanced furtively at her cousin, and the banker's wife easily detected a crescendo of surprise and curiosity in her mind.
The goodman did not stammer over the last words. "Eh!" cried Madame des Grassins, "why it is a pleasure to go to Paris. I would willingly pay to go myself." She made a sign to her husband, as if to encourage him in cutting the enemy out of the commission, coute que coute; then she glanced ironically at the two Cruchots, who looked chap-fallen.
Monsieur Charles, such was the name of the son of Monsieur Grandet of Paris, hearing himself addressed, took a little eye-glass, suspended by a chain from his neck, applied it to his right eye to examine what was on the table, and also the persons sitting round it. He ogled Madame des Grassins with much impertinence, and said to her, after he had observed all he wished, "Yes, madame.
I had, in a secret hiding-place, two hundred louis d'or, an enormous hoard at that time; for they were worth I couldn't now tell you how many hundred thousand francs in assignats. Mongenod and I had studied at the same collage, that of Grassins, and we had met again in the same law-office, that of Bordin, a truly honest man.
"The old rogue!" thought Madame Grassins; "can he have guessed my intentions?" "It seems that I shall have a good deal of success in Saumur," thought Charles as he unbuttoned his great-coat, put a hand into his waistcoat, and cast a glance into the far distance, to imitate the attitude which Chantrey has given to Lord Byron.
The names of des Grassins and Felix Grandet of Saumur were well known there, and they enjoyed the esteem bestowed on financial celebrities whose wealth comes from immense and unencumbered territorial possessions.
These words, corroborated by Grandet's attitude as he stood silently nursing his chin, astonished the three des Grassins, who had been leisurely discussing the old man's avarice as they came along, very nearly accusing him of fratricide. "Ah! I was sure of it," cried the banker, looking at his wife. "What did I tell you just now, Madame des Grassins?
The old notary went to the door to fetch his lantern and came back to light it, offering to accompany the des Grassins on their way. Madame des Grassins had not foreseen the incident which brought the evening prematurely to an end, her servant therefore had not arrived. "Will you do me the honor to take my arm, madame?" said the abbe.
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