Miss Eugenie Grandet

About five or six years ago, thanks to the blessing of her own lady, Nanon had visited Paris, which became her capital to show off again and again in front of her companions in the circle she knew.

Now, on a whim and a rage, she boarded the train for Orleans alone, and then took the stagecoach, and finally, at noon, her clothes were still stained with Saumur's mud. The feet of the shoes finally set foot on the boundaries of Paris again.

Nanon felt nothing wrong with her own decision.Even if Mademoiselle Grandet would be unhappy if she found out, she was not afraid.

She felt she was doing the right thing.

That's what she wants to do.

But, unfortunately, she insists that she and Paris are old acquaintances, but Paris doesn't know her at all.

The midday sun above her head dazzled her a little, and her stomach was growling with hunger. The scene in front of her was completely unfamiliar, and there were people walking around in a hurry.She looked around in a daze, and for a moment didn't know what to do. Fortunately, she had been to Paris with the lady, and she had seen the world.After the initial panic passed, she quickly had an idea, grabbed a passerby who passed by her, and opened her mouth to ask loudly: "I am Nanon from Saumur, and I am going to find Philippe Laner, that man Duke Taibelo. Do you know where he lives?"

Passers-by stared in surprise at the big, native-speaking country woman in front of them, and looked her up and down.

The Duke of Montebello, of course he knew, and there was no one in Paris who did not know his name.A few years ago, after leading the army to defeat the Prussian army twice, he was awarded the rank of general of the army by Napoleon before his death. He was awarded such a rank when he was less than 30 years old. He is the No.1 in history.He is still serving as the Minister of Police of the Empire. He is famous for his iron wrist in the cabinet. He encircled and suppressed the revolutionary forces in the country and prompted the Congress to pass an extraordinary law applicable to extraordinary times. In addition, Napoleon and On the issue of conflicts in the Holy See, he actively mediated, and finally got the two parties to compromise with each other, each saving face.

Now, this woman who smelled of mud from head to toe opened her mouth to ask where such a big man lives?

"What do you want to do?"

"He knows me! Let me show him the way to my lady's estate! And compliment me on my beauty! Lovely young man!"

After the passer-by sent a supercilious look, he turned around and left.

Nanon was unyielding, and continued to ask people. Finally, a kind person told her where the Duke usually works, and asked her to wait near the Tuileries Palace. If she was lucky, she might meet her.

Nanon thanked her cheerfully, and after asking her the way to the palace, she decided to go on foot in order to save money.Just like that, relying on her two legs, she walked and asked questions all the way, and finally let her find the right place.

In front of the gate of the palace, two rows of strict guards stood.Whether it is the solemn and magnificent buildings, the dazzling uniforms of the guards, the spears with bright bayonets on their shoulders, and the solemn expressions on their faces, everything makes Nanon Feel daunting.

The confidence that supported her all the way before was like soap bubbles in the sun, starting to burst one by one.Tightly clutching the bag with a few pieces of cake on her arm, she began to walk up and down the square in front of the palace hesitantly, turning her head to look at it from time to time, and almost wanted to turn around, but when she remembered The old boss and Miss Shi suddenly seemed to have gained courage again, and finally bravely walked towards the row of guards. When they reached the last person, they bowed deeply to him, with a smile on their faces, and said flatteringly "My lord! I am Nanon from Saumur. You know Lana, the Duke of Montebello?"

The guards had already noticed this country woman who had wandered around for countless times, and was about to go up and fork her away if something was wrong. Now that she came up to ask a question, she couldn't help but ask Mrs. Lana. Startled.

"What are you doing! Go away!"

The captain came over and reprimanded him severely.

Nanon bowed hastily in fright, repeated her words, and said anxiously: "Monsieur! Nanon never lies! The duke really knows me! He promised me before that if I came to Paris, he would be happy with me." Just take me to the Champs Elysees for a carriage ride! But I’m here now, not for a carriage ride, I have other things to do!”

The captain looked at Nanon several times, and finally smacked his lips to the side.

"Go to the side and wait."

"Good!"

Nanon hastily bowed deeply, then happily went to the wall where a row of carriages was parked, found a corner and squatted down under the mocking eyes of the coachman or the footman.At this moment, after he breathed a sigh of relief, he felt that his stomach was about to collapse from hunger, so he untied the burden, took out the cake he brought, and while biting, looked at the gate of the palace from time to time.

Waited until the sun went down, and the sky was a little dark.There were people coming and going in and out of the palace, the carriages on the side came and went, and even the guards in front of the palace changed shifts, but Nanon never found the person she was looking for.

She finally couldn't help it anymore, and when she went to ask again, she saw a few people coming out of the steps of the palace gate.One of them was wearing a dark green military uniform, with a serious expression and vigorous steps, as if he was talking to an old man with white hair beside him.

Although she had not seen her for many years, Nanon recognized her at once.

He is tall, with short black hair and a handsome face. Although he doesn't know where he looks, he always feels different from before, but he...

Oh, isn't that the lovely Duke Lana?

"Master Philip! Master Philip!"

Nanon cried joyously to the man who was striding out.

The guard at the side was taken aback, and hurriedly stopped her. The butt of the gun pressed against Nanon's shoulder and pushed her aside.

"What are you stopping me for! He's coming out!"

Nanon's shoulders were hurt by the butt of the gun, and she grabbed the butt of the gun angrily, and shouted loudly.

The guard hurriedly tried to get the gun back, but this big woman from the country was unexpectedly strong, and after she grabbed the butt of the gun, she couldn't pull it back for a while.The guard's face was flushed, and the companions beside him were about to come to help, and Philip Rana had already noticed the movement here.When he turned his head and saw Nanon, he was taken aback, and then, after whispering a few words to the people beside him, he strode over.

"Master Philippe! It is I! Nanon!"

Seeing him striding towards her, Nanon decided to let go of the butt of the gun, and then jumped and waved vigorously.

Philip Laner was soon at hand.Signaling the guard who was blushing with shame to return to his post, the guard immediately stood at attention, gave a military salute, and returned to the team.

Philippe looked at Nanon, and there was a gentle smile on his face, which had been hardened because of the seldom smiling.

"Mademoiselle Nanon, it is really you. Why are you here?"

His voice was low, with a bit of suppressed doubt and surprise.

"Master Philippe! I took the train and the post-coach that jolted my ass, and I came here to find you!" cried Nanon. "Our master is dying! He thinks about it every day." you..."

After a short pause, the honest maid finally couldn't help the condemnation of her conscience, and added in a low voice coyly, "He's been thinking about 25 Floavfons all day...that's thinking about you, yes No?"

The smile on Philip's face disappeared, and his expression immediately became serious.

"Miss Nanon, please speak slowly and tell me the situation carefully."

----

When the last steward reported on the harvest of the first batch of hay on the pasture and left Grandet's mansion, Grandet, who had been energetic for a day, seemed to be completely exhausted and became even more depressed.In the evening, he didn't sleep much all night, he kept muttering and moaning in bed, and even Eugenie tried to coax him with gold coins by his pillow.The next day, Dr. Bergerin came over, examined old Grandet carefully, and shook his head at Eugenie.

"I'm afraid it won't be long... But Miss Grandet, please don't be sad, father is already over 80..."

After Dr. Bergerin left, the old Grandet had been lying down all day, sometimes awake, sometimes in a daze, and Eugenie was always by his side.

In the evening, another night is about to fall.The bleak afterglow of the setting sun shone through the window, shining on the face of the old father who was so weak that he could see the breath of life passing away inch by inch.

"Eugenie—"

He moved suddenly, and said something vaguely in his mouth.

"Father, I'm here."

Eugenie took his hand as dry as wood.

Old Grandet's eyelids moved, but his eyes were closed, but there was a smile on the corner of his mouth.

He sighed, "I dreamed about you when you were a kid—how cute—" he muttered.

A tear fell from Eugenie's eye, and fell on the crepe dress on her knee, and immediately spread along the warp and weft, like a dark snowflake.

"Father--"

"Ah-ah-"

His tone suddenly became hasty, and he grabbed his daughter's hand with great strength, and then his voice became full of annoyance.

"Twenty-five Flois! Twenty-five!"

"Father--"

Eugenie tries in vain to wake him up.His expression is even more painful, it is a pain that is extremely longed for but cannot be obtained.He also struggled harder, and at the end, he waved his hands vigorously in the air, as if he wanted to hold something in his arms.

There was a rush of footsteps behind him. It was the heavy footsteps of boots on the old floor, which seemed so out of place with this old house.But Eugenie did not pay attention, all her attention was absorbed by her father's restlessness.She anxiously called the old father, patted his chest, and tried to wake him up, when a voice suddenly came from behind: "Father Grandet, here are 25 froufons! They are all yours!"

Eugenie turned her head abruptly, and saw a tall figure appearing at the door, without any lingering, the man had come to her father's bed, sat down, took the hands that were still scratching in the air, followed, he A volume of papers was thrust into that hand.

"Twenty-five flotafones. Take a look, father, and see if I have deceived you."

He bent down, leaned close to old Grandet's ear, and whispered as if coaxing a child.