World Literature Classics Library: The Count of Monte Cristo

Chapter 177 Father and Daughter (2)
"My daughter," Tangla continued, "when a father asks his daughter to marry someone, he always wants his daughter to marry for some reason. Some fathers are really crazy about what you just said. This kind of thing, that is to say, I want my children and grandchildren to be around my knees, so I feel that my life can be repeated. I don’t have this problem, let’s start from the beginning. I have almost no interest in family happiness. The reason why I can be in front of my daughter This is so blunt, because I know that a daughter like you is open-minded and can understand this indifferent attitude, so I won’t say that there is something wrong with me.”

"Very well," said Eugenie, "let's talk quickly, Monsieur, I like quick talk."

"Oh!" Tangra said, "you know, I generally don't agree with your quick temper, but when I think it is necessary to speak out, I will speak up. All right. , I went on. I found you a husband, and it was not for you, because in fact, I hadn't thought about your own problems at all so far. You like to talk, I say Quite bluntly enough, I suppose so. I want you to marry this man as soon as possible because of some business venture I am presently planning."

Eugenie looked a little agitated.

"I have the honor of explaining everything to you, my daughter. Don't blame me, because you asked me to say it. You also know that this is not my intention. What addition and subtraction to an artist like you Multiplication and division, because you are afraid of going into the banker's study, afraid of getting some unpleasant impressions and feelings there that will spoil the poetry. But you entered this banker's study willingly the day before yesterday and asked me for You never spend the thousands of francs I give you every month as you please. You must know, my dear lady, that there is much to be learned here, even for a young man who is not married. One can also benefit from it. For example, in the banker's study, in view of your sensitive nerves, I will tell you in this drawing room, in the banker's study, banker The reputation of a person is his physical and spiritual life, and a man is supported by his reputation, just as an organism is vitalized by breathing. On this point, Mr. Monte Cristo told me his opinion one day, and I still remember it. New. In the banker's study we learn that a man is dead without credibility, and a banker who prides himself on his daughter's logical mind will soon learn that. "

Hearing such dejected words, Eugenie not only did not hang her head down, but puffed up her chest. "Broken!" she said.

"You are using the right word, my daughter, it is indeed a very appropriate word," Tangla said, pinching his chest with his nails, but there was still a ruthless but not necessarily unintentional person on his wood-carved and clay-like face. A sliver of a smile, "Bankrupt! Exactly."

"Ah!" cried Eugenie.

"Yes, bankrupt! Well! Now, as the tragic poet says, this dreadful secret is known. Now, my daughter, you may as well hear me tell you how, by your hand, I will try to alleviate this Disaster, I have to say, it's not for me, it's for you."

"Oh!" cried Eugenie. "If you think that I feel sorry for myself because you have told me about the disaster, then, sir, you are very poor judge of people. I am bankrupt! What does it do to me? I am not Can't I be like Pata (Italian soprano (1798-1865).), Mary Brown (French mezzo-soprano (1808-1836).) and Geli (Italian soprano) (1805-1840).) Then earn for myself the money that you, rich as you are, have never given me? Then I shall have an income of 10 or 15 livres a year, which is by no means what you are now I gave this pitiful 1.2 francs. I earned my money myself, and owed no one, unlike now when you give me money, you are always scowling and chattering, blaming me for spending money like water. At that time, I not only If I have money, I will get applause and cheers and flowers. Even if I don't have this talent-I can see from your smile that you doubt I will have this talent, don't I still have a heart that loves independence? In my heart , Independence is better than all gold and silver treasures; for me, independence is the most valuable, and it has become my instinct to defend my independence. No, I don't worry about myself, I always get out of adversity smoothly, my book, my Pencils, my piano, all these cheap things, I can manage to get them, and they will be mine forever. You may think that I am sorry for Mrs. Tangla, but you are wrong again. Unless I am big myself Wrong and very wrong, my mother had already prepared for the disaster that threatened you, and it did not hurt her in the slightest. She had prepared a way for herself, I think so. She would not, in order to take care of me, A little distracted while she worked on her property, because, thank God, she made the excuse that I love freedom and left me alone. Oh no, sir, since I was a child, I have seen countless things happening around me , I know too many things, so the disaster can leave only a mere impression on my soul, what else can I have? I have never been loved by anyone since I was sensible, poor thing! The end result, of course, is that I love no one, and rightly so! Now you know my creed!"

"Then," Tangra said, his face turned pale with anger, but he was not angry because his father's love was offended, "then, Miss, do you have to make me bankrupt?"

"You are bankrupt!" said Eugenie. "I have made you bankrupt? What do you mean? I don't understand."

"Very well, that leaves me with a ray of hope. Listen to me, please."

"I am all ears," said Eugenie, fixed her eyes on her father, who had to force himself not to lower his eyes under the piercing gaze of his daughter.

"Mr. Cavalleconti," Tangla said, "he is planning to marry you. As long as you get married, he will deposit 300 million yuan into my firm as a dowry."

"Ah! very well!" said Eugenie with the utmost contempt, crossing her hands and smoothing out the gloves she was wearing.

"Do you think I'm going to eat your 300 million yuan?" Tangla said, "Absolutely not, the 300 million yuan is for interest, at least one cent interest. I have learned from one of my colleagues—— A banker—there was a shareholding of a railway. In our era, only the railway can be prosperous and successful in a short period of time. This is the same as the former John Law Scottish financier (1691-1729), in France is engaged in financial activities, and successively established financial institutions such as "India Company" and "General Bank". It is the same to ask those shrewd Parisians who persevere in speculation to go to the magical Mississippi to do a big job. I calculated that now I have ten thousand One of the railroad equity, which is equivalent to owning an acre of wasteland along the Ohio River. This is a mortgage investment, you know, this is a kind of progress, whoever invests money, who can own at least 10 pounds, 15 catties, 20 catties, 100 catties of iron. Uh! I’m going to buy 400 million stocks within a week! 400 million, let me tell you, there will be one cent or one cent of the interest.”

"However, when I went to see you the day before yesterday, Monsieur, you must have remembered it well," said Eugenie. "I saw you put in—that's what the jargon says, isn't it? You put in 550 million at once. You also showed me the 550 million divided into two treasury bills. At that time, you thought it was strange and didn't expect a A piece of paper with such a face value did not make me dizzy like lightning."

"Yes, but the 550 million yuan is not my money. Putting the money in me just shows that people trust me. I have the title of civilian banker, so the workhouses trust me. The 550 million yuan is the money of these workhouses. At any other time, I would have used the money without hesitation, but today, it has been known that I have lost several large sums of money one after another, so, as I have just told you, I I'm starting to lose my credibility. The workhouse could come at any moment, and if I use it for something else, I'll have to go out of business in disgrace. I'm not afraid of going out of business, you should believe me, it's Seriously, but this should be a profitable bankruptcy, not a bankruptcy bankruptcy, if you marry Mr. Cavalle Conti, I can get his 300 million dowry, or as long as people think I am Already in hand, my credit will be strong again. For the last month or two, unimaginable misfortune has dug an abyss under my feet, and my property has sunk into it, but by then I will be able to rebuild my family It's over. Did you hear me clearly?"

"It's very clear, isn't it because of the 300 million that I was used as a mortgage?"

"A big amount will give you a lot of face, so you can figure out how much you are worth."

"Thank you. Let me say one last thing, sir. Can you promise me that you can use the account that Mr. Cavalle-Conti brought as a dowry, but it is only an imaginary figure, and you will never use the actual money? It is selfish. It doesn't matter, but this matter must be settled. I am willing to help you restore your family business, but I never want to be your accomplice and cause others to go bankrupt."

"But I told you just now," Tangla shouted, "take the 300 million..."

"Do you think, sir, that you can get away with it without having to spend the three million?"

"I hope so, but it's still the same sentence. You have to get married and improve my reputation."

"Will you pay Mr. Cavallecanti the half million dowry you promised me when I signed the marriage contract?"

"He can get it when he comes back from the city hall after completing the formalities."

"very good."

"What? Very well? What do you mean?"

"I mean, since you want me to sign the marriage contract, you also promise me that I will have absolute personal freedom from now on, don't you?"

"Absolute freedom."

"Very well, then, I will do what I say, sir, and I promise to marry Cavalle-Conti."

"But what are your plans?"

"Ah! This is my secret. What advantage should I have over you if I tell you my secret after knowing yours?"

Tangra couldn't help biting his lips, "So," he said, "you also agreed to make some official visits that must be made?"

"Yes," replied Eugenie.

"Also agree to sign a marriage contract in three days?"

"Yes."

"Well, now it's my turn to say 'very good' to you!"

So Tangra grabbed his daughter's hand and held it tightly with her own.However, it's no wonder that when the father and daughter shook hands like this, the father dared not say: "Thank you, my child", and the daughter didn't even smile at her father.

"Is the conversation over?" asked Eugenie, standing up.

Tang La nodded to indicate that he had nothing more to say. Five minutes later, the piano sounded under Miss Amelie's finger, and Miss Tangera sang the curse song that cursed Desdemona sung by Brabantio.After the song was sung, Etienne came in and told Eugenie that the carriage was ready and the baroness was waiting for her to go out to visit.We have seen the mother and daughter go first to the Villeforts', and then to several others.

(End of this chapter)