o before the old. It is a lucky thing
for us women that we are not liable to fight duels, but we have other
complaints that men don't suffer from. We bear children, and it takes a
long time to get over it. What a windfall for Victorine! Her father will
have to acknowledge her now!"

"There!" said Vautrin, looking at Eugene, "yesterday she had not a
penny; this morning she has several millions to her fortune."

"I say, M. Eugene!" cried Mme. Vauquer, "you have landed on your feet!"

At this exclamation, Father Goriot looked at the student, and saw the
crumpled letter still in his hand.

"You have not read it through! What does this mean? Are you going to be
like the rest of them?" he asked.

"Madame, I shall never marry Mlle. Victorine," said Eugene, turning to
Mme. Vauquer with an expression of terror and loathing that surprised
the onlookers at this scene.

Father Goriot caught the student's hand and grasped it warmly. He could
have kissed it.

"Oh, ho!" said Vautrin, "the Italians have a good proverb--_Col tempo_."

"Is there any answer?" said Mme. de Nucingen's messenger, addressing
Eugene.

"Say that I will come directly."

The man went. Eugene was in a state of such violent excitement that he
could not be prudent.

"What is to be done?" he exclaimed aloud. "There are no proofs!"

Vautrin began to smile. Though the drug he had taken was doing its work,
the convict was so vigorous that he rose to his feet, gave Rastignac a
look, and said in hollow tones, "Luck comes to us while we sleep, young
man," and fell stiff and stark, as if he were struck dead.

"So there is a Divine Justice!" said Eugene.

"Well, if ever! What has come to that poor dear M. Vautrin?"

"A stroke!" cried Mlle. Michonneau.

"Here, Sylvie! girl, run for the doctor," called the widow. "Oh, M.
Rastignac, just go for M. Bianchon, and be as quick as you can; Sylvie
might not be in time to catch our doctor, M. Grimprel."

Rastignac was glad of an excuse to leave that den of horrors, his hurry
for the doctor was nothing but a flight.

"Here, Christophe, go round to the chemist's and ask for something
that's good for the apoplexy."

Christophe likewise went.

"Father Goriot, just help us to get him upstairs."

Vautrin was taken up among them, carried carefully up the narrow
staircase, and laid upon his bed.

"I can do no good here, so I shall go to see my daughter," said M.
Goriot.

"Selfish old thing!" cried Mme. Vauquer. "