1* In the story of Eugenie Grandet, Balzac, master word-painter of human emotions, gave us all the elements that control man's destiny. 2* Wealth, extravagance, passion, failure, greed, dishonesty, poverty, patience, fear, faith and love. The greatest of these is love-- the all-conquering power. 3* Commercialism tells us that you, Great Public, do not like the costume play. Life is life, so we make our story of today, that you may recognize each character as it comes your way. 4 France As we picture her, with her sparkling gaiety and irrepressible spirit of youth. 5+ And of that youth, Charles Grandet, the banker's son and heir, led the most care-free life in the French capital. 6 Lavishly celebrating the twenty- seventh year of a pampered, idle existence. 7 "To Annette, the prettiest woman in Paris!" 8+ "The young master -- he did not expect you to return so soon. It is his birthday." 9+ "Tell my son I wish to speak with him." 10 "Father, I did not expect you back so soon." 11 "Your journey - was it successful?" 12 "My son, I wish to talk to you before I retire to-night." 13 "As yet I have not given you my birthday gift." 14 "Your mother and myself, the year we were married. It has been my most precious possession." 15 "I am growing old, and it is twenty-five years since I have seen my brother Charles. I wish you to heal the breach of time." 16 "There are reasons why I should be on friendly terms with him, so to-morrow I wish you to leave for Noyant." 17+ "And he has a daughter, a few years younger than yourself." 18+ "I am curious to see what my cousin is like." 19+ "The sleepy village of Noyant basked in the sunshine of the wine country." 20 If a stranger were to ask for the dwelling place of P�re Grandet, cooper, miller, wine grower and ex-mayor, he would be directed to - 21 And should one mention the names of Rothschild and Morgan, one would be asked - "Are they as rich as P�re Grandet?" 22 "Have patience, M'sieu, I cannot pay you now. My wife is ill - it would kill her to lose our little home!" 23 "I cannot wait - and it will do you no good to appeal to my wife. She knows better than to interfere with my business." 24 "Eug�nie, my child, come here!" 25 "I have not forgotten my little girl's birthday. Eug�nie, let me see your gold." 26 A golden louis for each year of her life. They were as safe with her as in his own keeping. 27 "Gold! You are rich in beauty, my Eug�nie, with hair to match the precious metal." 28 For twenty years Nanon had watched over her master's property with dog-like fidelity. To her, his miserly whims were law. 29 "It is Eug�nie's birthday. We will have a bottle of wine to celebrate, but we must be frugal the rest of the week." 30 "Great stupid! You might have broken it!" 31 "As I suspected. The three Cruchots - the Notary and the Abbe have their eye on our daughter for their young one." 32 "Of course the des Grassins would have to come. The banker is after Grandet's money for Adolph." 33 "The chateau Froidfond. P�re Grandet owns it but he lives in the village." 34 "You'll have to go round by the back way - he hasn't used the front door for twenty years." 35 "They are only after my gold, but Eug�nie is not for such as these." 36 "Adolph selected it himself, in Paris." 37 "Idiot! Why did you bring flowers?" 38 "You - you are M. Grandet, my uncle?" 39 "I am Charles - Victor Grandet's son." 40 "Carry my nephew's luggage to the spare room." 41 "Your cousin, Eug�nie." 42 "Why this extravagance? A fire and a warming pan! Do you take my nephew for an invalid?" 43 "My good woman - am I really in the house of Grandet of Noyant, brother to Victor Grandet of Paris." 44 The next morning. 45 "My boy, now you understand that you are penniless." 46 "What is that to me when my father is dead?" 47 "Your father left you in my charge. I will tell you later of his last wishes." 48 With his nephew back again in Paris, Grandet made crafty use of his daughter's suitors. 49 "And when you have cleared up your brother's estate, I presume it will be my privilege to draw up the marriage agreement between your nephew and your daughter." 50 "I would rather see my daughter dead than married to Charles Grandet!" 51 "While you have been in Paris, my boy, I have devised a plan by which to clear your father's name from dishonour." 52 "We mourn with you my cousin." 53 Far into the night Grandet counted his gold, that he might reap a profit from his brother's failure. 54 Woman has this in common with the angels - - all suffering creatures are under her protection. 55 "Charles, I ask your forgiveness." 56 "Until to-day I did not realize the value of money. It is only to bring happiness to those you - - you hold dear." 57 "A cousin is almost a brother, surely you will borrow from your sister." 58 "I will not rise until you accept it - I have no other use for it." 59 "These are my most precious possessions. The case - my mother gave me." 60 "The miniatures of my parents - my father's last gift." 61 "The case is of gold and worth a great deal. Keep them until I can repay you." 62 And now began the springtime of love for Eug�nie, while Charles found there were still roses to be gathered in the garden of life. 63 "Our Lady watches over them while the mother bird is away." 64 "Eug�nie, you are beautiful!" 65 "You are only laughing at me!" 66 "There is no woman in all Paris who is more beautiful. If my father had lived, I would have proved it to you." 67 The next move of Grandet's scheme was to speed his nephew's departure for Martinique. 68 "My dear Uncle! How ridiculous for me to sign this paper! My father left no estate!" 69 "The key shall always stay there, dear." 70 "My heart shall always be there with it." 71+ Woman's is the passive part - the web of life interwoven with love, sorrow and hope. 72 While the man busies himself with the present and looks to the future with consolation. 73+ And so the months lengthen to a year. It is again Eugenie's birthday. 74 "Strange that we have never heard from Charles since he left!" 75 "My wife is dead - you - you killed her!" 76 "Some day your gold will crush you!" 77 "Eug�nie, let me see your gold." 78 "Gold is scarce these days. Yours has increased in value, so I wish to invest it." 79 "I have hidden it away. Do not force me to bring it to you, Father." 80 "She is indeed a Grandet. She does not like to part with the shining pieces." 81 "Do not worry, child. In a year I will double them." 82 "My - my gold is gone!" 83 "Where is it? Did someone steal it?" 84 "Did you give it to anyone?" 85 "Answer me! Did you give it to anyone?" 86 "Answer me, I tell you! Whom did you give it to?" 87 "You have no need to answer - what is he to you?" 88 "What else did he steal from you besides the gold?" 89 "By Heaven, you shall stay in your room until you do answer me!" 90 And so a month passed. The affairs of the Grandet household became the chief topic of the village. 91 "I have just come from P�re Grandet's. There is something very wrong. He seems crazed since his wife's death!" 92 "Crazed is right! All day he sits and broods while he keeps Eug�nie locked in her room with scarcely enough food to keep her body alive." 93 A cradle of greed - each glittering louis alive - smiling back at his maddened senses, while behind the walls - beneath the floors - voices croon the soothing lullaby - Gold - Gold - Gold. 94 Later in the day the Notary pays a call. 95 "Grandet, everyone in the village is gossiping about your treatment of Eug�nie." 96 "It is useless to be on bad terms with her. Remember, I am the only one in Noyant who knows that Eug�nie is not your own child." 97 "Part of your fortune belonged to your wife through her former husband's estate." 98 "And if Eug�nie knew, she could demand a division of the property." 99 "I have drawn up a paper for her to sign that will secure everything for you during your lifetime." 100 "It has long been my desire to see the Cruchots and Grandets united if - agreeable to you." 101 "Eug�nie, my child, I could stand it no longer. Forgive your foolish old father." 102 "The Notary is here with a paper, which he wishes you to sign." 103 "How dare you meddle with my papers!" 104 "How dare you keep us apart. How dare you cheat Charles of his inheritance and me of my happiness!" 105 "Some day your gold will crush you." 106 "You have robbed my son!" 107 "You have cheated my daughter!" 108 "I am gold! All your life you have sought me - now you are mine!" 109+ And so Eug�nie Grandet was left alone, the mistress of untold wealth. 110 "You are a very rich young woman, my dear. You should have someone to look after your property - - a husband to lean upon." 111 And the years passed. The Cruchots and the des Grassins still seeking the favour of the heiress. 112 "I have just returned from Paris. Everyone is talking of your cousin Charles." 113 "He has been back from the Colonies two months. The Government has handsomely rewarded him for his services and there is rumour of his marriage to a wealthy young lady." 114 "I am so glad you are all here to-day, because I wish to announce my engagement to de Bontons Cruchot." 115 "You said I needed a husband to take care of my estate. Will you draw up the marriage agreement with that stipulation!" 116 "Forgive me - I had to come back for a glimpse of the old garden." 117 "Why did you not come before?" 118 "I did not think you would live here after your marriage." 119 "But your father wrote me that you - " The End + = reconstructed titles * = modern titlesHome