Honore de Balzac Gobsec content. Foreign literature abbreviated. All works of the school curriculum in a summary. In the salon of the viscountess
10 CLASS
HONORE DE BALZAC
GOBSEC
The story "Gobsek" begins with an exposition. First, the story is told on behalf of the author, who describes one of the winter evenings 1792-1830 pp. in the saloon of the vicomtesie where Granlier is one of the most famous ladies in the aristocratic Faubourg Saint-Germain, and then the voices of the storytellers appear - Derville and Gobsek.
That evening, the guests - the young Count Ernest de Restaud and the attorney Derville - stayed up late. Derville is considered a friend of the family, because he once helped the viscountes return the money and estates lost during the revolution. Camila, daughter of the viscountess, loves the young Count Ernest de Resto. But the count's mother has a bad reputation in the aristocratic world, so Madame Granlier wants to refuse him a visit to her house, promising that while she is alive, none of the parents will trust him with the future of their daughter.
Here Derville intervenes in the conversation. He tells the women a story that, in his opinion, should change the outlook on the state of affairs in the family of the young Comte de Resto.
This story started a long time ago. At that time Derville was a junior clerk in the attorney's office, studied law and lived in furnished rooms. His neighbor was the usurer Gobsek - a calm, arrogant man whom no one and nothing could unbalance.
Every detail of this bright image emphasizes the character of the hero. Gobsek had a "moon face", ash-gray hair. "The yellowish pallor of his skin resembled the color of silver from which the gilding had flown off." His features were cast in bronze, and his eyes were yellow, like those of a ferret, hiding from the bright light. Gobsek's nose was sharp, like a sverdlik, his lips were thin. He never lost his composure, even when his clients begged, sobbed, threatened, he remained calm and spoke quietly. Gobsek's ruthlessness is emphasized by such signs as "man-promissory note", "man-machine", which suppresses any feelings in itself. The portrait characterization is completed by the mention that, earning money, he himself ran "all over Paris on thin, thin, like a deer's legs." It was difficult to guess his age: either he aged in advance, or he looks young in old age. Everything in his house was neat and shabby, like an old maid's room. His life seemed to flow quietly, like sand in an old hourglass.
Gobsek was very careful, and no one knew whether he was poor or rich. One day, a gold coin fell out of his pocket, a tenant, (followed him up the stairs, picked it up and gave it to Gobsek, but he did not take the lost one, because he did not want to admit that he could have that kind of money. The usurer lived alone and maintained relations only with Derville, to whom he revealed his innermost thoughts about the world and people.
Here is what Derville found out. Gobsek was born in Holland. When the boy was ten years old, his mother gave him as a cabin boy on a ship that sailed to India. On that ship he traveled for the next twenty years. Gobsek always sought to get rich, and fate threw him around the world in search of wealth in all continents. He knew many famous people of his time, was involved in many historical events, but did not like to talk about it.
Gobsek's "philosophy" was that the world is ruled by gold, and the usurer owns the gold, so he has a secret power over people . Gobseck's monologue - this is a hymn to gold. And it is no coincidence that pathetic notes sound in it: “I have a look, like the Lord God: I read in hearts ... "But at the same time, cynical thoughts are also felt:" I am rich enough to buy a human conscience ... "," What is life, if not a machine driven by money?
Gobsek amused himself by studying human passions and enjoying his power over them. As an instructive example, he told Derville the stories of two bills on which he had received money. One at a certain time was paid for by the seamstress Fani Malva, a hardworking and respectable girl who aroused sympathy even from the usurer. The second bill was signed by one countess, and her lover received the money. Gobseck came to the countess, but was told that she was still asleep and would not wake up until twelve o'clock, because she had been at the ball all night. The usurer gave his last name and asked me to tell the countess that he would come later. At noon he came again, and from the countess's sly behavior he realized that he had nothing to pay. Even the beauty of the woman, whom he could not fail to notice, did not arouse sympathy in his heart: he warned that he would reveal her secret when she did not pay. During their conversation, the countess's husband came into the room, and she was forced to give Gobseck a diamond in order to get rid of the usurer. Leaving the countess's house, he met her lover, on whose face he read the future of the countess.
A few years passed, Derville completed a course in law and received a position as a senior clerk in the attorney's office. Soon he had the opportunity to buy out his patron's patent. Gobsek lent Derville money only at thirteen per cent - he usually took from fifty to five hundred per cent of the amount owed). Diligence and perseverance in the work of Derville gave him the opportunity to pay off the usurer in five years.
And a year later, Derville found himself at a couple's breakfast, where he was supposed to be introduced to the well-known in high society, Mr. de Tray. The latter asked Derville to reconcile him with Gobsek. But the moneylender refuses to lend money to a man who had nothing but debt. Then de Tray, smiling and boasting, declared that there was no one in Paris who had such capital as his. Besides, he said, among his friends were famous people in the upper world. At this time, a carriage stopped near the house, and de Tray rushed to the exit. He returned with an unusual beautiful woman in which Derville recognized the same countess. The woman brought magnificent diamonds as collateral. Derville understood the depth of the abyss into which the countess was falling, and tried to dissuade her from pawning the jewels, referring to the fact that the countess married woman and subject to man. Gobseck appraised the jewels and decided to take them as collateral, but, given the legal uncertainty of the case, he offered a much lower amount than the real price of the jewels. Noticing the Countess's hesitation, de Tray began to hint to her that this was forcing him to die. Therefore, the woman was forced to accept Gobsek's proposal. Of the eighty thousand specified in the contract, the pawnbroker wrote a check for only fifty. The rest of the money, with an ironic smile, he gave out bills of M. de Tray himself. The young man exploded into a roar and called the moneylender an old swindler. In response to this challenge, Gobseck calmly drew a pair of pistols, and announced that he would shoot first, because the Comte de Tray had insulted him. The Countess begged de Tray to apologize. He muttered an apology and went after the countess, who ran out the door, terrified, but still warned that when what happened here became known, then someone's blood would be spilled. To which Gobsek replied that for this it is necessary to have blood, and instead of it, de Tray has the very dirt.
Left alone with Derville, Gobsek gave vent to his joy, which was caused by the possession of luxurious diamonds for little money. At that moment, hurried footsteps were heard in the corridor, Gobsek opened the door. The countess's husband entered, who was terribly furious and demanded the return of the deposit, referring to the fact that his wife did not have the right to dispose of these jewels. However, Gobsek was not in the least afraid of his fury and threats to go to court. Derville decided to intervene in the dispute and explained to the count that, by going to court, he might not get anything but shame, because the case was very doubtful. The count agreed to pay eighty thousand plus interest for the jewels. Grateful Gobsek gave him advice on how to save the property, save it at least for the children. According to Gobsek, in ce the property must be fictitiously sold to a reliable friend.
A few days after this event, the count came to Derville to find out his opinion about the honesty of Gobsek, Derville replied that two creatures live in usurers - a miser and a philosopher, vile and high, but whenever he, Derville, was threatened with death, he would appoint Gobsek as the guardian of his children. Then Derville told the count the story of his loan to Gobsek. And also about what the usurer answered to the question why he did not allow himself to do a good deed disinterestedly, which prompted him to force even his friend to pay huge interest. Gobseck's answer characterizes him best: in this way he freed Derville from gratitude, gave him the right to believe that he did not owe anything to the usurer. The count decided to transfer the ownership of his property to Gobsek, and to hand over the counter-receipt, which would legally prove the fictitious sale, to Derville ...
Derville tried to reveal to Camila the terrible abyss into which women can fall, having crossed certain limits. At this, the viscountess sent her daughter to bed. When the girl left society, it was possible to continue the conversation without hiding the names: after all, it was about the Count de Resto and his wife, the parents of Count Ernest de Resto.
A lot of time has passed since the agreement was drawn up. Derville learned that Comte de Resto was seriously ill and wanted to see the count - he still had not received the promised receipt. But the Countess would not allow it. She was well aware of what the future held for her, because at that time all her property was in the hands of Gobsek. The countess also understood the essence of Monsieur de Tray and broke off relations with him. Now she seemed to be a caring wife, taking care of a sick person. But in fact, she was only waiting for an opportunity to take possession of the property, as she felt that there was a secret meaning in her husband's affair with Gobsek. The count tried to transfer the receipt to Derville through his son, but the countess intervened in the matter. She began to beg the count to forgive her for the sake of the children. But the count was relentless. Some time later, the count died. In the morning, when Derville and Gobsek arrived, the Countess closed herself in her husband's room and did not allow anyone to enter. Ernest warned his mother about the visit of the guests. When the lawyer and the usurer entered the room where the dead man lay, a terrible disorder reigned in the room, and documents that were to be handed over to Derville were burning in the fireplace. Gobsek took advantage of the crime committed by the countess and appropriated the count's property.
Gobsek later rented out the Count's mansion. He spent the summer on his estate, pretending to be a nobleman, building farms, repairing mills. Somehow the lawyer made an attempt to persuade Gobsek to help Ernest, but the usurer replied that misfortune is the best teacher, let the young count learn the value of money and people, let him sail the Parisian sea, when he becomes a skilled pilot, then they will give him a ship. Having learned about Ernest's love for Camila, Derville made another attempt to influence the old usurer and went to him. Gobsek had gone to bed long ago, but he did not leave his affairs. He postponed the answer about Ernest's case until the time when he could get up, and this was no longer destined for him. A few days later, Derville was informed of the death of the usurer. He left all his wealth to his sister's great-granddaughter, a prostitute who was nicknamed "Electric Ray" or Fire. He left Derville as a legacy stocks of products that he had accumulated over last years receiving them from their clients. When Derville opened the adjoining rooms, he almost passed out from the stench coming from rotten goods - fish, pates, coffee, tobacco, tea, etc. At the end of his life, Gobsek did not sell anything, because he was afraid to give away cheaply. Thus his passion outlived his mind.
Derville informed the viscountes that Count Ernest de Restaud would soon be placed in possession of the property, which would enable him to marry Miss Camilla. To this the viscountess replied that Ernest must be very rich in order to be engaged to her daughter. The count's family is very ancient, and Camila cannot see her mother-in-law, although she is accepted at receptions.
Honore de Balzac is called the king of novelists. He managed to raise the genre of the novel to artistic perfection and give it social significance. But even his shorter works are worthy of all praise. The story "Gobsek" - best to that example.
"Gobsek"
The story was written in January 1830 and entered the cycle of works "The Human Comedy". The main characters in it were the usurer Gobsek, the family of Count Resto and the attorney Derville. Passion is the main theme of the story. One side, main character studies human passions - for wealth, women, power, on the other hand, the author himself shows that even a wise person can be destroyed by an all-consuming passion for gold and enrichment. The story of this man can be found in Balzac's story "Gobsek". Read the summary in this article.
In the salon of the viscountess
The lawyer Derville told about Gobsek in the viscountess's salon. Once, the young Count Resto and he stayed up late with her, who was accepted only because he helped her return the property confiscated during the revolution. When the count leaves, she reprimands her daughter that one should not show her affection too openly to the count, because no one will become related to the count because of the mother.
Of course, now nothing reprehensible was noticed behind her, but in her youth this person behaved very imprudently. Her father was a grain merchant, but the worst thing is that she squandered all her fortune on her lover and left her children without money. The count is very poor and not a match for Camille. Derville, sympathizing with the lovers, intervened in the conversation and explained to the viscountess how everything really was. Let's start with Derville's story summary"Gobsek" Honore Balzac.
Acquaintance with Gobsek
In his student years he had to live in a boarding house, where he met Gobsek. This old man was very remarkable in appearance: yellow, like a ferret, eyes, a long pointed nose and thin lips. His victims threatened and cried, but the usurer kept his cool - "golden idol". He did not communicate with his neighbors, he maintained relations only with Derville, and somehow revealed to him the secret of power over people - he told how he collected a debt from one lady.
Countess Resto
We will continue the retelling of the summary of "Gobsek" by Honore de Balzac with the usurer's story about this countess. Her lover lent the money from the moneylender, and she, fearing exposure, handed the diamond to the moneylender. Looking at the young blond handsome man, the future of the countess could easily be predicted - such a dandy could ruin more than one family.
Derville graduated from a law course and got a position as a clerk in the attorney's office. To redeem the patent, he needs one hundred and fifty thousand francs. Gobsek lent him a loan at thirteen percent of the money, and at the cost of hard work with the usurer, Derville managed to pay off in five years.
cheated husband
Let's continue to consider the summary of "Gobsek". Once Count Maxim asked Derville to introduce him to Gobsek. But the old usurer refused to give him a loan, because the man who had three hundred thousand debts did not inspire confidence in him. After some time, Maxim returned with a beautiful lady, and the lawyer immediately recognized the same countess. The lady was going to give the magnificent diamonds to the moneylender, and the lawyer tried to prevent this, but Maxim hinted that he would take his own life. The countess agreed to onerous conditions.
The summary of “Gobsek” will continue with the story of how, after their departure, the countess’s husband burst into Gobsek demanding the return of the mortgage, explaining that his wife has no right to dispose of the old family jewels. The usurer advised the count to transfer his entire fortune to a reliable person through a fictitious sale. So he could save his children from ruin.
After some time, the count came to the lawyer to find out about Gobsek. To which he replied that he would trust such a person as a usurer, even his children. The count immediately transferred his property to Gobsek, wishing to protect him from his wife and her young lover.
Count's illness
What will the summary of Gobsek tell us next? The viscountess, taking advantage of the pause, sent her daughter to bed, for there is no need for a young girl to listen to what debauchery a woman who has transgressed certain norms comes to. Camille left, and Derville immediately said that the conversation was about the Comtesse de Restaud.
Soon Derville learned that the count himself was seriously ill, and his wife did not let a lawyer come to him to finalize the deal. At the end of 1824, the countess herself was convinced of the meanness of Tray and broke up with him. She so zealously looked after her sick husband that many were ready to forgive her for her unworthy behavior. In fact, the Countess was simply lying in wait for her prey.
The count, having failed to meet with the attorney, wants to give the documents to his son, but the countess prevents this in every possible way. In the last hours of her husband, she begged for forgiveness on her knees, but the count remained adamant - he did not give her the paper.
Death of a moneylender
The summary of Gobsek continues with a story about how Gobsek and Derville came to the count's house the next day. A terrifying sight opened before their eyes: the countess, not ashamed of the fact that there was a dead person in the house, committed a real pogrom. Hearing their steps, she burned the documents addressed to Derville, and thus predetermined the fate of all property: it passed into the possession of Gobsek.
The usurer left the mansion and began to spend time in a new estate like a lord. To Derville's requests to take pity on the countess and children, he invariably replied: "Misfortune is the best teacher."
When the son of Resto finds out the value of money, then he will return the property. Derville, having heard about the love of the young count and Camilla, went to the old man and found him dying. He bequeathed all his property to a relative - a public girl.
In the summary of Gobsek, it should be noted that the old usurer did not forget about Derville either - he instructed to dispose of supplies. Seeing the rotten and rotten products, the lawyer was convinced that Gobsek's stinginess had turned into a mania. Because he did not sell anything, he was afraid to sell too cheap.
So the viscountess has nothing to worry about: the young Resto will return his fortune. To which the viscountess replied that Camille did not have to meet her future mother-in-law at all.
Tragedy of Gobsek
In the center of Honore de Balzac's story "Gobsek", a summary of which is outlined above, is a man who has accumulated a huge fortune, but remains completely alone at the end of his journey. Gobsek - that is the name of this hero - does not communicate with anyone, he leaves the house a little. The only person he trusts is Derville. The usurer saw in him both a business comrade, and an intelligent interlocutor, and a good person.
A young lawyer, communicating with an old man, gains experience, asks for recommendations and advice. Watching the usurer, Derville concluded that two people live in it: a vile and sublime creature, a miser and a philosopher.
Life experience taught the old man to evaluate a person at first sight, to think and analyze. He often talked about the meaning of life. But with age, the passion for money nevertheless prevailed and gradually grew into worship. Sublime feelings grew into selfishness, greed and cynicism. If in his youth he dreamed of knowing the world, then by the end of his life his main goal was the hunt for money. But they did not bring him happiness, he died alone with his millions.
As can be seen from the summary of the chapters, Gobsek and his whole life is a tragedy not of an individual, but of the whole system. Gobsek's life only confirms the well-known expression: happiness is not in money. Balzac, using his example, showed what the thoughtless worship of a voiced coin leads to.
Gobsek summary
Gobseck (fr. Gobseck) novel by Honore de Balzac, published for the first time in 1830. Later, the novel was included in the Human Comedy cycle as part of Scenes of Private Life. The main theme of the work is the power of money, and the main character around whom the plot is built is the usurer Gobsek. The novel was first published in 1830 in parts in the magazine "La Mode" under the title "The Pawnbroker", then in a separate volume in the publishing house of Madame Delaunay under the new title "The Danger of Disobedience". In 1835 the name changed to "Father Gobsek", the current name "Gobsek" was established with the publication of "The Human Comedy" in 1842. The novel is multifaceted. On the surface, the story of the marriage of Camille de Grandlier, daughter of the Viscountess de Grandlier, to Comte Ernest de Restaud, another theme is the image of thirst, which is personified by the usurer Jean-Ester de Gobsec, but most of all it is a picture of a whole society dominated by money. The action takes place during the Bourbon Restoration, around 1829. The aristocracy at that time regained the position lost during the French Revolution, but money ruled society. The rich bourgeoisie sought to intermarry with the ruined nobility, everything was bought and sold. The theme of the worship of money comes to the fore in the novel. The story begins in the salon of Madame de Grandlier with a conversation between the hostess and the Derville family lawyer. Derville overheard Madame de Grandlier's conversation with her daughter Camille, and learned that Camille was in love with the young Ernest de Resto, son of Anastasia de Resto, at the birth of Goriot. Madame de Granlier is dissatisfied with this love, since Ernest's mother is an embezzler, bound by an illegal relationship with Maxime de Tray, for whom she squandered her fortune. However, this is only an excuse, the real reason is that Ernest has no money.
Derville comes to the aid of Camille - Ernest has recently managed to regain his family inheritance. The story of how this happened takes the reader back to the time when a young aspiring lawyer, Derville, met Jean-Esther de Gobsec, a usurer. These two characters appear in many novels of the "Human Comedy", at least in the form of mentions: "Colonel Chabert", "Shine and Poverty of the Courtesans" and others.
Derville had known Gobseck long ago, when they both lived in the same cheap boarding house. Gobsek already then lived unsociable and talked only with Derville, telling him stories from his craft, seasoned with cynical philosophy. Subsequently, Derville managed to buy out a law office, taking a loan from Gobsek at extortionate interest.
Derville continues his story, telling how he introduced Gobseck to the dandy Maxime de Tray, who hoped to borrow money from the usurer. Gobsek refused to give a loan to the count, despite his 300 thousand francs of debt and not a sou for his soul. Maxime de Tray, however, attracted a woman, his mistress, the Countess de Restaud, to the case. He succeeded in feigning suffering to persuade the countess to take a loan from Gobsek, with an unjustifiably large collateral.
The countess's husband found out about the scam and came to Gobsek, demanding the return of the deposit. Gobsek advises the count to hide the money from his embezzling wife, transferring the property to a reliable person, in whose capacity he offers himself. Derville acts as an intermediary in the case.
Having not received a receipt from de Resto about the fictitiousness of the deal with the transfer of property, Derville visits the count. He is seriously ill. The Countess de Resto does her best to keep the lawyer away from her husband. She had already broken off relations with Maxime de Tray. Unable to meet with Derville, the count wants to hand over the documents to his son, but the countess prevents this as well. Before the death of the Comte de Resto, she begs her husband's forgiveness on her knees, but in vain. The count dies, and the next day Gobsek and Derville find a terrible picture in his house - the countess has turned everything upside down, looking for a will. Hearing the steps of people, she throws the documents intended for Derivl into the fire, as a result of which Gobsek becomes the owner of all the property of the deceased.
Gobsek took over the new estates. Derville appealed to him with a plea to pity the countess and her children, but the usurer cynically replied that "trouble will teach" - he will return the inheritance to Ernest only when he learns the value of money and people.
Derville's story ends with his last visit to Gobsek, when he was already dying. Derville wanted to once again try to beg the moneylender to help the young lovers. Towards the end of his life, Gobsek's greed turned into madness - his house became a dumping ground for accumulated things. But the old miser was already on the verge of death. Before his death, he bequeathed all his property to Derville, and returns the castle de Resto to Ernest. Thus Ernest got his estate back.
After listening to Derville's story, the Viscomtesse de Granlier agrees that yes, if so, then Ernest is very rich.
One day, two guests who did not belong to her family stayed in the salon of the Viscountess Granlier until one in the morning. One of them is the young Count Ernest de Resto, the second is the attorney Derville, who was vowed for a family friend because he once helped the viscountess to return the money and property lost during the revolution. Noticing that her daughter Camila favors Ernest de Resto, the viscountess, as soon as the count has left, reproaches her severely and reminds her that the count's mother is not accepted in any decent house while she is alive, none of the parents will entrust the count de Resto future and dowry for his daughter. Solicitor Derville has long guessed about Camila's feelings for Ernest de Resto, he intervenes in the conversation between the viscountess and her daughter and asks for permission to tell a story that, in his opinion, can change the view of the Count de Resto in an elegant society.
The story that Derville tells began a long time ago, even when he was very young. At that time, Derville was a junior clerk in the lawyer's office, studied law and lived in a cheap boarding house, where the usurer Gobsek also lived. Derville conveys his impressions of the appearance and character of Gobsek. The yellowish pallor of his skin was reminiscent of silver, from which the gilding had peeled off, his hair was ash-gray, his features, motionless and indifferent, seemed to be poured out of bronze, his eyes were yellow, like those of a ferret, hiding from the bright light. The nose was sharp, like a gimlet, the lips were thin. He never lost his composure, even when his clients begged, sobbed, threatened, he remained calm and spoke quietly. It was difficult to guess his age: either he had aged in advance, or he looked young in old age. Everything in his house was neat and shabby, like in an old maid's room. Describing Gobsek, Derville calls him a man-automaton, a man-promissory note, which suppresses any feelings in itself. His life seemed to flow quietly, like sand in an old hourglass. Gobsek was very careful, and no one knew whether he was poor or rich. One day a gold coin fell out of his pocket, the Tenant, who followed him down the stairs, picked it up and handed it to Gobsek, but he did not take the lost one, because he did not want to admit that he could have such money. The usurer lived alone and maintained relations only with Derville, to whom he revealed his innermost thoughts about the world and people. Subsequently, Derville learned that Gobsek was born in Holland, at the age of ten his mother gave him as a cabin boy on a ship that sailed to India, where he wandered for twenty years. He sought to get rich, and fate threw him around the world in search of wealth on all continents. He knew many famous people of his time, was involved in many historical events but didn't like to talk about it. Once Gobsek outlined to Derville his "philosophy" of life: the world is ruled by gold, and the usurer owns the gold, so he has a secret power over people. As it turned out, Gobsek amuses himself by studying human passions and rejoices in his power over them. As an instructive example, he gives the stories of two bills for which he received money that day. One, at a certain time, was paid for by the seamstress Fanny Malvo, a hardworking and respectable girl who aroused sympathy even from the usurer. The second bill was signed by one countess, and her lover received the money. Gobsek comes to the countess, but he is told that she is still sleeping and will not wake up until twelve o'clock, because she has been at the ball all night. The usurer calls his last name and tell the countess that he will come later. At noon, he again, with the flattering behavior of the countess, realizes that she has nothing to pay. Gobsek notes the beauty of this woman, but knows no sympathy: he warns that he will reveal her secret when she does not pay. During their conversation, the countess's man enters the room, and she is forced to give Gobseck a diamond in order to get rid of the usurer. Leaving the house of the countess, he met her lover. On his face Gobsek read the future of the countess.
A few years passed, Derville completed a law course and received a position as a senior clerk in the attorney's office. Soon he has the opportunity to buy his patron's patent. Gobsek lends Derville money only at thirteen percent (usually he took from fifty to five hundred percent of the amount owed). Derville's conscience and perseverance in work allowed him to pay off the moneylender after five years.
A year after Derville paid off for the patent, he was dragged to a bachelor's breakfast in order to introduce him to the well-known in high society, Mr. de Tray. The latter asked Derville to reconcile him with Gobsek. But the moneylender refuses to lend money to a man who had nothing but debt. Then de Tray, laughing and returning on his heels, asked if there was still such capital in Paris, this gentleman also boasts that his bills. There was something serious in his buffoonery, but she could not stir Gobsek. At this time, from the street came the noise of the carriage, which stopped at the house, where Tri rushed to the exit, promising to bring a thing that would satisfy the moneylender. De Tray returned with a very beautiful woman, and Derville recognized in her the countess of whom Gobsek had told him. The Countess brought wonderful diamonds as collateral. Derville understood the full depth of the abyss into which the countess was falling, and tried to dissuade HER from forcing jewelry, referring to the fact that the countess is a married woman and is subject to a man. Gobseck appraised the jewels and decided to take them as collateral, but given the legal dubiousness of the case, he offers significantly less money than the real price of the jewels. The Countess is hesitant to enter into a pact, but Tri hints to her that this forces him to die, and she accepts Gobsek's offer. Of the eighty thousand specified in the contract, the usurer writes a check for only fifty thousand. The rest of the money, with an ironic smile, he gives out bills of M. de Tray himself. The young man burst into a roar and called the moneylender an old swindler. Gobseck calmly drew a pair of pistols, and announced that he would shoot first, for the Comte de Tray had offended him. The Countess begs the Count to apologize to Gobseck. When Gobsek was left alone with Derville, he gave vent to his joy, which was caused by the possession of luxurious diamonds for little money. Watching this, Derville stood in amazement. At this time, hurried footsteps were heard in the corridor, Gobsek opened the door, because the visitor seemed to him safe. The countess's man came in, he was terribly angry and demanded the return of the deposit, referring to the fact that his wife did not have the right to dispose of these diamonds. Gobsek was almost afraid of his fury and threats to go to court. Derville intervenes in the dispute and explains to the count that by going to court, he may not receive anything but shame, because the case is very doubtful. The Count agrees to pay eighty percent for the jewels. Grateful Gobsek gives him advice on how to save property, save it at least for the children. According to Gobsek, all property should be fictitiously sold to a reliable friend.
A few days after this scene, the Count came to Derville to ask him his opinion on Gobsek's honesty. Derville answered that two creatures live in usurers - a miser and a philosopher, vile and tall, but if only he, Derville,. threatened with death, he would have appointed Gobsek as the guardian of his children. Derville told the count the story of his loan to Gobsek and how, having finally settled with the usurer, he asked why he did not allow himself to do a good deed disinterestedly, which prompted him to force even his friend to pay huge interest. Gobseck's answer characterizes him better: in this way he freed Derville from gratitude, gave him the right to believe that he did not owe anything to the usurer. The count decided to transfer ownership of his property to Gobsek, and transfer the counter-signature, legally confirming the fictitiousness of the sale, to Derville ...
Further, Derville tried to reveal to Camilla the terrible abyss into which women can fall as soon as they cross certain boundaries. But the viscountess blocked the attorney and suggested that her daughter go to bed. The girl understood her mother and left society. Now present did not hide the names of the characters in the history of Derville, because everyone guessed that we were talking about the Comte de Resto and his wife, parents of Ernesto de Resto.
A lot of time passed after this transaction, and Derville never received the receipt, which should have been kept by him. He learns that the Comte de Restaud is seriously ill. Derville strives to see the count, but the countess does everything to prevent this. She understands her future well, because at that time all the property is in the hands of Gobsek. The countess had already understood the nature of Monsieur de Tray and broke off relations with him. She carefully looks after her sick husband, but in reality she is only waiting for the pagoda to take possession of the property, because she feels that there is a secret meaning in her husband's business with Gobsek. The count wants to see Derville, but, by order of the countess, he is informed that the attorney has left. Then the count wants to transfer the receipt to Derville through his son, but the countess uses her influence on her son and intervenes in the matter. The Count understands that Ernest may not keep his word and open up to his mother. She begs the count to forgive her for the sake of the children, but the count is relentless. The count dies, and in the morning Derville and Gobsek arrive. The Countess has closed herself in the Count's room and does not allow anyone to enter there. Seeing strangers, Ernest warns his mother. When the lawyer and the usurer entered the room where the dead man lay, they were horrified: everything was turned upside down, a terrible disorder reigned in the room, and documents were burning in the fireplace, they should be handed over to Derville. Gobsek took advantage of the crime committed by the countess and appropriated the property of the count.
Derville and the usurer rarely saw each other. Gobsek rented out the count's mansion, spent the summers on his estate, pretended to be a nobleman, built farms, repaired mills. Once the lawyer tried to persuade Gobsek to help Ernest, but the usurer replied that misfortune is the best teacher, let the young count learn about money and people, let us sail the Parisian sea, when he becomes a skilled pilot, then we will give him a ship. Having learned about Ernest's love for Camila, Derville made another attempt to influence the old usurer and went to him. The old usurer had long ago gone to bed, but he did not leave his work. Not wanting to have neighbors, he rented the entire house for himself, but lived in the same room as before. He postponed the answer about Ernest's case until the time when he could get up, and this was no longer destined for him. A few days before Derville came and announced the death of Gobsek. He left all his wealth to his sister's great-granddaughter, a prostitute nicknamed "Electric Ray" or Fire. He left Derville as a legacy the stocks of products that Gobseck had accumulated in recent years, receiving them from his clients. He accepted everything: a basket of fish, a box of candles, crockery, and golden snuffboxes. When Derville opened the adjoining rooms, he nearly fainted from the stink of rotting goods—fish, pâtés, coffee, tobacco, tea, and so on. By the end of his life, he did not sell anything, because he was afraid to give away for cheap, so his passion survived his mind.
Derville also informs that Count Ernest de Resto will soon be put into possession of the property, which will allow him to marry the girl Camilla. The Viscountess replies that Ernest must be very rich to marry her daughter. The brother of the viscountess notices that the family of the count is very old. The sister agrees with him and says that Camila may not see her mother-in-law, although she is accepted at receptions.
The lawyer Derville tells the story of the usurer Gobsek in the salon of the Vicomtesse de Granlie, one of the most noble and wealthy ladies in the aristocratic Faubourg Saint-Germain. One day, in the winter of 1829/30, two guests stayed with her: the young handsome Count Ernest de Resto and Derville, who is easily accepted only because he helped the mistress of the house to return the property confiscated during the Revolution.
When Ernest leaves, the viscountess reprimands her daughter Camilla: one should not show affection to the dear count so frankly, because not a single decent family will agree to intermarry with him because of his mother. Although now she behaves impeccably, in her youth she caused a lot of gossip. In addition, she is of low birth - her father was a grain merchant Goriot. But worst of all, she squandered her fortune on her lover, leaving the children penniless. Count Ernest de Resto is poor, and therefore not a match for Camille de Granlier.
Derville, sympathetic to the lovers, intervenes in the conversation, wanting to explain to the viscountess the true state of affairs. He starts from afar: in his student years he had to live in a cheap boarding house - there he met Gobsek. Even then, he was a deep old man of a very remarkable appearance - with a “moon face”, yellow eyes like a ferret, a sharp long nose and thin lips. His victims sometimes lost their temper, cried or threatened, but the usurer himself always kept his composure - he was a “man-bill”, a “golden idol”. Of all the neighbors, he maintained relations only with Derville, to whom he once revealed the mechanism of his power over people - the world is ruled by gold, and the usurer owns the gold. For edification, he talks about how he collected a debt from one noble lady - fearing exposure, this countess without hesitation handed him a diamond, because her lover received the money on her bill. Gobsek guessed the future of the Countess from the face of a fair-haired handsome man - this dandy, spendthrift and player is able to ruin the whole family.
After graduating from a law course, Derville received a position as a senior clerk in the attorney's office. In the winter of 1818/19, he was forced to sell his patent - and asked for one hundred and fifty thousand francs. Gobsek lent money to the young neighbor, taking only thirteen percent from him "for friendship" - he usually took at least fifty. At the cost of hard work, Derville managed to get even with his debt in five years.
Once, the brilliant dandy Count Maxime de Tray begged Derville to set him up with Gobsek, but the usurer flatly refused to give a loan to a man who had debts of three hundred thousand, and not a centime for his soul. At that moment, a carriage drove up to the house, the Comte de Tray rushed to the exit and returned with an unusually beautiful lady - according to the description, Derville immediately recognized in her the countess who issued the bill four years ago. This time she has pledged magnificent diamonds. Derville tried to prevent the deal, but as soon as Maxim hinted that he was going to commit suicide, the unfortunate woman agreed to the onerous terms of the loan.
After the lovers left, the countess's husband broke into Gobsek demanding the return of the mortgage - his wife had no right to dispose of the family jewels. Derville managed to settle the matter amicably, and the grateful usurer gave the count advice: to transfer all his property to a reliable friend through a fictitious sales deal is the only way to save at least children from ruin. A few days later, the count came to Derville to find out what he thought of Gobsek. The lawyer replied that in the event of an untimely death, he would not be afraid to make Gobsek the guardian of his children, for in this miser and philosopher there live two creatures - vile and sublime. The count immediately decided to transfer all rights to the property to Gobsek, wanting to protect him from his wife and her greedy lover.
Taking advantage of a pause in the conversation, the viscountess sends her daughter to bed - a virtuous girl does not need to know to what a fall a woman who has transgressed certain boundaries can reach. After the departure of Camille, there is no need to hide the names - the story is about the Countess de Resto. Derville, having never received a counter receipt about the fictitiousness of the transaction, learns that the Comte de Resto is seriously ill. The Countess, sensing a trick, does everything to prevent the attorney from approaching her husband. The denouement comes in December 1824. By this time, the Countess was already convinced of the meanness of Maxime de Tray and broke up with him. She so zealously looks after her dying husband that many are inclined to forgive her former sins - in fact, she, like a predatory beast, lies in wait for her prey. The count, unable to get a meeting with Derville, wants to hand over the documents to his eldest son - but his wife cuts off this path too, trying to influence the boy with caress. In the last terrible scene, the countess begs for forgiveness, but the count remains adamant. That same night he dies, and the next day Gobsek and Derville come to the house. A terrible sight appears before their eyes: in search of a will, the countess made a real rout in the office, not even ashamed of the dead. Hearing the steps of strangers, she throws papers addressed to Derville into the fire - the count's property thereby undividedly passes into the possession of Gobsek.
The usurer rented out a mansion, and began to spend the summer like a lord - in his new estates. To all Derville's pleas to take pity on the repentant countess and her children, he replied that misfortune is the best teacher. Let Ernest de Resto know the value of people and money - then it will be possible to return his fortune. Having learned about the love of Ernest and Camilla, Derville once again went to Gobsek and found the old man dying. The old miser bequeathed all his wealth to his sister's great-granddaughter - a public girl nicknamed "Spark". He instructed his executor Derville to dispose of the accumulated food supplies - and the lawyer really discovered huge stocks of rotten pate, moldy fish, and rotten coffee. By the end of his life, Gobsek's stinginess turned into mania - he did not sell anything, being afraid to sell too cheap. In conclusion, Derville reports that Ernest de Resto will soon regain his lost fortune. The viscountess replies that the young count must be very rich - only in this case he can marry Mademoiselle de Granlier. However, Camille is not at all obliged to meet with her mother-in-law, although the countess was not ordered to attend receptions - after all, she was received at Madame de Beausean's house.