madame bovary(包法利夫人)-第24章

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week。　It's　Lheureux　who　is　selling　him　out；　he　has　killed　him
with　bills。〃
〃What　a　terrible　catastrophe！〃　cried　the　druggist；　who　always
found　expressions　in　harmony　with　all　imaginable　circumstances。
Then　the　landlady　began　telling　him　the　story　that　she　had　heard
from　Theodore；　Monsieur　Guillaumin's　servant；　and　although　she
detested　Tellier；　she　blamed　Lheureux。　He　was　〃a　wheedler；　a
sneak。〃
〃There！〃　she　said。　〃Look　at　him！　he　is　in　the　market；　he　is
bowing　to　Madame　Bovary；　who's　got　on　a　green　bonnet。　Why；　she's
taking　Monsieur　Boulanger's　arm。〃
〃Madame　Bovary！〃　exclaimed　Homais。　〃I　must　go　at　once　and　pay　her
my　respects。　Perhaps　she'll　be　very　glad　to　have　a　seat　in　the
enclosure　under　the　peristyle。〃　And；　without　heeding　Madame
Lefrancois；　who　was　calling　him　back　to　tell　him　more　about　it；
the　druggist　walked　off　rapidly　with　a　smile　on　his　lips；　with
straight　knees；　bowing　copiously　to　right　and　left；　and　taking　up
much　room　with　the　large　tails　of　his　frock…coat　that　fluttered
behind　him　in　the　wind。
Rodolphe；　having　caught　sight　of　him　from　afar；　hurried　on；　but
Madame　Bovary　lost　her　breath；　so　he　walked　more　slowly；　and；
smiling　at　her；　said　in　a　rough　tone
〃It's　only　to　get　away　from　that　fat　fellow；　you　know；　the
druggist。〃　She　pressed　his　elbow。
〃What's　the　meaning　of　that？〃　he　asked　himself。　And　he　looked　at
her　out　of　the　corner　of　his　eyes。
Her　profile　was　so　calm　that　one　could　guess　nothing　from　it。　It
stood　out　in　the　light　from　the　oval　of　her　bonnet；　with　pale
ribbons　on　it　like　the　leaves　of　weeds。　Her　eyes　with　their　long
curved　lashes　looked　straight　before　her；　and　though　wide　open；
they　seemed　slightly　puckered　by　the　cheek…bones；　because　of　the
blood　pulsing　gently　under　the　delicate　skin。　A　pink　line　ran
along　the　partition　between　her　nostrils。　Her　head　was　bent　upon
her　shoulder；　and　the　pearl　tips　of　her　white　teeth　were　seen
between　her　lips。
〃Is　she　making　fun　of　me？〃　thought　Rodolphe。
Emma's　gesture；　however；　had　only　been　meant　for　a　warning；　for
Monsieur　Lheureux　was　accompanying　them；　and　spoke　now　and　again
as　if　to　enter　into　the　conversation。
〃What　a　superb　day！　Everybody　is　out！　The　wind　is　east！〃
And　neither　Madame　Bovary　nor　Rodolphe　answered　him；　whilst　at
the　slightest　movement　made　by　them　he　drew　near；　saying；　〃I　beg
your　pardon！〃　and　raised　his　hat。
When　they　reached　the　farrier's　house；　instead　of　following　the
road　up　to　the　fence；　Rodolphe　suddenly　turned　down　a　path；
drawing　with　him　Madame　Bovary。　He　called　out
〃Good　evening；　Monsieur　Lheureux！　See　you　again　presently。〃
〃How　you　got　rid　of　him！〃　she　said；　laughing。
〃Why；〃　he　went　on；　〃allow　oneself　to　be　intruded　upon　by　others？
And　as　to…day　I　have　the　happiness　of　being　with　you〃
Emma　blushed。　He　did　not　finish　his　sentence。　Then　he　talked　of
the　fine　weather　and　of　the　pleasure　of　walking　on　the　grass。　A
few　daisies　had　sprung　up　again。
〃Here　are　some　pretty　Easter　daisies；〃　he　said；　〃and　enough　of
them　to　furnish　oracles　to　all　the　amorous　maids　in　the　place。〃
He　added；　〃Shall　I　pick　some？　What　do　you　think？〃
〃Are　you　in　love？〃　she　asked；　coughing　a　little。
〃H'm；　h'm！　who　knows？〃　answered　Rodolphe。
The　meadow　began　to　fill；　and　the　housewives　hustled　you　with
their　great　umbrellas；　their　baskets；　and　their　babies。　One　had
often　to　get　out　of　the　way　of　a　long　file　of　country　folk；
servant…maids　with　blue　stockings；　flat　shoes；　silver　rings；　and
who　smelt　of　milk；　when　one　passed　close　to　them。　They　walked
along　holding　one　another　by　the　hand；　and　thus　they　spread　over
the　whole　field　from　the　row　of　open　trees　to　the　banquet　tent。
But　this　was　the　examination　time；　and　the　farmers　one　after　the
other　entered　a　kind　of　enclosure　formed　by　a　long　cord　supported
on　sticks。
The　beasts　were　there；　their　noses　towards　the　cord；　and　making　a
confused　line　with　their　unequal　rumps。　Drowsy　pigs　were
burrowing　in　the　earth　with　their　snouts；　calves　were　bleating；
lambs　baaing；　the　cows；　on　knees　folded　in；　were　stretching　their
bellies　on　the　grass；　slowly　chewing　the　cud；　and　blinking　their
heavy　eyelids　at　the　gnats　that　buzzed　round　them。　Plough…men
with　bare　arms　were　holding　by　the　halter　prancing　stallions　that
neighed　with　dilated　nostrils　looking　towards　the　mares。　These
stood　quietly；　stretching　out　their　heads　and　flowing　manes；
while　their　foals　rested　in　their　shadow；　or　now　and　then　came
and　sucked　them。　And　above　the　long　undulation　of　these　crowded
animals　one　saw　some　white　mane　rising　in　the　wind　like　a　wave；
or　some　sharp　horns　sticking　out；　and　the　heads　of　men　running
about。　Apart；　outside　the　enclosure；　a　hundred　paces　off；　was　a
large　black　bull；　muzzled；　with　an　iron　ring　in　its　nostrils；　and
who　moved　no　more　than　if　he　had　been　in　bronze。　A　child　in　rags
was　holding　him　by　a　rope。
Between　the　two　lines　the　committee…men　were　walking　with　heavy
steps；　examining　each　animal；　then　consulting　one　another　in　a
low　voice。　One　who　seemed　of　more　importance　now　and　then　took
notes　in　a　book　as　he　walked　along。　This　was　the　president　of　the
jury；　Monsieur　Derozerays　de　la　Panville。　As　soon　as　he
recognised　Rodolphe　he　came　forward　quickly；　and　smiling　amiably；
said
〃What！　Monsieur　Boulanger；　you　are　deserting　us？〃
Rodolphe　protested　that　he　was　just　coming。　But　when　the
president　had　disappeared
〃Ma　foi！*〃　said　he；　〃I　shall　not　go。　Your　company　is　better　than
his。〃
*Upon　my　word！
And　while　poking　fun　at　the　show；　Rodolphe；　to　move　about　more　easily；
showed　the　gendarme　his　blue　card；　and　even　stopped　now　and　then　in
front　of　some　fine　beast；　which　Madame　Bovary　did　not　at　all　admire。
He　noticed　this；　and　began　jeering　at　the　Yonville　ladies　and　their
dresses；　then　he　apologised　for　the　negligence　of　his　own。　He　had　that
incongruity　of　common　and　elegant　in　which　the　habitually　vulgar　think
they　see　the　revelation　of　an　eccentric　existence；　of　the
perturbations　of　sentiment；　the　tyrannies　of　art；　and　always　a
certain　contempt　for　social　conventions；　that　seduces　or
exasperates　them。　Thus　his　cambric　shirt　with　plaited　cuffs　was
blown　out　by　the　wind　in　the　opening　of　his　waistcoat　of　grey
ticking；　and　his　broad…striped　trousers　disclosed　at　the　ankle
nankeen　boots　with　patent　leather　gaiters。
These　were　so　polished　that　they　reflected　the　grass。　He　trampled
on　horses's　dung　with　them；　one　hand　in　the　pocket　of　his　jacket
and　his　straw　hat　on　one　side。
〃Besides；〃　added　he；　〃when　one　lives　in　the　country〃
〃It's　waste　of　time；〃　said　Emma。
〃That　is　true；〃　replied　Rodolphe。　〃To　think　that　not　one　of　these
people　is　capable　of　understanding　even　the　cut　of　a　coat！〃
Then　they　talked　about　provincial　mediocrity；　of　the　lives　it
crushed；　the　illusions　lost　there。
〃And　I　too；〃　said　Rodolphe；　〃am　drifting　into　depression。〃
〃You！〃　she　said　in　astonishment；　〃I　thought　you　very
light…hearted。〃
〃Ah！　yes。　I　seem　so；　because　in　the　midst　of　the　world　I　know　how
to　wear　the　mask　of　a　scoffer　upon　my　face；　and　yet；　how　many　a
time　at　the　sight　of　a　cemetery　by　moonlight　have　I　not　asked
myself　whether　it　were　not　better　to　join　those　sleeping　there！〃
〃Oh！　and　your　friends？〃　she　said。　〃You　do　not　think　of　them。〃
〃My　friends！　What　friends？　Have　I　any？　Who　cares　for　me？〃　And　he
accompanied　the　last　words　with　a　kind　of　whistling　of　the　lips。
But　they　were　obliged　to　separate　from　each　other　because　of　a
great　pile　of　chairs　that　a　man　was　carrying　behind　them。　He　was
so　overladen　with　them　that　one　could　only　see　the　tips　of　his
wooden　shoes　and　the　ends　of　his　two　outstretched　arms。　It　was
Lestiboudois；　the　gravedigger；　who　was　carrying　the　church　chairs
about　amongst　the　people。　Alive　to　all　that　concerned　his
interests；　he　had　hit　upon　this　means　of　turning　the　show　to
account；　and　his　idea　was　succeeding；　for　he　no　longer　knew　which
way　to　turn。　In　fact；　the　villagers；　who　were　hot；　quarreled　for
these　seats；　whose　straw　smelt　of　incense；　and　they　leant　against
the　thick　backs；　stained　with　the　wax　of　candles；　with　a　certain
veneration。
Madame　Bovary　again　took　Rodolphe's　arm；　he　went　on　as　if
speaking　to　himself
〃Yes；　I　have　missed　so　many　things。　Always　alone！　Ah！　if　I　had
some　aim　in　life；　if　I　had　met　some　love；　if　I　had　found　someone！
Oh；　how　I　would　have　spent　all　the　energy　of　which　I　am　capable；
surmounted　everything；　overcome　everything！〃
〃Yet　it　seems　to　me；〃　said　Emma；　〃that　you　are　not　to　be　pitied。〃
〃Ah！　you　think　so？〃　said　Rodolphe。
〃For；　after　all；〃　she　went　on；　〃you　are　free〃　she　hesitated；
〃rich〃
〃Do　not　mock　me；〃　he　replied。
And　she　protested　that　she　was　not　mocking　him；　when　the　report
of　a　cannon　resounded。　Immediately　all　began　hustling　one　another
pell…mell　towards　the　village。
It　was　a　false　alarm。　The　prefect　seemed　not　to　be　coming；　and
the　members　of　the　jury　felt　much　embarrassed；　not　knowing　if
they　ought　to　begin　the　meeting　or　still　wait。
At　last　at　the　end　of　the　Place　a　large　hired　landau　appeared；
drawn　by　two　thin　horses；　which　a　coachman　in　a　white　hat　was
whipping　lustily。　Binet　had　only　just　time　to　shout；　〃Present
arms！〃　and　the　colonel　to　imitate　him。　All　ran　towards　the
enclosure；　everyone　pushed　forward。　A　few　even　forgot　their
collars；　but　the　equipage　of　the　prefect　seemed　to　anticipate　the
crowd；　and　the　two　yoked　jades；　trapesing　in　their　harness；　came
up　at　a　little　trot　in　front　of　the　peristyle　of　the　town　hall　at
the　very　moment　when　the　National　Guard　and　firemen　deployed；
beating　drums　and　marking　time。
〃Present！〃　shouted　Binet。
〃Halt！〃　shouted　the　colonel。　〃Left　about；　march。〃
And　after　presenting　arms；　during　which　the　clang　of　the　band；
letting　loose；　rang　out　like　a　brass　kettle　rolling　downstairs；
all　the　guns　were　lowered。　Then　was　seen　stepping　down　from　the
carriage　a　gentleman　in　a　short　coat　with　silver　braiding；　with
bald　brow；　and　wearing　a　tuft　of　hair　at　the　back　of　his　head；　of
a　sallow　complexion　and　the　most　benign　appearance。　His　eyes；
very　large　and　covered　by　heavy　lids；　were　half…closed　to　look　at
the　crowd；　while　at　the　same　time　he　raised　his　sharp　nose；　and
forced　a　smile　upon　his　sunken　mouth。　He　recognised　the　mayor　by
his　scarf；　and　explained　to　him　that　the　prefect　was　not　able　to
come。　He　himself　was　a　councillor　at　the　prefecture；　then　he
added　a　few　apologies。　Monsieur　Tuvache　answered　them　with
compliments；　the　other　confessed　himself　nervous；　and　they
remained　thus；　face　to　face；　their　foreheads　almost　touching；
with　the　members　of　the　jury　all　round；　the　municipal　council；
the　notable　personages；　the　National　Guard　and　the　crowd。　The
councillor　pressing　his　little　cocked　hat　to　his　breast　repeated
his　bows；　while　Tuvache；　bent　like　a　bow；　also　smiled；　stammered；
tried　to　say　something；　protested　his　devotion　to　the　monarchy
and　the　honour　that　was　being　done　to　Yonville。
Hippolyte；　the　groom　from　the　inn；　took　the　head　of　the　horses
from　the　coachman；　and；　limping　along　with　his　club…foot；　led
them　to　the　door　of　the　〃Lion　d'Or〃；　where　a　number　of　peasants
collected　to　look　at　the　carriage。　The　drum　beat；　the　howitzer
thundered；　and　the　gentlemen　one　by　one　mounted　the　platform；
where　they　sat　down　in　red　utrecht　velvet　arm…chairs　that　had
been　lent　by　Madame　Tuvache。
A