madame bovary(包法利夫人)-第31章

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patient　into　the　machine；　went　home；　where　Emma；　all　anxiety；
awaited　him　at　the　door。　She　threw　herself　on　his　neck；　they　sat
down　to　table；　he　ate　much；　and　at　dessert　he　even　wanted　to　take
a　cup　of　coffee；　a　luxury　he　only　permitted　himself　on　Sundays
when　there　was　company。
The　evening　was　charming；　full　of　prattle；　of　dreams　together。
They　talked　about　their　future　fortune；　of　the　improvements　to　be
made　in　their　house；　he　saw　people's　estimation　of　him　growing；
his　comforts　increasing；　his　wife　always　loving　him；　and　she　was
happy　to　refresh　herself　with　a　new　sentiment；　healthier；　better；
to　feel　at　last　some　tenderness　for　this　poor　fellow　who　adored
her。　The　thought　of　Rodolphe　for　one　moment　passed　through　her
mind；　but　her　eyes　turned　again　to　Charles；　she　even　noticed　with
surprise　that　he　had　not　bad　teeth。
They　were　in　bed　when　Monsieur　Homais；　in　spite　of　the　servant；
suddenly　entered　the　room；　holding　in　his　hand　a　sheet　of　paper
just　written。　It　was　the　paragraph　he　intended　for　the　〃Fanal　de
Rouen。〃　He　brought　it　for　them　to　read。
〃Read　it　yourself；〃　said　Bovary。
He　read
〃　'Despite　the　prejudices　that　still　invest　a　part　of　the　face　of
Europe　like　a　net；　the　light　nevertheless　begins　to　penetrate　our
country　places。　Thus　on　Tuesday　our　little　town　of　Yonville　found
itself　the　scene　of　a　surgical　operation　which　is　at　the　same
time　an；　act　of　loftiest　philanthropy。　Monsieur　Bovary；　one　of
our；　most　distinguished　practitioners'〃
〃Oh；　that　is　too　much！　too　much！〃　said　Charles；　choking　with
emotion。
〃No；　no！　not　at　all！　What　next！〃
〃　'Performed　an　operation　on　a　club…footed　man。'　I　have　not
used　the　scientific　term；　because　you　know　in　a　newspaper
everyone　would　not　perhaps　understand。　The　masses　must'〃
〃No　doubt；〃　said　Bovary；　〃go　on！〃
〃I　proceed；〃　said　the　chemist。　〃'Monsieur　Bovary；　one　of　our　most
distinguished　practitioners；　performed　an　operation　on　a
club…footed　man　called　Hippolyte　Tautain；　stableman　for　the　last
twenty…five　years　at　the　hotel　of　the　〃Lion　d'Or；〃　kept　by　Widow
Lefrancois；　at　the　Place　d'Armes。　The　novelty　of　the　attempt；　and
the　interest　incident　to　the　subject；　had　attracted　such　a
concourse　of　persons　that　there　was　a　veritable　obstruction　on
the　threshold　of　the　establishment。　The　operation；　moreover；　was
performed　as　if　by　magic；　and　barely　a　few　drops　of　blood
appeared　on　the　skin；　as　though　to　say　that　the　rebellious　tendon
had　at　last　given　way　beneath　the　efforts　of　art。　The　patient；
strangely　enoughwe　affirm　it　as　an　eye…witnesscomplained　of
no　pain。　His　condition　up　to　the　present　time　leaves　nothing　to
be　desired。　Everything　tends　to　show　that　his　convelescence　will
be　brief；　and　who　knows　even　if　at　our　next　village　festivity　we
shall　not　see　our　good　Hippolyte　figuring　in　the　bacchic　dance　in
the　midst　of　a　chorus　of　joyous　boon…companions；　and　thus　proving
to　all　eyes　by　his　verve　and　his　capers　his　complete　cure？
Honour；　then；　to　the　generous　savants！　Honour　to　those
indefatigable　spirits　who　consecrate　their　vigils　to　the
amelioration　or　to　the　alleviation　of　their　kind！　Honour；　thrice
honour！　Is　it　not　time　to　cry　that　the　blind　shall　see；　the　deaf
hear；　the　lame　walk？　But　that　which　fanaticism　formerly　promised
to　its　elect；　science　now　accomplishes　for　all　men。　We　shall　keep
our　readers　informed　as　to　the　successive　phases　of　this
remarkable　cure。'　〃
This　did　not　prevent　Mere　Lefrancois；　from　coming　five　days
after；　scared；　and　crying　out
〃Help！　he　is　dying！　I　am　going　crazy！〃
Charles　rushed　to　the　〃Lion　d'Or；〃　and　the　chemist；　who　caught
sight　of　him　passing　along　the　Place　hatless；　abandoned　his　shop。
He　appeared　himself　breathless；　red；　anxious；　and　asking　everyone
who　was　going　up　the　stairs
〃Why；　what's　the　matter　with　our　interesting　strephopode？〃
The　strephopode　was　writhing　in　hideous　convulsions；　so　that　the
machine　in　which　his　leg　was　enclosed　was　knocked　against　the
wall　enough　to　break　it。
With　many　precautions；　in　order　not　to　disturb　the　position　of
the　limb；　the　box　was　removed；　and　an　awful　sight　presented
itself。　The　outlines　of　the　foot　disappeared　in　such　a　swelling
that　the　entire　skin　seemed　about　to　burst；　and　it　was　covered
with　ecchymosis；　caused　by　the　famous　machine。　Hippolyte　had
already　complained　of　suffering　from　it。　No　attention　had　been
paid　to　him；　they　had　to　acknowledge　that　he　had　not　been
altogether　wrong；　and　he　was　freed　for　a　few　hours。　But；　hardly
had　the　oedema　gone　down　to　some　extent；　than　the　two　savants
thought　fit　to　put　back　the　limb　in　the　apparatus；　strapping　it
tighter　to　hasten　matters。　At　last；　three　days　after；　Hippolyte
being　unable　to　endure　it　any　longer；　they　once　more　removed
the　machine；　and　were　much　surprised　at　the　result　they　saw。　The
livid　tumefaction　spread　over　the　leg；　with　blisters　here　and
there；　whence　there　oozed　a　black　liquid。　Matters　were　taking　a
serious　turn。　Hippolyte　began　to　worry　himself；　and　Mere
Lefrancois；　had　him　installed　in　the　little　room　near　the
kitchen；　so　that　he　might　at　least　have　some　distraction。
But　the　tax…collector；　who　dined　there　every　day；　complained
bitterly　of　such　companionship。　Then　Hippolyte　was　removed　to　the
billiard…room。　He　lay　there　moaning　under　his　heavy　coverings；
pale　with　long　beard；　sunken　eyes；　and　from　time　to　time　turning
his　perspiring　head　on　the　dirty　pillow；　where　the　flies
alighted。　Madame　Bovary　went　to　see　him。　She　brought　him　linen
for　his　poultices；　she　comforted；　and　encouraged　him。　Besides；　he
did　not　want　for　company；　especially　on　market…days；　when　the
peasants　were　knocking　about　the　billiard…balls　round　him；　fenced
with　the　cues；　smoked；　drank；　sang；　and　brawled。
〃How　are　you？〃　they　said；　clapping　him　on　the　shoulder。　〃Ah！
you're　not　up　to　much；　it　seems；　but　it's　your　own　fault。　You
should　do　this！　do　that！〃　And　then　they　told　him　stories　of
people　who　had　all　been　cured　by　other　remedies　than　his。　Then　by
way　of　consolation　they　added
〃You　give　way　too　much！　Get　up！　You　coddle　yourself　like　a　king！
All　the　same；　old　chap；　you　don't　smell　nice！〃
Gangrene；　in　fact；　was　spreading　more　and　more。　Bovary　himself
turned　sick　at　it。　He　came　every　hour；　every　moment。　Hippolyte
looked　at　him　with　eyes　full　of　terror；　sobbing
〃When　shall　I　get　well？　Oh；　save　me！　How　unfortunate　I　am！　How
unfortunate　I　am！〃
And　the　doctor　left；　always　recommending　him　to　diet　himself。
〃Don't　listen　to　him；　my　lad；〃　said　Mere　Lefrancois；　〃Haven't
they　tortured　you　enough　already？　You'll　grow　still　weaker。　Here！
swallow　this。〃
And　she　gave　him　some　good　beef…tea；　a　slice　of　mutton；　a　piece
of　bacon；　and　sometimes　small　glasses　of　brandy；　that　he　had　not
the　strength　to　put　to　his　lips。
Abbe　Bournisien；　hearing　that　he　was　growing　worse；　asked　to　see
him。　He　began　by　pitying　his　sufferings；　declaring　at　the　same
time　that　he　ought　to　rejoice　at　them　since　it　was　the　will　of
the　Lord；　and　take　advantage　of　the　occasion　to　reconcile　himself
to　Heaven。
〃For；〃　said　the　ecclesiastic　in　a　paternal　tone；　〃you　rather
neglected　your　duties；　you　were　rarely　seen　at　divine　worship。
How　many　years　is　it　since　you　approached　the　holy　table？　I
understand　that　your　work；　that　the　whirl　of　the　world　may　have
kept　you　from　care　for　your　salvation。　But　now　is　the　time　to
reflect。　Yet　don't　despair。　I　have　known　great　sinners；　who；
about　to　appear　before　God　（you　are　not　yet　at　this　point　I
know）；　had　implored　His　mercy；　and　who　certainly　died　in　the　best
frame　of　mind。　Let　us　hope　that；　like　them；　you　will　set　us　a
good　example。　Thus；　as　a　precaution；　what　is　to　prevent　you　from
saying　morning　and　evening　a　'Hail　Mary；　full　of　grace；'　and　'Our
Father　which　art　in　heaven'？　Yes；　do　that；　for　my　sake；　to　oblige
me。　That　won't　cost　you　anything。　Will　you　promise　me？〃
The　poor　devil　promised。　The　cure　came　back　day　after　day。　He
chatted　with　the　landlady；　and　even　told　anecdotes　interspersed
with　jokes　and　puns　that　Hippolyte　did　not　understand。　Then；　as
soon　as　he　could；　he　fell　back　upon　matters　of　religion；　putting
on　an　appropriate　expression　of　face。
His　zeal　seemed　successful；　for　the　club…foot　soon　manifested　a
desire　to　go　on　a　pilgrimage　to　Bon…Secours　if　he　were　cured；　to
which　Monsieur　Bournisien　replied　that　he　saw　no　objection；　two
precautions　were　better　than　one；　it　was　no　risk　anyhow。
The　druggist　was　indignant　at　what　he　called　the　manoeuvres　of
the　priest；　they　were　prejudicial；　he　said；　to　Hippolyte's
convalescence；　and　he　kept　repeating　to　Madame　Lefrancois；　〃Leave
him　alone！　leave　him　alone！　You　perturb　his　morals　with　your
mysticism。〃　But　the　good　woman　would　no　longer　listen　to　him；　he
was　the　cause　of　it　all。　From　a　spirit　of　contradiction　she　hung
up　near　the　bedside　of　the　patient　a　basin　filled　with　holy…water
and　a　branch　of　box。
Religion；　however；　seemed　no　more　able　to　succour　him　than
surgery；　and　the　invincible　gangrene　still　spread　from　the
extremities　towards　the　stomach。　It　was　all　very　well　to　vary　the
potions　and　change　the　poultices；　the　muscles　each　day　rotted
more　and　more；　and　at　last　Charles　replied　by　an　affirmative　nod
of　the　head　when　Mere　Lefrancois；　asked　him　if　she　could　not；　as
a　forlorn　hope；　send　for　Monsieur　Canivet　of　Neufchatel；　who　was
a　celebrity。
A　doctor　of　medicine；　fifty　years　of　age；　enjoying　a　good
position　and　self…possessed；　Charles's　colleague　did　not　refrain
from　laughing　disdainfully　when　he　had　uncovered　the　leg；
mortified　to　the　knee。　Then　having　flatly　declared　that　it　must
be　amputated；　he　went　off　to　the　chemist's　to　rail　at　the　asses
who　could　have　reduced　a　poor　man　to　such　a　state。　Shaking
Monsieur　Homais　by　the　button　of　his　coat；　he　shouted　out　in　the
shop
〃These　are　the　inventions　of　Paris！　These　are　the　ideas　of　those
gentry　of　the　capital！　It　is　like　strabismus；　chloroform；
lithotrity；　a　heap　of　monstrosities　that　the　Government　ought　to
prohibit。　But　they　want　to　do　the　clever；　and　they　cram　you　with
remedies　without；　troubling　about　the　consequences。　We　are　not　so
clever；　not　we！　We　are　not　savants；　coxcombs；　fops！　We　are
practitioners；　we　cure　people；　and　we　should　not　dream　of
operating　on　anyone　who　is　in　perfect　health。　Straighten　club…
feet！　As　if　one　could　straighten　club…feet！　It　is　as　if　one
wished；　for　example；　to　make　a　hunchback　straight！〃
Homais　suffered　as　he　listened　to　this　discourse；　and　he
concealed　his　discomfort　beneath　a　courtier's　smile；　for　he
needed　to　humour　Monsier　Canivet；　whose　prescriptions　sometimes
came　as　far　as　Yonville。　So　he　did　not　take　up　the　defence　of
Bovary；　he　did　not　even　make　a　single　remark；　and；　renouncing　his
principles；　he　sacrificed　his　dignity　to　the　more　serious
interests　of　his　business。
This　amputation　of　the　thigh　by　Doctor　Canivet　was　a　great　event
in　the　village。　On　that　day　all　the　inhabitants　got　up　earlier；
and　the　Grande　Rue；　although　full　of　people；　had　something
lugubrious　about　it；　as　if　an　execution　had　been　expected。　At　the
grocer's　they　discussed　Hippolyte's　illness；　the　shops　did　no
business；　and　Madame　Tuvache；　the　mayor's　wife；　did　not　stir　from
her　window；　such　was　her　impatience　to　see　the　operator　arrive。
He　came　in　his　gig；　which　he　drove　himself。　But　the　springs　of