madame bovary(包法利夫人)-第41章

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thought　of　the　happiness　that　would　have　been　theirs；　if　thanks
to　fortune；　meeting　her　earlier；　they　had　been　indissolubly　bound
to　one　another。
〃I　have　sometimes　thought　of　it；〃　she　went　on。
〃What　a　dream！〃　murmured　Leon。　And　fingering　gently　the　blue
binding　of　her　long　white　sash；　he　added；　〃And　who　prevents　us
from　beginning　now？〃
〃No；　my　friend；〃　she　replied；　〃I　am　too　old；　you　are　too　young。
Forget　me！　Others　will　love　you；　you　will　love　them。〃
〃Not　as　you！〃　he　cried。
〃What　a　child　you　are！　Come；　let　us　be　sensible。　I　wish　it。〃
She　showed　him　the　impossibility　of　their　love；　and　that　they
must　remain；　as　formerly；　on　the　simple　terms　of　a　fraternal
friendship。
Was　she　speaking　thus　seriously？　No　doubt　Emma　did　not　herself
know；　quite　absorbed　as　she　was　by　the　charm　of　the　seduction；
and　the　necessity　of　defending　herself　from　it；　and　contemplating
the　young　man　with　a　moved　look；　she　gently　repulsed　the　timid
caresses　that　his　trembling　hands　attempted。
〃Ah！　forgive　me！〃　he　cried；　drawing　back。
Emma　was　seized　with　a　vague　fear　at　this　shyness；　more　dangerous
to　her　than　the　boldness　of　Rodolphe　when　he　advanced　to　her
open…armed。　No　man　had　ever　seemed　to　her　so　beautiful。　An
exquisite　candour　emanated　from　his　being。　He　lowered　his　long
fine　eyelashes；　that　curled　upwards。　His　cheek；　with　the　soft
skin　reddened；　she　thought；　with　desire　of　her　person；　and　Emma
felt　an　invincible　longing　to　press　her　lips　to　it。　Then；　leaning
towards　the　clock　as　if　to　see　the　time
〃Ah！　how　late　it　is！〃　she　said；　〃how　we　do　chatter！〃
He　understood　the　hint　and　took　up　his　hat。
〃It　has　even　made　me　forget　the　theatre。　And　poor　Bovary　has　left
me　here　especially　for　that。　Monsieur　Lormeaux；　of　the　Rue
Grand…Pont；　was　to　take　me　and　his　wife。〃
And　the　opportunity　was　lost；　as　she　was　to　leave　the　next　day。
〃Really！〃　said　Leon。
〃Yes。〃
〃But　I　must　see　you　again；〃　he　went　on。　〃I　wanted　to　tell　you〃
〃What？〃
〃Somethingimportantserious。　Oh；　no！　Besides；　you　will　not　go；
it　is　impossible。　If　you　shouldlisten　to　me。　Then　you　have　not
understood　me；　you　have　not　guessed〃
〃Yet　you　speak　plainly；〃　said　Emma。
〃Ah！　you　can　jest。　Enough！　enough！　Oh；　for　pity's　sake；　let　me
see　you　onceonly　once！〃
〃Well〃She　stopped；　then；　as　if　thinking　better　of　it；　〃Oh；　not
here！〃
〃Where　you　will。〃
〃Will　you〃She　seemed　to　reflect；　then　abruptly；　〃To…morrow　at
eleven　o'clock　in　the　cathedral。〃
〃I　shall　be　there；〃　he　cried；　seizing　her　hands；　which　she
disengaged。
And　as　they　were　both　standing　up；　he　behind　her；　and　Emma　with
her　head　bent；　he　stooped　over　her　and　pressed　long　kisses　on　her
neck。
〃You　are　mad！　Ah！　you　are　mad！〃　she　said；　with　sounding　little
laughs；　while　the　kisses　multiplied。
Then　bending　his　head　over　her　shoulder；　he　seemed　to　beg　the
consent　of　her　eyes。　They　fell　upon　him　full　of　an　icy　dignity。
Leon　stepped　back　to　go　out。　He　stopped　on　the　threshold；　then　he
whispered　with　a　trembling　voice；　〃Tomorrow！〃
She　answered　with　a　nod；　and　disappeared　like　a　bird　into　the
next　room。
In　the　evening　Emma　wrote　the　clerk　an　interminable　letter；　in
which　she　cancelled　the　rendezvous；　all　was　over；　they　must　not；
for　the　sake　of　their　happiness；　meet　again。　But　when　the　letter
was　finished；　as　she　did　not　know　Leon's　address；　she　was
puzzled。
〃I'll　give　it　to　him　myself；〃　she　said；　〃he　will　come。〃
The　next　morning；　at　the　open　window；　and　humming　on　his　balcony；
Leon　himself　varnished　his　pumps　with　several　coatings。　He　put　on
white　trousers；　fine　socks；　a　green　coat；　emptied　all　the　scent
he　had　into　his　handkerchief；　then　having　had　his　hair　curled；　he
uncurled　it　again；　in　order　to　give　it　a　more　natural　elegance。
〃It　is　still　too　early；〃　he　thought；　looking　at　the　hairdresser's
cuckoo…clock；　that　pointed　to　the　hour　of　nine。　He　read　an　old
fashion　journal；　went　out；　smoked　a　cigar；　walked　up　three
streets；　thought　it　was　time；　and　went　slowly　towards　the　porch
of　Notre　Dame。
It　was　a　beautiful　summer　morning。　Silver　plate　sparkled　in　the
jeweller's　windows；　and　the　light　falling　obliquely　on　the
cathedral　made　mirrors　of　the　corners　of　the　grey　stones；　a　flock
of　birds　fluttered　in　the　grey　sky　round　the　trefoil
bell…turrets；　the　square；　resounding　with　cries；　was　fragrant
with　the　flowers　that　bordered　its　pavement；　roses；　jasmines；
pinks；　narcissi；　and　tube…roses；　unevenly　spaced　out　between
moist　grasses；　catmint；　and　chickweed　for　the　birds；　the
fountains　gurgled　in　the　centre；　and　under　large　umbrellas；
amidst　melons；　piled　up　in　heaps；　flower…women；　bare…headed；　were
twisting　paper　round　bunches　of　violets。
The　young　man　took　one。　It　was　the　first　time　that　he　had　bought
flowers　for　a　woman；　and　his　breast；　as　he　smelt　them；　swelled
with　pride；　as　if　this　homage　that　he　meant　for　another　had
recoiled　upon　himself。
But　he　was　afraid　of　being　seen；　he　resolutely　entered　the
church。　The　beadle；　who　was　just　then　standing　on　the　threshold
in　the　middle　of　the　left　doorway；　under　the　〃Dancing　Marianne；〃
with　feather　cap；　and　rapier　dangling　against　his　calves；　came
in；　more　majestic　than　a　cardinal；　and　as　shining　as　a　saint　on　a
holy　pyx。
He　came　towards　Leon；　and；　with　that　smile　of　wheedling　benignity
assumed　by　ecclesiastics　when　they　question　children
〃The　gentleman；　no　doubt；　does　not　belong　to　these　parts？　The
gentleman　would　like　to　see　the　curiosities　of　the　church？〃
〃No！〃　said　the　other。
And　he　first　went　round　the　lower　aisles。　Then　he　went　out　to
look　at　the　Place。　Emma　was　not　coming　yet。　He　went　up　again　to
the　choir。
The　nave　was　reflected　in　the　full　fonts　with　the　beginning　of
the　arches　and　some　portions　of　the　glass　windows。　But　the
reflections　of　the　paintings；　broken　by　the　marble　rim；　were
continued　farther　on　upon　the　flag…stones；　like　a　many…coloured
carpet。　The　broad　daylight　from　without　streamed　into　the　church
in　three　enormous　rays　from　the　three　opened　portals。　From　time
to　time　at　the　upper　end　a　sacristan　passed；　making　the　oblique
genuflexion　of　devout　persons　in　a　hurry。　The　crystal　lustres
hung　motionless。　In　the　choir　a　silver　lamp　was　burning；　and　from
the　side　chapels　and　dark　places　of　the　church　sometimes　rose
sounds　like　sighs；　with　the　clang　of　a　closing　grating；　its　echo
reverberating　under　the　lofty　vault。
Leon　with　solemn　steps　walked　along　by　the　walls。　Life　had　never
seemed　so　good　to　him。　She　would　come　directly；　charming；
agitated；　looking　back　at　the　glances　that　followed　her；　and　with
her　flounced　dress；　her　gold　eyeglass；　her　thin　shoes；　with　all
sorts　of　elegant　trifles　that　he　had　never　enjoyed；　and　with　the
ineffable　seduction　of　yielding　virtue。　The　church　like　a　huge
boudoir　spread　around　her；　the　arches　bent　down　to　gather　in　the
shade　the　confession　of　her　love；　the　windows　shone　resplendent
to　illumine　her　face；　and　the　censers　would　burn　that　she　might
appear　like　an　angel　amid　the　fumes　of　the　sweet…smelling　odours。
But　she　did　not　come。　He　sat　down　on　a　chair；　and　his　eyes　fell
upon　a　blue　stained　window　representing　boatmen　carrying　baskets。
He　looked　at　it　long；　attentively；　and　he　counted　the　scales　of
the　fishes　and　the　button…holes　of　the　doublets；　while　his
thoughts　wandered　off　towards　Emma。
The　beadle；　standing　aloof；　was　inwardly　angry　at　this　individual
who　took　the　liberty　of　admiring　the　cathedral　by　himself。　He
seemed　to　him　to　be　conducting　himself　in　a　monstrous　fashion；　to
be　robbing　him　in　a　sort；　and　almost　committing　sacrilege。
But　a　rustle　of　silk　on　the　flags；　the　tip　of　a　bonnet；　a　lined
cloakit　was　she！　Leon　rose　and　ran　to　meet　her。
Emma　was　pale。　She　walked　fast。
〃Read！〃　she　said；　holding　out　a　paper　to　him。　〃Oh；　no！〃
And　she　abruptly　withdrew　her　hand　to　enter　the　chapel　of　the
Virgin；　where；　kneeling　on　a　chair；　she　began　to　pray。
The　young　man　was　irritated　at　this　bigot　fancy；　then　he
nevertheless　experienced　a　certain　charm　in　seeing　her；　in　the
middle　of　a　rendezvous；　thus　lost　in　her　devotions；　like　an
Andalusian　marchioness；　then　he　grew　bored；　for　she　seemed　never
coming　to　an　end。
Emma　prayed；　or　rather　strove　to　pray；　hoping　that　some　sudden
resolution　might　descend　to　her　from　heaven；　and　to　draw　down
divine　aid　she　filled　full　her　eyes　with　the　splendours　of　the
tabernacle。　She　breathed　in　the　perfumes　of　the　full…blown
flowers　in　the　large　vases；　and　listened　to　the　stillness　of　the
church；　that　only　heightened　the　tumult　of　her　heart。
She　rose；　and　they　were　about　to　leave；　when　the　beadle　came
forward；　hurriedly　saying
〃Madame；　no　doubt；　does　not　belong　to　these　parts？　Madame　would
like　to　see　the　curiosities　of　the　church？〃
〃Oh；　no！〃　cried　the　clerk。
〃Why　not？〃　said　she。　For　she　clung　with　her　expiring　virtue　to
the　Virgin；　the　sculptures；　the　tombsanything。
Then；　in　order　to　proceed　〃by　rule；〃　the　beadle　conducted　them
right　to　the　entrance　near　the　square；　where；　pointing　out　with
his　cane　a　large　circle　of　block…stones　without　inscription　or
carving
〃This；〃　he　said　majestically；　〃is　the　circumference　of　the
beautiful　bell　of　Ambroise。　It　weighed　forty　thousand　pounds。
There　was　not　its　equal　in　all　Europe。　The　workman　who　cast　it
died　of　the　joy〃
〃Let　us　go　on；〃　said　Leon。
The　old　fellow　started　off　again；　then；　having　got　back　to　the
chapel　of　the　Virgin；　he　stretched　forth　his　arm　with　an
all…embracing　gesture　of　demonstration；　and；　prouder　than　a
country　squire　showing　you　his　espaliers；　went　on
〃This　simple　stone　covers　Pierre　de　Breze；　lord　of　Varenne　and　of
Brissac；　grand　marshal　of　Poitou；　and　governor　of　Normandy；　who
died　at　the　battle　of　Montlhery　on　the　16th　of　July；　1465。〃
Leon　bit　his　lips；　fuming。
〃And　on　the　right；　this　gentleman　all　encased　in　iron；　on　the
prancing　horse；　is　his　grandson；　Louis　de　Breze；　lord　of　Breval
and　of　Montchauvet；　Count　de　Maulevrier；　Baron　de　Mauny；
chamberlain　to　the　king；　Knight　of　the　Order；　and　also　governor
of　Normandy；　died　on　the　23rd　of　July；　1531a　Sunday；　as　the
inscription　specifies；　and　below；　this　figure；　about　to　descend
into　the　tomb；　portrays　the　same　person。　It　is　not　possible；　is
it；　to　see　a　more　perfect　representation　of　annihilation？〃
Madame　Bovary　put　up　her　eyeglasses。　Leon；　motionless；　looked　at
her；　no　longer　even　attempting　to　speak　a　single　word；　to　make　a
gesture；　so　discouraged　was　he　at　this　two…fold　obstinacy　of
gossip　and　indifference。
The　everlasting　guide　went　on
〃Near　him；　this　kneeling　woman　who　weeps　is　his　spouse；　Diane　de
Poitiers；　Countess　de　Breze；　Duchess　de　Valentinois；　born　in
1499；　died　in　1566；　and　to　the　left；　the　one　with　the　child　is
the　Holy　Virgin。　Now　turn　to　this　side；　here　are　the　tombs　of　the
Ambroise。　They　were　both　cardinals　and　archbishops　of　Rouen。　That
one　was　minister　under　Louis　XII。　He　did　a　great　deal　for　the
cathedral。　In　his　will　he　left　thirty　thousand　gold　crowns　for
the　poor。〃
And　without　stopping；　still　talking；　he　pushed　them　into　a　chapel
full　of　balustrades；　some　put　away；　and　disclosed　a　kind　of　block
that　certainly　might　once　have　been　an　ill…made　statue。
〃Truly；〃　he　said　with　a　groan；　〃it　adorned　the　tomb　of　Richard
Coeur　de　Lion；　King　of　England　and　Duke　of　Normandy。　It　was　the
Calvinists；　sir；　who　reduced　it　to　this　condition。　They　had
buried　it