madame bovary(包法利夫人)-第42章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


Calvinists；　sir；　who　reduced　it　to　this　condition。　They　had
buried　it　for　spite　in　the　earth；　under　the　episcopal　seat　of
Monsignor。　See！　this　is　the　door　by　which　Monsignor　passes　to　his
house。　Let　us　pass　on　quickly　to　see　the　gargoyle　windows。〃
But　Leon　hastily　took　some　silver　from　his　pocket　and　seized
Emma's　arm。　The　beadle　stood　dumfounded；　not　able　to　understand
this　untimely　munificence　when　there　were　still　so　many　things
for　the　stranger　to　see。　So　calling　him　back；　he　cried
〃Sir！　sir！　The　steeple！　the　steeple！〃
〃No；　thank　you！〃　said　Leon。
〃You　are　wrong；　sir！　It　is　four　hundred　and　forty　feet　high；　nine
less　than　the　great　pyramid　of　Egypt。　It　is　all　cast；　it〃
Leon　was　fleeing；　for　it　seemed　to　him　that　his　love；　that　for
nearly　two　hours　now　had　become　petrified　in　the　church　like　the
stones；　would　vanish　like　a　vapour　through　that　sort　of　truncated
funnel；　of　oblong　cage；　of　open　chimney　that　rises　so　grotesquely
from　the　cathedral　like　the　extravagant　attempt　of　some　fantastic
brazier。
〃But　where　are　we　going？〃　she　said。
Making　no　answer；　he　walked　on　with　a　rapid　step；　and　Madame
Bovary　was　already；　dipping　her　finger　in　the　holy　water　when
behind　them　they　heard　a　panting　breath　interrupted　by　the
regular　sound　of　a　cane。　Leon　turned　back。
〃Sir！〃
〃What　is　it？〃
And　he　recognised　the　beadle；　holding　under　his　arms　and
balancing　against　his　stomach　some　twenty　large　sewn　volumes。
They　were　works　〃which　treated　of　the　cathedral。〃
〃Idiot！〃　growled　Leon；　rushing　out　of　the　church。
A　lad　was　playing　about　the　close。
〃Go　and　get　me　a　cab！〃
The　child　bounded　off　like　a　ball　by　the　Rue　Quatre…Vents；　then
they　were　alone　a　few　minutes；　face　to　face；　and　a　little
embarrassed。
〃Ah！　Leon！　ReallyI　don't　knowif　I　ought；〃　she　whispered。　Then
with　a　more　serious　air；　〃Do　you　know；　it　is　very　improper〃
〃How　so？〃　replied　the　clerk。　〃It　is　done　at　Paris。〃
And　that；　as　an　irresistible　argument；　decided　her。
Still　the　cab　did　not　come。　Leon　was　afraid　she　might　go　back
into　the　church。　At　last　the　cab　appeared。
〃At　all　events；　go　out　by　the　north　porch；〃　cried　the　beadle；　who
was　left　alone　on　the　threshold；　〃so　as　to　see　the　Resurrection；
the　Last　Judgment；　Paradise；　King　David；　and　the　Condemned　in
Hell…flames。〃
〃Where　to；　sir？〃　asked　the　coachman。
〃Where　you　like；〃　said　Leon；　forcing　Emma　into　the　cab。
And　the　lumbering　machine　set　out。　It　went　down　the　Rue
Grand…Pont；　crossed　the　Place　des　Arts；　the　Quai　Napoleon；　the
Pont　Neuf；　and　stopped　short　before　the　statue　of　Pierre
Corneille。
〃Go　on；〃　cried　a　voice　that　came　from　within。
The　cab　went　on　again；　and　as　soon　as　it　reached　the　Carrefour
Lafayette；　set　off　down…hill；　and　entered　the　station　at　a
gallop。
〃No；　straight　on！〃　cried　the　same　voice。
The　cab　came　out　by　the　gate；　and　soon　having　reached　the　Cours；
trotted　quietly　beneath　the　elm…trees。　The　coachman　wiped　his
brow；　put　his　leather　hat　between　his　knees；　and　drove　his
carriage　beyond　the　side　alley　by　the　meadow　to　the　margin　of　the
waters。
It　went　along　by　the　river；　along　the　towing…path　paved　with
sharp　pebbles；　and　for　a　long　while　in　the　direction　of　Oyssel；
beyond　the　isles。
But　suddenly　it　turned　with　a　dash　across　Quatremares；
Sotteville；　La　Grande…Chaussee；　the　Rue　d'Elbeuf；　and　made　its
third　halt　in　front　of　the　Jardin　des　Plantes。
〃Get　on；　will　you？〃　cried　the　voice　more　furiously。
And　at　once　resuming　its　course；　it　passed　by　Saint…Sever；　by　the
Quai'des　Curandiers；　the　Quai　aux　Meules；　once　more　over　the
bridge；　by　the　Place　du　Champ　de　Mars；　and　behind　the　hospital
gardens；　where　old　men　in　black　coats　were　walking　in　the　sun
along　the　terrace　all　green　with　ivy。　It　went　up　the　Boulevard
Bouvreuil；　along　the　Boulevard　Cauchoise；　then　the　whole　of
Mont…Riboudet　to　the　Deville　hills。
It　came　back；　and　then；　without　any　fixed　plan　or　direction；
wandered　about　at　hazard。　The　cab　was　seen　at　Saint…Pol；　at
Lescure；　at　Mont　Gargan；　at　La　Rougue…Marc　and　Place　du
Gaillardbois；　in　the　Rue　Maladrerie；　Rue　Dinanderie；　before
Saint…Romain；　Saint…Vivien；　Saint…Maclou；　Saint…Nicaisein　front
of　the　Customs；　at　the　〃Vieille　Tour；〃　the　〃Trois　Pipes；〃　and　the
Monumental　Cemetery。　From　time　to　time　the　coachman；　on　his　box
cast　despairing　eyes　at　the　public…houses。　He　could　not
understand　what　furious　desire　for　locomotion　urged　these
individuals　never　to　wish　to　stop。　He　tried　to　now　and　then；　and
at　once　exclamations　of　anger　burst　forth　behind　him。　Then　he
lashed　his　perspiring　jades　afresh；　but　indifferent　to　their
jolting；　running　up　against　things　here　and　there；　not　caring　if
he　did；　demoralised；　and　almost　weeping　with　thirst；　fatigue；　and
depression。
And　on　the　harbour；　in　the　midst　of　the　drays　and　casks；　and　in
the　streets；　at　the　corners；　the　good　folk　opened　large
wonder…stricken　eyes　at　this　sight；　so　extraordinary　in　the
provinces；　a　cab　with　blinds　drawn；　and　which　appeared　thus
constantly　shut　more　closely　than　a　tomb；　and　tossing　about　like
a　vessel。
Once　in　the　middle　of　the　day；　in　the　open　country；　just　as　the
sun　beat　most　fiercely　against　the　old　plated　lanterns；　a　bared
hand　passed　beneath　the　small　blinds　of　yellow　canvas；　and　threw
out　some　scraps　of　paper　that　scattered　in　the　wind；　and　farther
off　lighted　like　white　butterflies　on　a　field　of　red　clover　all
in　bloom。
At　about　six　o'clock　the　carriage　stopped　in　a　back　street　of　the
Beauvoisine　Quarter；　and　a　woman　got　out；　who　walked　with　her
veil　down；　and　without　turning　her　head。

Chapter　Two
On　reaching　the　inn；　Madame　Bovary　was　surprised　not　to　see　the
diligence。　Hivert；　who　had　waited　for　her　fifty…three　minutes；
had　at　last　started。
Yet　nothing　forced　her　to　go；　but　she　had　given　her　word　that　she
would　return　that　same　evening。　Moreover；　Charles　expected　her；
and　in　her　heart　she　felt　already　that　cowardly　docility　that　is
for　some　women　at　once　the　chastisement　and　atonement　of
adultery。
She　packed　her　box　quickly；　paid　her　bill；　took　a　cab　in　the
yard；　hurrying　on　the　driver；　urging　him　on；　every　moment
inquiring　about　the　time　and　the　miles　traversed。　He　succeeded　in
catching　up　the　〃Hirondelle〃　as　it　neared　the　first　houses　of
Quincampoix。
Hardly　was　she　seated　in　her　corner　than　she　closed　her　eyes；　and
opened　them　at　the　foot　of　the　hill；　when　from　afar　she
recognised　Felicite；　who　was　on　the　lookout　in　front　of　the
farrier's　shop。　Hivert　pulled　in　his　horses　and；　the　servant；
climbing　up　to　the　window；　said　mysteriously
〃Madame；　you　must　go　at　once　to　Monsieur　Homais。　It's　for
something　important。〃
The　village　was　silent　as　usual。　At　the　corner　of　the　streets
were　small　pink　heaps　that　smoked　in　the　air；　for　this　was　the
time　for　jam…making；　and　everyone　at　Yonville　prepared　his　supply
on　the　same　day。　But　in　front　of　the　chemist's　shop　one　might
admire　a　far　larger　heap；　and　that　surpassed　the　others　with　the
superiority　that　a　laboratory　must　have　over　ordinary　stores；　a
general　need　over　individual　fancy。
She　went　in。　The　large　arm…chair　was　upset；　and　even　the　〃Fanal
de　Rouen〃　lay　on　the　ground；　outspread　between　two　pestles。　She
pushed　open　the　lobby　door；　and　in　the　middle　of　the　kitchen；
amid　brown　jars　full　of　picked　currants；　of　powdered　sugar　and
lump　sugar；　of　the　scales　on　the　table；　and　of　the　pans　on　the
fire；　she　saw　all　the　Homais；　small　and　large；　with　aprons
reaching　to　their　chins；　and　with　forks　in　their　hands。　Justin
was　standing　up　with　bowed　head；　and　the　chemist　was　screaming
〃Who　told　you　to　go　and　fetch　it　in　the　Capharnaum。〃
〃What　is　it？　What　is　the　matter？〃
〃What　is　it？〃　replied　the　druggist。　〃We　are　making　preserves；
they　are　simmering；　but　they　were　about　to　boil　over；　because
there　is　too　much　juice；　and　I　ordered　another　pan。　Then　he；　from
indolence；　from　laziness；　went　and　took；　hanging　on　its　nail　in
my　laboratory；　the　key　of　the　Capharnaum。〃
It　was　thus　the　druggist　called　a　small　room　under　the　leads；
full　of　the　utensils　and　the　goods　of　his　trade。　He　often　spent
long　hours　there　alone；　labelling；　decanting；　and　doing　up　again；
and　he　looked　upon　it　not　as　a　simple　store；　but　as　a　veritable
sanctuary；　whence　there　afterwards　issued；　elaborated　by　his
hands；　all　sorts　of　pills；　boluses；　infusions；　lotions；　and
potions；　that　would　bear　far　and　wide　his　celebrity。　No　one　in
the　world　set　foot　there；　and　he　respected　it　so；　that　he　swept
it　himself。　Finally；　if　the　pharmacy；　open　to　all　comers；　was　the
spot　where　he　displayed　his　pride；　the　Capharnaum　was　the　refuge
where；　egoistically　concentrating　himself；　Homais　delighted　in
the　exercise　of　his　predilections；　so　that　Justin's
thoughtlessness　seemed　to　him　a　monstrous　piece　of　irreverence；
and；　redder　than　the　currants；　he　repeated
〃Yes；　from　the　Capharnaum！　The　key　that　locks　up　the　acids　and
caustic　alkalies！　To　go　and　get　a　spare　pan！　a　pan　with　a　lid！
and　that　I　shall　perhaps　never　use！　Everything　is　of　importance
in　the　delicate　operations　of　our　art！　But；　devil　take　it！　one
must　make　distinctions；　and　not　employ　for　almost　domestic
purposes　that　which　is　meant　for　pharmaceutical！　It　is　as　if　one
were　to　carve　a　fowl　with　a　scalpel；　as　if　a　magistrate〃
〃Now　be　calm；〃　said　Madame　Homais。
And　Athalie；　pulling　at　his　coat；　cried　〃Papa！　papa！〃
〃No；　let　me　alone；〃　went　on　the　druggist　〃let　me　alone；　hang　it！
My　word！　One　might　as　well　set　up　for　a　grocer。　That's　it！　go　it！
respect　nothing！　break；　smash；　let　loose　the　leeches；　burn　the
mallow…paste；　pickle　the　gherkins　in　the　window　jars；　tear　up　the
bandages！〃
〃I　thought　you　had〃said　Emma。
〃Presently！　Do　you　know　to　what　you　exposed　yourself？　Didn't　you
see　anything　in　the　corner；　on　the　left；　on　the　third　shelf？
Speak；　answer；　articulate　something。〃
〃Idon'tknow；〃　stammered　the　young　fellow。
〃Ah！　you　don't　know！　Well；　then；　I　do　know！　You　saw　a　bottle　of
blue　glass；　sealed　with　yellow　wax；　that　contains　a　white　powder；
on　which　I　have　even　written　'Dangerous！'　And　do　you　know　what　is
in　it？　Arsenic！　And　you　go　and　touch　it！　You　take　a　pan　that　was
next　to　it！〃
〃Next　to　it！〃　cried　Madame　Hoinais；　clasping　her　hands。　〃Arsenic！
You　might　have　poisoned　us　all。〃
And　the　children　began　howling　as　if　they　already　had　frightful
pains　in　their　entrails。
〃Or　poison　a　patient！〃　continued　the　druggist。　〃Do　you　want　to
see　me　in　the　prisoner's　dock　with　criminals；　in　a　court　of
justice？　To　see　me　dragged　to　the　scaffold？　Don't　you　know　what
care　I　take　in　managing　things；　although　I　am　so　thoroughly　used
to　it？　Often　I　am　horrified　myself　when　I　think　of　my
responsibility；　for　the　Government　persecutes　us；　and　the　absurd
legislation　that　rules　us　is　a　veritable　Damocles'　sword　over　our
heads。〃
Emma　no　longer　dreamed　of　asking　what　they　wanted　her　for；　and
the　druggist　went　on　in　breathless　phrases
〃That　is　your　return　for　all　the　kindness　we　have　shown　you！　That
is　how　you　recompense　me　for　the　really　paternal　care　that　I
lavish　on　you！　For　without　me　where　would　you　be？　What　would　you
be　doing？　Who　provides　you　with　food；　education；　clothes；　and　all
the　means　of　figuring　one　day　with　honour　in　the　ranks　of
society？　But　you　must　pull　hard　at　the　oar　if　you're　to　do　that；
and　get；　as；　people　say；　callosities　upon　your　hands。