madame bovary(包法利夫人)-第46章

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Often　they　had　started　when；　with　a　sudden　movement；　his　hat
entered　the　diligence　through　the　small　window；　while　he　clung
with　his　other　arm　to　the　footboard；　between　the　wheels　splashing
mud。　His　voice；　feeble　at　first　and　quavering；　grew　sharp；　it
resounded　in　the　night　like　the　indistinct　moan　of　a　vague
distress；　and　through　the　ringing　of　the　bells；　the　murmur　of　the
trees；　and　the　rumbling　of　the　empty　vehicle；　it　had　a　far…off
sound　that　disturbed　Emma。　It　went　to　the　bottom　of　her　soul；
like　a　whirlwind　in　an　abyss；　and　carried　her　away　into　the
distances　of　a　boundless　melancholy。　But　Hivert；　noticing　a
weight　behind；　gave　the　blind　man　sharp　cuts　with　his　whip。　The
thong　lashed　his　wounds；　and　he　fell　back　into　the　mud　with　a
yell。　Then　the；　passengers　in　the　〃Hirondelle〃　ended　by　falling
asleep；　some　with　open　mouths；　others　with　lowered　chins；　leaning
against　their　neighbour's　shoulder；　or　with　their　arm　passed
through　the　strap；　oscillating　regularly　with　the　jolting　of　the
carriage；　and　the　reflection　of　the　lantern　swinging　without；　on
the　crupper　of　the　wheeler；　penetrating　into　the　interior　through
the　chocolate　calico　curtains；　threw　sanguineous　shadows　over　all
these　motionless　people。　Emma；　drunk　with　grief；　shivered　in　her
clothes；　feeling　her　feet　grow　colder　and　colder；　and　death　in
her　soul。
Charles　at　home　was　waiting　for　her；　the　〃Hirondelle〃　was　always
late　on　Thursdays。　Madame　arrived　at　last；　and　scarcely　kissed
the　child。　The　dinner　was　not　ready。　No　matter！　She　excused　the
servant。　This　girl　now　seemed　allowed　to　do　just　as　she　liked。
Often　her　husband；　noting　her　pallor；　asked　if　she　were　unwell。
〃No；〃　said　Emma。
〃But；〃　he　replied；　〃you　seem　so　strange　this　evening。〃
〃Oh；　it's　nothing！　nothing！〃
There　were　even　days　when　she　had　no　sooner　come　in　than　she　went
up　to　her　room；　and　Justin；　happening　to　be　there；　moved　about
noiselessly；　quicker　at　helping　her　than　the　best　of　maids。　He
put　the　matches　ready；　the　candlestick；　a　book；　arranged　her
nightgown；　turned　back　the　bedclothes。
〃Come！〃　said　she；　〃that　will　do。　Now　you　can　go。〃
For　he　stood　there；　his　hands　hanging　down　and　his　eyes　wide
open；　as　if　enmeshed　in　the　innumerable　threads　of　a　sudden
reverie。
The　following　day　was　frightful；　and　those　that　came　after　still
more　unbearable；　because　of　her　impatience　to　once　again　seize
her　happiness；　an　ardent　lust；　inflamed　by　the　images　of　past
experience；　and　that　burst　forth　freely　on　the　seventh　day
beneath　Leon's　caresses。　His　ardours　were　hidden　beneath
outbursts　of　wonder　and　gratitude。　Emma　tasted　this　love　in　a
discreet；　absorbed　fashion；　maintained　it　by　all　the　artifices　of
her　tenderness；　and　trembled　a　little　lest　it　should　be　lost
later　on。
She　often　said　to　him；　with　her　sweet；　melancholy　voice
〃Ah！　you　too；　you　will　leave　me！　You　will　marry！　You　will　be　like
all　the　others。〃
He　asked；　〃What　others？〃
〃Why；　like　all　men；〃　she　replied。　Then　added；　repulsing　him　with
a　languid　movement
〃You　are　all　evil！〃
One　day；　as　they　were　talking　philosophically　of　earthly
disillusions；　to　experiment　on　his　jealousy；　or　yielding；
perhaps；　to　an　over…strong　need　to　pour　out　her　heart；　she　told
him　that　formerly；　before　him；　she　had　loved　someone。
〃Not　like　you；〃　she　went　on　quickly；　protesting　by　the　head　of
her　child　that　〃nothing　had　passed　between　them。〃
The　young　man　believed　her；　but　none　the　less　questioned　her　to
find　out　what　he　was。
〃He　was　a　ship's　captain；　my　dear。〃
Was　this　not　preventing　any　inquiry；　and；　at　the　same　time；
assuming　a　higher　ground　through　this　pretended　fascination
exercised　over　a　man　who　must　have　been　of　warlike　nature　and
accustomed　to　receive　homage？
The　clerk　then　felt　the　lowliness　of　his　position；　he　longed　for
epaulettes；　crosses；　titles。　All　that　would　please　herhe
gathered　that　from　her　spendthrift　habits。
Emma　nevertheless　concealed　many　of　these　extravagant　fancies；
such　as　her　wish　to　have　a　blue　tilbury　to　drive　into　Rouen；
drawn　by　an　English　horse　and　driven　by　a　groom　in　top…boots。　It
was　Justin　who　had　inspired　her　with　this　whim；　by　begging　her　to
take　him　into　her　service　as　valet…de…chambre*；　and　if　the
privation　of　it　did　not　lessen　the　pleasure　of　her　arrival　at
each　rendezvous；　it　certainly　augmented　the　bitterness　of　the
return。
*　Manservant。

Often；　when　they　talked　together　of　Paris；　she　ended　by
murmuring；　〃Ah！　how　happy　we　should　be　there！〃
〃Are　we　not　happy？〃　gently　answered　the　young　man　passing　his
hands　over　her　hair。
〃Yes；　that　is　true；〃　she　said。　〃I　am　mad。　Kiss　me！〃
To　her　husband　she　was　more　charming　than　ever。　She　made　him
pistachio…creams；　and　played　him　waltzes　after　dinner。　So　he
thought　himself　the　most　fortunate　of　men　and　Emma　was　without
uneasiness；　when；　one　evening　suddenly　he　said
〃It　is　Mademoiselle　Lempereur；　isn't　it；　who　gives　you　lessons？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Well；　I　saw　her　just　now；〃　Charles　went　on；　〃at　Madame
Liegeard's。　I　spoke　to　her　about　you；　and　she　doesn't　know　you。〃
This　was　like　a　thunderclap。　However；　she　replied　quite
naturally
〃Ah！　no　doubt　she　forgot　my　name。〃
〃But　perhaps；〃　said　the　doctor；　〃there　are　several　Demoiselles
Lempereur　at　Rouen　who　are　music…mistresses。〃
〃Possibly！〃　Then　quickly〃But　I　have　my　receipts　here。　See！〃
And　she　went　to　the　writing…table；　ransacked　all　the　drawers；
rummaged　the　papers；　and　at　last　lost　her　head　so　completely　that
Charles　earnestly　begged　her　not　to　take　so　much　trouble　about
those　wretched　receipts。
〃Oh；　I　will　find　them；〃　she　said。
And；　in　fact；　on　the　following　Friday；　as　Charles　was　putting　on
one　of　his　boots　in　the　dark　cabinet　where　his　clothes　were　kept；
he　felt　a　piece　of　paper　between　the　leather　and　his　sock。　He
took　it　out　and　read
〃Received；　for　three　months'　lessons　and　several　pieces　of　music；
the　sum　of　sixty…three　francs。Felicie　Lempereur；　professor　of
music。〃
〃How　the　devil　did　it　get　into　my　boots？〃
〃It　must；〃　she　replied；　〃have　fallen　from　the　old　box　of　bills
that　is　on　the　edge　of　the　shelf。〃
》From　that　moment　her　existence　was　but　one　long　tissue　of　lies；
in　which　she　enveloped　her　love　as　in　veils　to　hide　it。　It　was　a
want；　a　mania；　a　pleasure　carried　to　such　an　extent　that　if　she
said　she　had　the　day　before　walked　on　the　right　side　of　a　road；
one　might　know　she　had　taken　the　left。
One　morning；　when　she　had　gone；　as　usual；　rather　lightly　clothed；
it　suddenly　began　to　snow；　and　as　Charles　was　watching　the
weather　from　the　window；　he　caught　sight　of　Monsieur　Bournisien
in　the　chaise　of　Monsieur　Tuvache；　who　was　driving　him　to　Rouen。
Then　he　went　down　to　give　the　priesta　thick　shawl　that　he　was　to
hand　over　to　Emma　as　soon　as　he　reached　the　〃Croix…Rouge。〃　When
he　got　to　the　inn；　Monsieur　Bournisien　asked　for　the　wife　of　the
Yonville　doctor。　The　landlady　replied　that　she　very　rarely　came
to　her　establishment。　So　that　evening；　when　he　recognised　Madame
Bovary　in　the　〃Hirondelle；〃　the　cure　told　her　his　dilemma；
without；　however；　appearing　to　attach　much　importance　to　it；　for
he　began　praising　a　preacher　who　was　doing　wonders　at　the
Cathedral；　and　whom　all　the　ladies　were　rushing　to　hear。
Still；　if　he　did　not　ask　for　any　explanation；　others；　later　on；
might　prove　less　discreet。　So　she　thought　well　to　get　down　each
time　at　the　〃Croix…Rouge；〃　so　that　the　good　folk　of　her　village
who　saw　her　on　the　stairs　should　suspect　nothing。
One　day；　however；　Monsieur　Lheureux　met　her　coming　out　of　the
Hotel　de　Boulogne　on　Leon's　arm；　and　she　was　frightened；　thinking
he　would　gossip。　He　was　not　such　a　fool。　But　three　days　after　he
came　to　her　room；　shut　the　door；　and　said；　〃I　must　have　some
money。〃
She　declared　she　could　not　give　him　any。　Lheureux　burst　into
lamentations　and　reminded　her　of　all　the　kindnesses　he　had　shown
her。
In　fact；　of　the　two　bills　signed　by　Charles；　Emma　up　to　the
present　had　paid　only　one。　As　to　the　second；　the　shopkeeper；　at
her　request；　had　consented　to　replace　it　by　another；　which　again
had　been　renewed　for　a　long　date。　Then　he　drew　from　his　pocket　a
list　of　goods　not　paid　for；　to　wit；　the　curtains；　the　carpet；　the
material　for　the　armchairs；　several　dresses；　and　divers　articles
of　dress；　the　bills　for　which　amounted　to　about　two　thousand
francs。
She　bowed　her　head。　He　went　on
〃But　if　you　haven't　any　ready　money；　you　have　an　estate。〃　And　he
reminded　her　of　a　miserable　little　hovel　situated　at　Barneville；
near　Aumale；　that　brought　in　almost　nothing。　It　had　formerly　been
part　of　a　small　farm　sold　by　Monsieur　Bovary　senior；　for　Lheureux
knew　everything；　even　to　the　number　of　acres　and　the　names　of　the
neighbours。
〃If　I　were　in　your　place；〃　he　said；　〃I　should　clear　myself　of　my
debts；　and　have　money　left　over。〃
She　pointed　out　the　difficulty　of　getting　a　purchaser。　He　held
out　the　hope　of　finding　one；　but　she　asked　him　how　she　should
manage　to　sell　it。
〃Haven't　you　your　power　of　attorney？〃　he　replied。
The　phrase　came　to　her　like　a　breath　of　fresh　air。　〃Leave　me　the
bill；〃　said　Emma。
〃Oh；　it　isn't　worth　while；〃　answered　Lheureux。
He　came　back　the　following　week　and　boasted　of　having；　after　much
trouble；　at　last　discovered　a　certain　Langlois；　who；　for　a　long
time；　had　had　an　eye　on　the　property；　but　without　mentioning　his
price。
〃Never　mind　the　price！〃　she　cried。
But　they　would；　on　the　contrary；　have　to　wait；　to　sound　the
fellow。　The　thing　was　worth　a　journey；　and；　as　she　could　not
undertake　it；　he　offered　to　go　to　the　place　to　have　an　interview
with　Langlois。　On　his　return　he　announced　that　the　purchaser
proposed　four　thousand　francs。
Emma　was　radiant　at　this　news。
〃Frankly；〃　he　added；　〃that's　a　good　price。〃
She　drew　half　the　sum　at　once；　and　when　she　was　about　to　pay　her
account　the　shopkeeper　said
〃It　really　grieves　me；　on　my　word！　to　see　you　depriving　yourself
all　at　once　of　such　a　big　sum　as　that。〃
Then　she　looked　at　the　bank…notes；　and　dreaming　of　the　unlimited
number　of　rendezvous　represented　by　those　two　thousand　francs；
she　stammered
〃What！　what！〃
〃Oh！〃　he　went　on；　laughing　good…naturedly；　〃one　puts　anything　one
likes　on　receipts。　Don't　you　think　I　know　what　household　affairs
are？〃　And　he　looked　at　her　fixedly；　while　in　his　hand　he　held　two
long　papers　that　he　slid　between　his　nails。　At　last；　opening　his
pocket…book；　he　spread　out　on　the　table　four　bills　to　order；　each
for　a　thousand　francs。
〃Sign　these；〃　he　said；　〃and　keep　it　all！〃
She　cried　out；　scandalised。
〃But　if　I　give　you　the　surplus；〃　replied　Monsieur　Lheureux
impudently；　〃is　that　not　helping　you？〃
And　taking　a　pen　he　wrote　at　the　bottom　of　the　account；　〃Received
of　Madame　Bovary　four　thousand　francs。〃
〃Now　who　can　trouble　you；　since　in　six　months　you'll　draw　the
arrears　for　your　cottage；　and　I　don't　make　the　last　bill　due　till
after　you've　been　paid？〃
Emma　grew　rather　confused　in　her　calculations；　and　her　ears
tingled　as　if　gold　pieces；　bursting　from　their　bags；　rang　all
round　her　on　the　floor。　At　last　Lheureux　explained　that　he　had　a
very　good　friend；　Vincart；　a　broker　at　Rouen；　who　would　discount
these　four　bills。　Then　he　himself　would　hand　over　to　madame　the
remainder　after　the　actual　debt　was　paid。
But　instead　of　two　thousand　francs　he　brought　only　eighteen
hundred；　for　the　friend　Vincart　（w