madame bovary(包法利夫人)-第51章

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〃and　I　will　bring　it　you　to…morrow；〃　he　added。
Emma　did　not　seem　to　welcome　this　hope　with　all　the　joy　he　had
expected。　Did　she　suspect　the　lie？　He　went　on；　blushing
〃However；　if　you　don't　see　me　by　three　o'clock　do　not　wait　for
me；　my　darling。　I　must　be　off　now；　forgive　me！　Goodbye！〃
He　pressed　her　hand；　but　it　felt　quite　lifeless。　Emma　had　no
strength　left　for　any　sentiment。
Four　o'clock　struck；　and　she　rose　to　return　to　Yonville；
mechanically　obeying　the　force　of　old　habits。
The　weather　was　fine。　It　was　one　of　those　March　days；　clear　and
sharp；　when　the　sun　shines　in　a　perfectly　white　sky。　The　Rouen
folk；　in　Sunday…clothes；　were　walking　about　with　happy　looks。　She
reached　the　Place　du　Parvis。　People　were　coming　out　after
vespers；　the　crowd　flowed　out　through　the　three　doors　like　a
stream　through　the　three　arches　of　a　bridge；　and　in　the　middle
one；　more　motionless　than　a　rock；　stood　the　beadle。
Then　she　remembered　the　day　when；　all　anxious　and　full　of　hope；
she　had　entered　beneath　this　large　nave；　that　had　opened　out
before　her；　less　profound　than　her　love；　and　she　walked　on
weeping　beneath　her　veil；　giddy；　staggering；　almost　fainting。
〃Take　care！〃　cried　a　voice　issuing　from　the　gate　of　a　courtyard
that　was　thrown　open。
She　stopped　to　let　pass　a　black　horse；　pawing　the　ground　between
the　shafts　of　a　tilbury；　driven　by　a　gentleman　in　sable　furs。　Who
was　it？　She　knew　him。　The　carriage　darted　by　and　disappeared。
Why；　it　was　hethe　Viscount。　She　turned　away；　the　street　was
empty。　She　was　so　overwhelmed；　so　sad；　that　she　had　to　lean
against　a　wall　to　keep　herself　from　falling。
Then　she　thought　she　had　been　mistaken。　Anyhow；　she　did　not　know。
All　within　her　and　around　her　was　abandoning　her。　She　felt　lost；
sinking　at　random　into　indefinable　abysses；　and　it　was　almost
with　joy　that；　on　reaching　the　〃Croix…Rouge；〃　she　saw　the　good
Homais；　who　was　watching　a　large　box　full　of　pharmaceutical
stores　being　hoisted　on　to　the　〃Hirondelle。〃　In　his　hand　he　held
tied　in　a　silk　handkerchief　six　cheminots　for　his　wife。
Madame　Homais　was　very　fond　of　these　small；　heavy　turban…shaped
loaves；　that　are　eaten　in　Lent　with　salt　butter；　a　last　vestige
of　Gothic　food　that　goes　back；　perhaps；　to　the　time　of　the
Crusades；　and　with　which　the　robust　Normans　gorged　themselves　of
yore；　fancying　they　saw　on　the　table；　in　the　light　of　the　yellow
torches；　between　tankards　of　hippocras　and　huge　boars'　heads；　the
heads　of　Saracens　to　be　devoured。　The　druggist's　wife　crunched
them　up　as　they　had　doneheroically；　despite　her　wretched　teeth。
And　so　whenever　Homais　journeyed　to　town；　he　never　failed　to
bring　her　home　some　that　he　bought　at　the　great　baker's　in　the
Rue　Massacre。
〃Charmed　to　see　you；〃　he　said；　offering　Emma　a　hand　to　help　her
into　the　〃Hirondelle。〃　Then　he　hung　up　his　cheminots　to　the　cords
of　the　netting；　and　remained　bare…headed　in　an　attitude　pensive
and　Napoleonic。
But　when　the　blind　man　appeared　as　usual　at　the　foot　of　the　hill
he　exclaimed
〃I　can't　understand　why　the　authorities　tolerate　such　culpable
industries。　Such　unfortunates　should　be　locked　up　and　forced　to
work。　Progress；　my　word！　creeps　at　a　snail's　pace。　We　are
floundering　about　in　mere　barbarism。〃
The　blind　man　held　out　his　hat；　that　flapped　about　at　the　door；
as　if　it　were　a　bag　in　the　lining　that　had　come　unnailed。
〃This；〃　said　the　chemist；　〃is　a　scrofulous　affection。〃
And　though　he　knew　the　poor　devil；　he　pretended　to　see　him　for
the　first　time；　murmured　something　about　〃cornea；〃　〃opaque
cornea；〃　〃sclerotic；〃　〃facies；〃　then　asked　him　in　a　paternal
tone
〃My　friend；　have　you　long　had　this　terrible　infirmity？　Instead　of
getting　drunk　at　the　public；　you'd　do　better　to　die　yourself。〃
He　advised　him　to　take　good　wine；　good　beer；　and　good　joints。　The
blind　man　went　on　with　his　song；　he　seemed；　moreover；　almost
idiotic。　At　last　Monsieur　Homais　opened　his　purse
〃Now　there's　a　sou；　give　me　back　two　lairds；　and　don't　forget　my
advice：　you'll　be　the　better　for　it。〃
Hivert　openly　cast　some　doubt　on　the　efficacy　of　it。　But　the
druggist　said　that　he　would　cure　himself　with　an　antiphlogistic
pomade　of　his　own　composition；　and　he　gave　his　address〃Monsieur
Homais；　near　the　market；　pretty　well　known。〃
〃Now；〃　said　Hivert；　〃for　all　this　trouble　you'll　give　us　your
performance。〃
The　blind　man　sank　down　on　his　haunches；　with　his　head　thrown
back；　whilst　he　rolled　his　greenish　eyes；　lolled　out　his　tongue；
and　rubbed　his　stomach　with　both　hands　as　he　uttered　a　kind　of
hollow　yell　like　a　famished　dog。　Emma；　filled　with　disgust；　threw
him　over　her　shoulder　a　five…franc　piece。　It　was　all　her　fortune。
It　seemed　to　her　very　fine　thus　to　throw　it　away。
The　coach　had　gone　on　again　when　suddenly　Monsieur　Homais　leant
out　through　the　window；　crying
〃No　farinaceous　or　milk　food；　wear　wool　next　the　skin；　and　expose
the　diseased　parts　to　the　smoke　of　juniper　berries。〃
The　sight　of　the　well…known　objects　that　defiled　before　her　eyes
gradually　diverted　Emma　from　her　present　trouble。　An　intolerable
fatigue　overwhelmed　her；　and　she　reached　her　home　stupefied；
discouraged；　almost　asleep。
〃Come　what　may　come！〃　she　said　to　herself。　〃And　then；　who　knows？
Why；　at　any　moment　could　not　some　extraordinary　event　occur？
Lheureux　even　might　die！〃
At　nine　o'clock　in　the　morning　she　was　awakened　by　the　sound　of
voices　in　the　Place。　There　was　a　crowd　round　the　market　reading　a
large　bill　fixed　to　one　of　the　posts；　and　she　saw　Justin；　who　was
climbing　on　to　a　stone　and　tearing　down　the　bill。　But　at　this
moment　the　rural　guard　seized　him　by　the　collar。　Monsieur　Homais
came　out　of　his　shop；　and　Mere　Lefrangois；　in　the　midst　of　the
crowd；　seemed　to　be　perorating。
〃Madame！　madame！〃　cried　Felicite；　running　in；　〃it's　abominable！〃
And　the　poor　girl；　deeply　moved；　handed　her　a　yellow　paper　that
she　had　just　torn　off　the　door。　Emma　read　with　a　glance　that　all
her　furniture　was　for　sale。
Then　they　looked　at　one　another　silently。　The　servant　and
mistress　had　no　secret　one　from　the　other。　At　last　Felicite
sighed
〃If　I　were　you；　madame；　I　should　go　to　Monsieur　Guillaumin。〃
〃Do　you　think〃
And　this　question　meant　to　say
〃You　who　know　the　house　through　the　servant；　has　the　master
spoken　sometimes　of　me？〃
〃Yes；　you'd　do　well　to　go　there。〃
She　dressed；　put　on　her　black　gown；　and　her　hood　with　jet　beads；
and　that　she　might　not　be　seen　（there　was　still　a　crowd　on　the
Place）；　she　took　the　path　by　the　river；　outside　the　village。
She　reached　the　notary's　gate　quite　breathless。　The　sky　was
sombre；　and　a　little　snow　was　falling。　At　the　sound　of　the　bell；
Theodore　in　a　red　waistcoat　appeared　on　the　steps；　he　came　to
open　the　door　almost　familiarly；　as　to　an　acquaintance；　and
showed　her　into　the　dining…room。
A　large　porcelain　stove　crackled　beneath　a　cactus　that　filled　up
the　niche　in　the　wall；　and　in　black　wood　frames　against　the
oak…stained　paper　hung　Steuben's　〃Esmeralda〃　and　Schopin's
〃Potiphar。　〃　The　ready…laid　table；　the　two　silver　chafing…dishes；
the　crystal　door…knobs；　the　parquet　and　the　furniture；　all　shone
with　a　scrupulous；　English　cleanliness；　the　windows　were
ornamented　at　each　corner　with　stained　glass。
〃Now　this；〃　thought　Emma；　〃is　the　dining…room　I　ought　to　have。〃
The　notary　came　in　pressing　his　palm…leaf　dressing…gown　to　his
breast　with　his　left　arm；　while　with　the　other　hand　he　raised　and
quickly　put　on　again　his　brown　velvet　cap；　pretentiously　cocked
on　the　right　side；　whence　looked　out　the　ends　of　three　fair　curls
drawn　from　the　back　of　the　head；　following　the　line　of　his　bald
skull。
After　he　had　offered　her　a　seat　he　sat　down　to　breakfast；
apologising　profusely　for　his　rudeness。
〃I　have　come；〃　she　said；　〃to　beg　you；　sir〃
〃What；　madame？　I　am　listening。〃
And　she　began　explaining　her　position　to　him。　Monsieur　Guillaumin
knew　it；　being　secretly　associated　with　the　linendraper；　from
whom　he　always　got　capital　for　the　loans　on　mortgages　that　he　was
asked　to　make。
So　he　knew　（and　better　than　she　herself）　the　long　story　of　the
bills；　small　at　first；　bearing　different　names　as　endorsers；　made
out　at　long　dates；　and　constantly　renewed　up　to　the　day；　when；
gathering　together　all　the　protested　bills；　the　shopkeeper　had
bidden　his　friend　Vincart　take　in　his　own　name　all　the　necessary
proceedings；　not　wishing　to　pass　for　a　tiger　with　his
fellow…citizens。
She　mingled　her　story　with　recriminations　against　Lheureux；　to
which　the　notary　replied　from　time　to　time　with　some
insignificant　word。　Eating　his　cutlet　and　drinking　his　tea；　he
buried　his　chin　in　his　sky…blue　cravat；　into　which　were　thrust
two　diamond　pins；　held　together　by　a　small　gold　chain；　and　he
smiled　a　singular　smile；　in　a　sugary；　ambiguous　fashion。　But
noticing　that　her　feet　were　damp；　he　said
〃Do　get　closer　to　the　stove；　put　your　feet　up　against　the
porcelain。〃
She　was　afraid　of　dirtying　it。　The　notary　replied　in　a　gallant
tone
〃Beautiful　things　spoil　nothing。〃
Then　she　tried　to　move　him；　and；　growing　moved　herself；　she　began
telling　him　about　the　poorness　of　her　home；　her　worries；　her
wants。　He　could　understand　that；　an　elegant　woman！　and；　without
leaving　off　eating；　he　had　turned　completely　round　towards　her；
so　that　his　knee　brushed　against　her　boot；　whose　sole　curled
round　as　it　smoked　against　the　stove。
But　when　she　asked　for　a　thousand　sous；　he　closed　his　lips；　and
declared　he　was　very　sorry　he　had　not　had　the　management　of　her
fortune　before；　for　there　were　hundreds　of　ways　very　convenient；
even　for　a　lady；　of　turning　her　money　to　account。　They　might；
either　in　the　turf…peats　of　Grumesnil　or　building…ground　at
Havre；　almost　without　risk；　have　ventured　on　some　excellent
speculations；　and　he　let　her　consume　herself　with　rage　at　the
thought　of　the　fabulous　sums　that　she　would　certainly　have　made。
〃How　was　it；〃　he　went　on；　〃that　you　didn't　come　to　me？〃
〃I　hardly　know；〃　she　said。
〃Why；　hey？　Did　I　frighten　you　so　much？　It　is　I；　on　the　contrary；
who　ought　to　complain。　We　hardly　know　one　another；　yet　I　am　very
devoted　to　you。　You　do　not　doubt　that；　I　hope？〃
He　held　out　his　hand；　took　hers；　covered　it　with　a　greedy　kiss；
then　held　it　on　his　knee；　and　he　played　delicately　with　her
fingers　whilst　he　murmured　a　thousand　blandishments。　His　insipid
voice　murmured　like　a　running　brook；　a　light　shone　in　his　eyes
through　the　glimmering　of　his　spectacles；　and　his　hand　was
advancing　up　Emma's　sleeve　to　press　her　arm。　She　felt　against　her
cheek　his　panting　breath。　This　man　oppressed　her　horribly。
She　sprang　up　and　said　to　him
〃Sir；　I　am　waiting。〃
〃For　what？〃　said　the　notary；　who　suddenly　became　very　pale。
〃This　money。〃
〃But〃　Then；　yielding　to　the　outburst　of　too　powerful　a　desire；
〃Well；　yes！〃
He　dragged　himself　towards　her　on　his　knees；　regardless　of　his
dressing…gown。
〃For　pity's　sake；　stay。　I　love　you！〃
He　seized　her　by　her　waist。　Madame　Bovary's　face　flushed　purple。
She　recoiled　with　a　terrible　look；　crying
〃You　are　taking　a　shameless　advantage　of　my　distress；　sir！　I　am
to　be　pitiednot　to　be　sold。〃
And　she　went　out。
The　notary　remained　quite　stupefied；　his　eyes　fixed　on　his　fine
embroidered　slippers。　They　were　a　love　gift；　and　the　sight　of
them　at　last　consoled　him。　Besides；　he　reflected　that　such　an
adventure　might　have　ca