madame bovary(包法利夫人)-第54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！


her　stomach。　She　uttered　a　sharp　cry。　He　fell　back
terror…stricken。
Then　she　began　to　groan；　faintly　at　first。　Her　shoulders　were
shaken　by　a　strong　shuddering；　and　she　was　growing　paler　than　the
sheets　in　which　her　clenched　fingers　buried　themselves。　Her
unequal　pulse　was　now　almost　imperceptible。
Drops　of　sweat　oozed　from　her　bluish　face；　that　seemed　as　if
rigid　in　the　exhalations　of　a　metallic　vapour。　Her　teeth
chattered；　her　dilated　eyes　looked　vaguely　about　her；　and　to　all
questions　she　replied　only　with　a　shake　of　the　head；　she　even
smiled　once　or　twice。　Gradually；　her　moaning　grew　louder；　a
hollow　shriek　burst　from　her；　she　pretended　she　was　better　and
that　she　would　get　up　presently。　But　she　was　seized　with
convulsions　and　cried　out
〃Ah！　my　God！　It　is　horrible！〃
He　threw　himself　on　his　knees　by　her　bed。
〃Tell　me！　what　have　you　eaten？　Answer；　for　heaven's　sake！〃
And　he　looked　at　her　with　a　tenderness　in　his　eyes　such　as　she
had　never　seen。
〃Well；　therethere！〃　she　said　in　a　faint　voice。　He　flew　to　the
writing…table；　tore　open　the　seal；　and　read　aloud：　〃Accuse　no
one。〃　He　stopped；　passed　his　hands　across　his　eyes；　and　read　it
over　again。
〃What！　helphelp！〃
He　could　only　keep　repeating　the　word：　〃Poisoned！　poisoned！〃
Felicite　ran　to　Homais；　who　proclaimed　it　in　the　market…place；
Madame　Lefrancois　heard　it　at　the　〃Lion　d'Or〃；　some　got　up　to　go
and　tell　their　neighbours；　and　all　night　the　village　was　on　the
alert。
Distraught；　faltering；　reeling；　Charles　wandered　about　the　room。
He　knocked　against　the　furniture；　tore　his　hair；　and　the　chemist
had　never　believed　that　there　could　be　so　terrible　a　sight。
He　went　home　to　write　to　Monsieur　Canivet　and　to　Doctor
Lariviere。　He　lost　his　head；　and　made　more　than　fifteen　rough
copies。　Hippolyte　went　to　Neufchatel；　and　Justin　so　spurred
Bovary's　horse　that　he　left　it　foundered　and　three　parts　dead　by
the　hill　at　Bois…Guillaume。
Charles　tried　to　look　up　his　medical　dictionary；　but　could　not
read　it；　the　lines　were　dancing。
〃Be　calm；〃　said　the　druggist；　〃we　have　only　to　administer　a
powerful　antidote。　What　is　the　poison？〃
Charles　showed　him　the　letter。　It　was　arsenic。
〃Very　well；〃　said　Homais；　〃we　must　make　an　analysis。〃
For　he　knew　that　in　cases　of　poisoning　an　analysis　must　be　made；
and　the　other；　who　did　not　understand；　answered
〃Oh；　do　anything！　save　her！〃
Then　going　back　to　her；　he　sank　upon　the　carpet；　and　lay　there
with　his　head　leaning　against　the　edge　of　her　bed；　sobbing。
〃Don't　cry；〃　she　said　to　him。　〃Soon　I　shall　not　trouble　you　any
more。〃
〃Why　was　it？　Who　drove　you　to　it？〃
She　replied。　〃It　had　to　be；　my　dear！〃
〃Weren't　you　happy？　Is　it　my　fault？　I　did　all　I　could！〃
〃Yes；　that　is　trueyou　are　goodyou。〃
And　she　passed　her　hand　slowly　over　his　hair。　The　sweetness　of
this　sensation　deepened　his　sadness；　he　felt　his　whole　being
dissolving　in　despair　at　the　thought　that　he　must　lose　her；　just
when　she　was　confessing　more　love　for　him　than　ever。　And　he　could
think　of　nothing；　he　did　not　know；　he　did　not　dare；　the　urgent
need　for　some　immediate　resolution　gave　the　finishing　stroke　to
the　turmoil　of　his　mind。
So　she　had　done；　she　thought；　with　all　the　treachery；　and
meanness；　and　numberless　desires　that　had　tortured　her。　She　hated
no　one　now；　a　twilight　dimness　was　settling　upon　her　thoughts；
and；　of　all　earthly　noises；　Emma　heard　none　but　the　intermittent
lamentations　of　this　poor　heart；　sweet　and　indistinct　like　the
echo　of　a　symphony　dying　away。
〃Bring　me　the　child；〃　she　said；　raising　herself　on　her　elbow。
〃You　are　not　worse；　are　you？〃　asked　Charles。
〃No；　no！〃
The　child；　serious；　and　still　half…asleep；　was　carried　in　on　the
servant's　arm　in　her　long　white　nightgown；　from　which　her　bare
feet　peeped　out。　She　looked　wonderingly　at　the　disordered　room；
and　half…closed　her　eyes；　dazzled　by　the　candles　burning　on　the
table。　They　reminded　her；　no　doubt；　of　the　morning　of　New　Year's
day　and　Mid…Lent；　when　thus　awakened　early　by　candle…light　she
came　to　her　mother's　bed　to　fetch　her　presents；　for　she　began
saying
〃But　where　is　it；　mamma？〃　And　as　everybody　was　silent；　〃But　I
can't　see　my　little　stocking。〃
Felicite　held　her　over　the　bed　while　she　still　kept　looking
towards　the　mantelpiece。
〃Has　nurse　taken　it？〃　she　asked。
And　at　this　name；　that　carried　her　back　to　the　memory　of　her
adulteries　and　her　calamities；　Madame　Bovary　turned　away　her
head；　as　at　the　loathing　of　another　bitterer　poison　that　rose　to
her　mouth。　But　Berthe　remained　perched　on　the　bed。
〃Oh；　how　big　your　eyes　are；　mamma！　How　pale　you　are！　how　hot　you
are！〃
Her　mother　looked　at　her。　〃I　am　frightened！〃　cried　the　child；
recoiling。
Emma　took　her　hand　to　kiss　it；　the　child　struggled。
〃That　will　do。　Take　her　away；〃　cried　Charles；　who　was　sobbing　in
the　alcove。
Then　the　symptoms　ceased　for　a　moment；　she　seemed　less　agitated；
and　at　every　insignificant　word；　at　every　respiration　a　little
more　easy；　he　regained　hope。　At　last；　when　Canivet　came　in；　he
threw　himself　into　his　arms。
〃Ah！　it　is　you。　Thanks！　You　are　good！　But　she　is　better。　See！
look　at　her。〃
His　colleague　was　by　no　means　of　this　opinion；　and；　as　he　said　of
himself；　〃never　beating　about　the　bush；〃　he　prescribed；　an　emetic
in　order　to　empty　the　stomach　completely。
She　soon　began　vomiting　blood。　Her　lips　became　drawn。　Her　limbs
were　convulsed；　her　whole　body　covered　with　brown　spots；　and　her
pulse　slipped　beneath　the　fingers　like　a　stretched　thread；　like　a
harp…string　nearly　breaking。
After　this　she　began　to　scream　horribly。　She　cursed　the　poison；
railed　at　it；　and　implored　it　to　be　quick；　and　thrust　away　with
her　stiffened　arms　everything　that　Charles；　in　more　agony　than
herself；　tried　to　make　her　drink。　He　stood　up；　his　handkerchief
to　his　lips；　with　a　rattling　sound　in　his　throat；　weeping；　and
choked　by　sobs　that　shook　his　whole　body。　Felicite　was　running
hither　and　thither　in　the　room。　Homais；　motionless；　uttered　great
sighs；　and　Monsieur　Canivet；　always　retaining　his　self…command；
nevertheless　began　to　feel　uneasy。
〃The　devil！　yet　she　has　been　purged；　and　from　the　moment　that　the
cause　ceases〃
〃The　effect　must　cease；〃　said　Homais；　〃that　is　evident。〃
〃Oh；　save　her！〃　cried　Bovary。
And；　without　listening　to　the　chemist；　who　was　still　venturing
the　hypothesis；　〃It　is　perhaps　a　salutary　paroxysm；〃　Canivet　was
about　to　administer　some　theriac；　when　they　heard　the　cracking　of
a　whip；　all　the　windows　rattled；　and　a　post…chaise　drawn　by　three
horses　abreast；　up　to　their　ears　in　mud；　drove　at　a　gallop　round
the　corner　of　the　market。　It　was　Doctor　Lariviere。
The　apparition　of　a　god　would　not　have　caused　more　commotion。
Bovary　raised　his　hands；　Canivet　stopped　short；　and　Homais　pulled
off　his　skull…cap　long　before　the　doctor　had　come　in。
He　belonged　to　that　great　school　of　surgery　begotten　of　Bichat；
to　that　generation；　now　extinct；　of　philosophical　practitioners；
who；　loving　their　art　with　a　fanatical　love；　exercised　it　with
enthusiasm　and　wisdom。　Everyone　in　his　hospital　trembled　when　he
was　angry；　and　his　students　so　revered　him　that　they　tried；　as
soon　as　they　were　themselves　in　practice；　to　imitate　him　as　much
as　possible。　So　that　in　all　the　towns　about　they　were　found
wearing　his　long　wadded　merino　overcoat　and　black　frock…coat；
whose　buttoned　cuffs　slightly　covered　his　brawny　handsvery
beautiful　hands；　and　that　never　knew　gloves；　as　though　to　be　more
ready　to　plunge　into　suffering。　Disdainful　of　honours；　of　titles；
and　of　academies；　like　one　of　the　old　Knight…Hospitallers；
generous；　fatherly　to　the　poor；　and　practising　virtue　without
believing　in　it；　he　would　almost　have　passed　for　a　saint　if　the
keenness　of　his　intellect　had　not　caused　him　to　be　feared　as　a
demon。　His　glance；　more　penetrating　than　his　bistouries；　looked
straight　into　your　soul；　and　dissected　every　lie　athwart　all
assertions　and　all　reticences。　And　thus　he　went　along；　full　of
that　debonair　majesty　that　is　given　by　the　consciousness　of　great
talent；　of　fortune；　and　of　forty　years　of　a　labourious　and
irreproachable　life。
He　frowned　as　soon　as　he　had　passed　the　door　when　he　saw　the
cadaverous　face　of　Emma　stretched　out　on　her　back　with　her　mouth
open。　Then；　while　apparently　listening　to　Canivet；　he　rubbed　his
fingers　up　and　down　beneath　his　nostrils；　and　repeated
〃Good！　good！
But　he　made　a　slow　gesture　with　his　shoulders。　Bovary　watched
him；　they　looked　at　one　another；　and　this　man；　accustomed　as　he
was　to　the　sight　of　pain；　could　not　keep　back　a　tear　that　fell　on
his　shirt…frill。
He　tried　to　take　Canivet　into　the　next　room。　Charles　followed
him。
〃She　is　very　ill；　isn't　she？　If　we　put　on　sinapisms？　Anything！
Oh；　think　of　something；　you　who　have　saved　so　many！〃
Charles　caught　him　in　both　his　arms；　and　gazed　at　him　wildly；
imploringly；　half…fainting　against　his　breast。
〃Come；　my　poor　fellow；　courage！　There　is　nothing　more　to　be
done。〃
And　Doctor　Lariviere　turned　away。
〃You　are　going？〃
〃I　will　come　back。〃
He　went　out　only　to　give　an　order　to　the　coachman；　with　Monsieur
Canivet；　who　did　not　care　either　to　have　Emma　die　under　his
hands。
The　chemist　rejoined　them　on　the　Place。　He　could　not　by
temperament　keep　away　from　celebrities；　so　he　begged　Monsieur
Lariviere　to　do　him　the　signal　honour　of　accepting　some
breakfast。
He　sent　quickly　to　the　〃Lion　d'Or〃　for　some　pigeons；　to　the
butcher's　for　all　the　cutlets　that　were　to　be　had；　to　Tuvache　for
cream；　and　to　Lestiboudois　for　eggs；　and　the　druggist　himself
aided　in　the　preparations；　while　Madame　Homais　was　saying　as　she
pulled　together　the　strings　of　her　jacket
〃You　must　excuse　us；　sir；　for　in　this　poor　place；　when　one　hasn't
been　told　the　night　before〃
〃Wine　glasses！〃　whispered　Homais。
〃If　only　we　were　in　town；　we　could　fall　back　upon　stuffed
trotters。〃
〃Be　quiet！　Sit　down；　doctor！〃
He　thought　fit；　after　the　first　few　mouthfuls；　to　give　some
details　as　to　the　catastrophe。
〃We　first　had　a　feeling　of　siccity　in　the　pharynx；　then
intolerable　pains　at　the　epigastrium；　super　purgation；　coma。〃
〃But　how　did　she　poison　herself？〃
〃I　don't　know；　doctor；　and　I　don't　even　know　where　she　can　have
procured　the　arsenious　acid。〃
Justin；　who　was　just　bringing　in　a　pile　of　plates；　began　to
tremble。
〃What's　the　matter？〃　said　the　chemist。
At　this　question　the　young　man　dropped　the　whole　lot　on　the
ground　with　a　crash。
〃Imbecile！〃　cried　Homais。　〃awkward　lout！　block…head！　confounded
ass！〃
But　suddenly　controlling　himself
〃I　wished；　doctor；　to　make　an　analysis；　and　primo　I　delicately
introduced　a　tube〃
〃You　would　have　done　better；〃　said　the　physician；　〃to　introduce
your　fingers　into　her　throat。〃
His　colleague　was　silent；　having　just　before　privately　received　a
severe　lecture　about　his　emetic；　so　that　this　good　Canivet；　so
arrogant　and　so　verbose　at　the　time　of　the　clubfoot；　was　to…day
very　modest。　He　smiled　without　ceasing　in　an　approving　manner。
Homais　dilated　in　Amphytrionic　pride；　and　the　affecting　thought
of　Bovary　vaguely　contributed　to　his　pleasure　by　a　kind　of
egotistic　reflex　upon　himself。　Then　the　presence　of　the　doctor
transported　him。　He　displayed　his　erudition；　cited　pell…mell
cantharides；　upas；　the　manchineel；　vipers。
〃I　have　even　read　that　various　persons　have　found　themselves
under　tox