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！
on。 She'll be there。 I shall see her。 We'll begin boldly； for
that's the surest way。〃
Chapter Eight
At last it came； the famous agricultural show。 On the morning of
the solemnity all the inhabitants at their doors were chatting
over the preparations。 The pediment of the town hall had been
hung with garlands of ivy； a tent had been erected in a meadow
for the banquet； and in the middle of the Place； in front of the
church； a kind of bombarde was to announce the arrival of the
prefect and the names of the successful farmers who had obtained
prizes。 The National Guard of Buchy （there was none at Yonville）
had come to join the corps of firemen； of whom Binet was captain。
On that day he wore a collar even higher than usual； and； tightly
buttoned in his tunic； his figure was so stiff and motionless
that the whole vital portion of his person seemed to have
descended into his legs； which rose in a cadence of set steps
with a single movement。 As there was some rivalry between the
tax…collector and the colonel； both； to show off their talents；
drilled their men separately。 One saw the red epaulettes and the
black breastplates pass and re…pass alternately； there was no end
to it； and it constantly began again。 There had never been such a
display of pomp。 Several citizens had scoured their houses the
evening before； tri…coloured flags hung from half…open windows；
all the public…houses were full； and in the lovely weather the
starched caps； the golden crosses； and the coloured neckerchiefs
seemed whiter than snow； shone in the sun； and relieved with the
motley colours the sombre monotony of the frock…coats and blue
smocks。 The neighbouring farmers' wives； when they got off their
horses； pulled out the long pins that fastened around them their
dresses； turned up for fear of mud； and the husbands； for their
part； in order to save their hats； kept their handkerchiefs
around them； holding one corner between their teeth。
The crowd came into the main street from both ends of the
village。 People poured in from the lanes； the alleys； the houses；
and from time to time one heard knockers banging against doors
closing behind women with their gloves； who were going out to see
the fete。 What was most admired were two long lamp…stands covered
with lanterns； that flanked a platform on which the authorities
were to sit。 Besides this there were against the four columns of
the town hall four kinds of poles； each bearing a small standard
of greenish cloth； embellished with inscriptions in gold letters。
On one was written； 〃To Commerce〃； on the other； 〃To
Agriculture〃； on the third； 〃To Industry〃； and on the fourth； 〃To
the Fine Arts。〃
But the jubilation that brightened all faces seemed to darken
that of Madame Lefrancois； the innkeeper。 Standing on her
kitchen…steps she muttered to herself； 〃What rubbish！ what
rubbish！ With their canvas booth！ Do they think the prefect will
be glad to dine down there under a tent like a gipsy？ They call
all this fussing doing good to the place！ Then it wasn't worth
while sending to Neufchatel for the keeper of a cookshop！ And for
whom？ For cowherds！ tatterdemalions！〃
The druggist was passing。 He had on a frock…coat； nankeen
trousers； beaver shoes； and； for a wonder； a hat with a low
crown。
〃Your servant！ Excuse me； I am in a hurry。〃 And as the fat widow
asked where he was going
〃It seems odd to you； doesn't it； I who am always more cooped up
in my laboratory than the man's rat in his cheese。〃
〃What cheese？〃 asked the landlady。
〃Oh； nothing！ nothing！〃 Homais continued。 〃I merely wished to
convey to you； Madame Lefrancois； that I usually live at home
like a recluse。 To…day； however； considering the circumstances；
it is necessary〃
〃Oh； you're going down there！〃 she said contemptuously。
〃Yes； I am going；〃 replied the druggist； astonished。 〃Am I not a
member of the consulting commission？〃
Mere Lefrancois looked at him for a few moments； and ended by
saying with a smile
〃That's another pair of shoes！ But what does agriculture matter
to you？ Do you understand anything about it？〃
〃Certainly I understand it； since I am a druggistthat is to
say； a chemist。 And the object of chemistry； Madame Lefrancois；
being the knowledge of the reciprocal and molecular action of all
natural bodies； it follows that agriculture is comprised within
its domain。 And； in fact； the composition of the manure； the
fermentation of liquids； the analyses of gases； and the influence
of miasmata； what； I ask you； is all this； if it isn't chemistry；
pure and simple？〃
The landlady did not answer。 Homais went on
〃Do you think that to be an agriculturist it is necessary to have
tilled the earth or fattened fowls oneself？ It is necessary
rather to know the composition of the substances in questionthe
geological strata； the atmospheric actions； the quality of the
soil； the minerals； the waters； the density of the different
bodies； their capillarity； and what not。 And one must be master
of all the principles of hygiene in order to direct； criticize
the construction of buildings； the feeding of animals； the diet
of domestics。 And； moreover； Madame Lefrancois； one must know
botany； be able to distinguish between plants； you understand；
which are the wholesome and those that are deleterious； which are
unproductive and which nutritive； if it is well to pull them up
here and re…sow them there； to propagate some； destroy others； in
brief； one must keep pace with science by means of pamphlets and
public papers； be always on the alert to find out improvements。〃
The landlady never took her eyes off the 〃Cafe Francois〃 and the
chemist went on
〃Would to God our agriculturists were chemists； or that at least
they would pay more attention to the counsels of science。 Thus
lately I myself wrote a considerable tract； a memoir of over
seventy…two pages； entitled； 'Cider； its Manufacture and its
Effects； together with some New Reflections on the Subject；' that
I sent to the Agricultural Society of Rouen； and which even
procured me the honour of being received among its
membersSection； Agriculture； Class； Pomological。
Well； if my work had been given to the public〃 But the druggist
stopped； Madame Lefrancois seemed so preoccupied。
〃Just look at them！〃 she said。 〃It's past comprehension！ Such a
cookshop as that！〃 And with a shrug of the shoulders that
stretched out over her breast the stitches of her knitted bodice；
she pointed with both hands at her rival's inn； whence songs were
heard issuing。 〃Well； it won't last long；〃 she added。 〃It'll be
over before a week。〃
Homais drew back with stupefaction。 She came down three steps and
whispered in his ear
〃What！ you didn't know it？ There is to be an execution in next
week。 It's Lheureux who is selling him out； he has killed him
with bills。〃
〃What a terrible catastrophe！〃 cried the druggist； who always
found expressions in harmony with all imaginable circumstances。
Then the landlady began telling him the story that she had heard
from Theodore； Monsieur Guillaumin's servant； and although she
detested Tellier； she blamed Lheureux。 He was 〃a wheedler； a
sneak。〃
〃There！〃 she said。 〃Look at him！ he is in the market； he is
bowing to Madame Bovary； who's got on a green bonnet。 Why； she's
taking Monsieur Boulanger's arm。〃
〃Madame Bovary！〃 exclaimed Homais。 〃I must go at once and pay her
my respects。 Perhaps she'll be very glad to have a seat in the
enclosure under the peristyle。〃 And； without heeding Madame
Lefrancois； who was calling him back to tell him more about it；
the druggist walked off rapidly with a smile on his lips； with
straight knees； bowing copiously to right and left； and taking up
much room with the large tails of his frock…coat that fluttered
behind him in the wind。
Rodolphe； having caught sight of him from afar； hurried on； but
Madame Bovary lost her breath； so he walked more slowly； and；
smiling at her； said in a rough tone
〃It's only to get away from that fat fellow； you know； the
druggist。〃 She pressed his elbow。
〃What's the meaning of that？〃 he asked himself。 And he looked at
her out of the corner of his eyes。
Her profile was so calm tha