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！
flowers for a woman； and his breast； as he smelt them； swelled
with pride； as if this homage that he meant for another had
recoiled upon himself。
But he was afraid of being seen； he resolutely entered the
church。 The beadle； who was just then standing on the threshold
in the middle of the left doorway； under the 〃Dancing Marianne；〃
with feather cap； and rapier dangling against his calves； came
in； more majestic than a cardinal； and as shining as a saint on a
holy pyx。
He came towards Leon； and； with that smile of wheedling benignity
assumed by ecclesiastics when they question children
〃The gentleman； no doubt； does not belong to these parts？ The
gentleman would like to see the curiosities of the church？〃
〃No！〃 said the other。
And he first went round the lower aisles。 Then he went out to
look at the Place。 Emma was not coming yet。 He went up again to
the choir。
The nave was reflected in the full fonts with the beginning of
the arches and some portions of the glass windows。 But the
reflections of the paintings； broken by the marble rim； were
continued farther on upon the flag…stones； like a many…coloured
carpet。 The broad daylight from without streamed into the church
in three enormous rays from the three opened portals。 From time
to time at the upper end a sacristan passed； making the oblique
genuflexion of devout persons in a hurry。 The crystal lustres
hung motionless。 In the choir a silver lamp was burning； and from
the side chapels and dark places of the church sometimes rose
sounds like sighs； with the clang of a closing grating； its echo
reverberating under the lofty vault。
Leon with solemn steps walked along by the walls。 Life had never
seemed so good to him。 She would come directly； charming；
agitated； looking back at the glances that followed her； and with
her flounced dress； her gold eyeglass； her thin shoes； with all
sorts of elegant trifles that he had never enjoyed； and with the
ineffable seduction of yielding virtue。 The church like a huge
boudoir spread around her； the arches bent down to gather in the
shade the confession of her love； the windows shone resplendent
to illumine her face； and the censers would burn that she might
appear like an angel amid the fumes of the sweet…smelling odours。
But she did not come。 He sat down on a chair； and his eyes fell
upon a blue stained window representing boatmen carrying baskets。
He looked at it long； attentively； and he counted the scales of
the fishes and the button…holes of the doublets； while his
thoughts wandered off towards Emma。
The beadle； standing aloof； was inwardly angry at this individual
who took the liberty of admiring the cathedral by himself。 He
seemed to him to be conducting himself in a monstrous fashion； to
be robbing him in a sort； and almost committing sacrilege。
But a rustle of silk on the flags； the tip of a bonnet； a lined
cloakit was she！ Leon rose and ran to meet her。
Emma was pale。 She walked fast。
〃Read！〃 she said； holding out a paper to him。 〃Oh； no！〃
And she abruptly withdrew her hand to enter the chapel of the
Virgin； where； kneeling on a chair； she began to pray。
The young man was irritated at this bigot fancy； then he
nevertheless experienced a certain charm in seeing her； in the
middle of a rendezvous； thus lost in her devotions； like an
Andalusian marchioness； then he grew bored； for she seemed never
coming to an end。
Emma prayed； or rather strove to pray； hoping that some sudden
resolution might descend to her from heaven； and to draw down
divine aid she filled full her eyes with the splendours of the
tabernacle。 She breathed in the perfumes of the full…blown
flowers in the large vases； and listened to the stillness of the
church； that only heightened the tumult of her heart。
She rose； and they were about to leave； when the beadle came
forward； hurriedly saying
〃Madame； no doubt； does not belong to these parts？ Madame would
like to see the curiosities of the church？〃
〃Oh； no！〃 cried the clerk。
〃Why not？〃 said she。 For she clung with her expiring virtue to
the Virgin； the sculptures； the tombsanything。
Then； in order to proceed 〃by rule；〃 the beadle conducted them
right to the entrance near the square； where； pointing out with
his cane a large circle of block…stones without inscription or
carving
〃This；〃 he said majestically； 〃is the circumference of the
beautiful bell of Ambroise。 It weighed forty thousand pounds。
There was not its equal in all Europe。 The workman who cast it
died of the joy〃
〃Let us go on；〃 said Leon。
The old fellow started off again； then； having got back to the
chapel of the Virgin； he stretched forth his arm with an
all…embracing gesture of demonstration； and； prouder than a
country squire showing you his espaliers； went on
〃This simple stone covers Pierre de Breze； lord of Varenne and of
Brissac； grand marshal of Poitou； and governor of Normandy； who
died at the battle of Montlhery on the 16th of July； 1465。〃
Leon bit his lips； fuming。
〃And on the right； this gentleman all encased in iron； on the
prancing horse； is his grandson； Louis de Breze； lord of Breval
and of Montchauvet； Count de Maulevrier； Baron de Mauny；
chamberlain to the king； Knight of the Order； and also governor
of Normandy； died on the 23rd of July； 1531a Sunday； as the
inscription specifies； and below； this figure； about to descend
into the tomb； portrays the same person。 It is not possible； is
it； to see a more perfect representation of annihilation？〃
Madame Bovary put up her eyeglasses。 Leon； motionless； looked at
her； no longer even attempting to speak a single word； to make a
gesture； so discouraged was he at this two…fold obstinacy of
gossip and indifference。
The everlasting guide went on
〃Near him； this kneeling woman who weeps is his spouse； Diane de
Poitiers； Countess de Breze； Duchess de Valentinois； born in
1499； died in 1566； and to the left； the one with the child is
the Holy Virgin。 Now turn to this side； here are the tombs of the
Ambroise。 They were both cardinals and archbishops of Rouen。 That
one was minister under Louis XII。 He did a great deal for the
cathedral。 In his will he left thirty thousand gold crowns for
the poor。〃
And without stopping； still talking； he pushed them into a chapel
full of balustrades； some put away； and disclosed a kind of block
that certainly might once have been an ill…made statue。
〃Truly；〃 he said with a groan； 〃it adorned the tomb of Richard
Coeur de Lion； King of England and Duke of Normandy。 It was the
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 ba