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！
one； for fear of causing the public anxiety by his absence。
The idea of seeing again the place where his youth had been spent
no doubt excited him； for during the whole journey he never
ceased talking； and as soon as he had arrived； he jumped quickly
out of the diligence to go in search of Leon。 In vain the clerk
tried to get rid of him。 Monsieur Homais dragged him off to the
large Cafe de la Normandie； which he entered majestically； not
raising his hat； thinking it very provincial to uncover in any
public place。
Emma waited for Leon three quarters of an hour。 At last she ran
to his office； and； lost in all sorts of conjectures； accusing
him of indifference； and reproaching herself for her weakness；
she spent the afternoon； her face pressed against the
window…panes。
At two o'clock they were still at a table opposite each other。
The large room was emptying； the stove…pipe； in the shape of a
palm…tree； spread its gilt leaves over the white ceiling； and
near them； outside the window； in the bright sunshine； a little
fountain gurgled in a white basin； where； in the midst of
watercress and asparagus； three torpid lobsters stretched across
to some quails that lay heaped up in a pile on their sides。
Homais was enjoying himself。 Although he was even more
intoxicated with the luxury than the rich fare； the Pommard wine
all the same rather excited his faculties； and when the omelette
au rhum* appeared； he began propounding immoral theories about
women。 What seduced him above all else was chic。 He admired an
elegant toilette in a well…furnished apartment； and as to bodily
qualities； he didn't dislike a young girl。
* In rum。
Leon watched the clock in despair。 The druggist went on drinking；
eating； and talking。
〃You must be very lonely；〃 he said suddenly； 〃here at Rouen。 To
be sure your lady…love doesn't live far away。〃
And the other blushed
〃Come now； be frank。 Can you deny that at Yonville〃
The young man stammered something。
〃At Madame Bovary's； you're not making love to〃
〃To whom？〃
〃The servant！〃
He was not joking； but vanity getting the better of all prudence；
Leon； in spite of himself protested。 Besides； he only liked dark
women。
〃I approve of that；〃 said the chemist； 〃they have more passion。〃
And whispering into his friend's ear； he pointed out the symptoms
by which one could find out if a woman had passion。 He even
launched into an ethnographic digression： the German was
vapourish； the French woman licentious； the Italian passionate。
〃And negresses？〃 asked the clerk。
〃They are an artistic taste！〃 said Homais。 〃Waiter！ two cups of
coffee！〃
〃Are we going？〃 at last asked Leon impatiently。
〃Ja！〃
But before leaving he wanted to see the proprietor of the
establishment and made him a few compliments。 Then the young man；
to be alone； alleged he had some business engagement。
〃Ah！ I will escort you；〃 said Homais。
And all the while he was walking through the streets with him he
talked of his wife； his children； of their future； and of his
business； told him in what a decayed condition it had formerly
been； and to what a degree of perfection he had raised it。
Arrived in front of the Hotel de Boulogne； Leon left him
abruptly； ran up the stairs； and found his mistress in great
excitement。 At mention of the chemist she flew into a passion。
He； however； piled up good reasons； it wasn't his fault； didn't
she know Homaisdid she believe that he would prefer his
company？ But she turned away； he drew her back； and； sinking on
his knees； clasped her waist with his arms in a languorous pose；
full of concupiscence and supplication。
She was standing； up； her large flashing eyes looked at him
seriously； almost terribly。 Then tears obscured them； her red
eyelids were lowered； she gave him her hands； and Leon was
pressing them to his lips when a servant appeared to tell the
gentleman that he was wanted。
〃You will come back？〃 she said。
〃Yes。〃
〃But when？〃
〃Immediately。〃
〃It's a trick；〃 said the chemist； when he saw Leon。 〃I wanted to
interrupt this visit； that seemed to me to annoy you。 Let's go
and have a glass of garus at Bridoux'。〃
Leon vowed that he must get back to his office。 Then the druggist
joked him about quill…drivers and the law。
〃Leave Cujas and Barthole alone a bit。 Who the devil prevents
you？ Be a man！ Let's go to Bridoux'。 You'll see his dog。 It's
very interesting。〃
And as the clerk still insisted
〃I'll go with you。 I'll read a paper while I wait for you； or
turn over the leaves of a 'Code。'〃
Leon； bewildered by Emma's anger； Monsieur Homais' chatter； and；
perhaps； by the heaviness of the luncheon； was undecided； and； as
it were； fascinated by the chemist； who kept repeating
〃Let's go to Bridoux'。 It's just by here； in the Rue Malpalu。〃
Then； through cowardice； through stupidity； through that
indefinable feeling that drags us into the most distasteful acts；
he allowed himself to be led off to Bridoux'； whom they found in
his small yard； superintending three workmen； who panted as they
turned the large wheel of a machine for making seltzer…water。
Homais gave them some good advice。 He embraced Bridoux； they took
some garus。 Twenty times Leon tried to escape； but the other
seized him by the arm saying
〃Presently！ I'm coming！ We'll go to the 'Fanal de Rouen' to see
the fellows there。 I'll introduce you to Thornassin。〃
At last he managed to get rid of him； and rushed straight to the
hotel。 Emma was no longer there。 She had just gone in a fit of
anger。 She detested him now。 This failing to keep their
rendezvous seemed to her an insult； and she tried to rake up
other reasons to separate herself from him。 He was incapable of
heroism； weak； banal； more spiritless than a woman； avaricious
too； and cowardly。
Then； growing calmer； she at length discovered that she had； no
doubt； calumniated him。 But the disparaging of those we love
always alienates us from them to some extent。 We must not touch
our idols； the gilt sticks to our fingers。
They gradually came to talking more frequently of matters outside
their love； and in the letters that Emma wrote him she spoke of
flowers； verses； the moon and the stars； naive resources of a
waning passion striving to keep itself alive by all external
aids。 She was constantly promising herself a profound felicity on
her next journey。 Then she confessed to herself that she felt
nothing extraordinary。 This disappointment quickly gave way to a
new hope； and Emma returned to him more inflamed； more eager than
ever。 She undressed brutally； tearing off the thin laces of her
corset that nestled around her hips like a gliding snake。 She
went on tiptoe； barefooted； to see once more that the door was
closed； then； pale； serious； and； without speaking； with one
movement； she threw herself upon his breast with a long shudder。
Yet there was upon that brow covered with cold drops； on those
quivering lips； in those wild eyes； in the strain of those arms；
something vague and dreary that seemed to Leon to glide between
them subtly as if to separate them。
He did not dare to question her； but； seeing her so skilled； she
must have passed； he thought； through every experience of
suffering and of pleasure。 What had once charmed now frightened
him a little。 Besides； he rebelled against his absorption； daily
more marked； by her personality。 He begrudged Emma this constant
victory。 He even strove not to love her； then； when he heard the
creaking of her boots； he turned coward； like drunkards at the
sight of strong drinks。
She did not fail； in truth； to lavish all sorts of attentions
upon him； from the delicacies of food to the coquettries of dress
and languishing looks。 She brought roses to her breast from
Yonville； which she threw into his face； was anxious about his
health； gave him advice as to his conduct； and； in order the more
surely to keep her hold on him； hoping perhaps that heaven would
take her part； she tied a medal of the Virgin round his neck。 She
inquired like a virtuous mother about his companions。 She said to
him
〃Don't see them； don't go out； think only of ourselves； love me！〃
She would have liked to b