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him
〃Don't see them； don't go out； think only of ourselves； love me！〃
She would have liked to be able to watch over his life； and the
idea occurred to her of having him followed in the streets。 Near
the hotel there was always a kind of loafer who accosted
travellers； and who would not refuse。 But her pride revolted at
this。
〃Bah！ so much the worse。 Let him deceive me！ What does it matter
to me？ As If I cared for him！〃
One day； when they had parted early and she was returning alone
along the boulevard； she saw the walls of her convent； then she
sat down on a form in the shade of the elm…trees。 How calm that
time had been！ How she longed for the ineffable sentiments of
love that she had tried to figure to herself out of books！ The
first month of her marriage； her rides in the wood； the viscount
that waltzed； and Lagardy singing； all repassed before her eyes。
And Leon suddenly appeared to her as far off as the others。
〃Yet I love him；〃 she said to herself。
No matter！ She was not happyshe never had been。 Whence came
this insufficiency in lifethis instantaneous turning to decay
of everything on which she leant？ But if there were somewhere a
being strong and beautiful； a valiant nature； full at once of
exaltation and refinement； a poet's heart in an angel's form； a
lyre with sounding chords ringing out elegiac epithalamia to
heaven； why； perchance； should she not find him？ Ah！ how
impossible！ Besides； nothing was worth the trouble of seeking it；
everything was a lie。 Every smile hid a yawn of boredom； every
joy a curse； all pleasure satiety； and the sweetest kisses left
upon your lips only the unattainable desire for a greater
delight。
A metallic clang droned through the air； and four strokes were
heard from the convent…clock。 Four o'clock！ And it seemed to her
that she had been there on that form an eternity。 But an infinity
of passions may be contained in a minute； like a crowd in a small
space。
Emma lived all absorbed in hers； and troubled no more about money
matters than an archduchess。
Once； however； a wretched…looking man； rubicund and bald； came to
her house； saying he had been sent by Monsieur Vincart of Rouen。
He took out the pins that held together the side…pockets of his
long green overcoat； stuck them into his sleeve； and politely
handed her a paper。
It was a bill for seven hundred francs； signed by her； and which
Lheureux； in spite of all his professions； had paid away to
Vincart。 She sent her servant for him。 He could not come。 Then
the stranger； who had remained standing； casting right and left
curious glances； that his thick； fair eyebrows hid； asked with a
naive air
〃What answer am I to take Monsieur Vincart？〃
〃Oh；〃 said Emma； 〃tell him that I haven't it。 I will send next
week； he must wait； yes； till next week。〃
And the fellow went without another word。
But the next day at twelve o'clock she received a summons； and
the sight of the stamped paper； on which appeared several times
in large letters； 〃Maitre Hareng； bailiff at Buchy；〃 so
frightened her that she rushed in hot haste to the linendraper's。
She found him in his shop； doing up a parcel。
〃Your obedient！〃 he said； 〃I am at your service。〃
But Lheureux； all the same； went on with his work； helped by a
young girl of about thirteen； somewhat hunch…backed； who was at
once his clerk and his servant。
Then； his clogs clattering on the shop…boards； he went up in
front of Madame Bovary to the first door； and introduced her into
a narrow closet； where； in a large bureau in sapon…wood； lay some
ledgers； protected by a horizontal padlocked iron bar。 Against
the wall； under some remnants of calico； one glimpsed a safe； but
of such dimensions that it must contain something besides bills
and money。 Monsieur Lheureux； in fact； went in for pawnbroking；
and it was there that he had put Madame Bovary's gold chain；
together with the earrings of poor old Tellier； who； at last
forced to sell out； had bought a meagre store of grocery at
Quincampoix； where he was dying of catarrh amongst his candles；
that were less yellow than his face。
Lheureux sat down in a large cane arm…chair； saying： 〃What news？〃
〃See！〃
And she showed him the paper。
〃Well how can I help it？〃
Then she grew angry； reminding him of the promise he had given
not to pay away her bills。 He acknowledged it。
〃But I was pressed myself； the knife was at my own throat。〃
〃And what will happen now？〃 she went on。
〃Oh； it's very simple； a judgment and then a distraintthat's
about it！〃
Emma kept down a desire to strike him； and asked gently if there
was no way of quieting Monsieur Vincart。
〃I dare say！ Quiet Vincart！ You don't know him； he's more
ferocious than an Arab！〃
Still Monsieur Lheureux must interfere。
〃Well； listen。 It seems to me so far I've been very good to you。〃
And opening one of his ledgers； 〃See；〃 he said。 Then running up
the page with his finger； 〃Let's see！ let's see！ August 3d； two
hundred francs； June 17th； a hundred and fifty； March 23d；
forty…six。 In April〃
He stopped； as if afraid of making some mistake。
〃Not to speak of the bills signed by Monsieur Bovary； one for
seven hundred francs； and another for three hundred。 As to your
little installments； with the interest； why； there's no end to
'em； one gets quite muddled over 'em。 I'll have nothing more to
do with it。〃
She wept； she even called him 〃her good Monsieur Lheureux。〃 But
he always fell back upon 〃that rascal Vincart。〃 Besides； he
hadn't a brass farthing； no one was paying him now…a…days； they
were eating his coat off his back； a poor shopkeeper like him
couldn't advance money。
Emma was silent； and Monsieur Lheureux； who was biting the
feathers of a quill； no doubt became uneasy at her silence； for
he went on
〃Unless one of these days I have something coming in； I might〃
〃Besides；〃 said she； 〃as soon as the balance of Barneville〃
〃What！〃
And on hearing that Langlois had not yet paid he seemed much
surprised。 Then in a honied voice
〃And we agree； you say？〃
〃Oh！ to anything you like。〃
On this he closed his eyes to reflect； wrote down a few figures；
and declaring it would be very difficult for him； that the affair
was shady； and that he was being bled； he wrote out four bills
for two hundred and fifty francs each； to fall due month by
month。
〃Provided that Vincart will listen to me！ However； it's settled。
I don't play the fool； I'm straight enough。〃
Next he carelessly showed her several new goods； not one of
which； however； was in his opinion worthy of madame。
〃When I think that there's a dress at threepence…halfpenny a
yard； and warranted fast colours！ And yet they actually swallow
it！ Of course you understand one doesn't tell them what it really
is！〃 He hoped by this confession of dishonesty to others to quite
convince her of his probity to her。
Then he called her back to show her three yards of guipure that
he had lately picked up 〃at a sale。〃
〃Isn't it lovely？〃 said Lheureux。 〃It is very much used now for
the backs of arm…chairs。 It's quite the rage。〃
And； more ready than a juggler； he wrapped up the guipure in some
blue paper and put it in Emma's hands。
〃But at least let me know〃
〃Yes； another time；〃 he replied； turning on his heel。
That same evening she urged Bovary to write to his mother； to ask
her to send as quickly as possible the whole of the balance due
from the father's estate。 The mother…in…law replied that she had
nothing more； the winding up was over； and there was due to them
besides Barneville an income of six hundred francs； that she
would pay them punctually。
Then Madame Bovary sent in accounts to two or three patients； and
she made large use of this method； which was very successful。 She
was always careful to add a postscript： 〃Do not mention this to
my husband； you know how proud he is。 Excuse me。 Yours
obediently。〃 There were some complaints； she intercepted them。
To get money she began selling her old gloves； her old hats； the
old odds and ends； and she bargained rapaciously； her peasant
blood standing her in good stead。 Then on her journey to town she
picked up nick…nacks secondhand； that； i