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is rattling in the wind。〃
The next day； Sunday； she went to Rouen to call on all the
brokers whose names she knew。 They were at their country…places
or on journeys。 She was not discouraged； and those whom she did
manage to see she asked for money； declaring she must have some；
and that she would pay it back。 Some laughed in her face； all
refused。
At two o'clock she hurried to Leon； and knocked at the door。 No
one answered。 At length he appeared。
〃What brings you here？〃
〃Do I disturb you？〃
〃No； but〃 And he admitted that his landlord didn't like his
having 〃women〃 there。
〃I must speak to you；〃 she went on。
Then he took down the key； but she stopped him。
〃No； no！ Down there； in our home！〃
And they went to their room at the Hotel de Boulogne。
On arriving she drank off a large glass of water。 She was very
pale。 She said to him
〃Leon； you will do me a service？〃
And； shaking him by both hands that she grasped tightly； she
added
〃Listen； I want eight thousand francs。〃
〃But you are mad！〃
〃Not yet。〃
And thereupon； telling him the story of the distraint； she
explained her distress to him； for Charles knew nothing of it；
her mother…in…law detested her； old Rouault could do nothing； but
he； Leon； he would set about finding this indispensable sum。
〃How on earth can I？〃
〃What a coward you are！〃 she cried。
Then he said stupidly； 〃You are exaggerating the difficulty。
Perhaps； with a thousand crowns or so the fellow could be
stopped。〃
All the greater reason to try and do something； it was impossible
that they could not find three thousand francs。 Besides； Leon；
could be security instead of her。
〃Go； try； try！ I will love you so！〃
He went out； and came back at the end of an hour； saying； with
solemn face
〃I have been to three people with no success。〃
Then they remained sitting face to face at the two chimney
corners； motionless； in silence。 Emma shrugged her shoulders as
she stamped her feet。 He heard her murmuring
〃If I were in your place _I_ should soon get some。〃
〃But where？〃
〃At your office。〃 And she looked at him。
An infernal boldness looked out from her burning eyes； and their
lids drew close together with a lascivious and encouraging look；
so that the young man felt himself growing weak beneath the mute
will of this woman who was urging him to a crime。 Then he was
afraid； and to avoid any explanation he smote his forehead；
crying
〃Morel is to come back to…night； he will not refuse me； I hope〃
（this was one of his friends； the son of a very rich merchant）；
〃and I will bring it you to…morrow；〃 he added。
Emma did not seem to welcome this hope with all the joy he had
expected。 Did she suspect the lie？ He went on； blushing
〃However； if you don't see me by three o'clock do not wait for
me； my darling。 I must be off now； forgive me！ Goodbye！〃
He pressed her hand； but it felt quite lifeless。 Emma had no
strength left for any sentiment。
Four o'clock struck； and she rose to return to Yonville；
mechanically obeying the force of old habits。
The weather was fine。 It was one of those March days； clear and
sharp； when the sun shines in a perfectly white sky。 The Rouen
folk； in Sunday…clothes； were walking about with happy looks。 She
reached the Place du Parvis。 People were coming out after
vespers； the crowd flowed out through the three doors like a
stream through the three arches of a bridge； and in the middle
one； more motionless than a rock； stood the beadle。
Then she remembered the day when； all anxious and full of hope；
she had entered beneath this large nave； that had opened out
before her； less profound than her love； and she walked on
weeping beneath her veil； giddy； staggering； almost fainting。
〃Take care！〃 cried a voice issuing from the gate of a courtyard
that was thrown open。
She stopped to let pass a black horse； pawing the ground between
the shafts of a tilbury； driven by a gentleman in sable furs。 Who
was it？ She knew him。 The carriage darted by and disappeared。
Why； it was hethe Viscount。 She turned away； the street was
empty。 She was so overwhelmed； so sad； that she had to lean
against a wall to keep herself from falling。
Then she thought she had been mistaken。 Anyhow； she did not know。
All within her and around her was abandoning her。 She felt lost；
sinking at random into indefinable abysses； and it was almost
with joy that； on reaching the 〃Croix…Rouge；〃 she saw the good
Homais； who was watching a large box full of pharmaceutical
stores being hoisted on to the 〃Hirondelle。〃 In his hand he held
tied in a silk handkerchief six cheminots for his wife。
Madame Homais was very fond of these small； heavy turban…shaped
loaves； that are eaten in Lent with salt butter； a last vestige
of Gothic food that goes back； perhaps； to the time of the
Crusades； and with which the robust Normans gorged themselves of
yore； fancying they saw on the table； in the light of the yellow
torches； between tankards of hippocras and huge boars' heads； the
heads of Saracens to be devoured。 The druggist's wife crunched
them up as they had doneheroically； despite her wretched teeth。
And so whenever Homais journeyed to town； he never failed to
bring her home some that he bought at the great baker's in the
Rue Massacre。
〃Charmed to see you；〃 he said； offering Emma a hand to help her
into the 〃Hirondelle。〃 Then he hung up his cheminots to the cords
of the netting； and remained bare…headed in an attitude pensive
and Napoleonic。
But when the blind man appeared as usual at the foot of the hill
he exclaimed
〃I can't understand why the authorities tolerate such culpable
industries。 Such unfortunates should be locked up and forced to
work。 Progress； my word！ creeps at a snail's pace。 We are
floundering about in mere barbarism。〃
The blind man held out his hat； that flapped about at the door；
as if it were a bag in the lining that had come unnailed。
〃This；〃 said the chemist； 〃is a scrofulous affection。〃
And though he knew the poor devil； he pretended to see him for
the first time； murmured something about 〃cornea；〃 〃opaque
cornea；〃 〃sclerotic；〃 〃facies；〃 then asked him in a paternal
tone
〃My friend； have you long had this terrible infirmity？ Instead of
getting drunk at the public； you'd do better to die yourself。〃
He advised him to take good wine； good beer； and good joints。 The
blind man went on with his song； he seemed； moreover； almost
idiotic。 At last Monsieur Homais opened his purse
〃Now there's a sou； give me back two lairds； and don't forget my
advice： you'll be the better for it。〃
Hivert openly cast some doubt on the efficacy of it。 But the
druggist said that he would cure himself with an antiphlogistic
pomade of his own composition； and he gave his address〃Monsieur
Homais； near the market； pretty well known。〃
〃Now；〃 said Hivert； 〃for all this trouble you'll give us your
performance。〃
The blind man sank down on his haunches； with his head thrown
back； whilst he rolled his greenish eyes； lolled out his tongue；
and rubbed his stomach with both hands as he uttered a kind of
hollow yell like a famished dog。 Emma； filled with disgust； threw
him over her shoulder a five…franc piece。 It was all her fortune。
It seemed to her very fine thus to throw it away。
The coach had gone on again when suddenly Monsieur Homais leant
out through the window； crying
〃No farinaceous or milk food； wear wool next the skin； and expose
the diseased parts to the smoke of juniper berries。〃
The sight of the well…known objects that defiled before her eyes
gradually diverted Emma from her present trouble。 An intolerable
fatigue overwhelmed her； and she reached her home stupefied；
discouraged； almost asleep。
〃Come what may come！〃 she said to herself。 〃And then； who knows？
Why； at any moment could not some extraordinary event occur？
Lheureux even might die！〃
At nine o'clock in the morning she was awakened by the sound of
voices in the Place。 There was a crowd round the market reading a
large bill fixed to one of the posts； and she saw Justin； who was
climbing on to a stone and tearing down the bill。 But at this
moment the rural guard seized him by the co