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climbing on to a stone and tearing down the bill。 But at this
moment the rural guard seized him by the collar。 Monsieur Homais
came out of his shop； and Mere Lefrangois； in the midst of the
crowd； seemed to be perorating。
〃Madame！ madame！〃 cried Felicite； running in； 〃it's abominable！〃
And the poor girl； deeply moved； handed her a yellow paper that
she had just torn off the door。 Emma read with a glance that all
her furniture was for sale。
Then they looked at one another silently。 The servant and
mistress had no secret one from the other。 At last Felicite
sighed
〃If I were you； madame； I should go to Monsieur Guillaumin。〃
〃Do you think〃
And this question meant to say
〃You who know the house through the servant； has the master
spoken sometimes of me？〃
〃Yes； you'd do well to go there。〃
She dressed； put on her black gown； and her hood with jet beads；
and that she might not be seen （there was still a crowd on the
Place）； she took the path by the river； outside the village。
She reached the notary's gate quite breathless。 The sky was
sombre； and a little snow was falling。 At the sound of the bell；
Theodore in a red waistcoat appeared on the steps； he came to
open the door almost familiarly； as to an acquaintance； and
showed her into the dining…room。
A large porcelain stove crackled beneath a cactus that filled up
the niche in the wall； and in black wood frames against the
oak…stained paper hung Steuben's 〃Esmeralda〃 and Schopin's
〃Potiphar。 〃 The ready…laid table； the two silver chafing…dishes；
the crystal door…knobs； the parquet and the furniture； all shone
with a scrupulous； English cleanliness； the windows were
ornamented at each corner with stained glass。
〃Now this；〃 thought Emma； 〃is the dining…room I ought to have。〃
The notary came in pressing his palm…leaf dressing…gown to his
breast with his left arm； while with the other hand he raised and
quickly put on again his brown velvet cap； pretentiously cocked
on the right side； whence looked out the ends of three fair curls
drawn from the back of the head； following the line of his bald
skull。
After he had offered her a seat he sat down to breakfast；
apologising profusely for his rudeness。
〃I have come；〃 she said； 〃to beg you； sir〃
〃What； madame？ I am listening。〃
And she began explaining her position to him。 Monsieur Guillaumin
knew it； being secretly associated with the linendraper； from
whom he always got capital for the loans on mortgages that he was
asked to make。
So he knew （and better than she herself） the long story of the
bills； small at first； bearing different names as endorsers； made
out at long dates； and constantly renewed up to the day； when；
gathering together all the protested bills； the shopkeeper had
bidden his friend Vincart take in his own name all the necessary
proceedings； not wishing to pass for a tiger with his
fellow…citizens。
She mingled her story with recriminations against Lheureux； to
which the notary replied from time to time with some
insignificant word。 Eating his cutlet and drinking his tea； he
buried his chin in his sky…blue cravat； into which were thrust
two diamond pins； held together by a small gold chain； and he
smiled a singular smile； in a sugary； ambiguous fashion。 But
noticing that her feet were damp； he said
〃Do get closer to the stove； put your feet up against the
porcelain。〃
She was afraid of dirtying it。 The notary replied in a gallant
tone
〃Beautiful things spoil nothing。〃
Then she tried to move him； and； growing moved herself； she began
telling him about the poorness of her home； her worries； her
wants。 He could understand that； an elegant woman！ and； without
leaving off eating； he had turned completely round towards her；
so that his knee brushed against her boot； whose sole curled
round as it smoked against the stove。
But when she asked for a thousand sous； he closed his lips； and
declared he was very sorry he had not had the management of her
fortune before； for there were hundreds of ways very convenient；
even for a lady； of turning her money to account。 They might；
either in the turf…peats of Grumesnil or building…ground at
Havre； almost without risk； have ventured on some excellent
speculations； and he let her consume herself with rage at the
thought of the fabulous sums that she would certainly have made。
〃How was it；〃 he went on； 〃that you didn't come to me？〃
〃I hardly know；〃 she said。
〃Why； hey？ Did I frighten you so much？ It is I； on the contrary；
who ought to complain。 We hardly know one another； yet I am very
devoted to you。 You do not doubt that； I hope？〃
He held out his hand； took hers； covered it with a greedy kiss；
then held it on his knee； and he played delicately with her
fingers whilst he murmured a thousand blandishments。 His insipid
voice murmured like a running brook； a light shone in his eyes
through the glimmering of his spectacles； and his hand was
advancing up Emma's sleeve to press her arm。 She felt against her
cheek his panting breath。 This man oppressed her horribly。
She sprang up and said to him
〃Sir； I am waiting。〃
〃For what？〃 said the notary； who suddenly became very pale。
〃This money。〃
〃But〃 Then； yielding to the outburst of too powerful a desire；
〃Well； yes！〃
He dragged himself towards her on his knees； regardless of his
dressing…gown。
〃For pity's sake； stay。 I love you！〃
He seized her by her waist。 Madame Bovary's face flushed purple。
She recoiled with a terrible look； crying
〃You are taking a shameless advantage of my distress； sir！ I am
to be pitiednot to be sold。〃
And she went out。
The notary remained quite stupefied； his eyes fixed on his fine
embroidered slippers。 They were a love gift； and the sight of
them at last consoled him。 Besides； he reflected that such an
adventure might have carried him too far。
〃What a wretch！ what a scoundrel！ what an infamy！〃 she said to
herself； as she fled with nervous steps beneath the aspens of the
path。 The disappointment of her failure increased the indignation
of her outraged modesty； it seemed to her that Providence pursued
her implacably； and； strengthening herself in her pride； she had
never felt so much esteem for herself nor so much contempt for
others。 A spirit of warfare transformed her。 She would have liked
to strike all men； to spit in their faces； to crush them； and she
walked rapidly straight on； pale； quivering； maddened； searching
the empty horizon with tear…dimmed eyes； and as it were rejoicing
in the hate that was choking her。
When she saw her house a numbness came over her。 She could not go
on； and yet she must。 Besides； whither could she flee ？
Felicite was waiting for her at the door。 〃Well？〃
〃No！〃 said Emma。
And for a quarter of an hour the two of them went over the
various persons in Yonville who might perhaps be inclined to help
her。 But each time that Felicite named someone Emma replied
〃Impossible！ they will not！〃
〃And the master'll soon be in。〃
〃I know that well enough。 Leave me alone。〃
She had tried everything； there was nothing more to be done now；
and when Charles came in she would have to say to him
〃Go away！ This carpet on which you are walking is no longer ours。
In your own house you do not possess a chair； a pin； a straw； and
it is I； poor man； who have ruined you。〃
Then there would be a great sob； next he would weep abundantly；
and at last； the surprise past； he would forgive her。
〃Yes；〃 she murmured； grinding her teeth； 〃he will forgive me； he
who would give a million if I would forgive him for having known
me！ Never！ never！〃
This thought of Bovary's superiority to her exasperated her。
Then； whether she confessed or did not confess； presently；
immediately； to…morrow； he would know the catastrophe all the
same； so she must wait for this horrible scene； and bear the
weight of his magnanimity。 The desire to return to Lheureux's
seized herwhat would be the use？ To write to her fatherit was
too late； and perhaps； she began to repent now that she had not
yielded to that other； when she heard the trot of a horse in the
alley。 It was he； he was opening the gate； he was whiter than the
plaster