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nor Dupuytren； about to open an abscess in the brain； nor Gensoul
when he first took away the superior maxilla； had hearts that
trembled； hands that shook； minds so strained as Monsieur Bovary
when he approached Hippolyte； his tenotome between his fingers。
And as at hospitals； near by on a table lay a heap of lint； with
waxed thread； many bandagesa pyramid of bandagesevery bandage
to be found at the druggist's。 It was Monsieur Homais who since
morning had been organising all these preparations； as much to
dazzle the multitude as to keep up his illusions。 Charles pierced
the skin； a dry crackling was heard。 The tendon was cut； the
operation over。 Hippolyte could not get over his surprise； but
bent over Bovary's hands to cover them with kisses。
〃Come； be calm；〃 said the druggist； 〃later on you will show your
gratitude to your benefactor。〃
And he went down to tell the result to five or six inquirers who
were waiting in the yard； and who fancied that Hippolyte would
reappear walking properly。 Then Charles； having buckled his
patient into the machine； went home； where Emma； all anxiety；
awaited him at the door。 She threw herself on his neck； they sat
down to table； he ate much； and at dessert he even wanted to take
a cup of coffee； a luxury he only permitted himself on Sundays
when there was company。
The evening was charming； full of prattle； of dreams together。
They talked about their future fortune； of the improvements to be
made in their house； he saw people's estimation of him growing；
his comforts increasing； his wife always loving him； and she was
happy to refresh herself with a new sentiment； healthier； better；
to feel at last some tenderness for this poor fellow who adored
her。 The thought of Rodolphe for one moment passed through her
mind； but her eyes turned again to Charles； she even noticed with
surprise that he had not bad teeth。
They were in bed when Monsieur Homais； in spite of the servant；
suddenly entered the room； holding in his hand a sheet of paper
just written。 It was the paragraph he intended for the 〃Fanal de
Rouen。〃 He brought it for them to read。
〃Read it yourself；〃 said Bovary。
He read
〃 'Despite the prejudices that still invest a part of the face of
Europe like a net； the light nevertheless begins to penetrate our
country places。 Thus on Tuesday our little town of Yonville found
itself the scene of a surgical operation which is at the same
time an； act of loftiest philanthropy。 Monsieur Bovary； one of
our； most distinguished practitioners'〃
〃Oh； that is too much！ too much！〃 said Charles； choking with
emotion。
〃No； no！ not at all！ What next！〃
〃 'Performed an operation on a club…footed man。' I have not
used the scientific term； because you know in a newspaper
everyone would not perhaps understand。 The masses must'〃
〃No doubt；〃 said Bovary； 〃go on！〃
〃I proceed；〃 said the chemist。 〃'Monsieur Bovary； one of our most
distinguished practitioners； performed an operation on a
club…footed man called Hippolyte Tautain； stableman for the last
twenty…five years at the hotel of the 〃Lion d'Or；〃 kept by Widow
Lefrancois； at the Place d'Armes。 The novelty of the attempt； and
the interest incident to the subject； had attracted such a
concourse of persons that there was a veritable obstruction on
the threshold of the establishment。 The operation； moreover； was
performed as if by magic； and barely a few drops of blood
appeared on the skin； as though to say that the rebellious tendon
had at last given way beneath the efforts of art。 The patient；
strangely enoughwe affirm it as an eye…witnesscomplained of
no pain。 His condition up to the present time leaves nothing to
be desired。 Everything tends to show that his convelescence will
be brief； and who knows even if at our next village festivity we
shall not see our good Hippolyte figuring in the bacchic dance in
the midst of a chorus of joyous boon…companions； and thus proving
to all eyes by his verve and his capers his complete cure？
Honour； then； to the generous savants！ Honour to those
indefatigable spirits who consecrate their vigils to the
amelioration or to the alleviation of their kind！ Honour； thrice
honour！ Is it not time to cry that the blind shall see； the deaf
hear； the lame walk？ But that which fanaticism formerly promised
to its elect； science now accomplishes for all men。 We shall keep
our readers informed as to the successive phases of this
remarkable cure。' 〃
This did not prevent Mere Lefrancois； from coming five days
after； scared； and crying out
〃Help！ he is dying！ I am going crazy！〃
Charles rushed to the 〃Lion d'Or；〃 and the chemist； who caught
sight of him passing along the Place hatless； abandoned his shop。
He appeared himself breathless； red； anxious； and asking everyone
who was going up the stairs
〃Why； what's the matter with our interesting strephopode？〃
The strephopode was writhing in hideous convulsions； so that the
machine in which his leg was enclosed was knocked against the
wall enough to break it。
With many precautions； in order not to disturb the position of
the limb； the box was removed； and an awful sight presented
itself。 The outlines of the foot disappeared in such a swelling
that the entire skin seemed about to burst； and it was covered
with ecchymosis； caused by the famous machine。 Hippolyte had
already complained of suffering from it。 No attention had been
paid to him； they had to acknowledge that he had not been
altogether wrong； and he was freed for a few hours。 But； hardly
had the oedema gone down to some extent； than the two savants
thought fit to put back the limb in the apparatus； strapping it
tighter to hasten matters。 At last； three days after； Hippolyte
being unable to endure it any longer； they once more removed
the machine； and were much surprised at the result they saw。 The
livid tumefaction spread over the leg； with blisters here and
there； whence there oozed a black liquid。 Matters were taking a
serious turn。 Hippolyte began to worry himself； and Mere
Lefrancois； had him installed in the little room near the
kitchen； so that he might at least have some distraction。
But the tax…collector； who dined there every day； complained
bitterly of such companionship。 Then Hippolyte was removed to the
billiard…room。 He lay there moaning under his heavy coverings；
pale with long beard； sunken eyes； and from time to time turning
his perspiring head on the dirty pillow； where the flies
alighted。 Madame Bovary went to see him。 She brought him linen
for his poultices； she comforted； and encouraged him。 Besides； he
did not want for company； especially on market…days； when the
peasants were knocking about the billiard…balls round him； fenced
with the cues； smoked； drank； sang； and brawled。
〃How are you？〃 they said； clapping him on the shoulder。 〃Ah！
you're not up to much； it seems； but it's your own fault。 You
should do this！ do that！〃 And then they told him stories of
people who had all been cured by other remedies than his。 Then by
way of consolation they added
〃You give way too much！ Get up！ You coddle yourself like a king！
All the same； old chap； you don't smell nice！〃
Gangrene； in fact； was spreading more and more。 Bovary h