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the open air； outside the windows of a cafe。
First they spoke of her illness； although Emma interrupted
Charles from time to time； for fear； she said； of boring Monsieur
Leon； and the latter told them that he had come to spend two
years at Rouen in a large office； in order to get practice in his
profession； which was different in Normandy and Paris。 Then he
inquired after Berthe； the Homais； Mere Lefrancois； and as they
had； in the husband's presence； nothing more to say to one
another； the conversation soon came to an end。
People coming out of the theatre passed along the pavement；
humming or shouting at the top of their voices； 〃O bel ange； ma
Lucie！*〃 Then Leon； playing the dilettante； began to talk music。
He had seen Tambourini； Rubini； Persiani； Grisi； and； compared
with them； Lagardy； despite his grand outbursts； was nowhere。
*Oh beautiful angel； my Lucie。
〃Yet；〃 interrupted Charles； who was slowly sipping his
rum…sherbet； 〃they say that he is quite admirable in the last
act。 I regret leaving before the end； because it was beginning to
amuse me。〃
〃Why；〃 said the clerk； 〃he will soon give another performance。〃
But Charles replied that they were going back next day。 〃Unless；〃
he added； turning to his wife； 〃you would like to stay alone；
kitten？〃
And changing his tactics at this unexpected opportunity that
presented itself to his hopes； the young man sang the praises of
Lagardy in the last number。 It was really superb； sublime。 Then
Charles insisted
〃You would get back on Sunday。 Come； make up your mind。 You are
wrong if you feel that this is doing you the least good。〃
The tables round them； however； were emptying； a waiter came and
stood discreetly near them。 Charles； who understood； took out his
purse； the clerk held back his arm； and did not forget to leave
two more pieces of silver that he made chink on the marble。
〃I am really sorry；〃 said Bovary； 〃about the money which you
are〃
The other made a careless gesture full of cordiality； and taking
his hat said
〃It is settled； isn't it？ To…morrow at six o'clock？〃
Charles explained once more that he could not absent himself
longer； but that nothing prevented Emma
〃But；〃 she stammered； with a strange smile； 〃I am not sure〃
〃Well； you must think it over。 We'll see。 Night brings counsel。〃
Then to Leon； who was walking along with them； 〃Now that you are
in our part of the world； I hope you'll come and ask us for some
dinner now and then。〃
The clerk declared he would not fail to do so； being obliged；
moreover； to go to Yonville on some business for his office。 And
they parted before the Saint…Herbland Passage just as the clock
in the cathedral struck half…past eleven。
Part III
Chapter One
Monsieur Leon； while studying law； had gone pretty often to the
dancing…rooms； where he was even a great success amongst the
grisettes； who thought he had a distinguished air。 He was the
best…mannered of the students； he wore his hair neither too long
nor too short； didn't spend all his quarter's money on the first
day of the month； and kept on good terms with his professors。 As
for excesses； he had always abstained from them； as much from
cowardice as from refinement。
Often when he stayed in his room to read； or else when sitting of
an evening under the lime…trees of the Luxembourg； he let his
Code fall to the ground； and the memory of Emma came back to him。
But gradually this feeling grew weaker； and other desires
gathered over it； although it still persisted through them all。
For Leon did not lose all hope； there was for him； as it were； a
vague promise floating in the future； like a golden fruit
suspended from some fantastic tree。
Then； seeing her again after three years of absence his passion
reawakened。 He must； he thought； at last make up his mind to
possess her。 Moreover； his timidity had worn off by contact with
his gay companions； and he returned to the provinces despising
everyone who had not with varnished shoes trodden the asphalt of
the boulevards。 By the side of a Parisienne in her laces； in the
drawing…room of some illustrious physician； a person driving his
carriage and wearing many orders； the poor clerk would no doubt
have trembled like a child； but here； at Rouen； on the harbour；
with the wife of this small doctor he felt at his ease； sure
beforehand he would shine。 Self…possession depends on its
environment。 We don't speak on the first floor as on the fourth；
and the wealthy woman seems to have； about her； to guard her
virtue； all her banknotes； like a cuirass in the lining of her
corset。
On leaving the Bovarys the night before； Leon had followed them
through the streets at a distance； then having seen them stop at
the 〃Croix…Rouge；〃 he turned on his heel； and spent the night
meditating a plan。
So the next day about five o'clock he walked into the kitchen of
the inn； with a choking sensation in his throat； pale cheeks； and
that resolution of cowards that stops at nothing。
〃The gentleman isn't in；〃 answered a servant。
This seemed to him a good omen。 He went upstairs。
She was not disturbed at his approach； on the contrary； she
apologised for having neglected to tell him where they were
staying。
〃Oh； I divined it！〃 said Leon。
He pretended he had been guided towards her by chance； by；
instinct。 She began to smile； and at once； to repair his folly；
Leon told her that he had spent his morning in looking for her in
all the hotels in the town one after the other。
〃So you have made up your mind to stay？〃 he added。
〃Yes；〃 she said； 〃and I am wrong。 One ought not to accustom
oneself to impossible pleasures when there are a thousand demands
upon one。〃
〃Oh； I can imagine！〃
〃Ah！ no； for you； you are a man！〃
But men too had had their trials； and the conversation went off
into certain philosophical reflections。 Emma expatiated much on
the misery of earthly affections； and the eternal isolation in
which the heart remains entombed。
To show off； or from a naive imitation of this melancholy which
called forth his； the young man declared that he had been awfully
bored during the whole course of his studies。 The law irritated
him； other vocations attracted him； and his mother never ceased
worrying him in every one of her letters。 As they talked they
explained more and more fully the motives of their sadness；
working themselves up in their progressive confidence。 But they
sometimes stopped short of the complete exposition of their
thought； and then sought to invent a phrase that might express it
all the same。 She did not confess her passion for another； he did
not say that he had forgotten her。
Perhaps he no longer remembered his suppers with girls after
masked balls； and no doubt she did not recollect the rendezvous
of old when she ran across the fields in the morning to her
lover's house。 The noises of the town hardly reached them； and
the room seemed small； as if on purpose to hem in their solitude
more closely。 Emma； in a dimity dressing…gown； leant her head
against the back of the old arm…chair； the yellow wall…paper
formed； as it were； a golden background behind her； and her bare
head was mirrored in the glass with the white parting in the
middle； and the tip of he