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resolution might descend to her from heaven； and to draw down
divine aid she filled full her eyes with the splendours of the
tabernacle。 She breathed in the perfumes of the full…blown
flowers in the large vases； and listened to the stillness of the
church； that only heightened the tumult of her heart。
She rose； and they were about to leave； when the beadle came
forward； hurriedly saying
〃Madame； no doubt； does not belong to these parts？ Madame would
like to see the curiosities of the church？〃
〃Oh； no！〃 cried the clerk。
〃Why not？〃 said she。 For she clung with her expiring virtue to
the Virgin； the sculptures； the tombsanything。
Then； in order to proceed 〃by rule；〃 the beadle conducted them
right to the entrance near the square； where； pointing out with
his cane a large circle of block…stones without inscription or
carving
〃This；〃 he said majestically； 〃is the circumference of the
beautiful bell of Ambroise。 It weighed forty thousand pounds。
There was not its equal in all Europe。 The workman who cast it
died of the joy〃
〃Let us go on；〃 said Leon。
The old fellow started off again； then； having got back to the
chapel of the Virgin； he stretched forth his arm with an
all…embracing gesture of demonstration； and； prouder than a
country squire showing you his espaliers； went on
〃This simple stone covers Pierre de Breze； lord of Varenne and of
Brissac； grand marshal of Poitou； and governor of Normandy； who
died at the battle of Montlhery on the 16th of July； 1465。〃
Leon bit his lips； fuming。
〃And on the right； this gentleman all encased in iron； on the
prancing horse； is his grandson； Louis de Breze； lord of Breval
and of Montchauvet； Count de Maulevrier； Baron de Mauny；
chamberlain to the king； Knight of the Order； and also governor
of Normandy； died on the 23rd of July； 1531a Sunday； as the
inscription specifies； and below； this figure； about to descend
into the tomb； portrays the same person。 It is not possible； is
it； to see a more perfect representation of annihilation？〃
Madame Bovary put up her eyeglasses。 Leon； motionless； looked at
her； no longer even attempting to speak a single word； to make a
gesture； so discouraged was he at this two…fold obstinacy of
gossip and indifference。
The everlasting guide went on
〃Near him； this kneeling woman who weeps is his spouse； Diane de
Poitiers； Countess de Breze； Duchess de Valentinois； born in
1499； died in 1566； and to the left； the one with the child is
the Holy Virgin。 Now turn to this side； here are the tombs of the
Ambroise。 They were both cardinals and archbishops of Rouen。 That
one was minister under Louis XII。 He did a great deal for the
cathedral。 In his will he left thirty thousand gold crowns for
the poor。〃
And without stopping； still talking； he pushed them into a chapel
full of balustrades； some put away； and disclosed a kind of block
that certainly might once have been an ill…made statue。
〃Truly；〃 he said with a groan； 〃it adorned the tomb of Richard
Coeur de Lion； King of England and Duke of Normandy。 It was the
Calvinists； sir； who reduced it to this condition。 They had
buried it for spite in the earth； under the episcopal seat of
Monsignor。 See！ this is the door by which Monsignor passes to his
house。 Let us pass on quickly to see the gargoyle windows。〃
But Leon hastily took some silver from his pocket and seized
Emma's arm。 The beadle stood dumfounded； not able to understand
this untimely munificence when there were still so many things
for the stranger to see。 So calling him back； he cried
〃Sir！ sir！ The steeple！ the steeple！〃
〃No； thank you！〃 said Leon。
〃You are wrong； sir！ It is four hundred and forty feet high； nine
less than the great pyramid of Egypt。 It is all cast； it〃
Leon was fleeing； for it seemed to him that his love； that for
nearly two hours now had become petrified in the church like the
stones； would vanish like a vapour through that sort of truncated
funnel； of oblong cage； of open chimney that rises so grotesquely
from the cathedral like the extravagant attempt of some fantastic
brazier。
〃But where are we going？〃 she said。
Making no answer； he walked on with a rapid step； and Madame
Bovary was already； dipping her finger in the holy water when
behind them they heard a panting breath interrupted by the
regular sound of a cane。 Leon turned back。
〃Sir！〃
〃What is it？〃
And he recognised the beadle； holding under his arms and
balancing against his stomach some twenty large sewn volumes。
They were works 〃which treated of the cathedral。〃
〃Idiot！〃 growled Leon； rushing out of the church。
A lad was playing about the close。
〃Go and get me a cab！〃
The child bounded off like a ball by the Rue Quatre…Vents； then
they were alone a few minutes； face to face； and a little
embarrassed。
〃Ah！ Leon！ ReallyI don't knowif I ought；〃 she whispered。 Then
with a more serious air； 〃Do you know； it is very improper〃
〃How so？〃 replied the clerk。 〃It is done at Paris。〃
And that； as an irresistible argument； decided her。
Still the cab did not come。 Leon was afraid she might go back
into the church。 At last the cab appeared。
〃At all events； go out by the north porch；〃 cried the beadle； who
was left alone on the threshold； 〃so as to see the Resurrection；
the Last Judgment； Paradise； King David； and the Condemned in
Hell…flames。〃
〃Where to； sir？〃 asked the coachman。
〃Where you like；〃 said Leon； forcing Emma into the cab。
And the lumbering machine set out。 It went down the Rue
Grand…Pont； crossed the Place des Arts； the Quai Napoleon； the
Pont Neuf； and stopped short before the statue of Pierre
Corneille。
〃Go on；〃 cried a voice that came from within。
The cab went on again； and as soon as it reached the Carrefour
Lafayette； set off down…hill； and entered the station at a
gallop。
〃No； straight on！〃 cried the same voice。
The cab came out by the gate； and soon having reached the Cours；
trotted quietly beneath the elm…trees。 The coachman wiped his
brow； put his leather hat between his knees； and drove his
carriage beyond the side alley by the meadow to the margin of the
waters。
It went along by the river； along the towing…path paved with
sharp pebbles； and for a long while in the direction of Oyssel；
beyond the isles。
But suddenly it turned with a dash across Quatremares；
Sotteville； La Grande…Chaussee； the Rue d'Elbeuf； and made its
third halt in front of the Jardin des Plantes。
〃Get on； will you？〃 cried the voice more furiously。
And at once resuming its course； it passed by Saint…Sever； by the
Quai'des Curandiers； the Quai aux Meules； once more over the
bridge； by the Place du Champ de Mars； and behind the hospital
gardens； where old men in black coats were walking in the sun
along the terrace all green with ivy。 It went up the Boulevard
Bouvreuil； along the Boulevard Cauchoise； then the whole of
Mont…Riboudet to the Deville hills。
It came back； and then； without any fixed plan or direction；
wandered about at hazard。 The cab was seen at Saint…Pol； at
Lescure； at Mont Gargan； at La Rougue…Marc and Place du
Gaillardbois； in the Rue Maladrerie； Rue Dinanderie； before
Saint…Romain； Saint…Vivien； Saint…Maclou； Saint…Nicaisein front
of the Customs； at the 〃Vieille Tour；