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women。
〃I approve of that；〃 said the chemist； 〃they have more passion。〃
And whispering into his friend's ear； he pointed out the symptoms
by which one could find out if a woman had passion。 He even
launched into an ethnographic digression： the German was
vapourish； the French woman licentious； the Italian passionate。
〃And negresses？〃 asked the clerk。
〃They are an artistic taste！〃 said Homais。 〃Waiter！ two cups of
coffee！〃
〃Are we going？〃 at last asked Leon impatiently。
〃Ja！〃
But before leaving he wanted to see the proprietor of the
establishment and made him a few compliments。 Then the young man；
to be alone； alleged he had some business engagement。
〃Ah！ I will escort you；〃 said Homais。
And all the while he was walking through the streets with him he
talked of his wife； his children； of their future； and of his
business； told him in what a decayed condition it had formerly
been； and to what a degree of perfection he had raised it。
Arrived in front of the Hotel de Boulogne； Leon left him
abruptly； ran up the stairs； and found his mistress in great
excitement。 At mention of the chemist she flew into a passion。
He； however； piled up good reasons； it wasn't his fault； didn't
she know Homaisdid she believe that he would prefer his
company？ But she turned away； he drew her back； and； sinking on
his knees； clasped her waist with his arms in a languorous pose；
full of concupiscence and supplication。
She was standing； up； her large flashing eyes looked at him
seriously； almost terribly。 Then tears obscured them； her red
eyelids were lowered； she gave him her hands； and Leon was
pressing them to his lips when a servant appeared to tell the
gentleman that he was wanted。
〃You will come back？〃 she said。
〃Yes。〃
〃But when？〃
〃Immediately。〃
〃It's a trick；〃 said the chemist； when he saw Leon。 〃I wanted to
interrupt this visit； that seemed to me to annoy you。 Let's go
and have a glass of garus at Bridoux'。〃
Leon vowed that he must get back to his office。 Then the druggist
joked him about quill…drivers and the law。
〃Leave Cujas and Barthole alone a bit。 Who the devil prevents
you？ Be a man！ Let's go to Bridoux'。 You'll see his dog。 It's
very interesting。〃
And as the clerk still insisted
〃I'll go with you。 I'll read a paper while I wait for you； or
turn over the leaves of a 'Code。'〃
Leon； bewildered by Emma's anger； Monsieur Homais' chatter； and；
perhaps； by the heaviness of the luncheon； was undecided； and； as
it were； fascinated by the chemist； who kept repeating
〃Let's go to Bridoux'。 It's just by here； in the Rue Malpalu。〃
Then； through cowardice； through stupidity； through that
indefinable feeling that drags us into the most distasteful acts；
he allowed himself to be led off to Bridoux'； whom they found in
his small yard； superintending three workmen； who panted as they
turned the large wheel of a machine for making seltzer…water。
Homais gave them some good advice。 He embraced Bridoux； they took
some garus。 Twenty times Leon tried to escape； but the other
seized him by the arm saying
〃Presently！ I'm coming！ We'll go to the 'Fanal de Rouen' to see
the fellows there。 I'll introduce you to Thornassin。〃
At last he managed to get rid of him； and rushed straight to the
hotel。 Emma was no longer there。 She had just gone in a fit of
anger。 She detested him now。 This failing to keep their
rendezvous seemed to her an insult； and she tried to rake up
other reasons to separate herself from him。 He was incapable of
heroism； weak； banal； more spiritless than a woman； avaricious
too； and cowardly。
Then； growing calmer； she at length discovered that she had； no
doubt； calumniated him。 But the disparaging of those we love
always alienates us from them to some extent。 We must not touch
our idols； the gilt sticks to our fingers。
They gradually came to talking more frequently of matters outside
their love； and in the letters that Emma wrote him she spoke of
flowers； verses； the moon and the stars； naive resources of a
waning passion striving to keep itself alive by all external
aids。 She was constantly promising herself a profound felicity on
her next journey。 Then she confessed to herself that she felt
nothing extraordinary。 This disappointment quickly gave way to a
new hope； and Emma returned to him more inflamed； more eager than
ever。 She undressed brutally； tearing off the thin laces of her
corset that nestled around her hips like a gliding snake。 She
went on tiptoe； barefooted； to see once more that the door was
closed； then； pale； serious； and； without speaking； with one
movement； she threw herself upon his breast with a long shudder。
Yet there was upon that brow covered with cold drops； on those
quivering lips； in those wild eyes； in the strain of those arms；
something vague and dreary that seemed to Leon to glide between
them subtly as if to separate them。
He did not dare to question her； but； seeing her so skilled； she
must have passed； he thought； through every experience of
suffering and of pleasure。 What had once charmed now frightened
him a little。 Besides； he rebelled against his absorption； daily
more marked； by her personality。 He begrudged Emma this constant
victory。 He even strove not to love her； then； when he heard the
creaking of her boots； he turned coward； like drunkards at the
sight of strong drinks。
She did not fail； in truth； to lavish all sorts of attentions
upon him； from the delicacies of food to the coquettries of dress
and languishing looks。 She brought roses to her breast from
Yonville； which she threw into his face； was anxious about his
health； gave him advice as to his conduct； and； in order the more
surely to keep her hold on him； hoping perhaps that heaven would
take her part； she tied a medal of the Virgin round his neck。 She
inquired like a virtuous mother about his companions。 She said to
him
〃Don't see them； don't go out； think only of ourselves； love me！〃
She would have liked to be able to watch over his life； and the
idea occurred to her of having him followed in the streets。 Near
the hotel there was always a kind of loafer who accosted
travellers； and who would not refuse。 But her pride revolted at
this。
〃Bah！ so much the worse。 Let him deceive me！ What does it matter
to me？ As If I cared for him！〃
One day； when they had parted early and she was returning alone
along the boulevard； she saw the walls of her convent； then she
sat down on a form in the shade of the elm…trees。 How calm that
time had been！ How she longed for the ineffable sentiments of
love that she had tried to figure to herself out of books！ The
first month of her marriage； her rides in the wood； the viscount
that waltzed； and Lagardy singing； all repassed before her eyes。
And Leon suddenly appeared to her as far off as the others。
〃Yet I love him；〃 she said to herself。
No matter！ She was not happyshe never had been。 Whence came
this insufficiency in lifethis instantaneous turning to decay
of everything on which she leant？ But if there were somewhere a
being strong and beautiful； a valiant nature； full at once of
exaltation and refinement； a poet's heart in an angel's form； a
lyre with sounding chords ringing out elegiac epithalamia