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With the money she at last received from Barneville she paid two
bills； the other fifteen hundred francs fell due。 She renewed the
bills； and thus it was continually。
Sometimes； it is true； she tried to make a calculation； but she
discovered things so exorbitant that she could not believe them
possible。 Then she recommenced； soon got confused； gave it all
up； and thought no more about it。
The house was very dreary now。 Tradesmen were seen leaving it
with angry faces。 Handkerchiefs were lying about on the stoves；
and little Berthe； to the great scandal of Madame Homais； wore
stockings with holes in them。 If Charles timidly ventured a
remark； she answered roughly that it wasn't her fault。
What was the meaning of all these fits of temper？ She explained
everything through her old nervous illness； and reproaching
himself with having taken her infirmities for faults； accused
himself of egotism； and longed to go and take her in his arms。
〃Ah； no！〃 he said to himself； 〃I should worry her。〃
And he did not stir。
After dinner he walked about alone in the garden； he took little
Berthe on his knees； and unfolding his medical journal； tried to
teach her to read。 But the child； who never had any lessons； soon
looked up with large； sad eyes and began to cry。 Then he
comforted her； went to fetch water in her can to make rivers on
the sand path； or broke off branches from the privet hedges to
plant trees in the beds。 This did not spoil the garden much； all
choked now with long weeds。 They owed Lestiboudois for so many
days。 Then the child grew cold and asked for her mother。
〃Call the servant；〃 said Charles。 〃You know； dearie； that mamma
does not like to be disturbed。〃
Autumn was setting in； and the leaves were already falling； as
they did two years ago when she was ill。 Where would it all end？
And he walked up and down； his hands behind his back。
Madame was in her room； which no one entered。 She stayed there
all day long； torpid； half dressed； and from time to time burning
Turkish pastilles which she had bought at Rouen in an Algerian's
shop。 In order not to have at night this sleeping man stretched
at her side； by dint of manoeuvring； she at last succeeded in
banishing him to the second floor； while she read till morning
extravagant books； full of pictures of orgies and thrilling
situations。 Often； seized with fear； she cried out； and Charles
hurried to her。
〃Oh； go away！〃 she would say。
Or at other times； consumed more ardently than ever by that inner
flame to which adultery added fuel； panting； tremulous； all
desire； she threw open her window； breathed in the cold air；
shook loose in the wind her masses of hair； too heavy； and；
gazing upon the stars； longed for some princely love。 She thought
of him； of Leon。 She would then have given anything for a single
one of those meetings that surfeited her。
These were her gala days。 She wanted them to be sumptuous； and
when he alone could not pay the expenses； she made up the deficit
liberally； which happened pretty well every time。 He tried to
make her understand that they would be quite as comfortable
somewhere else； in a smaller hotel； but she always found some
objection。
One day she drew six small silver…gilt spoons from her bag （they
were old Roualt's wedding present）； begging him to pawn them at
once for her； and Leon obeyed； though the proceeding annoyed him。
He was afraid of compromising himself。
Then； on； reflection； he began to think his mistress's ways were
growing odd； and that they were perhaps not wrong in wishing to
separate him from her。
In fact someone had sent his mother a long anonymous letter to
warn her that he was 〃ruining himself with a married woman；〃 and
the good lady at once conjuring up the eternal bugbear of
families the vague pernicious creature； the siren； the monster；
who dwells fantastically in depths of love； wrote to Lawyer
Dubocage； his employer； who behaved perfectly in the affair。 He
kept him for three quarters of an hour trying to open his eyes；
to warn him of the abyss into which he was falling。 Such an
intrigue would damage him later on； when he set up for himself。
He implored him to break with her； and； if he would not make this
sacrifice in his own interest； to do it at least for his；
Dubocage's sake。
At last Leon swore he would not see Emma again； and he reproached
himself with not having kept his word； considering all the worry
and lectures this woman might still draw down upon him； without
reckoning the jokes made by his companions as they sat round the
stove in the morning。 Besides； he was soon to be head clerk； it
was time to settle down。 So he gave up his flute； exalted
sentiments； and poetry； for every bourgeois in the flush of his
youth； were it but for a day； a moment； has believed himself
capable of immense passions； of lofty enterprises。 The most
mediocre libertine has dreamed of sultanas； every notary bears
within him the debris of a poet。
He was bored now when Emma suddenly began to sob on his breast；
and his heart； like the people who can only stand a certain
amount of music； dozed to the sound of a love whose delicacies he
no longer noted。
They knew one another too well for any of those surprises of
possession that increase its joys a hundred…fold。 She was as sick
of him as he was weary of her。 Emma found again in adultery all
the platitudes of marriage。
But how to get rid of him？ Then； though she might feel humiliated
at the baseness of such enjoyment； she clung to it from habit or
from corruption； and each day she hungered after them the more；
exhausting all felicity in wishing for too much of it。 She
accused Leon of her baffled hopes； as if he had betrayed her； and
she even longed for some catastrophe that would bring about their
separation； since she had not the courage to make up her mind to
it herself。
She none the less went on writing him love letters； in virtue of
the notion that a woman must write to her lover。
But whilst she wrote it was another man she saw； a phantom
fashioned out of her most ardent memories； of her finest reading；
her strongest lusts； and at last he became so real； so tangible；
that she palpitated wondering； without； however； the power to
imagine him clearly； so lost was he； like a god； beneath the
abundance of his attributes。 He dwelt in that azure land where
silk ladders hang from balconies under the breath of flowers； in
the light of the moon。 She felt him near her； he was coming； and
would carry her right away in a kiss。
Then she fell back exhausted； for these transports of vague love
wearied her more than great debauchery。
She now felt constant ache all over her。 Often she even received
summonses； stamped paper that she barely looked at。 She would
have liked not to be alive； or to be always asleep。
On Mid…Lent she did not return to Yonville； but in the evening
went to a masked ball。 She wore velvet breeches； red stockings； a
club wig； and three…cornered hat cocked on one side。 She danced
all night to the wild tones of the trombones； people gathered
round her； and in the morning she found herself on the steps of
the theatre together with five or six masks； debardeuses* and
sailors； Leon's comrade