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industries。 Such unfortunates should be locked up and forced to
work。 Progress； my word！ creeps at a snail's pace。 We are
floundering about in mere barbarism。〃
The blind man held out his hat； that flapped about at the door；
as if it were a bag in the lining that had come unnailed。
〃This；〃 said the chemist； 〃is a scrofulous affection。〃
And though he knew the poor devil； he pretended to see him for
the first time； murmured something about 〃cornea；〃 〃opaque
cornea；〃 〃sclerotic；〃 〃facies；〃 then asked him in a paternal
tone
〃My friend； have you long had this terrible infirmity？ Instead of
getting drunk at the public； you'd do better to die yourself。〃
He advised him to take good wine； good beer； and good joints。 The
blind man went on with his song； he seemed； moreover； almost
idiotic。 At last Monsieur Homais opened his purse
〃Now there's a sou； give me back two lairds； and don't forget my
advice： you'll be the better for it。〃
Hivert openly cast some doubt on the efficacy of it。 But the
druggist said that he would cure himself with an antiphlogistic
pomade of his own composition； and he gave his address〃Monsieur
Homais； near the market； pretty well known。〃
〃Now；〃 said Hivert； 〃for all this trouble you'll give us your
performance。〃
The blind man sank down on his haunches； with his head thrown
back； whilst he rolled his greenish eyes； lolled out his tongue；
and rubbed his stomach with both hands as he uttered a kind of
hollow yell like a famished dog。 Emma； filled with disgust； threw
him over her shoulder a five…franc piece。 It was all her fortune。
It seemed to her very fine thus to throw it away。
The coach had gone on again when suddenly Monsieur Homais leant
out through the window； crying
〃No farinaceous or milk food； wear wool next the skin； and expose
the diseased parts to the smoke of juniper berries。〃
The sight of the well…known objects that defiled before her eyes
gradually diverted Emma from her present trouble。 An intolerable
fatigue overwhelmed her； and she reached her home stupefied；
discouraged； almost asleep。
〃Come what may come！〃 she said to herself。 〃And then； who knows？
Why； at any moment could not some extraordinary event occur？
Lheureux even might die！〃
At nine o'clock in the morning she was awakened by the sound of
voices in the Place。 There was a crowd round the market reading a
large bill fixed to one of the posts； and she saw Justin； who was
climbing on to a stone and tearing down the bill。 But at this
moment the rural guard seized him by the collar。 Monsieur Homais
came out of his shop； and Mere Lefrangois； in the midst of the
crowd； seemed to be perorating。
〃Madame！ madame！〃 cried Felicite； running in； 〃it's abominable！〃
And the poor girl； deeply moved； handed her a yellow paper that
she had just torn off the door。 Emma read with a glance that all
her furniture was for sale。
Then they looked at one another silently。 The servant and
mistress had no secret one from the other。 At last Felicite
sighed
〃If I were you； madame； I should go to Monsieur Guillaumin。〃
〃Do you think〃
And this question meant to say
〃You who know the house through the servant； has the master
spoken sometimes of me？〃
〃Yes； you'd do well to go there。〃
She dressed； put on her black gown； and her hood with jet beads；
and that she might not be seen （there was still a crowd on the
Place）； she took the path by the river； outside the village。
She reached the notary's gate quite breathless。 The sky was
sombre； and a little snow was falling。 At the sound of the bell；
Theodore in a red waistcoat appeared on the steps； he came to
open the door almost familiarly； as to an acquaintance； and
showed her into the dining…room。
A large porcelain stove crackled beneath a cactus that filled up
the niche in the wall； and in black wood frames against the
oak…stained paper hung Steuben's 〃Esmeralda〃 and Schopin's
〃Potiphar。 〃 The ready…laid table； the two silver chafing…dishes；
the crystal door…knobs； the parquet and the furniture； all shone
with a scrupulous； English cleanliness； the windows were
ornamented at each corner with stained glass。
〃Now this；〃 thought Emma； 〃is the dining…room I ought to have。〃
The notary came in pressing his palm…leaf dressing…gown to his
breast with his left arm； while with the other hand he raised and
quickly put on again his brown velvet cap； pretentiously cocked
on the right side； whence looked out the ends of three fair curls
drawn from the back of the head； following the line of his bald
skull。
After he had offered her a seat he sat down to breakfast；
apologising profusely for his rudeness。
〃I have come；〃 she said； 〃to beg you； sir〃
〃What； madame？ I am listening。〃
And she began explaining her position to him。 Monsieur Guillaumin
knew it； being secretly associated with the linendraper； from
whom he always got capital for the loans on mortgages that he was
asked to make。
So he knew （and better than she herself） the long story of the
bills； small at first； bearing different names as endorsers； made
out at long dates； and constantly renewed up to the day； when；
gathering together all the protested bills； the shopkeeper had
bidden his friend Vincart take in his own name all the necessary
proceedings； not wishing to pass for a tiger with his
fellow…citizens。
She mingled her story with recriminations against Lheureux； to
which the notary replied from time to time with some
insignificant word。 Eating his cutlet and drinking his tea； he
buried his chin in his sky…blue cravat； into which were thrust
two diamond pins； held together by a small gold chain； and he
smiled a singular smile； in a sugary； ambiguous fashion。 But
noticing that her feet were damp； he said
〃Do get closer to the stove； put your feet up against the
porcelain。〃
She was afraid of dirtying it。 The notary replied in a gallant
tone
〃Beautiful things spoil nothing。〃
Then she tried to move him； and； growing moved herself； she began
telling him about the poorness of her home； her worries； her
wants。 He could understand that； an elegant woman！ and； without
leaving off eating； he had turned completely round towards her；
so that his knee brushed against her boot； whose sole curled
round as it smoked against the stove。
But when she asked for a thousand sous； he closed his lips； and
declared he was very sorry he had not had the management of her
fortune before； for there were hundreds of ways very convenient；
even for a lady； of turning her money to account。 They might；
either in the turf…peats of Grumesnil or building…ground at
Havre； almost without risk； have ventured on some excellent
speculations； and he let her consume herself with rage at the
thought of the fabulous sums that she would certainly have made。
〃How was it；〃 he went on； 〃that you didn't come to me？〃
〃I hardly know；〃 she said。
〃Why； hey？ Did I frighten you so much？ It is I； on the contrary；
who ought to complain。 We hardly know one another； yet I am very
devoted to you。 You do not doubt that； I hope？〃
He held out his hand； took hers； covered it with a greedy kiss；
then held it on his knee； and he played delicately with her
fingers whilst he murmured a thousand blandishments。 His insipid
voice