按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
then held it on his knee； and he played delicately with her
fingers whilst he murmured a thousand blandishments。 His insipid
voice murmured like a running brook； a light shone in his eyes
through the glimmering of his spectacles； and his hand was
advancing up Emma's sleeve to press her arm。 She felt against her
cheek his panting breath。 This man oppressed her horribly。
She sprang up and said to him
〃Sir； I am waiting。〃
〃For what？〃 said the notary； who suddenly became very pale。
〃This money。〃
〃But〃 Then； yielding to the outburst of too powerful a desire；
〃Well； yes！〃
He dragged himself towards her on his knees； regardless of his
dressing…gown。
〃For pity's sake； stay。 I love you！〃
He seized her by her waist。 Madame Bovary's face flushed purple。
She recoiled with a terrible look； crying
〃You are taking a shameless advantage of my distress； sir！ I am
to be pitiednot to be sold。〃
And she went out。
The notary remained quite stupefied； his eyes fixed on his fine
embroidered slippers。 They were a love gift； and the sight of
them at last consoled him。 Besides； he reflected that such an
adventure might have carried him too far。
〃What a wretch！ what a scoundrel！ what an infamy！〃 she said to
herself； as she fled with nervous steps beneath the aspens of the
path。 The disappointment of her failure increased the indignation
of her outraged modesty； it seemed to her that Providence pursued
her implacably； and； strengthening herself in her pride； she had
never felt so much esteem for herself nor so much contempt for
others。 A spirit of warfare transformed her。 She would have liked
to strike all men； to spit in their faces； to crush them； and she
walked rapidly straight on； pale； quivering； maddened； searching
the empty horizon with tear…dimmed eyes； and as it were rejoicing
in the hate that was choking her。
When she saw her house a numbness came over her。 She could not go
on； and yet she must。 Besides； whither could she flee ？
Felicite was waiting for her at the door。 〃Well？〃
〃No！〃 said Emma。
And for a quarter of an hour the two of them went over the
various persons in Yonville who might perhaps be inclined to help
her。 But each time that Felicite named someone Emma replied
〃Impossible！ they will not！〃
〃And the master'll soon be in。〃
〃I know that well enough。 Leave me alone。〃
She had tried everything； there was nothing more to be done now；
and when Charles came in she would have to say to him
〃Go away！ This carpet on which you are walking is no longer ours。
In your own house you do not possess a chair； a pin； a straw； and
it is I； poor man； who have ruined you。〃
Then there would be a great sob； next he would weep abundantly；
and at last； the surprise past； he would forgive her。
〃Yes；〃 she murmured； grinding her teeth； 〃he will forgive me； he
who would give a million if I would forgive him for having known
me！ Never！ never！〃
This thought of Bovary's superiority to her exasperated her。
Then； whether she confessed or did not confess； presently；
immediately； to…morrow； he would know the catastrophe all the
same； so she must wait for this horrible scene； and bear the
weight of his magnanimity。 The desire to return to Lheureux's
seized herwhat would be the use？ To write to her fatherit was
too late； and perhaps； she began to repent now that she had not
yielded to that other； when she heard the trot of a horse in the
alley。 It was he； he was opening the gate； he was whiter than the
plaster wall。 Rushing to the stairs； she ran out quickly to the
square； and the wife of the mayor； who was talking to
Lestiboudois in front of the church； saw her go in to the
tax…collector's。
She hurried off to tell Madame Caron； and the two ladies went up
to the attic； and； hidden by some linen spread across props；
stationed themselves comfortably for overlooking the whole of
Binet's room。
He was alone in his garret； busy imitating in wood one of those
indescribable bits of ivory； composed of crescents； of spheres
hollowed out one within the other； the whole as straight as an
obelisk； and of no use whatever； and he was beginning on the last
piecehe was nearing his goal。 In the twilight of the workshop
the white dust was flying from his tools like a shower of sparks
under the hoofs of a galloping horse； the two wheels were
turning； droning； Binet smiled； his chin lowered； his nostrils
distended； and； in a word； seemed lost in one of those complete
happinesses that； no doubt； belong only to commonplace
occupations； which amuse the mind with facile difficulties； and
satisfy by a realisation of that beyond which such minds have not
a dream。
〃Ah！ there she is！〃 exclaimed Madame Tuvache。
But it was impossible because of the lathe to hear what she was
saying。
At last these ladies thought they made out the word 〃francs；〃 and
Madame Tuvache whispered in a low voice
〃She is begging him to give her time for paying her taxes。〃
〃Apparently！〃 replied the other。
They saw her walking up and down； examining the napkin…rings； the
candlesticks； the banister rails against the walls； while Binet
stroked his beard with satisfaction。
〃Do you think she wants to order something of him？〃 said Madame
Tuvache。
〃Why； he doesn't sell anything；〃 objected her neighbour。
The tax…collector seemed to be listening with wide…open eyes； as
if he did not understand。 She went on in a tender； suppliant
manner。 She came nearer to him； her breast heaving； they no
longer spoke。
〃Is she making him advances？〃 said Madame Tuvache。 Binet was
scarlet to his very ears。 She took hold of his hands。
〃Oh； it's too much！〃
And no doubt she was suggesting something abominable to him； for
the tax…collectoryet he was brave； had fought at Bautzen and at
Lutzen； had been through the French campaign； and had even been
recommended for the crosssuddenly； as at the sight of a
serpent； recoiled as far as he could from her； crying
〃Madame！ what do you mean？〃
〃Women like that ought to be whipped；〃 said Madame Tuvache。
〃But where is she？〃 continued Madame Caron； for she had
disappeared whilst they spoke； then catching sight of her going
up the Grande Rue； and turning to the right as if making for the
cemetery； they were lost in conjectures。
〃Nurse Rollet；〃 she said on reaching the nurse's； 〃I am choking；
unlace me！〃 She fell on the bed sobbing。 Nurse Rollet covered her
with a petticoat and remained standing by her side。 Then； as she
did not answer； the good woman withdrew； took her wheel and began
spinning flax。
〃Oh； leave off！〃 she murmured； fancying she heard Binet's lathe。
〃What's bothering her？〃 said the nurse to herself。 〃Why has she
come here？〃
She had rushed thither； impelled by a kind of horror that drove
her from her home。
Lying on her back； motionless； and with staring eyes； she saw
things but vaguely； although she tried to with idiotic
persistence。 She looked at the scales on the walls； two brands
smoking end to end； and a long spider crawling over her head in a
rent in the beam。 At last she began to collect her thoughts。 She
rememberedone dayLeonOh！ how long ago that wasthe sun was
shining on the river； and the clematis were perfuming the air。
Then； carried away as by a rushing torrent； she soon bega