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！
druggist lived。
〃There now！ as if I hadn't got other fish to fry。 Well； so much
the worse； you must come later on。〃
And he entered the shop hurriedly。
He had to write two letters； to prepare a soothing potion for
Bovary； to invent some lie that would conceal the poisoning； and
work it up into an article for the 〃Fanal；〃 without counting the
people who were waiting to get the news from him； and when the
Yonvillers had all heard his story of the arsenic that she had
mistaken for sugar in making a vanilla cream。 Homais once more
returned to Bovary's。
He found him alone （Monsieur Canivet had left）； sitting in an
arm…chair near the window； staring with an idiotic look at the
flags of the floor。
〃Now；〃 said the chemist； 〃you ought yourself to fix the hour for
the ceremony。〃
〃Why？ What ceremony？〃 Then； in a stammering； frightened voice；
〃Oh； no！ not that。 No！ I want to see her here。〃
Homais； to keep himself in countenance； took up a water…bottle on
the whatnot to water the geraniums。
〃Ah！ thanks；〃 said Charles； 〃you are good。〃
But he did not finish； choking beneath the crowd of memories that
this action of the druggist recalled to him。
Then to distract him； Homais thought fit to talk a little
horticulture： plants wanted humidity。 Charles bowed his head in
sign of approbation。
〃Besides； the fine days will soon be here again。〃
〃Ah！〃 said Bovary。
The druggist； at his wit's end； began softly to draw aside the
small window…curtain。
〃Hallo！ there's Monsieur Tuvache passing。〃
Charles repeated like a machine…
〃Monsieur Tuvache passing！〃
Homais did not dare to speak to him again about the funeral
arrangements； it was the priest who succeeded in reconciling him
to them。
He shut himself up in his consulting…room； took a pen； and after
sobbing for some time； wrote
〃I wish her to be buried in her wedding…dress； with white shoes；
and a wreath。 Her hair is to be spread out over her shoulders。
Three coffins； one of oak； one of mahogany； one of lead。 Let no
one say anything to me。 I shall have strength。 Over all there is
to be placed a large piece of green velvet。 This is my wish； see
that it is done。〃
The two men were much surprised at Bovary's romantic ideas。 The
chemist at once went to him and said
〃This velvet seems to me a superfetation。 Besides； the expense〃
〃What's that to you？〃 cried Charles。 〃Leave me！ You did not love
her。 Go！〃
The priest took him by the arm for a turn in the garden。 He
discoursed on the vanity of earthly things。 God was very great；
was very good： one must submit to his decrees without a murmur；
nay； must even thank him。
Charles burst out into blasphemies： 〃I hate your God！〃
〃The spirit of rebellion is still upon you；〃 sighed the
ecclesiastic。
Bovary was far away。 He was walking with great strides along by
the wall； near the espalier； and he ground his teeth； he raised
to heaven looks of malediction； but not so much as a leaf
stirred。
A fine rain was falling： Charles； whose chest was bare； at last
began to shiver； he went in and sat down in the kitchen。
At six o'clock a noise like a clatter of old iron was heard on
the Place； it was the 〃Hirondelle〃 coming in； and he remained
with his forehead against the windowpane； watching all the
passengers get out； one after the other。 Felicite put down a
mattress for him in the drawing…room。 He threw himself upon it
and fell asleep。
Although a philosopher； Monsieur Homais respected the dead。 So
bearing no grudge to poor Charles； he came back again in the
evening to sit up with the body； bringing with him three volumes
and a pocket…book for taking notes。
Monsieur Bournisien was there； and two large candles were burning
at the head of the bed； that had been taken out of the alcove。
The druggist； on whom the silence weighed； was not long before he
began formulating some regrets about this 〃unfortunate young
woman。〃 and the priest replied that there was nothing to do now
but pray for her。
〃Yet；〃 Homais went on； 〃one of two things； either she died in a
state of grace （as the Church has it）； and then she has no need
of our prayers； or else she departed impertinent （that is； I
believe； the ecclesiastical expression）； and then〃
Bournisien interrupted him； replying testily that it was none the
less necessary to pray。
〃But；〃 objected the chemist； 〃since God knows all our needs； what
can be the good of prayer？〃
〃What！〃 cried the ecclesiastic； 〃prayer！ Why； aren't you a
Christian？〃
〃Excuse me；〃 said Homais； 〃I admire Christianity。 To begin with；
it enfranchised the slaves； introduced into the world a
morality〃
〃That isn't the question。 All the texts…〃
〃Oh！ oh！ As to texts； look at history； it； is known that all the
texts have been falsified by the Jesuits。〃
Charles came in； and advancing towards the bed； slowly drew the
curtains。
Emma's head was turned towards her right shoulder； the corner of
her mouth； which was open； seemed like a black hole at the lower
part of her face； her two thumbs were bent into the palms of her
hands； a kind of white dust besprinkled her lashes； and her eyes
were beginning to disappear in that viscous pallor that looks
like a thin web； as if spiders had spun it over。 The sheet sunk
in from her breast to her knees； and then rose at the tips of her
toes； and it seemed to Charles that infinite masses； an enormous
load； were weighing upon her。
The church clock struck two。 They could hear the loud murmur of
the river flowing in the darkness at the foot of the terrace。
Monsieur Bournisien from time to time blew his nose noisily； and
Homais' pen was scratching over the paper。
〃Come； my good friend；〃 he said； 〃withdraw； this spectacle is
tearing you to pieces。〃
Charles once gone； the chemist and the cure recommenced their
discussions。
〃Read Voltaire；〃 said the one； 〃read D'Holbach； read the
'Encyclopaedia'！〃
〃Read the 'Letters of some Portuguese Jews；'〃 said the other；
〃read 'The Meaning of Christianity；' by Nicolas； formerly a
magistrate。〃
They grew warm； they grew red； they both talked at once without
listening to each other。 Bournisien was scandalized at such
audacity； Homais marvelled at such stupidity； and they were on
the point of insulting one another when Charles suddenly
reappeared。 A fascination drew him。 He was continually coming
upstairs。
He stood opposite her； the better to see her； and he lost himself
in a contemplation so deep that it was no longer painful。
He recalled stories of catalepsy； the marvels of magnetism； and
he said to himself that by willing it with all his force he might
perhaps succeed in reviving her。 Once he even bent towards he；
and cried in a low voice； 〃Emma！ Emma！〃 His strong breathing made
the flames of the candles tremble against the wall。
At daybreak Madame Bovary senior arrived。 Charles as he embraced
her burst into another flood of tears。 She tried； as the chemist
had done； to make some remarks to him on the expenses of the
funeral。 He became so angry that she was silent； and he even
commissioned her to go to town at once and buy what was
necessary。
Charles remained alone the whole afternoon； they had taken Berthe
to Madame Homais'； Felicite was in the room upstairs with Madame
Lefrancois。
In the evening