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！
to Madame Homais'； Felicite was in the room upstairs with Madame
Lefrancois。
In the evening he had some visitors。 He rose； pressed their
hands； unable to speak。 Then they sat down near one another； and
formed a large semicircle in front of the fire。 With lowered
faces； and swinging one leg crossed over the other knee； they
uttered deep sighs at intervals； each one was inordinately bored；
and yet none would be the first to go。
Homais； when he returned at nine o'clock （for the last two days
only Homais seemed to have been on the Place）； was laden with a
stock of camphor； of benzine； and aromatic herbs。 He also carried
a large jar full of chlorine water； to keep off all miasmata。
Just then the servant； Madame Lefrancois； and Madame Bovary
senior were busy about Emma； finishing dressing her； and they
were drawing down the long stiff veil that covered her to her
satin shoes。
Felicite was sobbing〃Ah！ my poor mistress！ my poor mistress！〃
〃Look at her；〃 said the landlady； sighing； 〃how pretty she still
is！ Now； couldn't you swear she was going to get up in a minute？〃
Then they bent over her to put on her wreath。 They had to raise
the head a little； and a rush of black liquid issued； as if she
were vomiting； from her mouth。
〃Oh； goodness！ The dress； take care！〃 cried Madame Lefrancois。
〃Now； just come and help；〃 she said to the chemist。 〃Perhaps
you're afraid？〃
〃I afraid？〃 replied he； shrugging his shoulders。 〃I dare say！
I've seen all sorts of things at the hospital when I was studying
pharmacy。 We used to make punch in the dissecting room！
Nothingness does not terrify a philosopher； and； as I often say；
I even intend to leave my body to the hospitals； in order； later
on； to serve science。〃
The cure on his arrival inquired how Monsieur Bovary was； and； on
the reply of the druggist； went on〃The blow； you see； is still
too recent。〃
Then Homais congratulated him on not being exposed； like other
people； to the loss of a beloved companion； whence there followed
a discussion on the celibacy of priests。
〃For；〃 said the chemist； 〃it is unnatural that a man should do
without women！ There have been crimes〃
〃But； good heaven！〃 cried the ecclesiastic； 〃how do you expect an
individual who is married to keep the secrets of the
confessional； for example？〃
Homais fell foul of the confessional。 Bournisien defended it； he
enlarged on the acts of restitution that it brought about。 He
cited various anecdotes about thieves who had suddenly become
honest。 Military men on approaching the tribunal of penitence had
felt the scales fall from their eyes。 At Fribourg there was a
minister
His companion was asleep。 Then he felt somewhat stifled by the
over…heavy atmosphere of the room； he opened the window； this
awoke the chemist。
〃Come； take a pinch of snuff；〃 he said to him。 〃Take it； it'll
relieve you。〃
A continual barking was heard in the distance。 〃Do you hear that
dog howling？〃 said the chemist。
〃They smell the dead；〃 replied the priest。 〃It's like bees； they
leave their hives on the decease of any person。〃
Homais made no remark upon these prejudices； for he had again
dropped asleep。 Monsieur Bournisien； stronger than he； went on
moving his lips gently for some time； then insensibly his chin
sank down； he let fall his big black boot； and began to snore。
They sat opposite one another； with protruding stomachs；
puffed…up faces； and frowning looks； after so much disagreement
uniting at last in the same human weakness； and they moved no
more than the corpse by their side； that seemed to be sleeping。
Charles coming in did not wake them。 It was the last time； he
came to bid her farewell。
The aromatic herbs were still smoking； and spirals of bluish
vapour blended at the window…sash with the fog that was coming
in。 There were few stars； and the night was warm。 The wax of the
candles fell in great drops upon the sheets of the bed。 Charles
watched them burn； tiring his eyes against the glare of their
yellow flame。
The watering on the satin gown shimmered white as moonlight。 Emma
was lost beneath it； and it seemed to him that； spreading beyond
her own self； she blended confusedly with everything around her
the silence； the night； the passing wind； the damp odours rising
from the ground。
Then suddenly he saw her in the garden at Tostes； on a bench
against the thorn hedge； or else at Rouen in the streets； on the
threshold of their house； in the yard at Bertaux。 He again heard
the laughter of the happy boys beneath the apple…trees： the room
was filled with the perfume of her hair； and her dress rustled in
his arms with a noise like electricity。 The dress was still the
same。
For a long while he thus recalled all his lost joys； her
attitudes； her movements； the sound of her voice。 Upon one fit of
despair followed another； and even others； inexhaustible as the
waves of an overflowing sea。
A terrible curiosity seized him。 Slowly； with the tips of bis
fingers； palpitating； he lifted her veil。 But he uttered a cry of
horror that awoke the other two。
They dragged him down into the sitting…room。 Then Felicite came
up to say that he wanted some of her hair。
〃Cut some off；〃 replied the druggist。
And as she did not dare to； he himself stepped forward； scissors
in hand。 He trembled so that he pierced the skin of the temple in
several places。 At last； stiffening himself against emotion；
Homais gave two or three great cuts at random that left white
patches amongst that beautiful black hair。
The chemist and the cure plunged anew into their occupations； not
without sleeping from time to time； of which they accused each
other reciprocally at each fresh awakening。 Then Monsieur
Bournisien sprinkled the room with holy water and Homais threw a
little chlorine water on the floor。
Felicite had taken care to put on the chest of drawers； for each
of them； a bottle of brandy； some cheese； and a large roll。 And
the druggist； who could not hold out any longer； about four in
the morning sighed
〃My word！ I should like to take some sustenance。〃
The priest did not need any persuading； he went out to go and say
mass； came back； and then they ate and hobnobbed； giggling a
little without knowing why； stimulated by that vague gaiety that
comes upon us after times of sadness； and at the last glass the
priest said to the druggist； as he clapped him on the shoulder
〃We shall end by understanding one another。〃
In the passage downstairs they met the undertaker's men； who were
coming in。 Then Charles for two hours had to suffer the torture
of hearing the hammer resound against the wood。 Next day they
lowered her into her oak coffin； that was fitted into the other
two； but as the bier was too large； they had to fill up the gaps
with the wool of a mattress。 At last； when the three lids had
been planed down； nailed； soldered； it was placed outside in
front of the door； the house was thrown open； and the people of
Yonville began to flock round。
Old Rouault arrived； and fainted on the Place when he saw the
black cloth！
Chapter Ten
He had only received the chemist's letter thirty…six hours after
the event； and； from consideration for his feelings； Homais had
so worded it that it was impossibl