madame bovary(包法利夫人)-第48部分

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private　talk　with　you。〃　Then　in　a　low　voice；　〃It's　about　that
affairyou　know。〃
Charles　crimsoned　to　his　ears。　〃Oh；　yes！　certainly。〃　And　in　his
confusion；　turning　to　his　wife；　〃Couldn't　you；　my　darling？〃
She　seemed　to　understand　him；　for　she　rose；　and　Charles　said　to
his　mother；　〃It　is　nothing　particular。　No　doubt；　some　household
trifle。〃　He　did　not　want　her　to　know　the　story　of　the　bill；
fearing　her　reproaches。
As　soon　as　they　were　alone；　Monsieur　Lheureux　in　sufficiently
clear　terms　began　to　congratulate　Emma　on　the　inheritance；　then
to　talk　of　indifferent　matters；　of　the　espaliers；　of　the　harvest；
and　of　his　own　health；　which　was　always　so…so；　always　having　ups
and　downs。　In　fact；　he　had　to　work　devilish　hard；　although　he
didn't　make　enough；　in　spite　of　all　people　said；　to　find　butter
for　his　bread。
Emma　let　him　talk　on。　She　had　bored　herself　so　prodigiously　the
last　two　days。
〃And　so　you're　quite　well　again？〃　he　went　on。　〃Ma　foi！　I　saw　your
husband　in　a　sad　state。　He's　a　good　fellow；　though　we　did　have　a
little　misunderstanding。〃
She　asked　what　misunderstanding；　for　Charles　had　said　nothing　of
the　dispute　about　the　goods　supplied　to　her。
〃Why；　you　know　well　enough；〃　cried　Lheureux。　〃It　was　about　your
little　fanciesthe　travelling　trunks。〃
He　had　drawn　his　hat　over　his　eyes；　and；　with　his　hands　behind
his　back；　smiling　and　whistling；　he　looked　straight　at　her　in　an
unbearable　manner。　Did　he　suspect　anything？
She　was　lost　in　all　kinds　of　apprehensions。　At　last；　however；　he
went　on
〃We　made　it　up；　all　the　same；　and　I've　come　again　to　propose
another　arrangement。〃
This　was　to　renew　the　bill　Bovary　had　signed。　The　doctor；　of
course；　would　do　as　he　pleased；　he　was　not　to　trouble　himself；
especially　just　now；　when　he　would　have　a　lot　of　worry。　〃And　he
would　do　better　to　give　it　over　to　someone　elseto　you；　for
example。　With　a　power　of　attorney　it　could　be　easily　managed；　and
then　we　（you　and　I）　would　have　our　little　business　transactions
together。〃
She　did　not　understand。　He　was　silent。　Then；　passing　to　his
trade；　Lheureux　declared　that　madame　must　require　something。　He
would　send　her　a　black　barege；　twelve　yards；　just　enough　to　make
a　gown。
〃The　one　you've　on　is　good　enough　for　the　house；　but　you　want
another　for　calls。　I　saw　that　the　very　moment　that　I　came　in。
I've　the　eye　of　an　American！〃
He　did　not　send　the　stuff；　he　brought　it。　Then　he　came　again　to
measure　it；　he　came　again　on　other　pretexts；　always　trying　to
make　himself　agreeable；　useful；　〃enfeoffing　himself；〃　as　Homais
would　have　said；　and　always　dropping　some　hint　to　Emma　about　the
power　of　attorney。　He　never　mentioned　the　bill；　she　did　not　think
of　it。　Charles；　at　the　beginning　of　her　convalescence；　had
certainly　said　something　about　it　to　her；　but　so　many　emotions
had　passed　through　her　head　that　she　no　longer　remembered　it。
Besides；　she　took　care　not　to　talk　of　any　money　questions。　Madame
Bovary　seemed　surprised　at　this；　and　attributed　the　change　in　her
ways　to　the　religious　sentiments　she　had　contracted　during　her
illness。
But　as　soon　as　she　was　gone；　Emma　greatly　astounded　Bovary　by　her
practical　good　sense。　It　would　be　necessary　to　make　inquiries；　to
look　into　mortgages；　and　see　if　there　were　any　occasion　for　a
sale　by　auction　or　a　liquidation。　She　quoted　technical　terms
casually；　pronounced　the　grand　words　of　order；　the　future；
foresight；　and　constantly　exaggerated　the　difficulties　of
settling　his　father's　affairs　so　much；　that　at　last　one　day　she
showed　him　the　rough　draft　of　a　power　of　attorney　to　manage　and
administer　his　business；　arrange　all　loans；　sign　and　endorse　all
bills；　pay　all　sums；　etc。　She　had　profited　by　Lheureux's　lessons。
Charles　naively　asked　her　where　this　paper　came　from。
〃Monsieur　Guillaumin〃；　and　with　the　utmost　coolness　she　added；　〃I
don't　trust　him　overmuch。　Notaries　have　such　a　bad　reputation。
Perhaps　we　ought　to　consultwe　only　knowno　one。〃
〃Unless　Leon〃　replied　Charles；　who　was　reflecting。　But　it　was
difficult　to　explain　matters　by　letter。　Then　she　offered　to　make
the　journey；　but　he　thanked　her。　She　insisted。　It　was　quite　a
contest　of　mutual　consideration。　At　last　she　cried　with　affected
waywardness
〃No；　I　will　go！〃
〃How　good　you　are！〃　he　said；　kissing　her　forehead。
The　next　morning　she　set　out　in　the　〃Hirondelle〃　to　go　to　Rouen
to　consult　Monsieur　Leon；　and　she　stayed　there　three　days。

Chapter　Three
They　were　three　full；　exquisite　daysa　true　honeymoon。　They　were
at　the　Hotel…de…Boulogne；　on　the　harbour；　and　they　lived　there；
with　drawn　blinds　and　closed　doors；　with　flowers　on　the　floor；
and　iced　syrups　were　brought　them　early　in　the　morning。
Towards　evening　they　took　a　covered　boat　and　went　to　dine　on　one
of　the　islands。　It　was　the　time　when　one　hears　by　the　side　of　the
dockyard　the　caulking…mallets　sounding　against　the　hull　of
vessels。　The　smoke　of　the　tar　rose　up　between　the　trees；　there
were　large　fatty　drops　on　the　water；　undulating　in　the　purple
colour　of　the　sun；　like　floating　plaques　of　Florentine　bronze。
They　rowed　down　in　the　midst　of　moored　boats；　whose　long　oblique
cables　grazed　lightly　against　the　bottom　of　the　boat。　The　din　of
the　town　gradually　grew　distant；　the　rolling　of　carriages；　the
tumult　of　voices；　the　yelping　of　dogs　on　the　decks　of　vessels。
She　took　off　her　bonnet；　and　they　landed　on　their　island。
They　sat　down　in　the　low…ceilinged　room　of　a　tavern；　at　whose
door　hung　black　nets。　They　ate　fried　smelts；　cream　and　cherries。
They　lay　down　upon　the　grass；　they　kissed　behind　the　poplars；　and
they　would　fain；　like　two　Robinsons；　have　lived　for　ever　in　this
little　place；　which　seemed　to　them　in　their　beatitude　the　most
magnificent　on　earth。　It　was　not　the　first　time　that　they　had
seen　trees；　a　blue　sky；　meadows；　that　they　had　heard　the　water
flowing　and　the　wind　blowing　in　the　leaves；　but；　no　doubt；　they
had　never　admired　all　this；　as　if　Nature　had　not　existed　before；
or　had　only　begun　to　be　beautiful　since　the　gratification　of
their　desires。
At　night　they　returned。　The　boat　glided　along　the　shores　of　the
islands。　They　sat　at　the　bottom；　both　hidden　by　the　shade；　in
silence。　The　square　oars　rang　in　the　iron　thwarts；　and；　in　the
stillness；　seemed　to　mark　time；　like　the　beating　of　a　metronome；
while　at　the　stern　the　rudder　that　trailed　behind　never　ceased
its　gentle　splash　against　the　water。
Once　the　moon　rose；　they　did　not　fail　to　make　fine　phrases；
finding　the　orb　melancholy　and　full　of　poetry。　She　even　began　to
sing
〃One　night；　do　you　remember；　we　were　sailing；〃　etc。
Her　musical　but　weak　voice　died　away　along　the　waves；　and　the
winds　carried　off　the　trills　that　Leon　heard　pass　like　the
flapping　of　wings　about　him。
She　was　opposite　him；　leaning　against　the　partition　of　the
shallop；　through　one　of　whose　raised　blinds　the　moon　streamed　in。
Her　black　dress；　whose　drapery　spread　out　like　a　fan；　made　her
seem　more　slender；　taller。　Her　head　was　raised；　her　hands
clasped；　her　eyes　turned　towards　heaven。　At　times　the　shadow　of
the　willows　hid　her　completely；　then　she　reappeared　suddenly；
like　a　vision　in　the　moonlight。
Leon；　on　the　floor　by　her　side；　found　under　his　hand　a　ribbon　of
scarlet　silk。　The　boatman　looked　at　it；　and　at　last　said
〃Perhaps　it　belongs　to　the　party　I　took　out　the　other　day。　A　lot
of　jolly　folk；　gentlemen　and　ladies；　with　cakes；　champagne；
cornetseverything　in　style！　There　was　one　especially；　a　tall
handsome　man　with　small　moustaches；　who　was　that　funny！　And　they
all　kept　saying；　'Now　tell　us　something；　AdolpheDolpe；'　I
think。〃
She　shivered。
〃You　are　in　pain？〃　asked　Leon；　coming　closer　to　her。
〃Oh；　it's　nothing！　No　doubt；　it　is　only　the　night　air。〃
〃And　who　doesn't　want　for　women；　either；〃　softly　added　the
sailor；　thinking　he　was　paying　the　stranger　a　compliment。
Then；　spitting　on　his　hands；　he　took　the　oars　again。
Yet　they　had　to　part。　The　adieux　were　sad。　He　was　to　send　his
letters　to　Mere　Rollet；　and　she　gave　him　such　precise
instructions　about　a　double　envelope　that　he　admired　greatly　her
amorous　astuteness。
〃So　you　can　assure　me　it　is　all　right？〃　she　said　with　her　last
kiss。
〃Yes；　certainly。〃
〃But　why；〃　he　thought　afterwards　as　he　came　back　through　the
streets　alone；　〃is　she　so　very　anxious　to　get　this　power　of
attorney？〃

Chapter　Four
Leon　soon　put　on　an　air　of　superiority　before　his　comrades；
avoided　their　company；　and　completely　neglected　his　work。
He　waited　for　her　letters；　he　re…read　them；　he　wrote　to　her。　He
called　her　to　mind　with　all　the　strength　of　his　desires　and　of
his　memories。　Instead　of　lessening　with　absence；　this　longing　to
see　her　again　grew；　so　that　at　last　on　Saturday　morning　he
escaped　from　his　office。
When；　from　the　summit　of　the　hill；　he　saw　in　the　valley　below　the
church…spire　with　its　tin　flag　swinging　in　the　wind；　he　felt　that
delight　mingled　with　triumphant　vanity　and　egoistic　tenderness
that　millionaires　must　experience　when　they　come　back　to　their
native　village。
He　went　rambling　round　her　house。　A　light　was　burning　in　the
kitchen。　He　watched　for　her　shadow　behind　the　curtains；　but
nothing　appeared。
Mere　Lefrancois；　when　she　saw　him；　uttered　many　exclamations。　She
thought　he　〃had　grown　and　was　thinner；〃　while　Artemise；　on　the
contrary；　thought　him　stouter　and　darker。
He　dined　in　the　little　room　as　of　yore；　but　alone；　without　the
tax…gatherer；　for　Binet；　tired　of　waiting　for　the　〃Hirondelle；〃
had　definitely　put　forward　his　meal　one　hour；　and　now　he　dined
punctually　at　five；　and　yet　he　declared　usually　the　rickety　old
concern　〃was　late。〃
Leon；　however；　made　up　his　mind；　and　knocked　at　the　doctor's
door。　Madame　was　in　her　room；　and　did　not　come　down　for　a　quarter
of　an　hour。　The　doctor　seemed　delighted　to　see　him；　but　he　never
stirred　out　that　evening；　nor　all　the　next　day。
He　saw　her　alone　in　the　evening；　very　late；　behind　the　garden　in
the　lane；　in　the　lane；　as　she　had　the　other　one！　It　was　a　stormy
night；　and　they　talked　under　an　umbrella　by　lightning　flashes。
Their　separation　was　becoming　intolerable。　〃I　would　rather　die！〃
said　Emma。　She　was　writhing　in　his　arms；　weeping。　〃Adieu！　adieu！
When　shall　I　see　you　again？〃
They　came　back　again　to　embrace　once　more；　and　it　was　then　that
she　promised　him　to　find　so