madame bovary(包法利夫人)-第53部分

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〃Leave　Cujas　and　Barthole　alone　a　bit。　Who　the　devil　prevents
you？　Be　a　man！　Let's　go　to　Bridoux'。　You'll　see　his　dog。　It's
very　interesting。〃
And　as　the　clerk　still　insisted
〃I'll　go　with　you。　I'll　read　a　paper　while　I　wait　for　you；　or
turn　over　the　leaves　of　a　'Code。'〃
Leon；　bewildered　by　Emma's　anger；　Monsieur　Homais'　chatter；　and；
perhaps；　by　the　heaviness　of　the　luncheon；　was　undecided；　and；　as
it　were；　fascinated　by　the　chemist；　who　kept　repeating
〃Let's　go　to　Bridoux'。　It's　just　by　here；　in　the　Rue　Malpalu。〃
Then；　through　cowardice；　through　stupidity；　through　that
indefinable　feeling　that　drags　us　into　the　most　distasteful　acts；
he　allowed　himself　to　be　led　off　to　Bridoux'；　whom　they　found　in
his　small　yard；　superintending　three　workmen；　who　panted　as　they
turned　the　large　wheel　of　a　machine　for　making　seltzer…water。
Homais　gave　them　some　good　advice。　He　embraced　Bridoux；　they　took
some　garus。　Twenty　times　Leon　tried　to　escape；　but　the　other
seized　him　by　the　arm　saying
〃Presently！　I'm　coming！　We'll　go　to　the　'Fanal　de　Rouen'　to　see
the　fellows　there。　I'll　introduce　you　to　Thornassin。〃
At　last　he　managed　to　get　rid　of　him；　and　rushed　straight　to　the
hotel。　Emma　was　no　longer　there。　She　had　just　gone　in　a　fit　of
anger。　She　detested　him　now。　This　failing　to　keep　their
rendezvous　seemed　to　her　an　insult；　and　she　tried　to　rake　up
other　reasons　to　separate　herself　from　him。　He　was　incapable　of
heroism；　weak；　banal；　more　spiritless　than　a　woman；　avaricious
too；　and　cowardly。
Then；　growing　calmer；　she　at　length　discovered　that　she　had；　no
doubt；　calumniated　him。　But　the　disparaging　of　those　we　love
always　alienates　us　from　them　to　some　extent。　We　must　not　touch
our　idols；　the　gilt　sticks　to　our　fingers。
They　gradually　came　to　talking　more　frequently　of　matters　outside
their　love；　and　in　the　letters　that　Emma　wrote　him　she　spoke　of
flowers；　verses；　the　moon　and　the　stars；　naive　resources　of　a
waning　passion　striving　to　keep　itself　alive　by　all　external
aids。　She　was　constantly　promising　herself　a　profound　felicity　on
her　next　journey。　Then　she　confessed　to　herself　that　she　felt
nothing　extraordinary。　This　disappointment　quickly　gave　way　to　a
new　hope；　and　Emma　returned　to　him　more　inflamed；　more　eager　than
ever。　She　undressed　brutally；　tearing　off　the　thin　laces　of　her
corset　that　nestled　around　her　hips　like　a　gliding　snake。　She
went　on　tiptoe；　barefooted；　to　see　once　more　that　the　door　was
closed；　then；　pale；　serious；　and；　without　speaking；　with　one
movement；　she　threw　herself　upon　his　breast　with　a　long　shudder。
Yet　there　was　upon　that　brow　covered　with　cold　drops；　on　those
quivering　lips；　in　those　wild　eyes；　in　the　strain　of　those　arms；
something　vague　and　dreary　that　seemed　to　Leon　to　glide　between
them　subtly　as　if　to　separate　them。
He　did　not　dare　to　question　her；　but；　seeing　her　so　skilled；　she
must　have　passed；　he　thought；　through　every　experience　of
suffering　and　of　pleasure。　What　had　once　charmed　now　frightened
him　a　little。　Besides；　he　rebelled　against　his　absorption；　daily
more　marked；　by　her　personality。　He　begrudged　Emma　this　constant
victory。　He　even　strove　not　to　love　her；　then；　when　he　heard　the
creaking　of　her　boots；　he　turned　coward；　like　drunkards　at　the
sight　of　strong　drinks。
She　did　not　fail；　in　truth；　to　lavish　all　sorts　of　attentions
upon　him；　from　the　delicacies　of　food　to　the　coquettries　of　dress
and　languishing　looks。　She　brought　roses　to　her　breast　from
Yonville；　which　she　threw　into　his　face；　was　anxious　about　his
health；　gave　him　advice　as　to　his　conduct；　and；　in　order　the　more
surely　to　keep　her　hold　on　him；　hoping　perhaps　that　heaven　would
take　her　part；　she　tied　a　medal　of　the　Virgin　round　his　neck。　She
inquired　like　a　virtuous　mother　about　his　companions。　She　said　to
him
〃Don't　see　them；　don't　go　out；　think　only　of　ourselves；　love　me！〃
She　would　have　liked　to　be　able　to　watch　over　his　life；　and　the
idea　occurred　to　her　of　having　him　followed　in　the　streets。　Near
the　hotel　there　was　always　a　kind　of　loafer　who　accosted
travellers；　and　who　would　not　refuse。　But　her　pride　revolted　at
this。
〃Bah！　so　much　the　worse。　Let　him　deceive　me！　What　does　it　matter
to　me？　As　If　I　cared　for　him！〃
One　day；　when　they　had　parted　early　and　she　was　returning　alone
along　the　boulevard；　she　saw　the　walls　of　her　convent；　then　she
sat　down　on　a　form　in　the　shade　of　the　elm…trees。　How　calm　that
time　had　been！　How　she　longed　for　the　ineffable　sentiments　of
love　that　she　had　tried　to　figure　to　herself　out　of　books！　The
first　month　of　her　marriage；　her　rides　in　the　wood；　the　viscount
that　waltzed；　and　Lagardy　singing；　all　repassed　before　her　eyes。
And　Leon　suddenly　appeared　to　her　as　far　off　as　the　others。
〃Yet　I　love　him；〃　she　said　to　herself。
No　matter！　She　was　not　happyshe　never　had　been。　Whence　came
this　insufficiency　in　lifethis　instantaneous　turning　to　decay
of　everything　on　which　she　leant？　But　if　there　were　somewhere　a
being　strong　and　beautiful；　a　valiant　nature；　full　at　once　of
exaltation　and　refinement；　a　poet's　heart　in　an　angel's　form；　a
lyre　with　sounding　chords　ringing　out　elegiac　epithalamia　to
heaven；　why；　perchance；　should　she　not　find　him？　Ah！　how
impossible！　Besides；　nothing　was　worth　the　trouble　of　seeking　it；
everything　was　a　lie。　Every　smile　hid　a　yawn　of　boredom；　every
joy　a　curse；　all　pleasure　satiety；　and　the　sweetest　kisses　left
upon　your　lips　only　the　unattainable　desire　for　a　greater
delight。
A　metallic　clang　droned　through　the　air；　and　four　strokes　were
heard　from　the　convent…clock。　Four　o'clock！　And　it　seemed　to　her
that　she　had　been　there　on　that　form　an　eternity。　But　an　infinity
of　passions　may　be　contained　in　a　minute；　like　a　crowd　in　a　small
space。
Emma　lived　all　absorbed　in　hers；　and　troubled　no　more　about　money
matters　than　an　archduchess。
Once；　however；　a　wretched…looking　man；　rubicund　and　bald；　came　to
her　house；　saying　he　had　been　sent　by　Monsieur　Vincart　of　Rouen。
He　took　out　the　pins　that　held　together　the　side…pockets　of　his
long　green　overcoat；　stuck　them　into　his　sleeve；　and　politely
handed　her　a　paper。
It　was　a　bill　for　seven　hundred　francs；　signed　by　her；　and　which
Lheureux；　in　spite　of　all　his　professions；　had　paid　away　to
Vincart。　She　sent　her　servant　for　him。　He　could　not　come。　Then
the　stranger；　who　had　remained　standing；　casting　right　and　left
curious　glances；　that　his　thick；　fair　eyebrows　hid；　asked　with　a
naive　air
〃What　answer　am　I　to　take　Monsieur　Vincart？〃
〃Oh；〃　said　Emma；　〃tell　him　that　I　haven't　it。　I　will　send　next
week；　he　must　wait；　yes；　till　next　week。〃
And　the　fellow　went　without　another　word。
But　the　next　day　at　twelve　o'clock　she　received　a　summons；　and
the　sight　of　the　stamped　paper；　on　which　appeared　several　times
in　large　letters；　〃Maitre　Hareng；　bailiff　at　Buchy；〃　so
frightened　her　that　she　rushed　in　hot　haste　to　the　linendraper's。
She　found　him　in　his　shop；　doing　up　a　parcel。
〃Your　obedient！〃　he　said；　〃I　am　at　your　service。〃
But　Lheureux；　all　the　same；　went　on　with　his　work；　helped　by　a
young　girl　of　about　thirteen；　somewhat　hunch…backed；　who　was　at
once　his　clerk　and　his　servant。
Then；　his　clogs　clattering　on　the　shop…boards；　he　went　up　in
front　of　Madame　Bovary　to　the　first　door；　and　introduced　her　into
a　narrow　closet；　where；　in　a　large　bureau　in　sapon…wood；　lay　some
ledgers；　protected　by　a　horizontal　padlocked　iron　bar。　Against
the　wall；　under　some　remnants　of　calico；　one　glimpsed　a　safe；　but
of　such　dimensions　that　it　must　contain　something　besides　bills
and　money。　Monsieur　Lheureux；　in　fact；　went　in　for　pawnbroking；
and　it　was　there　that　he　had　put　Madame　Bovary's　gold　chain；
together　with　the　earrings　of　poor　old　Tellier；　who；　at　last
forced　to　sell　out；　had　bought　a　meagre　store　of　grocery　at
Quincampoix；　where　he　was　dying　of　catarrh　amongst　his　candles；
that　were　less　yellow　than　his　face。
Lheureux　sat　down　in　a　large　cane　arm…chair；　saying：　〃What　news？〃
〃See！〃
And　she　showed　him　the　paper。
〃Well　how　can　I　help　it？〃
Then　she　grew　angry；　reminding　him　of　the　promise　he　had　given
not　to　pay　away　her　bills。　He　acknowledged　it。
〃But　I　was　pressed　myself；　the　knife　was　at　my　own　throat。〃
〃And　what　will　happen　now？〃　she　went　on。
〃Oh；　it's　very　simple；　a　judgment　and　then　a　distraintthat's
about　it！〃
Emma　kept　down　a　desire　to　strike　him；　and　asked　gently　if　there
was　no　way　of　quieting　Monsieur　Vincart。
〃I　dare　say！　Quiet　Vincart！　You　don't　know　him；　he's　more
ferocious　than　an　Arab！〃
Still　Monsieur　Lheureux　must　interfere。
〃Well；　listen。　It　seems　to　me　so　far　I've　been　very　good　to　you。〃
And　opening　one　of　his　ledgers；　〃See；〃　he　said。　Then　running　up
the　page　with　his　finger；　〃Let's　see！　let's　see！　August　3d；　two
hundred　francs；　June　17th；　a　hundred　and　fifty；　March　23d；
forty…six。　In　April〃
He　stopped；　as　if　afraid　of　making　some　mistake。
〃Not　to　speak　of　the　bills　signed　by　Monsieur　Bovary；　one　for
seven　hundred　francs；　and　another　for　three　hundred。　As　to　your
little　installments；　with　the　interest；　why；　there's　no　end　to
'em；　one　gets　quite　muddled　over　'em。　I'll　have　nothing　more　to
do　with　it。〃
She　wept；　she　even　called　him　〃her　good　Monsieur　Lheureux。〃　But
he　always　fell　back　upon　〃that　rascal　Vincart。〃　Besides；　he
hadn't　a　brass　farthing；　no　one　was　paying　him　now…a…days；　they
were　eating　his　coat　off　his　back；　a　poor　shopkeeper　like　him
couldn't　advance　money。
Emma　was　silent；　and　Monsieur　Lheureux；　who　was　biting　the
feathers　of　a　quill；　no　doubt　became　uneasy　at　her　silence；　for
he　went　on
〃Unless　one　of　these　days　I　have　something　coming　in；　I　might〃
〃Besides；〃　said　she；　〃as　soon　as　the　balance　of　Barneville〃
〃What！〃
And　on　hearing　that　Langlois　had　not　yet　paid　he　seemed　much
surprised。　Then　in　a　honied　voice
〃And　we　agree；　you　say？〃
〃Oh！　to　anything　you　like。〃
On　this　he　closed　his　eyes　to　reflect；　wrote　down　a　few　figures；
and　declaring　it　would　be　very　difficult　for　him；　that　the　affair
was　shady；　and　that　he　was　being　bled；　he　wrote　out　four　bills
for　two　hundred　and　fifty　francs　each；　to　fall　due　month　by
month。
〃Provided　that　Vincart　will　listen　to　me！　However；　it's　settled。
I　don't　play　the　fool；　I'm　straight　enough。〃
Next　he　carelessly　showed　her　several　new　g