madame bovary-第52部分

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！


jolting；　running　up　against　things　here　and　there；　not　caring　if
he　did；　demoralised；　and　almost　weeping　with　thirst；　fatigue；　and
depression。

And　on　the　harbour；　in　the　midst　of　the　drays　and　casks；　and　in
the　streets；　at　the　corners；　the　good　folk　opened　large
wonder…stricken　eyes　at　this　sight；　so　extraordinary　in　the
provinces；　a　cab　with　blinds　drawn；　and　which　appeared　thus
constantly　shut　more　closely　than　a　tomb；　and　tossing　about　like
a　vessel。

Once　in　the　middle　of　the　day；　in　the　open　country；　just　as　the
sun　beat　most　fiercely　against　the　old　plated　lanterns；　a　bared
hand　passed　beneath　the　small　blinds　of　yellow　canvas；　and　threw
out　some　scraps　of　paper　that　scattered　in　the　wind；　and　farther
off　lighted　like　white　butterflies　on　a　field　of　red　clover　all
in　bloom。

At　about　six　o'clock　the　carriage　stopped　in　a　back　street　of　the
Beauvoisine　Quarter；　and　a　woman　got　out；　who　walked　with　her
veil　down；　and　without　turning　her　head。



Chapter　Two

On　reaching　the　inn；　Madame　Bovary　was　surprised　not　to　see　the
diligence。　Hivert；　who　had　waited　for　her　fifty…three　minutes；
had　at　last　started。

Yet　nothing　forced　her　to　go；　but　she　had　given　her　word　that　she
would　return　that　same　evening。　Moreover；　Charles　expected　her；
and　in　her　heart　she　felt　already　that　cowardly　docility　that　is
for　some　women　at　once　the　chastisement　and　atonement　of
adultery。

She　packed　her　box　quickly；　paid　her　bill；　took　a　cab　in　the
yard；　hurrying　on　the　driver；　urging　him　on；　every　moment
inquiring　about　the　time　and　the　miles　traversed。　He　succeeded　in
catching　up　the　〃Hirondelle〃　as　it　neared　the　first　houses　of
Quincampoix。

Hardly　was　she　seated　in　her　corner　than　she　closed　her　eyes；　and
opened　them　at　the　foot　of　the　hill；　when　from　afar　she
recognised　Felicite；　who　was　on　the　lookout　in　front　of　the
farrier's　shop。　Hivert　pulled　in　his　horses　and；　the　servant；
climbing　up　to　the　window；　said　mysteriously

〃Madame；　you　must　go　at　once　to　Monsieur　Homais。　It's　for
something　important。〃

The　village　was　silent　as　usual。　At　the　corner　of　the　streets
were　small　pink　heaps　that　smoked　in　the　air；　for　this　was　the
time　for　jam…making；　and　everyone　at　Yonville　prepared　his　supply
on　the　same　day。　But　in　front　of　the　chemist's　shop　one　might
admire　a　far　larger　heap；　and　that　surpassed　the　others　with　the
superiority　that　a　laboratory　must　have　over　ordinary　stores；　a
general　need　over　individual　fancy。

She　went　in。　The　large　arm…chair　was　upset；　and　even　the　〃Fanal
de　Rouen〃　lay　on　the　ground；　outspread　between　two　pestles。　She
pushed　open　the　lobby　door；　and　in　the　middle　of　the　kitchen；
amid　brown　jars　full　of　picked　currants；　of　powdered　sugar　and
lump　sugar；　of　the　scales　on　the　table；　and　of　the　pans　on　the
fire；　she　saw　all　the　Homais；　small　and　large；　with　aprons
reaching　to　their　chins；　and　with　forks　in　their　hands。　Justin
was　standing　up　with　bowed　head；　and　the　chemist　was　screaming

〃Who　told　you　to　go　and　fetch　it　in　the　Capharnaum。〃

〃What　is　it？　What　is　the　matter？〃

〃What　is　it？〃　replied　the　druggist。　〃We　are　making　preserves；
they　are　simmering；　but　they　were　about　to　boil　over；　because
there　is　too　much　juice；　and　I　ordered　another　pan。　Then　he；　from
indolence；　from　laziness；　went　and　took；　hanging　on　its　nail　in
my　laboratory；　the　key　of　the　Capharnaum。〃

It　was　thus　the　druggist　called　a　small　room　under　the　leads；
full　of　the　utensils　and　the　goods　of　his　trade。　He　often　spent
long　hours　there　alone；　labelling；　decanting；　and　doing　up　again；
and　he　looked　upon　it　not　as　a　simple　store；　but　as　a　veritable
sanctuary；　whence　there　afterwards　issued；　elaborated　by　his
hands；　all　sorts　of　pills；　boluses；　infusions；　lotions；　and
potions；　that　would　bear　far　and　wide　his　celebrity。　No　one　in
the　world　set　foot　there；　and　he　respected　it　so；　that　he　swept
it　himself。　Finally；　if　the　pharmacy；　open　to　all　comers；　was　the
spot　where　he　displayed　his　pride；　the　Capharnaum　was　the　refuge
where；　egoistically　concentrating　himself；　Homais　delighted　in
the　exercise　of　his　predilections；　so　that　Justin's
thoughtlessness　seemed　to　him　a　monstrous　piece　of　irreverence；
and；　redder　than　the　currants；　he　repeated

〃Yes；　from　the　Capharnaum！　The　key　that　locks　up　the　acids　and
caustic　alkalies！　To　go　and　get　a　spare　pan！　a　pan　with　a　lid！
and　that　I　shall　perhaps　never　use！　Everything　is　of　importance
in　the　delicate　operations　of　our　art！　But；　devil　take　it！　one
must　make　distinctions；　and　not　employ　for　almost　domestic
purposes　that　which　is　meant　for　pharmaceutical！　It　is　as　if　one
were　to　carve　a　fowl　with　a　scalpel；　as　if　a　magistrate〃

〃Now　be　calm；〃　said　Madame　Homais。

And　Athalie；　pulling　at　his　coat；　cried　〃Papa！　papa！〃

〃No；　let　me　alone；〃　went　on　the　druggist　〃let　me　alone；　hang　it！
My　word！　One　might　as　well　set　up　for　a　grocer。　That's　it！　go　it！
respect　nothing！　break；　smash；　let　loose　the　leeches；　burn　the
mallow…paste；　pickle　the　gherkins　in　the　window　jars；　tear　up　the
bandages！〃

〃I　thought　you　had〃said　Emma。

〃Presently！　Do　you　know　to　what　you　exposed　yourself？　Didn't　you
see　anything　in　the　corner；　on　the　left；　on　the　third　shelf？
Speak；　answer；　articulate　something。〃

〃Idon'tknow；〃　stammered　the　young　fellow。

〃Ah！　you　don't　know！　Well；　then；　I　do　know！　You　saw　a　bottle　of
blue　glass；　sealed　with　yellow　wax；　that　contains　a　white　powder；
on　which　I　have　even　written　'Dangerous！'　And　do　you　know　what　is
in　it？　Arsenic！　And　you　go　and　touch　it！　You　take　a　pan　that　was
next　to　it！〃

〃Next　to　it！〃　cried　Madame　Hoinais；　clasping　her　hands。　〃Arsenic！
You　might　have　poisoned　us　all。〃

And　the　children　began　howling　as　if　they　already　had　frightful
pains　in　their　entrails。

〃Or　poison　a　patient！〃　continued　the　druggist。　〃Do　you　want　to
see　me　in　the　prisoner's　dock　with　criminals；　in　a　court　of
justice？　To　see　me　dragged　to　the　scaffold？　Don't　you　know　what
care　I　take　in　managing　things；　although　I　am　so　thoroughly　used
to　it？　Often　I　am　horrified　myself　when　I　think　of　my
responsibility；　for　the　Government　persecutes　us；　and　the　absurd
legislation　that　rules　us　is　a　veritable　Damocles'　sword　over　our
heads。〃

Emma　no　longer　dreamed　of　asking　what　they　wanted　her　for；　and
the　druggist　went　on　in　breathless　phrases

〃That　is　your　return　for　all　the　kindness　we　have　shown　you！　That
is　how　you　recompense　me　for　the　really　paternal　care　that　I
lavish　on　you！　For　without　me　where　would　you　be？　What　would　you
be　doing？　Who　provides　you　with　food；　education；　clothes；　and　all
the　means　of　figuring　one　day　with　honour　in　the　ranks　of
society？　But　you　must　pull　hard　at　the　oar　if　you're　to　do　that；
and　get；　as；　people　say；　callosities　upon　your　hands。　Fabricando
fit　faber；　age　quod　agis。*

*　The　worker　lives　by　working；　do　what　he　will。


He　was　so　exasperated　he　quoted　Latin。　He　would　have　quoted
Chinese　or　Greenlandish　had　he　known　those　two　languages；　for　he
was　in　one　of　those　crises　in　which　the　whole　soul　shows
indistinctly　what　it　contains；　like　the　ocean；　which；　in　the
storm；　opens　itself　from　the　seaweeds　on　its　shores　down　to　the
sands　of　its　abysses。

And　he　went　on

〃I　am　beginning　to　repent　terribly　of　having　taken　you　up！　I
should　certainly　have　done　better　to　have　left　you　to　rot　in　your
poverty　and　the　dirt　in　which　you　were　born。　Oh；　you'll　never　be
fit　for　anything　but　to　herd　animals　with　horns！　You　have　no
aptitude　for　science！　You　hardly　know　how　to　stick　on　a　label！
And　there　you　are；　dwelling　with　me　snug　as　a　parson；　living　in
clover；　taking　your　ease！〃

But　Emma；　turning　to　Madame　Homais；　〃I　was　told　to　come　here〃

〃Oh；　dear　me！〃　interrupted　the　good　woman；　with　a　sad　air；　〃how
am　I　to　tell　you？　It　is　a　misfortune！〃

She　could　not　finish；　the　druggist　was　thundering〃Empty　it！
Clean　it！　Take　it　back！　Be　quick！〃

And　seizing　Justin　by　the　collar　of　his　blouse；　he　shook　a　book
out　of　his　pocket。　The　lad　stooped；　but　Homais　was　the　quicker；
and；　having　picked　up　the　volume；　contemplated　it　with　staring
eyes　and　open　mouth。

〃CONJUGALLOVE！〃　he　said；　slowly　separating　the　two　words。　〃Ah！
very　good！　very　good！　very　pretty！　And　illustrations！　Oh；　this　is
too　much！〃

Madame　Homais　came　forward。

〃No；　do　not　touch　it！〃

The　children　wanted　to　look　at　the　pictures。

〃Leave　the　room；〃　he　said　imperiously；　and　they　went　out。

First　he　walked　up　and　down　with　the　open　volume　in　his　hand；
rolling　his　eyes；　choking；　tumid；　apoplectic。　Then　he　came
straight　to　his　pupil；　and；　planting　himself　in　front　of　him　with
crossed　arms

〃Have　you　every　vice；　then；　little　wretch？　Take　care！　you　are　on
a　downward　path。　Did　not　you　reflect　that　this　infamous　book
might　fall　in　the　hands　of　my　children；　kindle　a　spark　in　their
minds；　tarnish　the　purity　of　Athalie；　corrupt　Napoleon。　He　is
already　formed　like　a　man。　Are　you　quite　sure；　anyhow；　that　they
have　not　read　it？　Can　you　certify　to　me〃

〃But　really；　sir；〃　said　Emma；　〃you　wished　to　tell　me〃

〃Ah；　yes！　madame。　Your　father…in…law　is　dead。〃

In　fact；　Monsieur　Bovary　senior　had　expired　the　evening　before
suddenly　from　an　attack　of　apoplexy　as　he　got　up　from　table；　and
by　way　of　grea