madame bovary(包法利夫人)-第77章

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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　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　imp