madame bovary-第12章

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！


servants　appeared；　the　Marquis　came　forward；　and；　offering　his
arm　to　the　doctor's　wife；　conducted　her　to　the　vestibule。

It　was　paved　with　marble　slabs；　was　very　lofty；　and　the　sound　of
footsteps　and　that　of　voices　re…echoed　through　it　as　in　a　church。

Opposite　rose　a　straight　staircase；　and　on　the　left　a　gallery
overlooking　the　garden　led　to　the　billiard　room；　through　whose
door　one　could　hear　the　click　of　the　ivory　balls。　As　she　crossed
it　to　go　to　the　drawing　room；　Emma　saw　standing　round　the　table
men　with　grave　faces；　their　chins　resting　on　high　cravats。　They
all　wore　orders；　and　smiled　silently　as　they　made　their　strokes。

On　the　dark　wainscoting　of　the　walls　large　gold　frames　bore　at
the　bottom　names　written　in　black　letters。　She　read：
〃Jean…Antoine　d'Andervilliers　d'Yvervonbille；　Count　de　la
Vaubyessard　and　Baron　de　la　Fresnay；　killed　at　the　battle　of
Coutras　on　the　20th　of　October；　1857。〃　And　on　another：
〃Jean…Antoine…Henry…Guy　d'Andervilliers　de　la　Vaubyessard；
Admiral　of　France　and　Chevalier　of　the　Order　of　St。　Michael；
wounded　at　the　battle　of　the　Hougue…Saint…Vaast　on　the　29th　of
May；　1692；　died　at　Vaubyessard　on　the　23rd　of　January　1693。〃　One
could　hardly　make　out　those　that　followed；　for　the　light　of　the
lamps　lowered　over　the　green　cloth　threw　a　dim　shadow　round　the
room。　Burnishing　the　horizontal　pictures；　it　broke　up　against
these　in　delicate　lines　where　there　were　cracks　in　the　varnish；
and　from　all　these　great　black　squares　framed　in　with　gold　stood
out　here　and　there　some　lighter　portion　of　the　paintinga　pale
brow；　two　eyes　that　looked　at　you；　perukes　flowing　over　and
powdering　red…coated　shoulders；　or　the　buckle　of　a　garter　above　a
well…rounded　calf。

The　Marquis　opened　the　drawing　room　door；　one　of　the　ladies　（the
Marchioness　herself）　came　to　meet　Emma。　She　made　her　sit　down　by
her　on　an　ottoman；　and　began　talking　to　her　as　amicably　as　if　she
had　known　her　a　long　time。　She　was　a　woman　of　about　forty；　with
fine　shoulders；　a　hook　nose；　a　drawling　voice；　and　on　this
evening　she　wore　over　her　brown　hair　a　simple　guipure　fichu　that
fell　in　a　point　at　the　back。　A　fair　young　woman　sat　in　a
high…backed　chair　in　a　corner；　and　gentlemen　with　flowers　in
their　buttonholes　were　talking　to　ladies　round　the　fire。

At　seven　dinner　was　served。　The　men；　who　were　in　the　majority；
sat　down　at　the　first　table　in　the　vestibule；　the　ladies　at　the
second　in　the　dining　room　with　the　Marquis　and　Marchioness。

Emma；　on　entering；　felt　herself　wrapped　round　by　the　warm　air；　a
blending　of　the　perfume　of　flowers　and　of　the　fine　linen；　of　the
fumes　of　the　viands；　and　the　odour　of　the　truffles。　The　silver
dish　covers　reflected　the　lighted　wax　candles　in　the　candelabra；
the　cut　crystal　covered　with　light　steam　reflected　from　one　to
the　other　pale　rays；　bouquets　were　placed　in　a　row　the　whole
length　of　the　table；　and　in　the　large…bordered　plates　each
napkin；　arranged　after　the　fashion　of　a　bishop's　mitre；　held
between　its　two　gaping　folds　a　small　oval　shaped　roll。　The　red
claws　of　lobsters　hung　over　the　dishes；　rich　fruit　in　open
baskets　was　piled　up　on　moss；　there　were　quails　in　their　plumage；
smoke　was　rising；　and　in　silk　stockings；　knee…breeches；　white
cravat；　and　frilled　shirt；　the　steward；　grave　as　a　judge；
offering　ready　carved　dishes　between　the　shoulders　of　the　guests；
with　a　touch　of　the　spoon　gave　you　the　piece　chosen。　On　the　large
stove　of　porcelain　inlaid　with　copper　baguettes　the　statue　of　a
woman；　draped　to　the　chin；　gazed　motionless　on　the　room　full　of
life。

Madame　Bovary　noticed　that　many　ladies　had　not　put　their　gloves
in　their　glasses。

But　at　the　upper　end　of　the　table；　alone　amongst　all　these　women；
bent　over　his　full　plate；　and　his　napkin　tied　round　his　neck　like
a　child；　an　old　man　sat　eating；　letting　drops　of　gravy　drip　from
his　mouth。　His　eyes　were　bloodshot；　and　he　wore　a　little　queue
tied　with　black　ribbon。　He　was　the　Marquis's　father…in…law；　the
old　Duke　de　Laverdiere；　once　on　a　time　favourite　of　the　Count
d'Artois；　in　the　days　of　the　Vaudreuil　hunting…parties　at　the
Marquis　de　Conflans'；　and　had　been；　it　was　said；　the　lover　of
Queen　Marie　Antoinette；　between　Monsieur　de　Coigny　and　Monsieur
de　Lauzun。　He　had　lived　a　life　of　noisy　debauch；　full　of　duels；
bets；　elopements；　he　had　squandered　his　fortune　and　frightened
all　his　family。　A　servant　behind　his　chair　named　aloud　to　him　in
his　ear　the　dishes　that　he　pointed　to　stammering；　and　constantly
Emma's　eyes　turned　involuntarily　to　this　old　man　with　hanging
lips；　as　to　something　extraordinary。　He　had　lived　at　court　and
slept　in　the　bed　of　queens！　Iced　champagne　was　poured　out。　Emma
shivered　all　over　as　she　felt　it　cold　in　her　mouth。　She　had　never
seen　pomegranates　nor　tasted　pineapples。　The　powdered　sugar　even
seemed　to　her　whiter　and　finer　than　elsewhere。

The　ladies　afterwards　went　to　their　rooms　to　prepare　for　the
ball。

Emma　made　her　toilet　with　the　fastidious　care　of　an　actress　on
her　debut。　She　did　her　hair　according　to　the　directions　of　the
hairdresser；　and　put　on　the　barege　dress　spread　out　upon　the　bed。

Charles's　trousers　were　tight　across　the　belly。

〃My　trouser…straps　will　be　rather　awkward　for　dancing；〃　he　said。

〃Dancing？〃　repeated　Emma。

〃Yes！〃

〃Why；　you　must　be　mad！　They　would　make　fun　of　you；　keep　your
place。　Besides；　it　is　more　becoming　for　a　doctor；〃　she　added。

Charles　was　silent。　He　walked　up　and　down　waiting　for　Emma　to
finish　dressing。

He　saw　her　from　behind　in　the　glass　between　two　lights。　Her　black
eyes　seemed　blacker　than　ever。　Her　hair；　undulating　towards　the
ears；　shone　with　a　blue　lustre；　a　rose　in　her　chignon　trembled　on
its　mobile　stalk；　with　artificial　dewdrops　on　the　tip　of　the
leaves。　She　wore　a　gown　of　pale　saffron　trimmed　with　three
bouquets　of　pompon　roses　mixed　with　green。

Charles　came　and　kissed　her　on　her　shoulder。

〃Let　me　alone！〃　she　said；　〃you　are　tumbling　me。〃

One　could　hear　the　flourish　of　the　violin　and　the　notes　of　a
horn。　She　went　downstairs　restraining　herself　from　running。

Dancing　had　begun。　Guests　were　arriving。　There　was　some　crushing。

She　sat　down　on　a　form　near　the　door。

The　quadrille　over；　the　floor　was　occupied　by　groups　of　men
standing　up　and　talking　and　servants　in　livery　bearing　large
trays。　Along　the　line　of　seated　women　painted　fans　were
fluttering；　bouquets　half　hid　smiling　faces；　and　gold　stoppered
scent…bottles　were　turned　in　partly…closed　hands；　whose　white
gloves　outlined　the　nails　and　tightened　on　the　flesh　at　the
wrists。　Lace　trimmings；　diamond　brooches；　medallion　bracelets
trembled　on　bodices；　gleamed　on　breasts；　clinked　on　bare　arms。

The　hair；　well…smoothed　over　the　temples　and　knotted　at　the　nape；
bore　crowns；　or　bunches；　or　sprays　of　mytosotis；　jasmine；
pomegranate　blossoms；　ears　of　corn；　and　corn…flowers。　Calmly
seated　in　their　places；　mothers　with　forbidding　countenances　were
wearing　red　turbans。

Emma's　heart　beat　rather　faster　when；　her　partner　holding　her　by
the　tips　of　the　fingers；　she　took　her　place　in　a　line　with　the
dancers；　and　waited　for　the　first　note　to　start。　But　her　emotion
soon　vanished；　and；　swaying　to　the　rhythm　of　the　orchestra；　she
glided　forward　with　slight　movements　of　the　neck。　A　smile　rose　to
her　lips　at　certain　delicate　phrases　of　the　violin；　that
sometimes　played　alone　while　the　other　instruments　were　silent；
one　could　hear　the　clear　clink　of　the　louis　d'or　that　were　being
thrown　down　upon　the　card　tables　in　the　next　room；　then　all
struck　again；　the　cornet…a…piston　uttered　its　sonorous　note；　feet
marked　time；　skirts　swelled　and　rustled；　hands　touched　and
parted；　the　same　eyes　falling　before　you　met　yours　again。

A　few　men　（some　fifteen　or　so）；　of　twenty…five　to　forty；
scattered　here　and　there　among　the　dancers　or　talking　at　the
doorways；　distinguished　themselves　from　the　crowd　by　a　certain
air　of　breeding；　whatever　their　differences　in　age；　dress；　or
face。

Their　clothes；　better　made；　seemed　of　finer　cloth；　and　their
hair；　brought　forward　in　curls　towards　the　temples；　glossy　with
more　delicate　pomades。　They　had　the　complexion　of　wealththat
clear　complexion　that　is　heightened　by　the　pallor　of　porcelain；
the