madame bovary-第31章
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she was amusing herself with watching the crowd of boors when she
saw a gentleman in a green velvet coat。 He had on yellow gloves；
although he wore heavy gaiters； he was coming towards the
doctor's house； followed by a peasant walking with a bent head
and quite a thoughtful air。
〃Can I see the doctor？〃 he asked Justin； who was talking on the
doorsteps with Felicite； and； taking him for a servant of the
house〃Tell him that Monsieur Rodolphe Boulanger of La Huchette
is here。〃
It was not from territorial vanity that the new arrival added 〃of
La Huchette〃 to his name； but to make himself the better known。
La Huchette； in fact； was an estate near Yonville； where he had
just bought the chateau and two farms that he cultivated himself；
without； however； troubling very much about them。 He lived as a
bachelor； and was supposed to have 〃at least fifteen thousand
francs a year。〃
Charles came into the room。 Monsieur Boulanger introduced his
man； who wanted to be bled because he felt 〃a tingling all over。〃
〃That'll purge me；〃 he urged as an objection to all reasoning。
So Bovary ordered a bandage and a basin； and asked Justin to hold
it。 Then addressing the peasant； who was already pale
〃Don't be afraid； my lad。〃
〃No； no； sir；〃 said the other； 〃get on。〃
And with an air of bravado he held out his great arm。 At the
prick of the lancet the blood spurted out； splashing against the
looking…glass。
〃Hold the basin nearer；〃 exclaimed Charles。
〃Lor！〃 said the peasant； 〃one would swear it was a little
fountain flowing。 How red my blood is！ That's a good sign； isn't
it？〃
〃Sometimes；〃 answered the doctor； 〃one feels nothing at first；
and then syncope sets in； and more especially with people of
strong constitution like this man。〃
At these words the rustic let go the lancet…case he was twisting
between his fingers。 A shudder of his shoulders made the
chair…back creak。 His hat fell off。
〃I thought as much；〃 said Bovary； pressing his finger on the
vein。
The basin was beginning to tremble in Justin's hands； his knees
shook； he turned pale。
〃Emma！ Emma！〃 called Charles。
With one bound she came down the staircase。
〃Some vinegar；〃 he cried。 〃O dear！ two at once！〃
And in his emotion he could hardly put on the compress。
〃It is nothing；〃 said Monsieur Boulanger quietly； taking Justin
in his arms。 He seated him on the table with his back resting
against the wall。
Madame Bovary began taking off his cravat。 The strings of his
shirt had got into a knot； and she was for some minutes moving
her light fingers about the young fellow's neck。 Then she poured
some vinegar on her cambric handkerchief； she moistened his
temples with little dabs； and then blew upon them softly。 The
ploughman revived； but Justin's syncope still lasted； and his
eyeballs disappeared in the pale sclerotics like blue flowers in
milk。
〃We must hide this from him；〃 said Charles。
Madame Bovary took the basin to put it under the table。 With the
movement she made in bending down； her dress （it was a summer
dress with four flounces； yellow； long in the waist and wide in
the skirt） spread out around her on the flags of the room； and as
Emma stooping； staggered a little as she stretched out her arms。
The stuff here and there gave with the inflections of her bust。
Then she went to fetch a bottle of water； and she was melting
some pieces of sugar when the chemist arrived。 The servant had
been to fetch him in the tumult。 Seeing his pupil's eyes staring
he drew a long breath； then going around him he looked at him
from head to foot。
〃Fool！〃 he said； 〃really a little fool！ A fool in four letters！ A
phlebotomy's a big affair； isn't it！ And a fellow who isn't
afraid of anything； a kind of squirrel； just as he is who climbs
to vertiginous heights to shake down nuts。 Oh； yes！ you just talk
to me； boast about yourself！ Here's a fine fitness for practising
pharmacy later on； for under serious circumstances you may be
called before the tribunals in order to enlighten the minds of
the magistrates； and you would have to keep your head then； to
reason； show yourself a man； or else pass for an imbecile。〃
Justin did not answer。 The chemist went on
〃Who asked you to come？ You are always pestering the doctor and
madame。 On Wednesday； moreover； your presence is indispensable to
me。 There are now twenty people in the shop。 I left everything
because of the interest I take in you。 Come； get along！ Sharp！
Wait for me； and keep an eye on the jars。〃
When Justin； who was rearranging his dress； had gone； they talked
for a little while about fainting…fits。 Madame Bovary had never
fainted。
〃That is extraordinary for a lady；〃 said Monsieur Boulanger； 〃but
some people are very susceptible。 Thus in a duel； I have seen a
second lose consciousness at the mere sound of the loading of
pistols。〃
〃For my part；〃 said the chemist； 〃the sight of other people's
blood doesn't affect me at all； but the mere thought of my own
flowing would make me faint if I reflected upon it too much。〃
Monsieur Boulanger； however； dismissed his servant； advising him
to calm himself； since his fancy was over。
〃It procured me the advantage of making your acquaintance；〃 he
added； and he looked at Emma as he said this。 Then he put three
francs on the corner of the table； bowed negligently； and went
out。
He was soon on the other side of the river （this was his way back
to La Huchette）； and Emma saw him in the meadow； walking under
the poplars； slackening his pace now and then as one who
reflects。
〃She is very pretty；〃 he said to himself； 〃she is very pretty；
this doctor's wife。 Fine teeth； black eyes； a dainty foot； a
figure like a Parisienne's。 Where the devil does she come from？
Wherever did that fat fellow pick her up？〃
Monsieur Rodolphe Boulanger was thirty…four； he was of brutal
temperament and intelligent perspicacity； having； moreover； had
much to do with women； and knowing them well。 This one had seemed
pretty to him； so he was thinking about her and her husband。
〃I think he is very stupid。 She is tired of him； no doubt。 He has
dirty nails； and hasn't shaved for three days。 While he is
trotting after his patients； she sits there botching socks。 And
she gets bored！ She would like to live in town and dance polkas
every evening。 Poor little woman！ She is gaping after love like a
carp after water on a kitchen…table。 With three words of
gallantry she'd adore one； I'm sure of it。 She'd be tender；
charming。 Yes； but how to get rid of her afterwards？〃
Then the difficulties of love…making seen in the distance made
him by contrast think of his mistress。 She was an actress at
Rouen； whom he kept； and when he had pondered over this image；
with which； even in remembrance； he was satiated
〃Ah！ Madame Bovary；〃 he thought； 〃is much prettier； especially
fresher。 Virginie is decidedly beginning to grow fat。 She is so
finikin about her pleasures； and； besides； she has a mania for
prawns。〃
The fields were empty； and around him Rodolphe only heard the
regular beating of the grass striking against his boots； with a
cry of the grasshopper hidden at a distance among the oats。 He
again saw Emma in her room； dressed as he had seen her； and he
undressed her。
〃Oh； I will have her；〃 he cried； striking a blow with his stick
at a clod in front of him。 And he at once began to consider the
political part of the enterprise。 He asked himself
〃Where shall we meet？ By what means？ We shall always be having
the brat on our hands； and the servant； the neighbours； and
husband； all sorts of worries。 Pshaw！ one would lose too much
time over it。〃
Then he resumed； 〃She really has eyes that pierce one's heart
like a gimlet。 And that pale complexion！ I adore pale women！〃
When he reached the top of the Arguiel hills he had made up his
mind。 〃It's only finding the opportunities。 Well； I will call in
now and then。 I'll send them venison； poultry； I'll have myself
bled； if need be。 We shall become friends； I'll invite them to my
place。 By Jove！〃 added he； 〃there's the agricultural show coming
on。 She'll be there。 I shall see her。 We'll begin boldly； for
that's the surest way。〃
Chapter
