madame bovary-第58章
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A lad was playing about the close。
〃Go and get me a cab！〃
The child bounded off like a ball by the Rue Quatre…Vents； then
they were alone a few minutes； face to face； and a little
embarrassed。
〃Ah！ Leon！ ReallyI don't knowif I ought；〃 she whispered。 Then
with a more serious air； 〃Do you know； it is very improper〃
〃How so？〃 replied the clerk。 〃It is done at Paris。〃
And that； as an irresistible argument； decided her。
Still the cab did not come。 Leon was afraid she might go back
into the church。 At last the cab appeared。
〃At all events； go out by the north porch；〃 cried the beadle； who
was left alone on the threshold； 〃so as to see the Resurrection；
the Last Judgment； Paradise； King David； and the Condemned in
Hell…flames。〃
〃Where to； sir？〃 asked the coachman。
〃Where you like；〃 said Leon； forcing Emma into the cab。
And the lumbering machine set out。 It went down the Rue
Grand…Pont； crossed the Place des Arts； the Quai Napoleon； the
Pont Neuf； and stopped short before the statue of Pierre
Corneille。
〃Go on；〃 cried a voice that came from within。
The cab went on again； and as soon as it reached the Carrefour
Lafayette； set off down…hill； and entered the station at a
gallop。
〃No； straight on！〃 cried the same voice。
The cab came out by the gate； and soon having reached the Cours；
trotted quietly beneath the elm…trees。 The coachman wiped his
brow； put his leather hat between his knees； and drove his
carriage beyond the side alley by the meadow to the margin of the
waters。
It went along by the river； along the towing…path paved with
sharp pebbles； and for a long while in the direction of Oyssel；
beyond the isles。
But suddenly it turned with a dash across Quatremares；
Sotteville； La Grande…Chaussee； the Rue d'Elbeuf； and made its
third halt in front of the Jardin des Plantes。
〃Get on； will you？〃 cried the voice more furiously。
And at once resuming its course； it passed by Saint…Sever； by the
Quai'des Curandiers； the Quai aux Meules； once more over the
bridge； by the Place du Champ de Mars； and behind the hospital
gardens； where old men in black coats were walking in the sun
along the terrace all green with ivy。 It went up the Boulevard
Bouvreuil； along the Boulevard Cauchoise； then the whole of
Mont…Riboudet to the Deville hills。
It came back； and then； without any fixed plan or direction；
wandered about at hazard。 The cab was seen at Saint…Pol； at
Lescure； at Mont Gargan； at La Rougue…Marc and Place du
Gaillardbois； in the Rue Maladrerie； Rue Dinanderie； before
Saint…Romain； Saint…Vivien； Saint…Maclou； Saint…Nicaisein front
of the Customs； at the 〃Vieille Tour；〃 the 〃Trois Pipes；〃 and the
Monumental Cemetery。 From time to time the coachman； on his box
cast despairing eyes at the public…houses。 He could not
understand what furious desire for locomotion urged these
individuals never to wish to stop。 He tried to now and then； and
at once exclamations of anger burst forth behind him。 Then he
lashed his perspiring jades afresh； but indifferent to their
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 any
