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where they sat down in red utrecht velvet arm…chairs that had
been lent by Madame Tuvache。
All these people looked alike。 Their fair flabby faces； somewhat
tanned by the sun； were the colour of sweet cider； and their
puffy whiskers emerged from stiff collars； kept up by white
cravats with broad bows。 All the waist…coats were of velvet；
double…breasted； all the watches had； at the end of a long
ribbon； an oval cornelian seal； everyone rested his two hands on
his thighs； carefully stretching the stride of their trousers；
whose unsponged glossy cloth shone more brilliantly than the
leather of their heavy boots。
The ladies of the company stood at the back under the vestibule
between the pillars while the common herd was opposite； standing
up or sitting on chairs。 As a matter of fact； Lestiboudois had
brought thither all those that he had moved from the field； and
he even kept running back every minute to fetch others from the
church。 He caused such confusion with this piece of business that
one had great difficulty in getting to the small steps of the
platform。
〃I think；〃 said Monsieur Lheureux to the chemist； who was passing
to his place； 〃that they ought to have put up two Venetian masts
with something rather severe and rich for ornaments； it would
have been a very pretty effect。〃
〃To be sure；〃 replied Homais； 〃but what can you expect？ The mayor
took everything on his own shoulders。 He hasn't much taste。 Poor
Tuvache！ and he is even completely destitute of what is called
the genius of art。〃
Rodolphe； meanwhile； with Madame Bovary； had gone up to the first
floor of the town hall； to the 〃council…room；〃 and； as it was
empty； he declared that they could enjoy the sight there more
comfortably。 He fetched three stools from the round table under
the bust of the monarch； and having carried them to one of the
windows； they sat down by each other。
There was commotion on the platform； long whisperings； much
parleying。 At last the councillor got up。 They knew now that his
name was Lieuvain； and in the crowd the name was passed from one
to the other。 After he had collated a few pages； and bent over
them to see better； he began
〃Gentlemen！ May I be permitted first of all （before addressing
you on the object of our meeting to…day； and this sentiment will；
I am sure； be shared by you all）； may I be permitted； I say； to
pay a tribute to the higher administration； to the government to
the monarch； gentle men； our sovereign； to that beloved king； to
whom no branch of public or private prosperity is a matter of
indifference； and who directs with a hand at once so firm and
wise the chariot of the state amid the incessant perils of a
stormy sea； knowing； moreover； how to make peace respected as
well as war； industry； commerce； agriculture； and the fine arts？〃
〃I ought；〃 said Rodolphe； 〃to get back a little further。〃
〃Why？〃 said Emma。
But at this moment the voice of the councillor rose to an
extraordinary pitch。 He declaimed
〃This is no longer the time； gentlemen； when civil discord
ensanguined our public places； when the landlord； the
business…man； the working…man himself； falling asleep at night；
lying down to peaceful sleep； trembled lest he should be awakened
suddenly by the noise of incendiary tocsins； when the most
subversive doctrines audaciously sapped foundations。〃
〃Well； someone down there might see me；〃 Rodolphe resumed； 〃then
I should have to invent excuses for a fortnight； and with my bad
reputation〃
〃Oh； you are slandering yourself；〃 said Emma。
〃No！ It is dreadful； I assure you。〃
〃But； gentlemen；〃 continued the councillor； 〃if； banishing from
my memory the remembrance of these sad pictures； I carry my eyes
back to the actual situation of our dear country； what do I see
there？ Everywhere commerce and the arts are flourishing；
everywhere new means of communication； like so many new arteries
in the body of the state； establish within it new relations。 Our
great industrial centres have recovered all their activity；
religion； more consolidated； smiles in all hearts； our ports are
full； confidence is born again； and France breathes once more！〃
〃Besides；〃 added Rodolphe； 〃perhaps from the world's point of
view they are right。〃
〃How so？〃 she asked。
〃What！〃 said he。 〃Do you not know that there are souls constantly
tormented？ They need by turns to dream and to act； the purest
passions and the most turbulent joys； and thus they fling
themselves into all sorts of fantasies； of follies。〃
Then she looked at him as one looks at a traveller who has
voyaged over strange lands； and went on
〃We have not even this distraction； we poor women！〃
〃A sad distraction； for happiness isn't found in it。〃
〃But is it ever found？〃 she asked。
〃Yes； one day it comes；〃 he answered。
〃And this is what you have understood；〃 said the councillor。
〃You； farmers； agricultural labourers！ you pacific pioneers of a
work that belongs wholly to civilization！ you； men of progress
and morality； you have understood； I say； that political storms
are even more redoubtable than atmospheric disturbances！〃
〃It comes one day；〃 repeated Rodolphe； 〃one day suddenly； and
when one is despairing of it。 Then the horizon expands； it is as
if a voice cried； 'It is here！' You feel the need of confiding
the whole of your life； of giving everything； sacrificing
everything to this being。 There is no need for explanations； they
understand one another。 They have seen each other in dreams！〃
（And he looked at her。） 〃In fine； here it is； this treasure so
sought after； here before you。 It glitters； it flashes； yet one
still doubts； one does not believe it； one remains dazzled； as if
one went out iron darkness into light。〃
And as he ended Rodolphe suited the action to the word。 He passed
his hand over his face； like a man seized with giddiness。 Then he
let it fall on Emma's。 She took hers away。
〃And who would be surprised at it； gentlemen？ He only who is so
blind； so plunged （I do not fear to say it）； so plunged in the
prejudices of another age as still to misunderstand the spirit of
agricultural populations。 Where； indeed； is to be found more
patriotism than in the country； greater devotion to the public
welfare； more intelligence； in a word？ And； gentlemen； I do not
mean that superficial intelligence； vain ornament of idle minds；
but rather that profound and balanced intelligence that applies
itself above all else to useful objects； thus contributing to the
good of all； to the common amelioration and to the support of the
state； born of respect for law and the practice of duty〃
〃Ah！ again！〃 said Rodolphe。 〃Always 'duty。' I am sick of the
word。 They are a lot of old blockheads in flannel vests and of
old women with foot…warmers and rosaries who constantly drone
into our ears 'Duty； duty！' Ah！ by Jove！ one's duty is to feel
what is great； cherish the beautiful； and not accept all the
conventions of society with the ignominy that it imposes upon
us。〃
〃Yetyet〃 objected Madame Bovary。
〃No； no！ Why cry out against the passions？ Are they not the one
beautiful thing on the earth； the source of heroism； of
enthusiasm； of poetry； music； the arts； of everything； in a
word？〃
〃But one must；〃 said Emma； 〃to some extent bow to the opinion of
the world and accept its moral code。〃
〃Ah！ but there are two；〃 he replied。 〃The small； the
conventional； that of men； that which constantly changes； that
brays out so loudly； that makes such a commotion here below； of
the earth earthly； like the mass of imbeciles you see down there。
But the other； the eternal； that is about us and above； like the
landscape that surrounds us； and the blue heavens that give us
light。〃
Monsieur Lieuvain had just wiped his mouth with a
pocket…handkerchief。 He continued
〃And what should I do here gentlemen； pointing out to you the
uses of agriculture？ Who supplies our wants？ Who provides our
means of subsistence？ Is it not the agriculturist？ The
agriculturist； gentlemen； who； sowing with laborious hand the
fertile furrows of the country； brings forth the corn； which；
being ground； is made into a powder by means of ingenious
machinery； comes out thence under the name of flour； and from
there； transported to our cities； is so