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！
she must be right； we must submit to her decrees。〃
〃Why；〃 asked the druggist； 〃should she excommunicate actors？ For
formerly they openly took part in religious ceremonies。 Yes； in
the middle of the chancel they acted； they performed a kind of
farce called 'Mysteries；' which often offended against the laws
of decency。〃
The ecclesiastic contented himself with uttering a groan； and the
chemist went on
〃It's like it is in the Bible； there there are； you know； more
than one piquant detail； matters really libidinous！〃
And on a gesture of irritation from Monsieur Bournisien
〃Ah！ you'll admit that it is not a book to place in the hands of
a young girl； and I should be sorry if Athalie〃
〃But it is the Protestants； and not we；〃 cried the other
impatiently； 〃who recommend the Bible。〃
〃No matter；〃 said Homais。 〃I am surprised that in our days； in
this century of enlightenment； anyone should still persist in
proscribing an intellectual relaxation that is inoffensive；
moralising； and sometimes even hygienic； is it not； doctor？〃
〃No doubt；〃 replied the doctor carelessly； either because；
sharing the same ideas； he wished to offend no one； or else
because he had not any ideas。
The conversation seemed at an end when the chemist thought fit to
shoot a Parthian arrow。
〃I've known priests who put on ordinary clothes to go and see
dancers kicking about。〃
〃Come； come！〃 said the cure。
〃Ah！ I've known some！〃 And separating the words of his sentence；
Homais repeated； 〃Ihaveknownsome！〃
〃Well； they were wrong；〃 said Bournisien； resigned to anything。
〃By Jove！ they go in for more than that；〃 exclaimed the druggist。
〃Sir！〃 replied the ecclesiastic； with such angry eyes that the
druggist was intimidated by them。
〃I only mean to say；〃 he replied in less brutal a tone； 〃that
toleration is the surest way to draw people to religion。〃
〃That is true！ that is true！〃 agreed the good fellow； sitting
down again on his chair。 But he stayed only a few moments。
Then； as soon as he had gone； Monsieur Homais said to the doctor
〃That's what I call a cock…fight。 I beat him； did you see； in a
way！Now take my advice。 Take madame to the theatre； if it were
only for once in your life； to enrage one of these ravens； hang
it！ If anyone could take my place； I would accompany you myself。
Be quick about it。 Lagardy is only going to give one performance；
he's engaged to go to England at a high salary。 From what I hear；
he's a regular dog； he's rolling in money； he's taking three
mistresses and a cook along with him。 All these great artists
burn the candle at both ends； they require a dissolute life； that
suits the imagination to some extent。 But they die at the
hospital； because they haven't the sense when young to lay by。
Well； a pleasant dinner！ Goodbye till to…morrow。〃
The idea of the theatre quickly germinated in Bovary's head； for
he at once communicated it to his wife； who at first refused；
alleging the fatigue； the worry； the expense； but； for a wonder；
Charles did not give in； so sure was he that this recreation
would be good for her。 He saw nothing to prevent it： his mother
had sent them three hundred francs which he had no longer
expected； the current debts were not very large； and the falling
in of Lheureux's bills was still so far off that there was no
need to think about them。 Besides； imagining that she was
refusing from delicacy； he insisted the more； so that by dint of
worrying her she at last made up her mind； and the next day at
eight o'clock they set out in the 〃Hirondelle。〃
The druggist； whom nothing whatever kept at Yonville； but who
thought himself bound not to budge from it； sighed as he saw them
go。
〃Well； a pleasant journey！〃 he said to them； 〃happy mortals that
you are！〃
Then addressing himself to Emma； who was wearing a blue silk gown
with four flounces
〃You are as lovely as a Venus。 You'll cut a figure at Rouen。〃
The diligence stopped at the 〃Croix…Rouge〃 in the Place
Beauvoisine。 It was the inn that is in every provincial faubourg；
with large stables and small bedrooms； where one sees in the
middle of the court chickens pilfering the oats under the muddy
gigs of the commercial travellersa good old house； with
worm…eaten balconies that creak in the wind on winter nights；
always full of people； noise； and feeding； whose black tables are
sticky with coffee and brandy； the thick windows made yellow by
the flies； the damp napkins stained with cheap wine； and that
always smells of the village； like ploughboys dressed in
Sundayclothes； has a cafe on the street； and towards the
countryside a kitchen…garden。 Charles at once set out。 He muddled
up the stage…boxes with the gallery； the pit with the boxes；
asked for explanations； did not understand them； was sent from
the box…office to the acting…manager； came back to the inn；
returned to the theatre； and thus several times traversed the
whole length of the town from the theatre to the boulevard。
Madame Bovary bought a bonnet； gloves； and a bouquet。 The doctor
was much afraid of missing the beginning； and； without having had
time to swallow a plate of soup； they presented themselves at the
doors of the theatre； which were still closed。
Chapter Fifteen
The crowd was waiting against the wall； symmetrically enclosed
between the balustrades。 At the corner of the neighbouring
streets huge bills repeated in quaint letters 〃Lucie de
Lammermoor…Lagardy…Opera…etc。〃 The weather was fine； the people
were hot； perspiration trickled amid the curls； and handkerchiefs
taken from pockets were mopping red foreheads； and now and then a
warm wind that blew from the river gently stirred the border of
the tick awnings hanging from the doors of the public…houses。 A
little lower down； however； one was refreshed by a current of icy
air that smelt of tallow； leather； and oil。 This was an
exhalation from the Rue des Charrettes； full of large black
warehouses where they made casks。
For fear of seeming ridiculous； Emma before going in wished to
have a little stroll in the harbour； and Bovary prudently kept
his tickets in his hand； in the pocket of his trousers； which he
pressed against his stomach。
Her heart began to beat as soon as she reached the vestibule。 She
involuntarily smiled with vanity on seeing the crowd rushing to
the right by the other corridor while she went up the staircase
to the reserved seats。 She was as pleased as a child to push with
her finger the large tapestried door。 She breathed in with all
her might the dusty smell of the lobbies； and when she was seated
in her box she bent forward with the air of a duchess。
The theatre was beginning to fill； opera…glasses were taken from
their cases； and the subscribers； catching sight of one another；
were bowing。 They came to seek relaxation in the fine arts after
the anxieties of business； but 〃business〃 was not forgotten； they
still talked cottons； spirits of wine； or indigo。 The heads of
old men were to be seen； inexpressive and peaceful； with their
hair and complexions looking like silver medals tarnished by
steam of lead。 The young beaux were strutting about in the pit；
showing in the opening of their waistcoats their pink or
applegreen cravats； and Madame Bovary from above admired them
leaning on their canes with golden knobs in the open palm of
their yellow gloves。
Now the lights of the orchestra were lit； the lustre； let down
from the ceiling； throwing by the glimmering of its facets a
sudden gaiety over the theatre； then the musicians came in one
after the other； and first there was the protracted hubbub of the
basses grumbling； violins squeaking； cornets trumpeting； flutes
and flageolets fifing。 But three knocks were heard on the stage；
a rolling of drums began； the brass instruments played some
chords； and the curtain rising； discovered a country…scene。
It was the cross…roads of a wood； with a fountain shaded by an
oak to the left。 Peasants and lords with plaids on their
shoulders were singing a hunting…song together； then a captain
suddenly came on； who evoked the spirit of evil by lifting both
his arms to heaven。 Another appeared； they went away； and the
hunters started afresh。 She felt herself transported to the
reading of her youth； into