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trouble； at last discovered a certain Langlois； who； for a long
time； had had an eye on the property； but without mentioning his
price。
〃Never mind the price！〃 she cried。
But they would； on the contrary； have to wait； to sound the
fellow。 The thing was worth a journey； and； as she could not
undertake it； he offered to go to the place to have an interview
with Langlois。 On his return he announced that the purchaser
proposed four thousand francs。
Emma was radiant at this news。
〃Frankly；〃 he added； 〃that's a good price。〃
She drew half the sum at once； and when she was about to pay her
account the shopkeeper said
〃It really grieves me； on my word！ to see you depriving yourself
all at once of such a big sum as that。〃
Then she looked at the bank…notes； and dreaming of the unlimited
number of rendezvous represented by those two thousand francs；
she stammered
〃What！ what！〃
〃Oh！〃 he went on； laughing good…naturedly； 〃one puts anything one
likes on receipts。 Don't you think I know what household affairs
are？〃 And he looked at her fixedly； while in his hand he held two
long papers that he slid between his nails。 At last； opening his
pocket…book； he spread out on the table four bills to order； each
for a thousand francs。
〃Sign these；〃 he said； 〃and keep it all！〃
She cried out； scandalised。
〃But if I give you the surplus；〃 replied Monsieur Lheureux
impudently； 〃is that not helping you？〃
And taking a pen he wrote at the bottom of the account； 〃Received
of Madame Bovary four thousand francs。〃
〃Now who can trouble you； since in six months you'll draw the
arrears for your cottage； and I don't make the last bill due till
after you've been paid？〃
Emma grew rather confused in her calculations； and her ears
tingled as if gold pieces； bursting from their bags； rang all
round her on the floor。 At last Lheureux explained that he had a
very good friend； Vincart； a broker at Rouen； who would discount
these four bills。 Then he himself would hand over to madame the
remainder after the actual debt was paid。
But instead of two thousand francs he brought only eighteen
hundred； for the friend Vincart （which was only fair） had
deducted two hundred francs for commission and discount。 Then he
carelessly asked for a receipt。
〃You understandin businesssometimes。 And with the date； if
you please； with the date。〃
A horizon of realisable whims opened out before Emma。 She was
prudent enough to lay by a thousand crowns； with which the first
three bills were paid when they fell due； but the fourth； by
chance； came to the house on a Thursday； and Charles； quite
upset； patiently awaited his wife's return for an explanation。
If she had not told him about this bill； it was only to spare him
such domestic worries； she sat on his knees； caressed him； cooed
to him； gave him a long enumeration of all the indispensable
things that had been got on credit。
〃Really； you must confess； considering the quantity； it isn't too
dear。〃
Charles； at his wit's end； soon had recourse to the eternal
Lheureux； who swore he would arrange matters if the doctor would
sign him two bills； one of which was for seven hundred francs；
payable in three months。 In order to arrange for this he wrote
his mother a pathetic letter。 Instead of sending a reply she came
herself； and when Emma wanted to know whether he had got anything
out of her； 〃Yes；〃 he replied； 〃but she wants to see the
account。〃 The next morning at daybreak Emma ran to Lheureux to
beg him to make out another account for not more than a thousand
francs； for to show the one for four thousand it would be
necessary to say that she had paid two…thirds； and confess；
consequently； the sale of the estatea negotiation admirably
carried out by the shopkeeper； and which； in fact； was only
actually known later on。
Despite the low price of each article； Madame Bovary senior； of
course； thought the expenditure extravagant。
〃Couldn't you do without a carpet？ Why have recovered the
arm…chairs？ In my time there was a single arm…chair in a house；
for elderly personsat any rate it was so at my mother's； who
was a good woman； I can tell you。 Everybody can't be rich！ No
fortune can hold out against waste！ I should be ashamed to coddle
myself as you do！ And yet I am old。 I need looking after。 And
there！ there！ fitting up gowns！ fallals！ What！ silk for lining at
two francs； when you can get jaconet for ten sous； or even for
eight； that would do well enough！〃
Emma； lying on a lounge； replied as quietly as possible〃Ah！
Madame； enough！ enough！〃
The other went on lecturing her； predicting they would end in the
workhouse。 But it was Bovary's fault。 Luckily he had promised to
destroy that power of attorney。
〃What？〃
〃Ah！ he swore he would；〃 went on the good woman。
Emma opened the window； called Charles； and the poor fellow was
obliged to confess the promise torn from him by his mother。
Emma disappeared； then came back quickly； and majestically handed
her a thick piece of paper。
〃Thank you；〃 said the old woman。 And she threw the power of
attorney into the fire。
Emma began to laugh； a strident； piercing； continuous laugh； she
had an attack of hysterics。
〃Oh； my God！〃 cried Charles。 〃Ah！ you really are wrong！ You come
here and make scenes with her！〃
His mother； shrugging her shoulders； declared it was 〃all put
on。〃
But Charles； rebelling for the first time； took his wife's part；
so that Madame Bovary； senior； said she would leave。 She went the
very next day； and on the threshold； as he was trying to detain
her； she replied
〃No； no！ You love her better than me； and you are right。 It is
natural。 For the rest； so much the worse！ You will see。 Good
dayfor I am not likely to come soon again； as you say； to make
scenes。〃
Charles nevertheless was very crestfallen before Emma； who did
not hide the resentment she still felt at his want of confidence；
and it needed many prayers before she would consent to have
another power of attorney。 He even accompanied her to Monsieur
Guillaumin to have a second one； just like the other； drawn up。
〃I understand；〃 said the notary； 〃a man of science can't be
worried with the practical details of life。〃
And Charles felt relieved by this comfortable reflection； which
gave his weakness the flattering appearance of higher
pre…occupation。
And what an outburst the next Thursday at the hotel in their room
with Leon！ She laughed； cried； sang； sent for sherbets； wanted to
smoke cigarettes； seemed to him wild and extravagant； but
adorable； superb。
He did not know what recreation of her whole being drove her more
and more to plunge into the pleasures of life。 She was becoming
irritable； greedy； voluptuous； and she walked about the streets
with him carrying her head high； without fear； so she said； of
compromising herself。 At times； however； Emma shuddered at the
sudden thought of meeting Rodolphe； for it seemed to her that；
although they were separated forever； she was not completely free
from her subjugation to him。
One night she did not return to Yonville at all。 Charles lost his
head with anxiety； and little Berthe would not go to bed without
her mamma； and sobbed enough to break her heart。 Justin had gone
out searching the road at random。 Monsieur Homais even had left
his pharmacy。
At last； at eleven o'clock； able to bear it no longer； Charles
harnessed his chaise； jumped in； whipped up his horse； and
reached the 〃Croix…Rouge〃 about two o'clock in the morning。 No
one there！ He thought that the clerk had perhaps seen her； but
where did he live？ Happily； Charles remembered his employer's
address； and rushed off there。
Day was breaking； and he could distinguish the escutcheons over
the door； and knocked。 Someone； without opening the door； shouted
out the required information； adding a few insults to those who
disturb people in the middle of the night。
The house inhabited by the clerk had neither bell； knocker； nor
porter。 Charles knocked loudly at the shutters with his hands。 A
policeman happened to pass by。 Then he was frightened； and went
away。
〃I am mad；〃 he said； 〃no doubt they kept her to dinner at
Monsieur Lormeaux'。〃 But the Lormeaux no longer lived at Rouen。
〃She probably stayed to look after Madame Dubreui