madame bovary-第51节

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！


boudoir　spread　around　her；　the　arches　bent　down　to　gather　in　the
shade　the　confession　of　her　love；　the　windows　shone　resplendent
to　illumine　her　face；　and　the　censers　would　burn　that　she　might
appear　like　an　angel　amid　the　fumes　of　the　sweet…smelling　odours。

But　she　did　not　come。　He　sat　down　on　a　chair；　and　his　eyes　fell
upon　a　blue　stained　window　representing　boatmen　carrying　baskets。
He　looked　at　it　long；　attentively；　and　he　counted　the　scales　of
the　fishes　and　the　button…holes　of　the　doublets；　while　his
thoughts　wandered　off　towards　Emma。

The　beadle；　standing　aloof；　was　inwardly　angry　at　this　individual
who　took　the　liberty　of　admiring　the　cathedral　by　himself。　He
seemed　to　him　to　be　conducting　himself　in　a　monstrous　fashion；　to
be　robbing　him　in　a　sort；　and　almost　committing　sacrilege。

But　a　rustle　of　silk　on　the　flags；　the　tip　of　a　bonnet；　a　lined
cloakit　was　she！　Leon　rose　and　ran　to　meet　her。

Emma　was　pale。　She　walked　fast。

〃Read！〃　she　said；　holding　out　a　paper　to　him。　〃Oh；　no！〃

And　she　abruptly　withdrew　her　hand　to　enter　the　chapel　of　the
Virgin；　where；　kneeling　on　a　chair；　she　began　to　pray。

The　young　man　was　irritated　at　this　bigot　fancy；　then　he
nevertheless　experienced　a　certain　charm　in　seeing　her；　in　the
middle　of　a　rendezvous；　thus　lost　in　her　devotions；　like　an
Andalusian　marchioness；　then　he　grew　bored；　for　she　seemed　never
coming　to　an　end。

Emma　prayed；　or　rather　strove　to　pray；　hoping　that　some　sudden
resolution　might　descend　to　her　from　heaven；　and　to　draw　down
divine　aid　she　filled　full　her　eyes　with　the　splendours　of　the
tabernacle。　She　breathed　in　the　perfumes　of　the　full…blown
flowers　in　the　large　vases；　and　listened　to　the　stillness　of　the
church；　that　only　heightened　the　tumult　of　her　heart。

She　rose；　and　they　were　about　to　leave；　when　the　beadle　came
forward；　hurriedly　saying

〃Madame；　no　doubt；　does　not　belong　to　these　parts？　Madame　would
like　to　see　the　curiosities　of　the　church？〃

〃Oh；　no！〃　cried　the　clerk。

〃Why　not？〃　said　she。　For　she　clung　with　her　expiring　virtue　to
the　Virgin；　the　sculptures；　the　tombsanything。

Then；　in　order　to　proceed　〃by　rule；〃　the　beadle　conducted　them
right　to　the　entrance　near　the　square；　where；　pointing　out　with
his　cane　a　large　circle　of　block…stones　without　inscription　or
carving

〃This；〃　he　said　majestically；　〃is　the　circumference　of　the
beautiful　bell　of　Ambroise。　It　weighed　forty　thousand　pounds。
There　was　not　its　equal　in　all　Europe。　The　workman　who　cast　it
died　of　the　joy〃

〃Let　us　go　on；〃　said　Leon。

The　old　fellow　started　off　again；　then；　having　got　back　to　the
chapel　of　the　Virgin；　he　stretched　forth　his　arm　with　an
all…embracing　gesture　of　demonstration；　and；　prouder　than　a
country　squire　showing　you　his　espaliers；　went　on

〃This　simple　stone　covers　Pierre　de　Breze；　lord　of　Varenne　and　of
Brissac；　grand　marshal　of　Poitou；　and　governor　of　Normandy；　who
died　at　the　battle　of　Montlhery　on　the　16th　of　July；　1465。〃

Leon　bit　his　lips；　fuming。

〃And　on　the　right；　this　gentleman　all　encased　in　iron；　on　the
prancing　horse；　is　his　grandson；　Louis　de　Breze；　lord　of　Breval
and　of　Montchauvet；　Count　de　Maulevrier；　Baron　de　Mauny；
chamberlain　to　the　king；　Knight　of　the　Order；　and　also　governor
of　Normandy；　died　on　the　23rd　of　July；　1531a　Sunday；　as　the
inscription　specifies；　and　below；　this　figure；　about　to　descend
into　the　tomb；　portrays　the　same　person。　It　is　not　possible；　is
it；　to　see　a　more　perfect　representation　of　annihilation？〃

Madame　Bovary　put　up　her　eyeglasses。　Leon；　motionless；　looked　at
her；　no　longer　even　attempting　to　speak　a　single　word；　to　make　a
gesture；　so　discouraged　was　he　at　this　two…fold　obstinacy　of
gossip　and　indifference。

The　everlasting　guide　went　on

〃Near　him；　this　kneeling　woman　who　weeps　is　his　spouse；　Diane　de
Poitiers；　Countess　de　Breze；　Duchess　de　Valentinois；　born　in
1499；　died　in　1566；　and　to　the　left；　the　one　with　the　child　is
the　Holy　Virgin。　Now　turn　to　this　side；　here　are　the　tombs　of　the
Ambroise。　They　were　both　cardinals　and　archbishops　of　Rouen。　That
one　was　minister　under　Louis　XII。　He　did　a　great　deal　for　the
cathedral。　In　his　will　he　left　thirty　thousand　gold　crowns　for
the　poor。〃

And　without　stopping；　still　talking；　he　pushed　them　into　a　chapel
full　of　balustrades；　some　put　away；　and　disclosed　a　kind　of　block
that　certainly　might　once　have　been　an　ill…made　statue。

〃Truly；〃　he　said　with　a　groan；　〃it　adorned　the　tomb　of　Richard
Coeur　de　Lion；　King　of　England　and　Duke　of　Normandy。　It　was　the
Calvinists；　sir；　who　reduced　it　to　this　condition。　They　had
buried　it　for　spite　in　the　earth；　under　the　episcopal　seat　of
Monsignor。　See！　this　is　the　door　by　which　Monsignor　passes　to　his
house。　Let　us　pass　on　quickly　to　see　the　gargoyle　windows。〃

But　Leon　hastily　took　some　silver　from　his　pocket　and　seized
Emma's　arm。　The　beadle　stood　dumfounded；　not　able　to　understand
this　untimely　munificence　when　there　were　still　so　many　things
for　the　stranger　to　see。　So　calling　him　back；　he　cried

〃Sir！　sir！　The　steeple！　the　steeple！〃

〃No；　thank　you！〃　said　Leon。

〃You　are　wrong；　sir！　It　is　four　hundred　and　forty　feet　high；　nine
less　than　the　great　pyramid　of　Egypt。　It　is　all　cast；　it〃

Leon　was　fleeing；　for　it　seemed　to　him　that　his　love；　that　for
nearly　two　hours　now　had　become　petrified　in　the　church　like　the
stones；　would　vanish　like　a　vapour　through　that　sort　of　truncated
funnel；　of　oblong　cage；　of　open　chimney　that　rises　so　grotesquely
from　the　cathedral　like　the　extravagant　attempt　of　some　fantastic
brazier。

〃But　where　are　we　going？〃　she　said。

Making　no　answer；　he　walked　on　with　a　rapid　step；　and　Madame
Bovary　was　already；　dipping　her　finger　in　the　holy　water　when
behind　them　they　heard　a　panting　breath　interrupted　by　the
regular　sound　of　a　cane。　Leon　turned　back。

〃Sir！〃

〃What　is　it？〃

And　he　recognised　the　beadle；　holding　under　his　arms　and
balancing　against　his　stomach　some　twenty　large　sewn　volumes。
They　were　works　〃which　treated　of　the　cathedral。〃

〃Idiot！〃　growled　Leon；　rushing　out　of　the　church。

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
h