He held out his hand, took hers, covered it with a greedy kiss, then

held it on his knee; and he played delicately with her fingers whilst

he murmured a thousand blandishments. His insipid voice murmured like a

running brook; a light shone in his eyes through the glimmering of his

spectacles, and his hand was advancing up Emma's sleeve to press her

arm. She felt against her cheek his panting breath. This man oppressed

her horribly.

She sprang up and said to him-"Sir, I am waiting."

"For what?" said the notary, who suddenly became very pale.

"This money."

"But--" Then, yielding to the outburst of too powerful a desire, "Well,

yes!"

He dragged himself towards her on his knees, regardless of his

dressing-gown.

"For pity's sake, stay. I love you!"

He seized her by her waist. Madame Bovary's face flushed purple. She

recoiled with a terrible look, crying-"You are taking a shameless advantage of my distress, sir! I am to be

pitied--not to be sold."

And she went out.

The notary remained quite stupefied, his eyes fixed on his fine

embroidered slippers. They were a love gift, and the sight of them at

last consoled him. Besides, he reflected that such an adventure might

have carried him too far.

"What a wretch! what a scoundrel! what an infamy!" she said to herself,

as she fled with nervous steps beneath the aspens of the path. The

disappointment of her failure increased the indignation of her outraged

modesty; it seemed to her that Providence pursued her implacably, and,

strengthening herself in her pride, she had never felt so much esteem

for herself nor so much contempt for others. A spirit of warfare

transformed her. She would have liked to strike all men, to spit in

their faces, to crush them, and she walked rapidly straight on, pale,

quivering, maddened, searching the empty horizon with tear-dimmed eyes,

and as it were rejoicing in the hate that was choking her.

When she saw her house a numbness came over her. She could not go on;

and yet she must. Besides, whither could she flee?

Felicite was waiting for her at the door. "Well?"

"No!" said Emma.

And for a quarter of an hour the two of them went over the various

persons in Yonville who might perhaps be inclined to help her. But each

time that Felicite named someone Emma replied-"Impossible! they will not!"

"And the master'll soon be in."

"I know that well enough. Leave me alone."




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