第31章

I’mignorantofit!Butperhapsyouwantoxalicacid。Itisoxalicacid，isn’tit？“

Binetexplainedthathewantedacorrosivetomakehimselfsomecopperwaterwithwhichtoremoverustfromhishuntingthings。

Emmashuddered。Thechemistbegansaying——

“Indeedtheweatherisnotpropitiousonaccountofthedamp。“

“Nevertheless，“repliedthetax-collector，withaslylook，“therearepeoplewholikeit。“

Shewasstifling。

“Andgiveme——“

“Willhenevergo？“thoughtshe。

“Halfanounceofresinandturpentine，fourouncesofyellowwax，andthreehalfouncesofanimalcharcoal，ifyouplease，tocleanthevarnishedleatherofmytogs。“

ThedruggistwasbeginningtocutthewaxwhenMadameHomaisappeared，Irmainherarms，Napoleonbyherside，andAthaliefollowing。Shesatdownonthevelvetseatbythewindow，andtheladsquatteddownonafootstool，whilehiseldestsisterhoveredroundthejujubeboxnearherpapa。Thelatterwasfillingfunnelsandcorkingphials，stickingonlabels，makingupparcels。Aroundhimallweresilent；onlyfromtimetotime，wereheardtheweightsjinglinginthebalance，andafewlowwordsfromthechemistgivingdirectionstohispupil。

“Andhow’sthelittlewoman？“suddenlyaskedMadameHomais。

“Silence!“exclaimedherhusband，whowaswritingdownsomefiguresinhiswaste-book。

“Whydidn’tyoubringher？“shewentoninalowvoice。

“Hush!hush!“saidEmma，pointingwithherfingertothedruggist。

ButBinet，quiteabsorbedinlookingoverhisbill，hadprobablyheardnothing。Atlasthewentout。ThenEmma，relieved，utteredadeepsigh。

“Howhardyouarebreathing!“saidMadameHomais。

“Well，yousee，it’sratherwarm，“shereplied。

Sothenextdaytheytalkedoverhowtoarrangetheirrendezvous。

Emmawantedtobribeherservantwithapresent，butitwouldbebettertofindsomesafehouseatYonville。Rodolphepromisedtolookforone。

Allthroughthewinter，threeorfourtimesaweek，inthedeadofnighthecametothegarden。Emmahadonpurposetakenawaythekeyofthegate，whichCharlesthoughtlost。

Tocallher，Rodolphethrewasprinkleofsandattheshutters。

Shejumpedupwithastart；butsometimeshehadtowait，forCharleshadamaniaforchattingbythefireside，andhewouldnotstop。Shewaswildwithimpatience；ifhereyescouldhavedoneit，shewouldhavehurledhimoutatthewindow。Atlastshewouldbegintoundress，thentakeupabook，andgoonreadingveryquietlyasifthebookamusedher。ButCharles，whowasinbed，calledtohertocometoo。

“Come，now，Emma，“hesaid，“itistime。“

“Yes，Iamcoming，“sheanswered。

Then，asthecandlesdazzledhim；heturnedtothewallandfellasleep。Sheescaped，smiling，palpitating，undressed。Rodolphehadalargecloak；hewrappedherinit，andputtinghisarmroundherwaist，hedrewherwithoutawordtotheendofthegarden。

Itwasinthearbour，onthesameseatofoldstickswhereformerlyLeo