第34章

ThisamputationofthethighbyDoctorCanivetwasagreateventinthevillage。Onthatdayalltheinhabitantsgotupearlier，andtheGrandeRue，althoughfullofpeople，hadsomethinglugubriousaboutit，asifanexecutionhadbeenexpected。Atthegrocer’stheydiscussedHippolyte’sillness；theshopsdidnobusiness，andMadameTuvache，themayor’swife，didnotstirfromherwindow，suchwasherimpatiencetoseetheoperatorarrive。

Hecameinhisgig，whichhedrovehimself。Butthespringsoftherightsidehavingatlengthgivenwaybeneaththeweightofhiscorpulence，ithappenedthatthecarriageasitrolledalongleanedoveralittle，andontheothercushionnearhimcouldbeseenalargeboxcoveredinredsheep-leather，whosethreebrassclaspsshonegrandly。

Afterhehadenteredlikeawhirlwindtheporchofthe“Liond’Or，“thedoctor，shoutingveryloud，orderedthemtounharnesshishorse。Thenhewentintothestabletoseethathewaseatinghisoatsallright；foronarrivingatapatient’shefirstofalllookedafterhismareandhisgig。Peopleevensaidaboutthis——

“Ah!MonsieurCanivet’sacharacter!“

Andhewasthemoreesteemedforthisimperturbablecoolness。Theuniversetothelastmanmighthavedied，andhewouldnothavemissedthesmallestofhishabits。

Homaispresentedhimself。

“Icountonyou，“saidthedoctor。“Areweready？Comealong!“

Butthedruggist，turningred，confessedthathewastoosensitivetoassistatsuchanoperation。

“Whenoneisasimplespectator，“hesaid，“theimagination，youknow，isimpressed。AndthenIhavesuchanervoussystem!“

“Pshaw!“interruptedCanivet；“onthecontrary，youseemtomeinclinedtoapoplexy。Besides，thatdoesn’tastonishme，foryouchemistfellowsarealwayspokingaboutyourkitchens，whichmustendbyspoilingyourconstitutions。Nowjustlookatme。Igetupeverydayatfouro’clock；Ishavewithcoldwater(andamnevercold)。Idon’twearflannels，andInevercatchcold；mycarcassisgoodenough!Ilivenowinoneway，nowinanother，likeaphilosopher，takingpot-luck；thatiswhyIamnotsqueamishlikeyou，anditisasindifferenttometocarveaChristianasthefirstfowlthatturnsup。Then，perhaps，youwillsay，habit!

habit!“

Then，withoutanyconsiderationforHippolyte，whowassweatingwithagonybetweenhissheets，thesegentlemenenteredintoaconversation，inwhichthedruggistcomparedthecoolnessofasurgeontothatofageneral；andthiscomparisonwaspleasingtoCanivet，wholaunchedoutontheexigenciesofhisart。Helookedupon，itasasacredoffice，althoughtheordinarypractitionersdishonouredit。Atlast，comingbacktothepatient，heexaminedthebandagesbroughtbyHomais，thesamethathadappearedfortheclub-foot，andaskedforsomeonetoholdthelimbforhim。

Lestiboudoiswassentfor，andMonsieurCanivethavingturneduphissleeves，passedintothebilliard-room，whilethedruggiststayedwithArtemiseandthelandlady，bothwhiterthantheiraprons，andwithearsstrainedtowardsthedoor。

Bovaryduringthistimedidnotdaretostirfromhishouse。

Hekeptdownstairsinthesitting-roombythesideofthefirelesschimney，hischinonhisbreast，hishandsclasped，hiseyesstaring。“Whatamishap!“hethought，“whatamishap!