第65章

ThensuddenlyhesawherinthegardenatTostes，onabenchagainstthethornhedge，orelseatRoueninthestreets，onthethresholdoftheirhouse，intheyardatBertaux。Heagainheardthelaughterofthehappyboysbeneaththeapple-trees：theroomwasfilledwiththeperfumeofherhair；andherdressrustledinhisarmswithanoiselikeelectricity。Thedresswasstillthesame。

Foralongwhilehethusrecalledallhislostjoys，herattitudes，hermovements，thesoundofhervoice。Upononefitofdespairfollowedanother，andevenothers，inexhaustibleasthewavesofanoverflowingsea。

Aterriblecuriosityseizedhim。Slowly，withthetipsofbisfingers，palpitating，heliftedherveil。Butheutteredacryofhorrorthatawoketheothertwo。

Theydraggedhimdownintothesitting-room。ThenFelicitecameuptosaythathewantedsomeofherhair。

“Cutsomeoff，“repliedthedruggist。

Andasshedidnotdareto，hehimselfsteppedforward，scissorsinhand。Hetrembledsothathepiercedtheskinofthetempleinseveralplaces。Atlast，stiffeninghimselfagainstemotion，Homaisgavetwoorthreegreatcutsatrandomthatleftwhitepatchesamongstthatbeautifulblackhair。

Thechemistandthecureplungedanewintotheiroccupations，notwithoutsleepingfromtimetotime，ofwhichtheyaccusedeachotherreciprocallyateachfreshawakening。ThenMonsieurBournisiensprinkledtheroomwithholywaterandHomaisthrewalittlechlorinewateronthefloor。

Felicitehadtakencaretoputonthechestofdrawers，foreachofthem，abottleofbrandy，somecheese，andalargeroll。Andthedruggist，whocouldnotholdoutanylonger，aboutfourinthemorningsighed——

“Myword!Ishouldliketotakesomesustenance。“

Thepriestdidnotneedanypersuading；hewentouttogoandsaymass，cameback，andthentheyateandhobnobbed，gigglingalittlewithoutknowingwhy，stimulatedbythatvaguegaietythatcomesuponusaftertimesofsadness，andatthelastglassthepriestsaidtothedruggist，asheclappedhimontheshoulder——

“Weshallendbyunderstandingoneanother。“

Inthepassagedownstairstheymettheundertaker’smen，whowerecomingin。ThenCharlesfortwohourshadtosufferthetortureofhearingthehammerresoundagainstthewood。Nextdaytheyloweredherintoheroakcoffin，thatwasfittedintotheothertwo；butasthebierwastoolarge，theyhadtofillupthegapswiththewoolofamattress。Atlast，whenthethreelidshadbeenplaneddown，nailed，soldered，itwasplacedoutsideinfrontofthedoor；thehousewasthrownopen，andthepeopleofYonvillebegantoflockround。

OldRouaultarrived，andfaintedonthePlacewhenhesawtheblackcloth!

ChapterTenHehadonlyreceivedthechemist’sletterthirty-sixhoursaftertheevent；and，fromconsiderationforhisfeelings，Homaishadsowordeditthatitwasimpossibletomakeoutwhatitwasallabout。

First，theoldfellowhadfallenasifstruckbyapoplexy。Next，heunderstoodthatshewasnotdead，butshemightbe。Atlast，hehadputonhisblouse，takenhishat，fastenedhisspurstohisboots，andsetoutatfullspeed；andthewholeofthewayoldRouault，panting，wastornbyanguish。Onceevenhewasobligedtodismount。Hewasdizzy；heheardvoicesroundabouthim；hefelthimselfgoingmad。

Daybroke。Hesawthreeblackhensasleepinatree