Page 172 - madame-bovary

least fifteen thousand francs a year.’
Charles came into the room. Monsieur Boulanger intro-
duced his man, who wanted to be bled because he felt ‘a
tingling all over.’
‘That’ll purge me,’ he urged as an objection to all reason-
ing.
So Bovary ordered a bandage and a basin, and asked Jus-
tin to hold it. Then addressing the peasant, who was already
pale—
‘Don’t be afraid, my lad.’
‘No, no, sir,’ said the other; ‘get on.’
And with an air of bravado he held out his great arm.
At the prick of the lancet the blood spurted out, splashing
against the looking-glass.
‘Hold the basin nearer,’ exclaimed Charles.
‘Lor!’ said the peasant, ‘one would swear it was a little
fountain flowing. How red my blood is! That’s a good sign,
isn’t it?’
‘Sometimes,’ answered the doctor, ‘one feels nothing at
first, and then syncope sets in, and more especially with
people of strong constitution like this man.’
At these words the rustic let go the lancet-case he was
twisting between his fingers. A shudder of his shoulders
made the chair-back creak. His hat fell off.
‘I thought as much,’ said Bovary, pressing his finger on
the vein.
The basin was beginning to tremble in Justin’s hands; his
knees shook, he turned pale.
‘Emma! Emma!’ called Charles.

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