Page 237 - madame-bovary

unable to endure it any longer, they once more removed the
machine, and were much surprised at the result they saw.
The livid tumefaction spread over the leg, with blisters here
and there, whence there oozed a black liquid. Matters were
taking a serious turn. Hippolyte began to worry himself,
and Mere Lefrancois, had him installed in the little room
near the kitchen, so that he might at least have some dis-
traction.
But the tax-collector, who dined there every day, com-
plained bitterly of such companionship. Then Hippolyte was
removed to the billiard-room. He lay there moaning under
his heavy coverings, pale with long beard, sunken eyes, and
from time to time turning his perspiring head on the dirty
pillow, where the flies alighted. Madame Bovary went to see
him. She brought him linen for his poultices; she comforted,
and encouraged him. Besides, he did not want for company,
especially on market-days, when the peasants were knock-
ing about the billiard-balls round him, fenced with the cues,
smoked, drank, sang, and brawled.
‘How are you?’ they said, clapping him on the shoulder.
‘Ah! you’re not up to much, it seems, but it’s your own fault.
You should do this! do that!’ And then they told him stories
of people who had all been cured by other remedies than
his. Then by way of consolation they added—
‘You give way too much! Get up! You coddle yourself like
a king! All the same, old chap, you don’t smell nice!’
Gangrene, in fact, was spreading more and more. Bovary
himself turned sick at it. He came every hour, every moment.
Hippolyte looked at him with eyes full of terror, sobbing—

Madame Bovary