Page 334 - madame-bovary
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some hint to Emma about the power of attorney. He never
       mentioned the bill; she did not think of it. Charles, at the
       beginning of her convalescence, had certainly said some-
       thing  about  it  to  her,  but  so  many  emotions  had  passed
       through her head that she no longer remembered it. Besides,
       she took care not to talk of any money questions. Madame
       Bovary seemed surprised at this, and attributed the change
       in her ways to the religious sentiments she had contracted
       during her illness.
          But as soon as she was gone, Emma greatly astounded
       Bovary by her practical good sense. It would be necessary to
       make inquiries, to look into mortgages, and see if there were
       any occasion for a sale by auction or a liquidation. She quot-
       ed technical terms casually, pronounced the grand words
       of order, the future, foresight, and constantly exaggerated
       the difficulties of settling his father’s affairs so much, that
       at last one day she showed him the rough draft of a power
       of attorney to manage and administer his business, arrange
       all loans, sign and endorse all bills, pay all sums, etc. She
       had profited by Lheureux’s lessons. Charles naively asked
       her where this paper came from.
         ‘Monsieur  Guillaumin”;  and  with  the  utmost  coolness
       she added, ‘I don’t trust him overmuch. Notaries have such
       a  bad  reputation.  Perhaps  we  ought  to  consult—we  only
       know—no one.’
         ‘Unless Leon—‘ replied Charles, who was reflecting. But
       it was difficult to explain matters by letter. Then she offered
       to make the journey, but he thanked her. She insisted. It was
       quite a contest of mutual consideration. At last she cried
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