Page 375 - madame-bovary

tled. I don’t play the fool; I’m straight enough.’
Next he carelessly showed her several new goods, not one
of which, however, was in his opinion worthy of madame.
‘When I think that there’s a dress at threepence-halfpen-
ny a yard, and warranted fast colours! And yet they actually
swallow it! Of course you understand one doesn’t tell them
what it really is!’ He hoped by this confession of dishonesty
to others to quite convince her of his probity to her.
Then he called her back to show her three yards of gui-
pure that he had lately picked up ‘at a sale.’
‘Isn’t it lovely?’ said Lheureux. ‘It is very much used now
for the backs of arm-chairs. It’s quite the rage.’
And, more ready than a juggler, he wrapped up the gui-
pure in some blue paper and put it in Emma’s hands.
‘But at least let me know—‘
‘Yes, another time,’ he replied, turning on his heel.
That same evening she urged Bovary to write to his moth-
er, to ask her to send as quickly as possible the whole of the
balance due from the father’s estate. The mother-in-law re-
plied that she had nothing more, the winding up was over,
and there was due to them besides Barneville an income of
six hundred francs, that she would pay them punctually.
Then Madame Bovary sent in accounts to two or three
patients, and she made large use of this method, which was
very successful. She was always careful to add a postscript:
‘Do not mention this to my husband; you know how proud
he is. Excuse me. Yours obediently.’ There were some com-
plaints; she intercepted them.
To get money she began selling her old gloves, her old

Madame Bovary