Page 400 - madame-bovary

she was saying.
At last these ladies thought they made out the word
‘francs,’ and Madame Tuvache whispered in a low voice—
‘She is begging him to give her time for paying her tax-
es.’
‘Apparently!’ replied the other.
They saw her walking up and down, examining the nap-
kin-rings, the candlesticks, the banister rails against the
walls, while Binet stroked his beard with satisfaction.
‘Do you think she wants to order something of him?’ said
Madame Tuvache.
‘Why, he doesn’t sell anything,’ objected her neighbour.
The tax-collector seemed to be listening with wide-open
eyes, as if he did not understand. She went on in a tender,
suppliant manner. She came nearer to him, her breast heav-
ing; they no longer spoke.
‘Is she making him advances?’ said Madame Tuvache. Bi-
net was scarlet to his very ears. She took hold of his hands.
‘Oh, it’s too much!’
And no doubt she was suggesting something abominable
to him; for the tax-collector—yet he was brave, had fought
at Bautzen and at Lutzen, had been through the French
campaign, and had even been recommended for the cross—
suddenly, as at the sight of a serpent, recoiled as far as he
could from her, crying—
‘Madame! what do you mean?’
‘Women like that ought to be whipped,’ said Madame
Tuvache.
‘But where is she?’ continued Madame Caron, for she