Page 437 - madame-bovary

‘We shall end by understanding one another.’
In the passage downstairs they met the undertaker’s men,
who were coming in. Then Charles for two hours had to suf-
fer the torture of hearing the hammer resound against the
wood. Next day they lowered her into her oak coffin, that
was fitted into the other two; but as the bier was too large,
they had to fill up the gaps with the wool of a mattress. At
last, when the three lids had been planed down, nailed, sol-
dered, it was placed outside in front of the door; the house
was thrown open, and the people of Yonville began to flock
round.
Old Rouault arrived, and fainted on the Place when he
saw the black cloth!

Madame Bovary