Madame Bovary - Penn State University

Madame BovaryThis did not prevent Mere Lefrancois, from coming five in the apparatus, strapping it tighter to hasten matters. Atdays after, scared, and crying out—last, three days after, Hippolyte being unable to endure it any“Help! he is dying! I am going crazy!”longer, they once more removed the machine, and were muchCharles rushed to the “Lion d’Or,” and the chemist, who surprised at the result they saw. The livid tumefaction spreadcaught sight of him passing along the Place hatless, abandoned over the leg, with blisters here and there, whence there oozedhis shop. He appeared himself breathless, red, anxious, and a black liquid. Matters were taking a serious turn. Hippolyteasking everyone who was going up the stairs—began to worry himself, and Mere Lefrancois, had him installedin the little room near the kitchen, so that he might at“Why, what’s the matter with our interesting strephopode?”The strephopode was writhing in hideous convulsions, so least have some distraction.that the machine in which his leg was enclosed was knocked But the tax-collector, who dined there every day, complainedagainst the wall enough to break it.bitterly of such companionship. Then Hippolyte was removedWith many precautions, in order not to disturb the positionof the limb, the box was removed, and an awful sight coverings, pale with long beard, sunken eyes, and from timeto the billiard-room. He lay there moaning under his heavypresented itself. The outlines of the foot disappeared in such to time turning his perspiring head on the dirty pillow, wherea swelling that the entire skin seemed about to burst, and it the flies alighted. Madame Bovary went to see him. Shewas covered with ecchymosis, caused by the famous machine. brought him linen for his poultices; she comforted, and encouragedhim. Besides, he did not want for company, espe-Hippolyte had already complained of suffering from it. Noattention had been paid to him; they had to acknowledge cially on market-days, when the peasants were knocking aboutthat he had not been altogether wrong, and he was freed for a the billiard-balls round him, fenced with the cues, smoked,few hours. But, hardly had the oedema gone down to some drank, sang, and brawled.extent, than the two savants thought fit to put back the limb “How are you?” they said, clapping him on the shoulder.154