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〃What is it？ What is the matter？〃
〃What is it？〃 replied the druggist。 〃We are making preserves；
they are simmering； but they were about to boil over； because
there is too much juice； and I ordered another pan。 Then he； from
indolence； from laziness； went and took； hanging on its nail in
my laboratory； the key of the Capharnaum。〃
It was thus the druggist called a small room under the leads；
full of the utensils and the goods of his trade。 He often spent
long hours there alone； labelling； decanting； and doing up again；
and he looked upon it not as a simple store； but as a veritable
sanctuary； whence there afterwards issued； elaborated by his
hands； all sorts of pills； boluses； infusions； lotions； and
potions； that would bear far and wide his celebrity。 No one in
the world set foot there； and he respected it so； that he swept
it himself。 Finally； if the pharmacy； open to all comers； was the
spot where he displayed his pride； the Capharnaum was the refuge
where； egoistically concentrating himself； Homais delighted in
the exercise of his predilections； so that Justin's
thoughtlessness seemed to him a monstrous piece of irreverence；
and； redder than the currants； he repeated
〃Yes； from the Capharnaum！ The key that locks up the acids and
caustic alkalies！ To go and get a spare pan！ a pan with a lid！
and that I shall perhaps never use！ Everything is of importance
in the delicate operations of our art！ But； devil take it！ one
must make distinctions； and not employ for almost domestic
purposes that which is meant for pharmaceutical！ It is as if one
were to carve a fowl with a scalpel； as if a magistrate〃
〃Now be calm；〃 said Madame Homais。
And Athalie； pulling at his coat； cried 〃Papa！ papa！〃
〃No； let me alone；〃 went on the druggist 〃let me alone； hang it！
My word！ One might as well set up for a grocer。 That's it！ go it！
respect nothing！ break； smash； let loose the leeches； burn the
mallow…paste； pickle the gherkins in the window jars； tear up the
bandages！〃
〃I thought you had〃said Emma。
〃Presently！ Do you know to what you exposed yourself？ Didn't you
see anything in the corner； on the left； on the third shelf？
Speak； answer； articulate something。〃
〃Idon'tknow；〃 stammered the young fellow。
〃Ah！ you don't know！ Well； then； I do know！ You saw a bottle of
blue glass； sealed with yellow wax； that contains a white powder；
on which I have even written 'Dangerous！' And do you know what is
in it？ Arsenic！ And you go and touch it！ You take a pan that was
next to it！〃
〃Next to it！〃 cried Madame Hoinais； clasping her hands。 〃Arsenic！
You might have poisoned us all。〃
And the children began howling as if they already had frightful
pains in their entrails。
〃Or poison a patient！〃 continued the druggist。 〃Do you want to
see me in the prisoner's dock with criminals； in a court of
justice？ To see me dragged to the scaffold？ Don't you know what
care I take in managing things； although I am so thoroughly used
to it？ Often I am horrified myself when I think of my
responsibility； for the Government persecutes us； and the absurd
legislation that rules us is a veritable Damocles' sword over our
heads。〃
Emma no longer dreamed of asking what they wanted her for； and
the druggist went on in breathless phrases
〃That is your return for all the kindness we have shown you！ That
is how you recompense me for the really paternal care that I
lavish on you！ For without me where would you be？ What would you
be doing？ Who provides you with food； education； clothes； and all
the means of figuring one day with honour in the ranks of
society？ But you must pull hard at the oar if you're to do that；
and get； as； people say； callosities upon your hands。 Fabricando
fit faber； age quod agis。*
* The worker lives by working； do what he will。
He was so exasperated he quoted Latin。 He would have quoted
Chinese or Greenlandish had he known those two languages； for he
was in one of those crises in which the whole soul shows
indistinctly what it contains； like the ocean； which； in the
storm； opens itself from the seaweeds on its shores down to the
sands of its abysses。
And he went on
〃I am beginning to repent terribly of having taken you up！ I
should certainly have done better to have left you to rot in your
poverty and the dirt in which you were born。 Oh； you'll never be
fit for anything but to herd animals with horns！ You have no
aptitude for science！ You hardly know how to stick on a label！
And there you are； dwelling with me snug as a parson； living in
clover； taking your ease！〃
But Emma； turning to Madame Homais； 〃I was told to come here〃
〃Oh； dear me！〃 interrupted the good woman； with a sad air； 〃how
am I to tell you？ It is a misfortune！〃
She could not finish； the druggist was thundering〃Empty it！
Clean it！ Take it back！ Be quick！〃
And seizing Justin by the collar of his blouse； he shook a book
out of his pocket。 The lad stooped； but Homais was the quicker；
and； having picked up the volume； contemplated it with staring
eyes and open mouth。
〃CONJUGALLOVE！〃 he said； slowly separating the two words。 〃Ah！
very good！ very good！ very pretty！ And illustrations！ Oh； this is
too much！〃
Madame Homais came forward。
〃No； do not touch it！〃
The children wanted to look at the pictures。
〃Leave the room；〃 he said imperiously； and they went out。
First he walked up and down with the open volume in his hand；
rolling his eyes； choking； tumid； apoplectic。 Then he came
straight to his pupil； and； planting himself in front of him with
crossed arms
〃Have you every vice； then； little wretch？ Take care！ you are on
a downward path。 Did not you reflect that this infamous book
might fall in the hands of my children； kindle a spark in their
minds； tarnish the purity of Athalie； corrupt Napoleon。 He is
already formed like a man。 Are you quite sure； anyhow； that they
have not read it？ Can you certify to me〃
〃But really； sir；〃 said Emma； 〃you wished to tell me〃
〃Ah； yes！ madame。 Your father…in…law is dead。〃
In fact； Monsieur Bovary senior had expired the evening before
suddenly from an attack of apoplexy as he got up from table； and
by way of greater precaution； on account of Emma's sensibility；
Charles had begged Homais to break the horrible news to her
gradually。 Homais had thought over his speech； he had rounded；
polished it； made it rhythmical； it was a masterpiece of prudence
and transitions； of subtle turns and delicacy； but anger had got
the better of rhetoric。
Emma； giving up all chance of hearing any details； left the
pharmacy； for Monsieur Homais had taken up the thread of his
vituperations。 However； he was growing calmer； and was now
grumbling in a paternal tone whilst he fanned himself with his
skull…cap。
〃It is not that I entirely disapprove of the work。 Its author was
a doctor！ There are certain scientific points in it that it is
not ill a man should know； and I would even venture to say that a
man must know。 But laterlater！ At any rate； not till you are
man yourself and your temperament is formed。〃
When Emma knocked at the door。 Charles； who was waiting for her；
came forward with open arms and said to her w