Chapter 6

           Duringthejourneyshemadetoseeher,Leonhadoftendinedatthechemist’s,andhefeltobligedfrompolitenesstoinvitehiminturn.

           "Withpleasure!"MonsieurHomaisreplied;"besides,Imustinvigoratemymind,forIamgettingrustyhere.We’llgotothetheatre,totherestaurant;we’llmakeanightofit."

           "Oh,mydear!"tenderlymurmuredMadameHomais,alarmedatthevagueperilshewaspreparingtobrave.

           "Well,what?DoyouthinkI’mnotsufficientlyruiningmyhealthlivinghereamidthecontinualemanationsofthepharmacy?Butthere!thatisthewaywithwomen!Theyarejealousofscience,andthenareopposedtoourtakingthemostlegitimatedistractions.Nomatter!Countuponme.OneofthesedaysIshallturnupatRouen,andwe’llgothepacetogether."

           Thedruggistwouldformerlyhavetakengoodcarenottousesuchanexpression,buthewascultivatingagayParisianstyle,whichhethoughtinthebesttaste;and,likehisneighbour,MadameBovary,hequestionedtheclerkcuriouslyaboutthecustomsofthecapital;heeventalkedslangtodazzlethebourgeois,sayingbender,crummy,dandy,macaroni,thecheese,cutmystickand"I’llhookit,"for"Iamgoing."

           SooneThursdayEmmawassurprisedtomeetMonsieurHomaisinthekitchenofthe"Liond’Or,"wearingatraveller’scostume,thatistosay,wrappedinanoldcloakwhichnooneknewhehad,whilehecarriedavaliseinonehandandthefoot-warmerofhisestablishmentintheother.