Chapter 7

The following day three officials arrive and inventory all the goods in the house.  That evening she feels regret as she looks over all the expensive items in the house she used to temper her frustrated passion.  The following day, a Sunday, she travels to Rouen to look for money but the bankers either refuse or simply laugh at her.  Léon calls her crazy when he hears how much money she needs.  He agrees to try to raise 3,000 francs but returns from his mission empty handed.  She hints that he should steal the money from his office and the frightened clerk promises to borrow the money from a friend who is returning that night.  Léon tells Emma that he will bring the money the following day but she is not to wait for him past 3 o'clock.  On her way to the Hirondelle she passes the cathedral and remembers how full of hope she had been when she first met Léon there.  She sees a man in a carriage that she believes is the vicomte and the sight depresses her.  Monsieur Homais is also returning to Yonville and when the blind beggar accosts the carriage in his usual manner Homais lectures the man and tells him that he can heal him with a salve of his own invention.  Emma gives the beggar a five franc piece - the last money she has in the world.  She collapses into her bed that night resigned to let come what may.  In the morning a notice in the square explains that the contents of the Bovary's house are subject to sale.  Félicité, who is romantically involved with the notary Guillaumin's manservant, advises her mistress to seek funds from the notary.  Guillaumin knows of her predicament through his secret business associations with Lheureux.  He initially refuses to give her money but, abandoning his decorum, begins to caress her and falls on his knees and tells her that he loves her.  Disgusted, Emma flees the house.  She returns home where she waits for Charles, enraged that he should be in a position to be condescending to her.  As he enters the front door, however, she flees out the back and the mayor's wife, Madame Tuvache sees her enter the tax collector Binet's house.  Madame Tuvache and Madame Caron watch through a window and see her confront Binet and then seemingly make romantic advances to the man who recoils in horror.  Emma flees to Madame Rollet's cottage and collapses sobbing on the bed.  She comes to her senses and, realizing it is nearly 3 o'clock, orders the confused wet nurse to go to her house to meet Léon.  Emma waits a long time but when Madame Rollet returns she tells her that he was not there.  Furthermore she explains that Madame Bovary's anguished husband is calling for her and everyone is looking for her.  Emma suddenly thinks of Rodolphe and sets out for La Huchette certain of help from that quarter.