"When the night was rainy, they took refuge in the consulting-room, between the cart-shed and the stable. She lighted one of the kitchen candles that she had hidden behind the books. Rodolphe settled down there as if at home. The sight of the library, of the bureau, of the whole apartment, in fine, excited his merriment, and he could not refrain from making jokes about Charles which rather embarrassed Emma. She would have liked to see him more serious and even on occasions more dramatic; as, for example, when she thought she heard a noise of approaching steps in the alley.
"'Some one is coming!' she said
"He blew out the light.
"'Have you your pistols?'
"'Why?'
"'Why, to defend yourself,' replied Emma.
"'From your husband? Oh, poor devil!'"
And Rodolphe finished his phrase with a gesture which signified: I could crush him with a fillip.
She was amazed at his bravery, although she felt that there was a sort of indelicacy and naïve grossness about it that was scandalizing.
"Rodolphe reflected a good deal on the affair of the pistols. If she had spoken seriously, it was very ridiculous, he thought, even odious; for he had no reason to hate the good Charles, not being what is called devoured by jealousy; and on this subject Emma had treated him to a lecture, which he did not think in the best taste.