They were in bed when Monsieur Homais, in spite of the servant, suddenly entered the room, holding in his hand a sheet of paper just written. It was the paragraph he intended for the Fanal de Rouen . He brought it for them to read.

“Read it yourself,” said Bovary.

He read⁠—

“ ‘Despite the prejudices that still invest a part of the face of Europe like a net, the light nevertheless begins to penetrate our country places. Thus on Tuesday our little town of Yonville found itself the scene of a surgical operation which is at the same time an act of loftiest philanthropy. Monsieur Bovary, one of our most distinguished practitioners⁠—’ ”

“Oh, that is too much! too much!” said Charles, choking with emotion.

“No, no! not at all! What next!”