Natasie, standing near the bed, held the light.
Madame in modesty had turned to the wall and showed only her back.
This letter, sealed with a small seal in blue wax, begged Monsieur Bovary to come immediately to the farm of the Bertaux to set a broken leg.

Now from Tostes to the Bertaux was a good eighteen miles across country by way of Longueville and Saint-Victor.

It was a dark night; Madame Bovary junior was afraid of accidents for her husband.

So it was decided the stable-boy should go on first; Charles would start three hours later when the moon rose.

A boy was to be sent to meet him, and show him the way to the farm, and open the gates for him.
Towards four o'clock in the morning, Charles, well wrapped up in his cloak, set out for the Bertaux.