Chapter 26

           THESETTINGFORthesedebaucherieswas-howcoulditbeotherwise-theinnermostempirewherehehadburiedthehusksofeveryodorencounteredsincebirth.Toenhancethemood,hefirstconjuredupthosethatwereearliestandmostremote:thehostile,steamingvaporsofMadameGaillard’sbedroom;thebone-dry,leatherybouquetofherhands;thevinegarybreathofFatherTerrier;thehysterical,hotmaternalsweatofBussiethewetnurse;thecarrionstenchoftheCimetieredesInnocents;thehomicidalodorofhismother.Andhewallowedindisgustandloathing,andhishairstoodonendatthedelicioushorror.Sometimes,ifthisrepulsiveaperitifdidnotquitegethimintostride,hewouldallowhimselfabrief,odoriferousdetourtoGrimal’sforawhiffofthestenchofraw,meatyskinsandtanningbroths,orheimaginedthecollectiveeffluviumofsixhundredthousandParisiansinthesultry,oppressiveheatoflatesummer.Andthenallatonce,thepent-uphatewoulderuptwithorgasmicforce-thatwas,afterall,thepointoftheexercise.Likeathunderstormherolledacrosstheseodorsthathaddaredoffendhispatriciannose.Hethrashedatthemashailthrashesagrainfield;likeahurricane,hescatteredtherabbleanddrownedtheminagrandpurifyingdelugeofdistilledwater.Andhowjustwashisanger.Howgreathisrevenge.Ah!Whatasublimemoment!Grenouille,thelittleman,quiveredwithexcitement,hisbodywrithedwithvoluptuousdelightandarchedsohighthatheslammedhisheadagainsttheroofofthetunnel,onlytosinkbackslowlyandlietherelollinginsatiation.