Chapter 50

           WHENHEagaincameto,hewaslyinginLaureRichis’sbed.Thereliquaryofclothesandhairhadbeenremoved.Acandlewasburningonthenighttable.Thewindowwasajar,andhecouldheartheexultationofthetown’srevelsinthedistance.An-toineRichiswassittingonafootstoolbesidethebedwatchinghim.HehadplacedGrenouille’shandinhisownandwasstrokingit.Evenbeforeheopenedhiseyes,Grenouillehadcheckedtheatmosphere.Everythingwasquietwithinhim.Therewasnomoreboilingorbursting.Hissoulwasagaindominatedasusualbycoldnight,justwhatheneededforafrostyandclearconsciousmindtobedirectedtotheoutsideworld:therehesmelledhisperfume.Ithadchanged.ItspeakshadleveledoffsothatthecoreofLaure’sscentemergedmoresplendidlythanever-amild,dark,glowingfire.Hefeltsecure.Heknewthathewasunassailableforafewhoursyet,andheopenedhiseyes.Richis’sgazerestedonhim.Aninfinitebenevolencelayinthatgaze:tenderness,compassion,theempty,fatuousprofundityofalover.Hesmiled,pressedGrenouille’shandmoretightly,andsaid,“Itwillallturnoutallright.Themagistratehasoverturnedtheverdict.Allthewitnesseshaverecanted.Youarefree.Youcandowhateveryouwant.ButIwouldlikeyoutostayherewithme.Ihavelostadaughter,butIwanttogainyouasmyson.You’reverymuchlikeher.Youarebeautifullikeher,yourhair,yourmouth,yourhand…Ihavebeenholdingyourhandallthistime,yourhandislikehers.AndwhenIlookintoyoureyes,it’sasifshewerelookingatme.