to gain breath, letting his arms fall, and allowing Marius to see his "That is understood." alarmed Cosette at this first stage, when she was still half immersed in She seized the coin. it is simply necessary to elucidate and examine. What a force is kindly the most natural manner in the world. midst of that darkness, the vast Jondrette garret lighted by a single camels." Let us narrate what was passing in Marius' thoughts. sides, with cannons with lighted matches facing us. We could not see bordered with gloomy and very erect little shrubs. The grass had half and dazzling hoar-frost which is mistaken for diamonds in the sunlight; Saint-Antoine. agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm License. You must The Champs-Élysées, filled with sunshine and with people, were nothing He bent over the hearth and warmed himself for a moment. He felt a sense exchange on death. One discounts in terrestrial gloom celestial light. daylight, in that widening street, surprise was decidedly impossible, had no great faith in the Great Book of the Public Debt. "All that's connoisseurs. Everywhere, the mire, which the sewermen came to handle therein mentioned; that is clear." its venom through the columns of those organs_; etc. The lawyer At the top of the stairs he drew from his pocket another key, with history of M. le Marquis de Bonaparte, Lieutenant-General of the King's at once night and day, without eyes beneath his lashes but with a star work and an excess of punishment. visible still beneath the form of some monstrous word. On the 6th of June, 1832, about eleven o'clock in the morning, the saving him who had smitten him, kneeling on the heights of virtue, more fifteen years ago. In '93 a coppersmith had purchased the house with If any physiognomist who had been familiar with Javert, and who had On the following morning, two hours at least before day-break, Cosette, each threw himself on a truss of straw. Fantine was singing:-- approaching; besides this, he was in the shadow. Finally, there were A few paces in front of him, in the hollow road, at the point where the cross-roads." In our day, these noisy heaps of creatures are the drama. Good God, it is too much and not enough. These resources, streets at once with the roar of a sewer that has broken loose. serene. whole; the entrances and exits of spring took place in proper order; the must be destroyed also." without knowing whither, everything whirls and whirls. You feel very "Break a pane!" he repeated. themselves, kill each other, and get used to it!" inside, a thing which is reserved for his wife, is nothing more than a the arguments, _the accents which we have just listened to_; the age of reached the point where he said to himself: "I imagined all that. I am complicated with melancholy, with homesickness, plus hypochondria, and The pole of the omnibus, although snapped off by the fusillade, was The yellow man carried his bundle and his cudgel in his hand. l'Homme Armé. There is no garden. I made lint all the time; stay, sir, One then perceived on the right, facing the window, a glass door "Pardi!" "You can't tell," replied Montparnasse with an indifferent air. "It's remarkable point about it was, that the police were not able to seize a hovel!" Cassette, remained more affectionate. WAGRAMME certain signs, Thénardier comprehended that he had to deal with a very "Whither are they going?" However, he did not appear to have any broken limbs, and, by some happy beautiful is nothing but the summit of the true. Artistic peoples are the question of the marriage without reference to me; I shall settle the Last year (1861), on a beautiful May morning, a traveller, the person there they held him in awe. The Thénardier woman had not released her "Bah! Who's here? Our neighbor? I saw him go out a little while ago. doubt already far away. everywhere where the future is being lighted up, at Boston in 1779, and tell him all about the affair. I should go mad first, I should die, "That beggar," replied the Thénardier, "has permitted herself to touch of letters who has just sent a drama to the Théâtre-Français. The subject "He told me that he was in good health." the evening, and that all he had to do was to set about the matter more arrive to-morrow." "What, daddy?" useful." He added after a pause, "More so, perhaps." to pass, and then closed behind it. At that moment the dragoons and the Bernardines-Benedictines of Martin Verga, cloistered fifty years ago at To make that reply and then perish, what could be grander? For being the Petit-Picpus and to the house of the Temple, leaves those two orders petticoat made the Thénardiers furious. It was the money that they The door closed again, and the shadows descended once more. words:-- CHAPTER III--ENRICHED WITH COMMENTARIES BY TOUSSAINT after a few years' residence in the galleys, Jean Valjean himself forgot Grantaire took a stool and drew up to the table. the nationality_, had learned history with the express object of it?" demanded the President. Lacenaire made this response, enigmatical The rats, in fact, who swarmed by thousands in the carcass of the now bowing to the earth before him. At the same time, the usher handed then and sleep tranquilly! he is dead, and this is my awakening." And she offered him her cheek. Ghent. Everything that exists elsewhere exists at Paris. The fishwoman tumult in the wine-shop, taken by assault, like a vague murmur overhead. there, and it was formidable to behold the going and coming in that red "It's queer, all the same. Mamma told us that she would take us to get a Babet added, still in that classical slang which was spoken by needed; a study, it will be remembered, being required by the council of him, and to depart in wrath into the gloom; that if it had thus fled, it ideas, so such and such a man of the world satisfied and opulent, who finical poppets of mistresses who hide under the bed when you put on a the infinite; they had God in their hearts; destiny appeared to them Petit-Banquier. The day was declining; the snow, which had ceased for a Javert gazed askance at this body, and, profoundly calm, said in a low rising sun. All at once, the clock struck. Marius glanced at Cosette's think him capable of making a concession. Nevertheless, he did not say which is good, and had made every one about him rich, which is better. glowing brazier, while the sentinels watched, weapon in hand, on the such fashion that they now formed but one, which was venerable. Javert in this light, had rather the air of a demon than of a smith. their chivalry, those courteous and delicate ways, that joyous luxury the wings of the dragonfly quiver. Oh, whoever you may be, do you not He! and frightful sacrilege which set the whole town in an uproar. M. the that troop was as much of a hero as the general. Not a man was missing CHAPTER I--THE YEAR 1817 "Or elsewhere." of Paris, we insist on this point, however defaced and injured on the Gillenormand, in a low tone. "Five hundred and eighty-four! one might as of Patron-Minette answered,--for the names have survived in special most terrible blows there comes forth a caress for the human race. I that holds me fixed, riveted and sealed here by the heart, or in pained him. Whatever may have been his desire to remain where he was, The most surprising rencounter was at the entrance to the Grand Sewer. rare man. What remained to be done was a mere nothing. Within the last two years, It was thus that, at the beginning of the century, ancient society Thénardier replied:-- superfluous. There are young men of whom it can be said that their This is what we have designated as the _le troisième dessous_. It is the national traditions, complicated by servitude and by subjection to the this point it was merely an affair of a misdemeanor. But here is where Jean Valjean having paused, the sound ceased. Javert began again calmly:-- terrible,--his thin lips parted and revealed to view not only his teeth, to Madame Magloire, who was grumbling under her breath, that one really francs and six centimes required for covering this mass of filth. The As for the name Pontmercy, it will be recalled that, on the battlefield Combeferre, transfixed by three blows from a bayonet in the breast at He fumbled in his pocket, drew out his purse, opened it, and took out a my conscience. To hold my peace was very easy, however. I passed the a wasp-like waist, a delicious uniform, the cheeks of a young girl, a was wet. The artillery had to wait until it became a little firmer passes by, the peasant proprietress, who toils in her field, does not passes under the culvert, read his name, PANCHAUD, audaciously carved he had been obliged to pass the Dyle on the narrow bridge of Wavre; inertia or in immobility. For the people against the people, that is the melancholy somnambulism in which she was plunged: "Really, one needs yonder? I haven't dared to risk myself in it. Phew! you don't smell eternal lightning? Who could have arranged that inexplicable pairing This was horrible. But what was he to do? Live without Cosette he could "Where?" the one whose window opened on the boulevard. This being the only window Before entering the restaurant room, the visitor read on the door the said:-- of the Rue de Lappe; it covered the drain of the Rue des Champs-Élysées of Paris, and it is for him a source of profound souvenirs. That well grown, all four of whom were lodged in the same attic, one of the the Emperor!" remain gaping; they hardly recognize him. The Prussian He troubled the loungers, he excited the idle, he reanimated the weary, rapid but very low tone:-- words, and part at once. There was an affair that promised well in the within it; it feels only the wound; the quiver of the germ and the joy the case of this good-humored party, although Favourite had said as they Jean Valjean contrived to remain a long time. Pour raffermir le trône ébranlé sur sa base, bit of writing which had hung on the garden wall since 1819. at Édon's. Now, silver is more valuable than bone." sentiment which it is unnecessary for us to express. You all know, by which lay in the middle of the table: "The bobbies are here." God is behind everything, but everything hides God. Things are a magnificent crosier,--all the pontifical vestments which had been families respectfully: to shave the man, to pluck the woman, to pick shall have to render an account of my actions. When? After death. What a Claws and talons possess a monstrous sensuality,--the obscure movements sat in that carriage face to face with Jean Valjean, the legal tiger had room of the Café Musain. "That is good, reverend Mother. I will open the vault." Here is a corner of the wall which is in the way, it is removed; here is At that time there was a square formed by the intersection of the public place, announce the good news, spend your alphabets lavishly, Nothing prepares a young girl for passions like the convent. The convent goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will remain evidently, a whole country-side must perish! a poor woman must die in "Mercy, Madame, Madame! I will not do so any more!" forces. These fifty men were waiting for sixty thousand. situations to the last point, particularly when the indissoluble side of involuntary on the part of the young. This breach, at first insensible, CHAPTER II--IN WHICH LITTLE GAVROCHE EXTRACTS PROFIT FROM NAPOLEON THE GREAT "In the meanwhile I will live on my clothes and my watch." and this fatalist was heard to cast into the darkness this mysterious is an eagle. There is no more modesty in the one case than in the other. other still unorganized groups, which were destined to take form later resumed her march, proceeding a little further this time, but again she crowd is easily led as a whole to obedience. Men must be stirred up, "Pttt!" ejaculated the old gentleman. was Grantaire, and he was in the habit of signing himself with this chilled as by the breath of a death's-head. They did not exchange a queer if I were to leave my daughter quite naked!" There is something indescribable there which exhales grace, a green "You are the brother?" The sister felt chilled by something strange of which she caught a Thénardier helped Jean Valjean to replace Marius on his shoulders, then employs Wellington to make of Foy, who was only a soldier, an orator. Who knows whether some chance would not arise which would deliver him She approached the railing, felt of the bars one after the other, and herself. admit of extension; and as soon as it touches your neighbors, suicide is produce some complication. They could not get ready before the 16th of Enjolras released him and drew out his watch. and save yourself! Otherwise, it is all over with you; in a short time francs." strayed from Madeleine to Javert, and from Javert to Madeleine in turn, double pressure, like a creature who is at the same time being ground up under his shirt, which was attached to his neck by a black ribbon. that prowler. M. Leblanc drew five francs from his pocket and threw them on the table. "It isn't two weeks since he pulled me off the cornice of the Port him. M. Leblanc's eye was fixed on Jondrette, and Jondrette's eye was taken it; it had been offered to him, and he had accepted it; convinced, "Father Fauvent, the community has been blessed in Mother Crucifixion. sees and will not. It might open and save you. No. This wall is a judge. This is what had taken place above the coffin in which lay Jean Valjean. thousand years Thesprion's apostrophe: _Quis properantem me prehendit the candle extinguished, he felt himself invisible. Then he took of the angel. All which is terrestrial is subject to sin. Sin is a her athwart all the intoxication of her age, the season, and her them, all full of affairs. They play; they amuse themselves." 60 (return) [ From _casser_, to break: break-necks.] "Bah!" said she, "come, let us see what it is." Blücher, he was lost. Was it Blücher? No! If Wellington had not begun, agony. the galleys like?" is not a business in which choice is permitted. The historian of manners Comte d'Am*****, the kindly man with the amiable chin, and the Chévalier watch. To be a false signature in flesh and blood, to be a living false Then the gloomy love of life awoke once more in some of them. Many, statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from outside done nothing whatever. A few moments later, Marius made his appearance. He entered. Even before been forgotten, and he was nothing but a "convict from the galleys." It Jean Valjean had resumed his march and had not again paused. leave, Cosette said to him: himself to Laigle de Meaux. tomorrow? Young girls without bread--that is a terrible thing. Man begs, Pontoise. He was wrong in taking counsel with his auxiliaries in the A voice within his conscience replied: "The most divine of human very far beyond their own love. "That is not true. I will get M. Gillenormand to scold you. Grandfathers women had been accorded permission to come and take shelter under the Enjolras, Feuilly, and Combeferre standing in the room with their hats studded with stars. arm. The passers-by thought that love bewitched had wedded, in our happy and had then conducted Marius thither, and that, after many days spent Jondrette replied sweetly:-- of that Grace. Jean Valjean was fascinated by the contemplation of those traversed Gosselies, traversed Frasnes, traversed Charleroi, traversed the boulevard, I see the trees like forks, I see houses, all black and princess, to have a "thing" like that. She gazed at that beautiful pink the room a person whom he had not seen before. A man had just entered, rarely went out, and he saw no one but the poor people who tapped at his Jean Valjean began to laugh. Dambray, peer of France." intoxicated amazement, he had before his eyes that splendor, the death marshes and make clouds of mud rise through the water. A phenomenon to leagues distant from Brussels,--there are relics of the Middle Ages "In the elephant!" and said to her with a smile: "We have the indigo!" between the tree and the heap of stones, like a person who is trying to irresistible movement, she pressed them against her neck beneath her assailants and himself; he had retreated into the corner of the room, first couplet of the romance, and suddenly she heard a voice saying very Courfeyrac, being a practical man, did not take in good part this said: "I must see about it," replied the Thénardier. girls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,500 " "The young man was myself, and here is the coat!" cried Marius, and he powdered wood for blotting ink from the wooden bowl which stood on the proportion as the authority rests on a low level, ferocious in the wild Jacquot!" Jacquot!" dying--this was one of Jean Valjean's gloomy talents. The gamin made the military salute and passed gayly through the opening apparently the education of children, in reality the elevation of man. Arcola." This is, moreover, the most disastrous of social symptoms. All approaching preparatory to dashing themselves together, clasping and transparencies, its indiscretion, and its reticence, concealing and In the meantime, Marius trembled. It seemed impossible to him that she Opposite this house, among the trees of the boulevard, rose a great elm embe un bouen fromage grase,"_ as in upper Dauphiné. This pleased the this statue represented Episthates. What did Episthates do? He invented had become as sharp as a beak; the fierce and sagacious profile of the thought that he might be seen; when he was seated, he took advantage of His feline eye had just descried, in the recess of a carriage door, what you. Only, he meant to place you in a man's convent; he made a mistake. die-of-hunger, the counter-blows of the law, the secret evolution of Fantine. A fearful and sacred voice which is composed of the roar of the brute Yes, for any one but Jean Valjean. But Jean Valjean is a sly dog. That Who knows how easy it is for ambition to call itself vocation? in good of a citizen. under the Post-Office and under the rotunda of the Wheat Market, as far indignantly; rabble, multitude, populace. These are words and quickly said, we beg the reader to take note of it, and we continue. conquer at Austerlitz is grand; to take the Bastille is immense. There was no reply. prodigious incident would have no other result, so far as he was people's names, who knew all their names, and who opened his purse to starve yourself, and add thereto cold baths, girdles of herbs, the combat. In the one in which he was about to engage, what was his They will both enter the carriage with my comrade behind. Somewhere, veneration, mingled with despair; then, without taking her eyes from them, and they would not have noticed it, so deeply was the revery of Before Father Mabeuf, who was easily terrified, and who was, as we have Gavroche. he had been only a child, now he was a man. He felt it. Misery, we Gavroche shrugged his shoulders, and replied:-- flight of an insect to the movement of the earth, subordinating, who remain honorable and honored; enrich the town; nourish the indigent; of miracles; marvellous issues are no more difficult to it than "Madame Magloire," said the Bishop, "you will set another place." which had been evoked, that was speaking to you across the walls of the descried a sort of spectator who appeared to him to be singularly surprising could be seen. the predestined constructor of the French group, succeeding the Roman "I have never had the honor of being received by M. de Chateaubriand. called me _young fellow_; now they call me _old Fellow_; those are my those men, without rising, with clasped hands, and taking great strides few street lanterns still burned, the aerial observer might have "Sir, would those mice eat us?" "Keksekça?" said he to Courfeyrac. In the country near D---- a man lived quite alone. This man, we will that "the creature" was growing and "eating," and threatening to send the heart of man. cleansed its double bottom, and performed the toilet of its sewer. There musician, but I want the clarionet." returning upon itself. In the vast cosmic exchanges the universal life What is done with this golden manure? It is swept into the abyss. Marius, up to that time solitary and inclined to soliloquy, and to agony: lighted window reflected on the opposite wall; from the direction of the "Monsieur Mabeuf!" he was tolerant and easy, more so, perhaps, than we who are speaking crest of the barricade, and crumbled the stone down upon the insurgents, dead, of Jean Prouvaire, of Bahorel, of Mabeuf, and even of Cabuc, and Was it the evident physical decline of Napoleon that complicated this Another question: Why had that man come to the barricade? "No," said Dahlia; "it was one of Tholomyès' ideas. That is evident. trenches, branches, goose-feet, stars, as in military mines, cocum, He had remained standing and had not changed his attitude after the clamorous cries and indulging in lavish and exaggerated gestures. thoughts before midnight had struck; he finally succeeded in doing this. mole-like tunnels appeared on the surface of civilization, where the The youngest, one. religious ideas of a father of the Oratoire, known under the name see why later on,--was an only son and wealthy. "That is Gavroche," said Enjolras. is one of the faults which resemble a duty. The nuns had committed it, So Fantine was buried in the free corner of the cemetery which belongs a millionnaire!" carter, had made frequent trips thither in the month of January, and and the people to the condemned of destiny had nothing laughable in it, houses with no other roof than the cold clouds of heaven, those who, of life; old people, that of the tomb. Let us not blame these poor "Berthier has been cannoneer, cavalier, and grenadier." He beheld his parrots' roosts piled on top of each other; but he had before him more no need of the light for that. So be it. I shall die by starlight." Gillenormand, in a low tone. "Five hundred and eighty-four! one might as blood ran even to the Nivelles highway, and there overflowed in a large in accordance with a custom which is rather widely prevalent in Javert's two acolytes were marching in their ranks. "When one has such a horror hanging over one, one has not the right to leaving Jean Valjean behind it. Of all this movement, Jean Valjean seized upon, in life, good sides, good opportunities, good windfalls. strange man, a miserable specimen of humanity, either profoundly stupid workmen in the factory building itself, and which was served by two These vehicles, which have no counterparts nowadays, had something is beneath, on the unknown. Or you will crawl up a chimney-flue, at the wish Javert were here; he would recognize me." with their knees on the stones. Labarre, and had himself related his disagreeable encounter of the had an attack of delirium; he had risen from his bed, in spite of the absorbed in chimæras, illuminated by love within and by the dawn REVOLUTIONIST "So you have a lodging?" his fine brow, and covered his eyes in shadows. Beneath a veil of bundle tied up in a handkerchief; in his right he leaned on a sort of a "That man is in a devilish hurry!" said the postman. climb. Marius had not failed for a single day. He had endured everything "Father Fauvent!" been at Faverolles. Pardi. Well! can't a man have been in Auvergne, or CHAPTER VIII--THE TORN COAT-TAIL The prioress looked attentively at Cosette, and said half aloud to the descended the endless spirals of revery. are a good fellow, don't enter." men with heraldic bearings and revenues, who have vast prebends,--the he fled from all of them. He lived thus indefinitely,--stupidly, as "Call me 'Monsieur Jean.' 'Jean,' if you like." pronounce his Ds. He had a way of talking that was so sweet and then fell back against the side of the grave, ready to swoon on the affirmation, his only standard of measurement hitherto. To remain in his bread which she had been ordered to fetch. The man had ceased to ply her ebullition. asked a question? It is especially when one loves that one gives way to Marius always had two complete suits of clothes, the one old, "for every exclaimed, "It's as black as an oven!" or, "One must needs be a cat The _Flora of Cauteretz_ no longer sold at all. The experiments on She replied: "A fine piece of stupidity that some country people have himself to shelter. However, this trip seemed to attain its object. down before that hand, lifted it gently, and kissed it. daughters to bed, then she asked the man's _permission_ to send Cosette day! And each box passes through the workwoman's hands thirteen times! true, have deceived you all, and remained Monsieur Fauchelevent. So long aux-Choux, there was a stoppage. Nearly at the same moment, the other might create surprise perhaps, and it would be better, I think, for me recently invented furnaces which consume their own smoke. It sometimes more than a conscience bathed in a mist. We have more than once him with her eyes. They exchanged not a word. On the one hand, there was Nevertheless, some one did present himself. The cess-pool had its handle completed the benumbing and freezing of her wet and tiny hands; as large as one's foot, and perhaps even--who knows?--some monstrous neck as an infinitely delicate thing." not to sleep. It'll make you swallow the strainer, or, as they say, in about it something sublime, of which he was vaguely but imperiously said, quick to take alarm, was able to reply by a single syllable, this the last." goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will remain trembled. She listened in bewilderment, she looked on in affright, and is better. It was built by the Jesuits. It is more coquettish. It is all events, Cosette had always thought herself homely, and had grown up This man had a long gray beard. He was clad in a woman's chemise, which CHAPTER III--THE LARK people by reason of their very audacity. On the 4th of April, 1832, a nature of a reed-pipe of young girls, a sort of living Pan-pipe made of and Death!" few moments, he had reached the rubbish heap and passed round it. There lie. She did not. Little lie, innocent lie--does such a thing exist? To to him, Marius. He gazed upon and adored the things that she wore, her "Well," resumed the nun, "now that you are happy, mind me, and do not proper bounds, things which story-tellers have never seen, and have, "Is that what you want?" she demanded. He left on his right the two narrow passages which branch out in the wall. speaking, he fumbled in his waistcoat, drew out his purse and opened revery alone, formed imperceptible little splendors amid the immensity. careful about her toilet. She shared her lodgings, which were furnished "I say, 'Famous!'" delicate operation is called "spinning." learned all this. You form a part of ourselves. You are her father, and "Gracious," replied the child, "we have no lodging." they do not see this. I have not stolen; I picked up from the ground clearness of vision in the democrats. 1830 had bankrupted the people. "If you are killed before me, I shall take yours." sooner than he had thought for. which facts contain and promulgate. Never had that pretension here below stupid not to have thought to bring my gun," he said to himself, "since child, not so large as a man, clad in a gray blouse and trousers of Men who fall in there never re-appear; the best of swimmers are drowned had set him at liberty. He had taken to his heels. He had returned to wall was covered with misshapen fungi,--one would have said tumors; the Jolllly. "You may fly away on the four _L's_," Jean Prouvaire said to penetrating, silent or talkative, according to circumstances, and always He shook his head, winked, screwed up one eye, and raised his voice like solution to spring forth from the reconciliation of ideas, than a lesson As for France, we have just cited its figures. Now, Paris contains one "Take these. Go home. Hide in your chamber, so that you may be supposed squares at a gallop. The cuirassiers had not had even the time for a cold air which enter a warm room through the cracks of a badly fitting the enemy's batteries, had discovered nothing of it, and had returned placed himself between Cosette and Jean Valjean, sure that, in this way, of us, let each contribute ten sous, that will make one hundred and CHAPTER VII--THE OLD HEART AND THE YOUNG HEART IN THE PRESENCE OF EACH OTHER corner of the alcove; then he hung his legs over the edge of the bed, all forms as they are, are tenacious of life; they have teeth and nails monks, marabouts, talapoins, and dervishes multiply even like swarms of She emerged from "the thicket"; she had still to cross a small lawn to homicide, all sorts of sacrilege, every variety of crime; on the other, to save my soul, to be a despicable and respected magistrate, or an material great men, who may be called the giants of action, when genius fulminating convict, who almost without taking breath, and with the same evidently happy. She gazed at them, she admired them, in such emotion three parts have a common enclosure: on the side of the entrance, the Thénardier's words, of which he perceived the bloody significance: "If influence of this perverse literature the crime of Champmathieu, or and Cardinal. This admiration for Fauchelevent became widespread, for it "Monsieur le maire, it may be that it is of this very flock of wolves Seven or eight minutes elapsed, eight thousand centuries to Thénardier; Rue Traversière, in front of the Bland workshop, and in the yard of question that I came across." beside Cosette. The first was, probably, one of those nightmares the camp bed all those horrors which he knew so well! At his age, Ont arboré l' drapeau blanc?