第17章

CHAPTERIX

THENARDIERANDHISMANOEUVRES

Onthefollowingmorning，twohoursatleastbeforeday—break，Thenardier，seatedbesideacandleinthepublicroomofthetavern，peninhand，wasmakingoutthebillforthetravellerwiththeyellowcoat。

Hiswife，standingbesidehim，andhalfbentoverhim，wasfollowinghimwithhereyes。Theyexchangednotaword。Ontheonehand，therewasprofoundmeditation，ontheother，thereligiousadmirationwithwhichonewatchesthebirthanddevelopmentofamarvelofthehumanmind。Anoisewasaudibleinthehouse；

itwastheLarksweepingthestairs。

Afterthelapseofagoodquarterofanhour，andsomeerasures，Thenardierproducedthefollowingmasterpiece:——

BILLOFTHEGENTLEMANINNo。1。

Supper……3francs。

Chamber……10"

Candle……5"

Fire……4"

Service……1"

——————————

Total……23francs。

Servicewaswrittenservisse。

"Twenty—threefrancs！"criedthewoman，withanenthusiasmwhichwasmingledwithsomehesitation。

Likeallgreatartists，Thenardierwasdissatisfied。

"Peuh！"heexclaimed。

ItwastheaccentofCastlereaghauditingFrance’sbillattheCongressofVienna。

"MonsieurThenardier，youareright；hecertainlyowesthat，"

murmuredthewife，whowasthinkingofthedollbestowedonCosetteinthepresenceofherdaughters。"Itisjust，butitistoomuch。

Hewillnotpayit。"

Thenardierlaughedcoldly，asusual，andsaid:——

"Hewillpay。"

Thislaughwasthesupremeassertionofcertaintyandauthority。

Thatwhichwasassertedinthismannermustneedsbeso。Hiswifedidnotinsist。

Shesetaboutarrangingthetable；herhusbandpacedtheroom。

Amomentlaterheadded:——

"Iowefullfifteenhundredfrancs！"

Hewentandseatedhimselfinthechimney—corner，meditating，withhisfeetamongthewarmashes。

"Ah！bytheway，"resumedhiswife，"youdon’tforgetthatI’mgoingtoturnCosetteoutofdoorsto—day？Themonster！Shebreaksmyheartwiththatdollofhers！I’drathermarryLouisXVIII。

thankeepheranotherdayinthehouse！"

Thenardierlightedhispipe，andrepliedbetweentwopuffs:——

"Youwillhandthatbilltotheman。"

Thenhewentout。

Hardlyhadhelefttheroomwhenthetravellerentered。

Thenardierinstantlyreappearedbehindhimandremainedmotionlessinthehalf—opendoor，visibleonlytohiswife。

Theyellowmancarriedhisbundleandhiscudgelinhishand。

"Upsoearly？"saidMadameThenardier；"isMonsieurleavingusalready？"

Asshespokethus，shewastwistingthebillaboutinherhandswithanembarrassedair，andmakingcreasesinitwithhernails。

Herhardfacepresentedashadewhichwasnothabitualwithit，——

timidityandscruples。

Topresentsuchabilltoamanwhohadsocompletelytheair"ofapoorwretch"seemeddifficulttoher。

Thetravellerappearedtobepreoccupiedandabsent—minded。Hereplied:——

"Yes，Madame，Iamgoing。"

"SoMonsieurhasnobusinessinMontfermeil？"

"No，Iwaspassingthrough。Thatisall。WhatdoIoweyou，Madame，"headded。

TheThenardiersilentlyhandedhimthefoldedbill。

Themanunfoldedthepaperandglancedatit；buthisthoughtswereevidentlyelsewhere。

"Madame，"heresumed，"isbusinessgoodhereinMontfermeil？"

"Soso，Monsieur，"repliedtheThenardier，stupefiedatnotwitnessinganothersortofexplosion。

Shecontinued，inadrearyandlamentabletone:——

"Oh！Monsieur，timesaresohard！andthen，wehavesofewbourgeoisintheneighborhood！Allthepeoplearepoor，yousee。Ifwehadnot，nowandthen，somerichandgeneroustravellerslikeMonsieur，weshouldnotgetalongatall。Wehavesomanyexpenses。Justsee，thatchildiscostingusourveryeyes。"

"Whatchild？"

"Why，thelittleone，youknow！Cosette——theLark，assheiscalledhereabouts！"

"Ah！"saidtheman。

Shewenton:——

"Howstupidthesepeasantsarewiththeirnicknames！Shehasmoretheairofabatthanofalark。Yousee，sir，wedonotaskcharity，andwecannotbestowit。Weearnnothingandwehavetopayoutagreatdeal。Thelicense，theimposts，thedoorandwindowtax，thehundredths！Monsieurisawarethatthegovernmentdemandsaterribledealofmoney。Andthen，Ihavemydaughters。

Ihavenoneedtobringupotherpeople’schildren。"

Themanresumed，inthatvoicewhichhestrovetorenderindifferent，andinwhichtherelingeredatremor:——

"Whatifoneweretoridyouofher？"

"Who？Cosette？"

"Yes。"

Thelandlady’sredandviolentfacebrighteneduphideously。

"Ah！sir，mydearsir，takeher，keepher，leadheroff，carryheraway，sugarher，stuffherwithtruffles，drinkher，eather，andtheblessingsofthegoodholyVirginandofallthesaintsofparadisebeuponyou！"

"Agreed。"

"Really！Youwilltakeheraway？"

"Iwilltakeheraway。"

"Immediately？"

"Immediately。Callthechild。"

"Cosette！"screamedtheThenardier。

"Inthemeantime，"pursuedtheman，"IwillpayyouwhatIoweyou。

Howmuchisit？"

Hecastaglanceonthebill，andcouldnotrestrainastartofsurprise:——

"Twenty—threefrancs！"

Helookedatthelandlady，andrepeated:——

"Twenty—threefrancs？"

Therewasintheenunciationofthesewords，thusrepeated，anaccentbetweenanexclamationandaninterrogationpoint。

TheThenardierhadhadtimetoprepareherselffortheshock。

Shereplied，withassurance:——

"Goodgracious，yes，sir，itistwenty—threefrancs。"

Thestrangerlaidfivefive—francpiecesonthetable。

"Goandgetthechild，"saidhe。

AtthatmomentThenardieradvancedtothemiddleoftheroom，andsaid:——

"Monsieurowestwenty—sixsous。"

"Twenty—sixsous！"exclaimedhiswife。

"Twentysousforthechamber，"resumedThenardier，coldly，"andsixsousforhissupper。Asforthechild，Imustdiscussthatmatteralittlewiththegentleman。Leaveus，wife。"

MadameThenardierwasdazzledaswiththeshockcausedbyunexpectedlightningflashesoftalent。Shewasconsciousthatagreatactorwasmakinghisentranceonthestage，utterednotawordinreply，andlefttheroom。

Assoonastheywerealone，Thenardierofferedthetravellerachair。

Thetravellerseatedhimself；Thenardierremainedstanding，andhisfaceassumedasingularexpressionofgood—fellowshipandsimplicity。

"Sir，"saidhe，"whatIhavetosaytoyouisthis，thatIadorethatchild。"

Thestrangergazedintentlyathim。

"Whatchild？"

Thenardiercontinued:——

"Howstrangeitis，onegrowsattached。Whatmoneyisthat？

Takebackyourhundred—soupiece。Iadorethechild。"

"Whomdoyoumean？"demandedthestranger。

"Eh！ourlittleCosette！Areyounotintendingtotakeherawayfromus？Well，Ispeakfrankly；astrueasyouareanhonestman，Iwillnotconsenttoit。Ishallmissthatchild。Isawherfirstwhenshewasatinything。Itistruethatshecostsusmoney；

itistruethatshehasherfaults；itistruethatwearenotrich；

itistruethatIhavepaidoutoverfourhundredfrancsfordrugsforjustoneofherillnesses！ButonemustdosomethingforthegoodGod’ssake。Shehasneitherfathernormother。

Ihavebroughtherup。Ihavebreadenoughforherandformyself。

Intruth，Ithinkagreatdealofthatchild。Youunderstand，oneconceivesanaffectionforaperson；Iamagoodsortofabeast，Iam；Idonotreason；Ilovethatlittlegirl；mywifeisquick—tempered，butshelovesheralso。Yousee，sheisjustthesameasourownchild。Iwanttokeephertobabbleaboutthehouse。"

ThestrangerkepthiseyeintentlyfixedonThenardier。

Thelattercontinued:——

"Excuseme，sir，butonedoesnotgiveawayone’schildtoapasser—by，likethat。Iamright，amInot？Still，Idon’tsay——

youarerich；youhavetheairofaverygoodman，——ifitwereforherhappiness。Butonemustfindoutthat。Youunderstand:

supposethatIweretolethergoandtosacrificemyself，Ishouldliketoknowwhatbecomesofher；Ishouldnotwishtolosesightofher；Ishouldliketoknowwithwhomsheisliving，sothatIcouldgotoseeherfromtimetotime；sothatshemayknowthathergoodfoster—fatherisalive，thatheiswatchingoverher。

Inshort，therearethingswhicharenotpossible。Idonotevenknowyourname。Ifyouweretotakeheraway，Ishouldsay:

`Well，andtheLark，whathasbecomeofher？’Onemust，atleast，seesomepettyscrapofpaper，sometrifleinthewayofapassport，youknow！"

Thestranger，stillsurveyinghimwiththatgazewhichpenetrates，asthesayinggoes，totheverydepthsoftheconscience，repliedinagrave，firmvoice:——

"MonsieurThenardier，onedoesnotrequireapassporttotravelfiveleaguesfromParis。IfItakeCosetteaway，Ishalltakeheraway，andthatistheendofthematter。Youwillnotknowmyname，youwillnotknowmyresidence，youwillnotknowwheresheis；

andmyintentionisthatsheshallneverseteyesonyouagainsolongasshelives。Ibreakthethreadwhichbindsherfoot，andshedeparts。Doesthatsuityou？Yesorno？"

Sincegeniuses，likedemons，recognizethepresenceofasuperiorGodbycertainsigns，Thenardiercomprehendedthathehadtodealwithaverystrongperson。Itwaslikeanintuition；hecomprehendeditwithhisclearandsagaciouspromptitude。Whiledrinkingwiththecarters，smoking，andsingingcoarsesongsontheprecedingevening，hehaddevotedthewholeofthetimetoobservingthestranger，watchinghimlikeacat，andstudyinghimlikeamathematician。

Hehadwatchedhim，bothonhisownaccount，forthepleasureofthething，andthroughinstinct，andhadspieduponhimasthoughhehadbeenpaidforsodoing。Notamovement，notagesture，onthepartofthemanintheyellowgreat—coathadescapedhim。

EvenbeforethestrangerhadsoclearlymanifestedhisinterestinCosette，Thenardierhaddivinedhispurpose。Hehadcaughttheoldman’sdeepglancesreturningconstantlytothechild。

Whowasthisman？Whythisinterest？Whythishideouscostume，whenhehadsomuchmoneyinhispurse？Questionswhichheputtohimselfwithoutbeingabletosolvethem，andwhichirritatedhim。

Hehadpondereditallnightlong。HecouldnotbeCosette’sfather。

Washehergrandfather？Thenwhynotmakehimselfknownatonce？

Whenonehasaright，oneassertsit。ThismanevidentlyhadnorightoverCosette。Whatwasit，then？Thenardierlosthimselfinconjectures。Hecaughtglimpsesofeverything，buthesawnothing。

Bethatasitmay，onenteringintoconversationwiththeman，surethattherewassomesecretinthecase，thatthelatterhadsomeinterestinremainingintheshadow，hefelthimselfstrong；

whenheperceivedfromthestranger’sclearandfirmretort，thatthismysteriouspersonagewasmysteriousinsosimpleaway，hebecameconsciousthathewasweak。Hehadexpectednothingofthesort。Hisconjectureswereputtotherout。Heralliedhisideas。Heweighedeverythinginthespaceofasecond。

Thenardierwasoneofthosemenwhotakeinasituationataglance。

Hedecidedthatthemomenthadarrivedforproceedingstraightforward，andquicklyatthat。Hedidasgreatleadersdoatthedecisivemoment，whichtheyknowthattheyalonerecognize；heabruptlyunmaskedhisbatteries。

"Sir，"saidhe，"Iaminneedoffifteenhundredfrancs。"

Thestrangertookfromhissidepocketanoldpocketbookofblackleather，openedit，drewoutthreebank—bills，whichhelaidonthetable。

Thenheplacedhislargethumbonthenotesandsaidtotheinn—keeper:——

"GoandfetchCosette。"

Whilethiswastakingplace，whathadCosettebeendoing？

Onwakingup，Cosettehadruntogethershoe。Initshehadfoundthegoldpiece。ItwasnotaNapoleon；itwasoneofthoseperfectlynewtwenty—francpiecesoftheRestoration，onwhoseeffigythelittlePrussianqueuehadreplacedthelaurelwreath。

Cosettewasdazzled。Herdestinybegantointoxicateher。

Shedidnotknowwhatagoldpiecewas；shehadneverseenone；

shehiditquicklyinherpocket，asthoughshehadstolenit。

Still，shefeltthatitreallywashers；sheguessedwhencehergifthadcome，butthejoywhichsheexperiencedwasfulloffear。

Shewashappy；aboveallshewasstupefied。Suchmagnificentandbeautifulthingsdidnotappearreal。Thedollfrightenedher，thegoldpiecefrightenedher。Shetrembledvaguelyinthepresenceofthismagnificence。Thestrangeralonedidnotfrightenher。

Onthecontrary，hereassuredher。Eversincetheprecedingevening，amidallheramazement，eveninhersleep，shehadbeenthinkinginherlittlechildishmindofthatmanwhoseemedtobesopoorandsosad，andwhowassorichandsokind。Everythinghadchangedforhersinceshehadmetthatgoodmanintheforest。

Cosette，lesshappythanthemostinsignificantswallowofheaven，hadneverknownwhatitwastotakerefugeunderamother’sshadowandunderawing。Forthelastfiveyears，thatistosay，asfarbackashermemoryran，thepoorchildhadshiveredandtrembled。

Shehadalwaysbeenexposedcompletelynakedtothesharpwindofadversity；nowitseemedtohershewasclothed。Formerlyhersoulhadseemedcold，nowitwaswarm。CosettewasnolongerafraidoftheThenardier。Shewasnolongeralone；therewassomeonethere。

Shehastilysetaboutherregularmorningduties。Thatlouis，whichshehadabouther，intheveryapronpocketwhencethefifteen—soupiecehadfallenonthenightbefore，distractedherthoughts。

Shedarednottouchit，butshespentfiveminutesingazingatit，withhertonguehangingout，ifthetruthmustbetold。Asshesweptthestaircase，shepaused，remainedstandingtheremotionless，forgetfulofherbroomandoftheentireuniverse，occupiedingazingatthatstarwhichwasblazingatthebottomofherpocket。

ItwasduringoneoftheseperiodsofcontemplationthattheThenardierjoinedher。ShehadgoneinsearchofCosetteatherhusband’sorders。Whatwasquiteunprecedented，sheneitherstruckhernorsaidaninsultingwordtoher。

"Cosette，"shesaid，almostgently，"comeimmediately。"

AninstantlaterCosetteenteredthepublicroom。

Thestrangertookupthebundlewhichhehadbroughtanduntiedit。

Thisbundlecontainedalittlewoollengown，anapron，afustianbodice，akerchief，apetticoat，woollenstockings，shoes——acompleteoutfitforagirlofsevenyears。Allwasblack。

"Mychild，"saidtheman，"takethese，andgoanddressyourselfquickly。"

DaylightwasappearingwhenthoseoftheinhabitantsofMontfermeilwhohadbeguntoopentheirdoorsbeheldapoorlycladoldmanleadingalittlegirldressedinmourning，andcarryingapinkdollinherarms，passalongtheroadtoParis。TheyweregoinginthedirectionofLivry。

ItwasourmanandCosette。

Nooneknewtheman；asCosettewasnolongerinrags，manydidnotrecognizeher。Cosettewasgoingaway。Withwhom？Shedidnotknow。Whither？Sheknewnot。AllthatsheunderstoodwasthatshewasleavingtheThenardiertavernbehindher。Noonehadthoughtofbiddingherfarewell，norhadshethoughtoftakingleaveofanyone。Shewasleavingthathatedandhatinghouse。

Poor，gentlecreature，whosehearthadbeenrepresseduptothathour！

Cosettewalkedalonggravely，withherlargeeyeswideopen，andgazingatthesky。Shehadputherlouisinthepocketofhernewapron。Fromtimetotime，shebentdownandglancedatit；

thenshelookedatthegoodman。ShefeltsomethingasthoughshewerebesidethegoodGod。

CHAPTERX

HEWHOSEEKSTOBETTERHIMSELFMAYRENDERHISSITUATIONWORSE

MadameThenardierhadallowedherhusbandtohavehisownway，aswasherwont。Shehadexpectedgreatresults。WhenthemanandCosettehadtakentheirdeparture，Thenardierallowedafullquarterofanhourtoelapse；thenhetookherasideandshowedherthefifteenhundredfrancs。

"Isthatall？"saidshe。

Itwasthefirsttimesincetheyhadsetuphousekeepingthatshehaddaredtocriticiseoneofthemaster’sacts。

Theblowtold。

"Youareright，insooth，"saidhe；"Iamafool。Givememyhat。"

Hefoldedupthethreebank—bills，thrustthemintohispocket，andranoutinallhaste；buthemadeamistakeandturnedtotherightfirst。

Someneighbors，ofwhomhemadeinquiries，puthimonthetrackagain；

theLarkandthemanhadbeenseengoinginthedirectionofLivry。

Hefollowedthesehints，walkingwithgreatstrides，andtalkingtohimselfthewhile:——

"Thatmanisevidentlyamilliondressedinyellow，andIamananimal。

Firsthegavetwentysous，thenfivefrancs，thenfiftyfrancs，thenfifteenhundredfrancs，allwithequalreadiness。Hewouldhavegivenfifteenthousandfrancs。ButIshallovertakehim。"

Andthen，thatbundleofclothespreparedbeforehandforthechild；

allthatwassingular；manymysterieslayconcealedunderit。

Onedoesnotletmysteriesoutofone’shandwhenonehasoncegraspedthem。Thesecretsofthewealthyarespongesofgold；

onemustknowhowtosubjectthemtopressure。Allthesethoughtswhirledthroughhisbrain。"Iamananimal，"saidhe。

WhenoneleavesMontfermeilandreachestheturnwhichtheroadtakesthatrunstoLivry，itcanbeseenstretchingoutbeforeonetoagreatdistanceacrosstheplateau。Onarrivingthere，hecalculatedthatheoughttobeabletoseetheoldmanandthechild。Helookedasfarashisvisionreached，andsawnothing。

Hemadefreshinquiries，buthehadwastedtime。Somepassers—byinformedhimthatthemanandchildofwhomhewasinsearchhadgonetowardstheforestinthedirectionofGagny。Hehastenedinthatdirection。

Theywerefarinadvanceofhim；butachildwalksslowly，andhewalkedfast；andthen，hewaswellacquaintedwiththecountry。

Allatoncehepausedanddealthimselfablowonhisforeheadlikeamanwhohasforgottensomeessentialpointandwhoisreadytoretracehissteps。

"Ioughttohavetakenmygun，"saidhetohimself。

Thenardierwasoneofthosedoublenatureswhichsometimespassthroughourmidstwithoutourbeingawareofthefact，andwhodisappearwithoutourfindingthemout，becausedestinyhasonlyexhibitedonesideofthem。Itisthefateofmanymentolivethushalfsubmerged。Inacalmandevensituation，Thenardierpossessedallthatisrequiredtomake——wewillnotsaytobe——

whatpeoplehaveagreedtocallanhonesttrader，agoodbourgeois。

Atthesametimecertaincircumstancesbeinggiven，certainshocksarrivingtobringhisunder—naturetothesurface，hehadalltherequisitesforablackguard。Hewasashopkeeperinwhomtherewassometaintofthemonster。SatanmusthaveoccasionallycroucheddowninsomecornerofthehovelinwhichThenardierdwelt，andhavefallena—dreaminginthepresenceofthishideousmasterpiece。

Afteramomentaryhesitation:——

"Bah！"hethought；"theywillhavetimetomaketheirescape。"

Andhepursuedhisroad，walkingrapidlystraightahead，andwithalmostanairofcertainty，withthesagacityofafoxscentingacoveyofpartridges。

Intruth，whenhehadpassedthepondsandhadtraversedinanobliquedirectionthelargeclearingwhichliesontherightoftheAvenuedeBellevue，andreachedthatturfalleywhichnearlymakesthecircuitofthehill，andcoversthearchoftheancientaqueductoftheAbbeyofChelles，hecaughtsight，overthetopofthebrushwood，ofthehatonwhichhehadalreadyerectedsomanyconjectures；itwasthatman’shat。Thebrushwoodwasnothigh。ThenardierrecognizedthefactthatthemanandCosetteweresittingthere。Thechildcouldnotbeseenonaccountofhersmallsize，buttheheadofherdollwasvisible。

Thenardierwasnotmistaken。Themanwassittingthere，andlettingCosettegetsomewhatrested。Theinn—keeperwalkedroundthebrushwoodandpresentedhimselfabruptlytotheeyesofthosewhomhewasinsearchof。

"Pardon，excuseme，sir，"hesaid，quitebreathless，"buthereareyourfifteenhundredfrancs。"

Sosaying，hehandedthestrangerthethreebank—bills。

Themanraisedhiseyes。

"Whatisthemeaningofthis？"

Thenardierrepliedrespectfully:——

"Itmeans，sir，thatIshalltakebackCosette。"

Cosetteshuddered，andpressedclosetotheoldman。

Hereplied，gazingtotheverybottomofThenardier’seyesthewhile，andenunciatingeverysyllabledistinctly:——

"Youarego—ingtotakebackCo—sette？"

"Yes，sir，Iam。Iwilltellyou；Ihaveconsideredthematter。

Infact，Ihavenottherighttogivehertoyou。Iamanhonestman，yousee；thischilddoesnotbelongtome；shebelongstohermother。

Itwashermotherwhoconfidedhertome；Icanonlyresignhertohermother。Youwillsaytome，`Buthermotherisdead。’

Good；inthatcaseIcanonlygivethechilduptothepersonwhoshallbringmeawriting，signedbyhermother，totheeffectthatIamtohandthechildovertothepersonthereinmentioned；

thatisclear。"

Theman，withoutmakinganyreply，fumbledinhispocket，andThenardierbeheldthepocket—bookofbank—billsmakeitsappearanceoncemore。

Thetavern—keepershiveredwithjoy。

"Good！"thoughthe；"letusholdfirm；heisgoingtobribeme！"

Beforeopeningthepocket—book，thetravellercastaglanceabouthim:

thespotwasabsolutelydeserted；therewasnotasouleitherinthewoodsorinthevalley。Themanopenedhispocket—bookoncemoreanddrewfromit，notthehandfulofbillswhichThenardierexpected，butasimplelittlepaper，whichheunfoldedandpresentedfullyopentotheinn—keeper，saying:——

"Youareright；read！"

Thenardiertookthepaperandread:——

"M。SURM。，March25，1823。

"MONSIEURTHENARDIER:——

YouwilldeliverCosettetothisperson。

Youwillbepaidforallthelittlethings。

Ihavethehonortosaluteyouwithrespect，FANTINE。"

"Youknowthatsignature？"resumedtheman。

ItcertainlywasFantine’ssignature；Thenardierrecognizedit。

Therewasnoreplytomake；heexperiencedtwoviolentvexations，thevexationofrenouncingthebriberywhichhehadhopedfor，andthevexationofbeingbeaten；themanadded:——

"Youmaykeepthispaperasyourreceipt。"

Thenardierretreatedintolerablygoodorder。

"Thissignatureisfairlywellimitated，"hegrowledbetweenhisteeth；

"however，letitgo！"

Thenheessayedadesperateeffort。

"Itiswell，sir，"hesaid，"sinceyouaretheperson，butImustbepaidforallthoselittlethings。Agreatdealisowingtome。"

Themanrosetohisfeet，fillipingthedustfromhisthread—baresleeve:——

"MonsieurThenardier，inJanuarylast，themotherreckonedthatsheowedyouonehundredandtwentyfrancs。InFebruary，yousentherabilloffivehundredfrancs；youreceivedthreehundredfrancsattheendofFebruary，andthreehundredfrancsatthebeginningofMarch。

Sincethenninemonthshaveelapsed，atfifteenfrancsamonth，thepriceagreedupon，whichmakesonehundredandthirty—fivefrancs。

Youhadreceivedonehundredfrancstoomuch；thatmakesthirty—fivestillowingyou。Ihavejustgivenyoufifteenhundredfrancs。"

Thenardier’ssensationswerethoseofthewolfatthemomentwhenhefeelshimselfnippedandseizedbythesteeljawofthetrap。

"Whoisthisdevilofaman？"hethought。

Hedidwhatthewolfdoes:heshookhimself。Audacityhadsucceededwithhimonce。

"Monsieur—I—don’t—know—your—name，"hesaidresolutely，andthistimecastingasideallrespectfulceremony，"IshalltakebackCosetteifyoudonotgivemeathousandcrowns。"

Thestrangersaidtranquilly:——

"Come，Cosette。"

HetookCosettebyhislefthand，andwithhisrighthepickeduphiscudgel，whichwaslyingontheground。

Thenardiernotedtheenormoussizeofthecudgelandthesolitudeofthespot。

Themanplungedintotheforestwiththechild，leavingtheinn—keepermotionlessandspeechless。

Whiletheywerewalkingaway，Thenardierscrutinizedhishugeshoulders，whichwerealittlerounded，andhisgreatfists。

Then，bringinghiseyesbacktohisownperson，theyfelluponhisfeeblearmsandhisthinhands。"Ireallymusthavebeenexceedinglystupidnottohavethoughttobringmygun，"hesaidtohimself，"sinceIwasgoinghunting！"

However，theinn—keeperdidnotgiveup。

"Iwanttoknowwhereheisgoing，"saidhe，andhesetouttofollowthematadistance。Twothingswereleftonhishands，anironyintheshapeofthepapersignedFantine，andaconsolation，thefifteenhundredfrancs。

ThemanledCosetteoffinthedirectionofLivryandBondy。

Hewalkedslowly，withdroopinghead，inanattitudeofreflectionandsadness。Thewinterhadthinnedouttheforest，sothatThenardierdidnotlosethemfromsight，althoughhekeptatagooddistance。

Themanturnedroundfromtimetotime，andlookedtoseeifhewasbeingfollowed。AllatoncehecaughtsightofThenardier。

HeplungedsuddenlyintothebrushwoodwithCosette，wheretheycouldbothhidethemselves。"Thedeuce！"saidThenardier，andheredoubledhispace。

Thethicknessoftheundergrowthforcedhimtodrawnearertothem。

Whenthemanhadreachedthedensestpartofthethicket，hewheeledround。ItwasinvainthatThenardiersoughttoconcealhimselfinthebranches；hecouldnotpreventthemanseeinghim。

Themancastuponhimanuneasyglance，thenelevatedhisheadandcontinuedhiscourse。Theinn—keepersetoutagaininpursuit。

Thustheycontinuedfortwoorthreehundredpaces。Allatoncethemanturnedroundoncemore；hesawtheinn—keeper。ThistimehegazedathimwithsosombreanairthatThenardierdecidedthatitwas"useless"toproceedfurther。Thenardierretracedhissteps。

CHAPTERXI

NUMBER9，430REAPPEARS，ANDCOSETTEWINSITINTHELOTTERY

JeanValjeanwasnotdead。

Whenhefellintothesea，orrather，whenhethrewhimselfintoit，hewasnotironed，aswehaveseen。Heswamunderwateruntilhereachedavesselatanchor，towhichaboatwasmoored。

Hefoundmeansofhidinghimselfinthisboatuntilnight。

Atnightheswamoffagain，andreachedtheshorealittlewayfromCapeBrun。There，ashedidnotlackmoney，heprocuredclothing。

Asmallcountry—houseintheneighborhoodofBalaguierwasatthattimethedressing—roomofescapedconvicts，——alucrativespecialty。

ThenJeanValjean，likeallthesorryfugitiveswhoareseekingtoevadethevigilanceofthelawandsocialfatality，pursuedanobscureandundulatingitinerary。HefoundhisfirstrefugeatPradeaux，nearBeausset。ThenhedirectedhiscoursetowardsGrand—Villard，nearBriancon，intheHautes—Alpes。Itwasafumblinganduneasyflight，——

amole’strack，whosebranchingsareuntraceable。Lateron，sometraceofhispassageintoAin，intheterritoryofCivrieux，wasdiscovered；

inthePyrenees，atAccons；atthespotcalledGrange—de—Doumec，nearthemarketofChavailles，andintheenvironsofPerigueuxatBrunies，cantonofLaChapelle—Gonaguet。HereachedParis。

WehavejustseenhimatMontfermeil。

HisfirstcareonarrivinginParishadbeentobuymourningclothesforalittlegirloffromseventoeightyearsofage；thentoprocurealodging。Thatdone，hehadbetakenhimselftoMontfermeil。

Itwillberememberedthatalready，duringhisprecedingescape，hehadmadeamysterioustripthither，orsomewhereinthatneighborhood，ofwhichthelawhadgatheredaninkling。

However，hewasthoughttobedead，andthisstillfurtherincreasedtheobscuritywhichhadgatheredabouthim。AtParis，oneofthejournalswhichchronicledthefactfellintohishands。

Hefeltreassuredandalmostatpeace，asthoughhehadreallybeendead。

OntheeveningofthedaywhenJeanValjeanrescuedCosettefromtheclawsoftheThenardiers，hereturnedtoParis。Here—entereditatnightfall，withthechild，bywayoftheBarrierMonceaux。

Thereheenteredacabriolet，whichtookhimtotheesplanadeoftheObservatoire。Therehegotout，paidthecoachman，tookCosettebythehand，andtogethertheydirectedtheirstepsthroughthedarkness，——throughthedesertedstreetswhichadjointheOurcineandtheGlaciere，towardstheBoulevarddel’Hopital。

ThedayhadbeenstrangeandfilledwithemotionsforCosette。

Theyhadeatensomebreadandcheesepurchasedinisolatedtaverns，behindhedges；theyhadchangedcarriagesfrequently；theyhadtravelledshortdistancesonfoot。Shemadenocomplaint，butshewasweary，andJeanValjeanperceiveditbythewayshedraggedmoreandmoreonhishandasshewalked。Hetookheronhisback。

Cosette，withoutlettinggoofCatherine，laidherheadonJeanValjean’sshoulder，andtherefellasleep。

BOOKFOURTH。——THEGORBEAUHOVEL

CHAPTERI

MASTERGORBEAU

Fortyyearsago，aramblerwhohadventuredintothatunknowncountryoftheSalpetriere，andwhohadmountedtotheBarriered’Italiebywayoftheboulevard，reachedapointwhereitmightbesaidthatParisdisappeared。Itwasnolongersolitude，fortherewerepassers—by；itwasnotthecountry，fortherewerehousesandstreets；itwasnotthecity，forthestreetshadrutslikehighways，andthegrassgrewinthem；itwasnotavillage，thehousesweretoolofty。Whatwasit，then？Itwasaninhabitedspotwheretherewasnoone；itwasadesertplacewheretherewassomeone；itwasaboulevardofthegreatcity，astreetofParis；

morewildatnightthantheforest，moregloomybydaythanacemetery。

ItwastheoldquarteroftheMarche—aux—Chevaux。

Therambler，ifheriskedhimselfoutsidethefourdecrepitwallsofthisMarche—aux—Chevaux；ifheconsentedeventopassbeyondtheRueduPetit—Banquier，afterleavingonhisrightagardenprotectedbyhighwalls；thenafieldinwhichtan—barkmillsroselikegiganticbeaverhuts；thenanenclosureencumberedwithtimber，withaheapofstumps，sawdust，andshavings，onwhichstoodalargedog，barking；thenalong，low，utterlydilapidatedwall，withalittleblackdoorinmourning，ladenwithmosses，whichwerecoveredwithflowersinthespring；then，inthemostdesertedspot，afrightfulanddecrepitbuilding，onwhichrantheinscriptioninlargeletters:POSTNOBILLS，——thisdaringramblerwouldhavereachedlittleknownlatitudesatthecorneroftheRuedesVignes—Saint—Marcel。There，nearafactory，andbetweentwogardenwalls，therecouldbeseen，atthatepoch，ameanbuilding，which，atthefirstglance，seemedassmallasathatchedhovel，andwhichwas，inreality，aslargeasacathedral。

Itpresenteditssideandgabletothepublicroad；henceitsapparentdiminutiveness。Nearlythewholeofthehousewashidden。

Onlythedoorandonewindowcouldbeseen。

Thishovelwasonlyonestoryhigh。

Thefirstdetailthatstrucktheobserverwas，thatthedoorcouldneverhavebeenanythingbutthedoorofahovel，whilethewindow，ifithadbeencarvedoutofdressedstoneinsteadofbeinginroughmasonry，mighthavebeenthelatticeofalordlymansion。

Thedoorwasnothingbutacollectionofworm—eatenplanksroughlyboundtogetherbycross—beamswhichresembledroughlyhewnlogs。

Itopeneddirectlyonasteepstaircaseofloftysteps，muddy，chalky，plaster—stained，dustysteps，ofthesamewidthasitself，whichcouldbeseenfromthestreet，runningstraightuplikealadderanddisappearinginthedarknessbetweentwowalls。Thetopoftheshapelessbayintowhichthisdoorshutwasmaskedbyanarrowscantlinginthecentreofwhichatriangularholehadbeensawed，whichservedbothaswicketandair—holewhenthedoorwasclosed。

Ontheinsideofthedoorthefigures52hadbeentracedwithacoupleofstrokesofabrushdippedinink，andabovethescantlingthesamehandhaddaubedthenumber50，sothatonehesitated。

Wherewasone？Abovethedooritsaid，"Number50"；theinsidereplied，"no，Number52。"Nooneknowswhatdust—coloredfiguresweresuspendedlikedraperiesfromthetriangularopening。

Thewindowwaslarge，sufficientlyelevated，garnishedwithVenetianblinds，andwithaframeinlargesquarepanes；

onlytheselargepanesweresufferingfromvariouswounds，whichwerebothconcealedandbetrayedbyaningeniouspaperbandage。

Andtheblinds，dislocatedandunpasted，threatenedpassers—byratherthanscreenedtheoccupants。Thehorizontalslatsweremissinghereandthereandhadbeennaivelyreplacedwithboardsnailedonperpendicularly；sothatwhatbeganasablindendedasashutter。Thisdoorwithanunclean，andthiswindowwithanhonestthoughdilapidatedair，thusbeheldonthesamehouse，producedtheeffectoftwoincompletebeggarswalkingsidebyside，withdifferentmiensbeneaththesamerags，theonehavingalwaysbeenamendicant，andtheotherhavingoncebeenagentleman。

Thestaircaseledtoaveryvastedificewhichresembledashedwhichhadbeenconvertedintoahouse。Thisedificehad，foritsintestinaltube，alongcorridor，onwhichopenedtorightandleftsortsofcompartmentsofvarieddimensionswhichwereinhabitableunderstressofcircumstances，andrathermorelikestallsthancells。

Thesechambersreceivedtheirlightfromthevaguewastegroundsintheneighborhood。

Allthiswasdark，disagreeable，wan，melancholy，sepulchral；

traversedaccordingasthecreviceslayintherooforinthedoor，bycoldraysorbyicywinds。Aninterestingandpicturesquepeculiarityofthissortofdwellingistheenormoussizeofthespiders。

Totheleftoftheentrancedoor，ontheboulevardside，atabouttheheightofamanfromtheground，asmallwindowwhichhadbeenwalledupformedasquarenichefullofstoneswhichthechildrenhadthrownthereastheypassedby。

Aportionofthisbuildinghasrecentlybeendemolished。

Fromwhatstillremainsofitonecanformajudgmentastowhatitwasinformerdays。Asawhole，itwasnotoverahundredyearsold。

Ahundredyearsisyouthinachurchandageinahouse。

Itseemsasthoughman’slodgingpartookofhisephemeralcharacter，andGod’shouseofhiseternity。

ThepostmencalledthehouseNumber50—52；butitwasknownintheneighborhoodastheGorbeauhouse。

Letusexplainwhencethisappellationwasderived。

Collectorsofpettydetails，whobecomeherbalistsofanecdotes，andprickslipperydatesintotheirmemorieswithapin，knowthattherewasinParis，duringthelastcentury，about1770，twoattorneysattheChateletnamed，oneCorbeau（Raven），theotherRenard（Fox）。ThetwonameshadbeenforestalledbyLaFontaine。

Theopportunitywastoofineforthelawyers；theymadethemostofit。

Aparodywasimmediatelyputincirculationinthegalleriesofthecourt—house，inversesthatlimpedalittle:——

MaitreCorbeau，surundossierperche，[13]

Tenaitdanssonbeeunesaisieexecutoire；

MaitreRenard，parl’odeuralleche，Luifitapeuprescettehistoire:

He！bonjour。Etc。

[13]LawyerCorbeau，perchedonadocket，heldinhisbeakawritofexecution；LawyerRenard，attractedbythesmell，addressedhimnearlyasfollows，etc。

Thetwohonestpractitioners，embarrassedbythejests，andfindingthebearingoftheirheadsinterferedwithbytheshoutsoflaughterwhichfollowedthem，resolvedtogetridoftheirnames，andhitupontheexpedientofapplyingtotheking。

TheirpetitionwaspresentedtoLouisXV。onthesamedaywhenthePapalNuncio，ontheonehand，andtheCardinaldelaRoche—Aymonontheother，bothdevoutlykneeling，wereeachengagedinputtingon，inhisMajesty’spresence，aslipperonthebarefeetofMadameduBarry，whohadjustgotoutofbed。Theking，whowaslaughing，continuedtolaugh，passedgaylyfromthetwobishopstothetwolawyers，andbestowedontheselimbsofthelawtheirformernames，ornearlyso。Bythekingscommand，MaitreCorbeauwaspermittedtoaddatailtohisinitialletterandtocallhimselfGorbeau。

MaitreRenardwaslesslucky；allheobtainedwasleavetoplaceaP

infrontofhisR，andtocallhimselfPrenard；sothatthesecondnameborealmostasmuchresemblanceasthefirst。

Now，accordingtolocaltradition，thisMaitreGorbeauhadbeentheproprietorofthebuildingnumbered50—52ontheBoulevarddel’Hopital。Hewaseventheauthorofthemonumentalwindow。

HencetheedificeborethenameoftheGorbeauhouse。

Oppositethishouse，amongthetreesoftheboulevard，roseagreatelmwhichwasthree—quartersdead；almostdirectlyfacingitopenstheRuedelaBarrieredesGobelins，astreetthenwithouthouses，unpaved，plantedwithunhealthytrees，whichwasgreenormuddyaccordingtotheseason，andwhichendedsquarelyintheexteriorwallofParis。Anodorofcopperasissuedinpuffsfromtheroofsoftheneighboringfactory。

Thebarrierwascloseathand。In1823thecitywallwasstillinexistence。

Thisbarrieritselfevokedgloomyfanciesinthemind。ItwastheroadtoBicetre。Itwasthroughitthat，undertheEmpireandtheRestoration，prisonerscondemnedtodeathre—enteredParisonthedayoftheirexecution。Itwasthere，that，about1829，wascommittedthatmysteriousassassination，called"TheassassinationoftheFontainebleaubarrier，"whoseauthorsjusticewasneverabletodiscover；amelancholyproblemwhichhasneverbeenelucidated，afrightfulenigmawhichhasneverbeenunriddled。Takeafewsteps，andyoucomeuponthatfatalRueCroulebarbe，whereUlbachstabbedthegoat—girlofIvrytothesoundofthunder，asinthemelodramas。

Afewpacesmore，andyouarriveattheabominablepollardedelmsoftheBarriereSaint—Jacques，thatexpedientofthephilanthropisttoconcealthescaffold，thatmiserableandshamefulPlacedeGroveofashop—keepingandbourgeoissociety，whichrecoiledbeforethedeathpenalty，neitherdaringtoabolishitwithgrandeur，nortoupholditwithauthority。

LeavingasidethisPlaceSaint—Jacques，whichwas，asitwere，predestined，andwhichhasalwaysbeenhorrible，probablythemostmournfulspotonthatmournfulboulevard，sevenandthirtyyearsago，wasthespotwhichevento—dayissounattractive，wherestoodthebuildingNumber50—52。

Bourgeoishousesonlybegantospringuptheretwenty—fiveyearslater。

Theplacewasunpleasant。Inadditiontothegloomythoughtswhichassailedonethere，onewasconsciousofbeingbetweentheSalpetriere，aglimpseofwhosedomecouldbeseen，andBicetre，whoseoutskirtsonewasfairlytouching；thatistosay，betweenthemadnessofwomenandthemadnessofmen。Asfarastheeyecouldsee，onecouldperceivenothingbuttheabattoirs，thecitywall，andthefrontsofafewfactories，resemblingbarracksormonasteries；everywhereaboutstoodhovels，rubbish，ancientwallsblackenedlikecerecloths，newwhitewallslikewinding—sheets；everywhereparallelrowsoftrees，buildingserectedonaline，flatconstructions，long，coldrows，andthemelancholysadnessofrightangles。Notanunevennessoftheground，notacapriceinthearchitecture，notafold。

Theensemblewasglacial，regular，hideous。Nothingoppressestheheartlikesymmetry。Itisbecausesymmetryisennui，andennuiisattheveryfoundationofgrief。Despairyawns。

Somethingmoreterriblethanahellwhereonesuffersmaybeimagined，andthatisahellwhereoneisbored。Ifsuchahellexisted，thatbitoftheBoulevarddel’Hopitalmighthaveformedtheentrancetoit。

Nevertheless，atnightfall，atthemomentwhenthedaylightisvanishing，especiallyinwinter，atthehourwhenthetwilightbreezetearsfromtheelmstheirlastrussetleaves，whenthedarknessisdeepandstarless，orwhenthemoonandthewindaremakingopeningsinthecloudsandlosingthemselvesintheshadows，thisboulevardsuddenlybecomesfrightful。Theblacklinessinkinwardsandarelostintheshades，likemorselsoftheinfinite。

Thepasser—bycannotrefrainfromrecallingtheinnumerabletraditionsoftheplacewhichareconnectedwiththegibbet。

Thesolitudeofthisspot，wheresomanycrimeshavebeencommitted，hadsomethingterribleaboutit。Onealmosthadapresentimentofmeetingwithtrapsinthatdarkness；alltheconfusedformsofthedarknessseemedsuspicious，andthelong，hollowsquare，ofwhichonecaughtaglimpsebetweeneachtree，seemedgraves:

bydayitwasugly；intheeveningmelancholy；bynightitwassinister。

Insummer，attwilight，onesaw，hereandthere，afewoldwomenseatedatthefootoftheelm，onbenchesmouldywithrain。

Thesegoodoldwomenwerefondofbegging。

However，thisquarter，whichhadasuperannuatedratherthananantiqueair，wastendingeventhentotransformation。Evenatthattimeanyonewhowasdesirousofseeingithadtomakehaste。

Eachdaysomedetailofthewholeeffectwasdisappearing。

ForthelasttwentyyearsthestationoftheOrleansrailwayhasstoodbesidetheoldfaubourganddistractedit，asitdoesto—day。Whereveritisplacedonthebordersofacapital，arailwaystationisthedeathofasuburbandthebirthofacity。

Itseemsasthough，aroundthesegreatcentresofthemovementsofapeople，theearth，fullofgerms，trembledandyawned，toengulftheancientdwellingsofmenandtoallownewonestospringforth，attherattleofthesepowerfulmachines，atthebreathofthesemonstroushorsesofcivilizationwhichdevourcoalandvomitfire。

Theoldhousescrumbleandnewonesrise。

SincetheOrleansrailwayhasinvadedtheregionoftheSalpetriere，theancient，narrowstreetswhichadjointhemoatsSaint—VictorandtheJardindesPlantestremble，astheyareviolentlytraversedthreeorfourtimeseachdaybythosecurrentsofcoachfiacresandomnibuseswhich，inagiventime，crowdbackthehousestotherightandtheleft；fortherearethingswhichareoddwhensaidthatarerigorouslyexact；andjustasitistruetosaythatinlargecitiesthesunmakesthesouthernfrontsofhousestovegetateandgrow，itiscertainthatthefrequentpassageofvehiclesenlargesstreets。Thesymptomsofanewlifeareevident。

Inthisoldprovincialquarter，inthewildestnooks，thepavementshowsitself，thesidewalksbegintocrawlandtogrowlonger，evenwherethereareasyetnopedestrians。Onemorning，——amemorablemorninginJuly，1845，——blackpotsofbitumenwereseensmokingthere；

onthatdayitmightbesaidthatcivilizationhadarrivedintheRuedel’Ourcine，andthatParishadenteredthesuburbofSaint—Marceau。

CHAPTERII

ANESTFOROWLANDAWARBLER

ItwasinfrontofthisGorbeauhousethatJeanValjeanhalted。

Likewildbirds，hehadchosenthisdesertplacetoconstructhisnest。

Hefumbledinhiswaistcoatpocket，drewoutasortofapass—key，openedthedoor，entered，closeditagaincarefully，andascendedthestaircase，stillcarryingCosette。

Atthetopofthestairshedrewfromhispocketanotherkey，withwhichheopenedanotherdoor。Thechamberwhichheentered，andwhichheclosedagaininstantly，wasakindofmoderatelyspaciousattic，furnishedwithamattresslaidonthefloor，atable，andseveralchairs；astoveinwhichafirewasburning，andwhoseemberswerevisible，stoodinonecorner。Alanternontheboulevardcastavaguelightintothispoorroom。

Attheextremeendtherewasadressing—roomwithafoldingbed；

JeanValjeancarriedthechildtothisbedandlaidherdowntherewithoutwakingher。

Hestruckamatchandlightedacandle。Allthiswaspreparedbeforehandonthetable，and，ashehaddoneonthepreviousevening，hebegantoscrutinizeCosette’sfacewithagazefullofecstasy，inwhichtheexpressionofkindnessandtendernessalmostamountedtoaberration。Thelittlegirl，withthattranquilconfidencewhichbelongsonlytoextremestrengthandextremeweakness，hadfallenasleepwithoutknowingwithwhomshewas，andcontinuedtosleepwithoutknowingwhereshewas。

JeanValjeanbentdownandkissedthatchild’shand。

Ninemonthsbeforehehadkissedthehandofthemother，whohadalsojustfallenasleep。

Thesamesad，piercing，religioussentimentfilledhisheart。

HekneltbesideCosette’sbed。

ltwasbroaddaylight，andthechildstillslept。AwanrayoftheDecembersunpenetratedthewindowoftheatticandlayupontheceilinginlongthreadsoflightandshade。Allatonceaheavilyladencarrier’scart，whichwaspassingalongtheboulevard，shookthefrailbed，likeaclapofthunder，andmadeitquiverfromtoptobottom。

"Yes，madame！"criedCosette，wakingwithastart，"hereIam！

hereIam！"

Andshesprangoutofbed，hereyesstillhalfshutwiththeheavinessofsleep，extendingherarmstowardsthecornerofthewall。

"Ah！monDieu，mybroom！"saidshe。

Sheopenedhereyeswidenow，andbeheldthesmilingcountenanceofJeanValjean。

"Ah！soitistrue！"saidthechild。"Goodmorning，Monsieur。"

Childrenacceptjoyandhappinessinstantlyandfamiliarly，beingthemselvesbynaturejoyandhappiness。

CosettecaughtsightofCatherineatthefootofherbed，andtookpossessionofher，and，assheplayed，sheputahundredquestionstoJeanValjean。Wherewasshe？WasParisverylarge？

WasMadameThenardierveryfaraway？Wasshetogoback？etc。，etc。

Allatoncesheexclaimed，"Howprettyitishere！"

Itwasafrightfulhole，butshefeltfree。

"MustIsweep？"sheresumedatlast。

"Play！"saidJeanValjean。

Thedaypassedthus。Cosette，withouttroublingherselftounderstandanything，wasinexpressiblyhappywiththatdollandthatkindman。

CHAPTERIII

TWOMISFORTUNESMAKEONEPIECEOFGOODFORTUNE

Onthefollowingmorning，atdaybreak，JeanValjeanwasstillbyCosette’sbedside；hewatchedtheremotionless，waitingforhertowake。

Somenewthinghadcomeintohissoul。

JeanValjeanhadneverlovedanything；fortwenty—fiveyearshehadbeenaloneintheworld。Hehadneverbeenfather，lover，husband，friend。

Intheprisonhehadbeenvicious，gloomy，chaste，ignorant，andshy。Theheartofthatex—convictwasfullofvirginity。

Hissisterandhissister’schildrenhadlefthimonlyavagueandfar—offmemorywhichhadfinallyalmostcompletelyvanished；

hehadmadeeveryefforttofindthem，andnothavingbeenabletofindthem，hehadforgottenthem。Humannatureismadethus；

theothertenderemotionsofhisyouth，ifhehadeverhadany，hadfallenintoanabyss。

WhenhesawCosette，whenhehadtakenpossessionofher，carriedheroff，anddeliveredher，hefelthisheartmovedwithinhim。

Allthepassionandaffectionwithinhimawoke，andrushedtowardsthatchild。Heapproachedthebed，whereshelaysleeping，andtrembledwithjoy。Hesufferedallthepangsofamother，andheknewnotwhatitmeant；forthatgreatandsingularmovementofaheartwhichbeginstoloveisaveryobscureandaverysweetthing。

Pooroldman，withaperfectlynewheart！

Only，ashewasfiveandfifty，andCosetteeightyearsofage，allthatmighthavebeenloveinthewholecourseofhislifeflowedtogetherintoasortofineffablelight。

Itwasthesecondwhiteapparitionwhichhehadencountered。

TheBishophadcausedthedawnofvirtuetoriseonhishorizon；

Cosettecausedthedawnoflovetorise。

Theearlydayspassedinthisdazzledstate。

Cosette，onherside，hadalso，unknowntoherself，becomeanotherbeing，poorlittlething！Shewassolittlewhenhermotherlefther，thatshenolongerrememberedher。Likeallchildren，whoresembleyoungshootsofthevine，whichclingtoeverything，shehadtriedtolove；shehadnotsucceeded。Allhadrepulsedher，——

theThenardiers，theirchildren，otherchildren。Shehadlovedthedog，andhehaddied，afterwhichnothingandnobodywouldhaveanythingtodowithher。Itisasadthingtosay，andwehavealreadyintimatedit，that，ateightyearsofage，herheartwascold。

Itwasnotherfault；itwasnotthefacultyoflovingthatshelacked；

alas！itwasthepossibility。Thus，fromtheveryfirstday，allhersentientandthinkingpowerslovedthiskindman。Shefeltthatwhichshehadneverfeltbefore——asensationofexpansion。

Themannolongerproducedonhertheeffectofbeingoldorpoor；

shethoughtJeanValjeanhandsome，justasshethoughtthehovelpretty。

Thesearetheeffectsofthedawn，ofchildhood，ofjoy。Thenoveltyoftheearthandoflifecountsforsomethinghere。Nothingissocharmingasthecoloringreflectionofhappinessonagarret。

Weallhaveinourpastadelightfulgarret。

Nature，adifferenceoffiftyyears，hadsetaprofoundgulfbetweenJeanValjeanandCosette；destinyfilledinthisgulf。

Destinysuddenlyunitedandweddedwithitsirresistiblepowerthesetwouprootedexistences，differinginage，alikeinsorrow。

One，infact，completedtheother。Cosette’sinstinctsoughtafather，asJeanValjean’sinstinctsoughtachild。Tomeetwastofindeachother。Atthemysteriousmomentwhentheirhandstouched，theywereweldedtogether。Whenthesetwosoulsperceivedeachother，theyrecognizedeachotherasnecessarytoeachother，andembracedeachotherclosely。

Takingthewordsintheirmostcomprehensiveandabsolutesense，wemaysaythat，separatedfromeveryonebythewallsofthetomb，JeanValjeanwasthewidower，andCosettewastheorphan:

thissituationcausedJeanValjeantobecomeCosette’sfatherafteracelestialfashion。

Andintruth，themysteriousimpressionproducedonCosetteinthedepthsoftheforestofChellesbythehandofJeanValjeangraspinghersinthedarkwasnotanillusion，butareality。

TheentranceofthatmanintothedestinyofthatchildhadbeentheadventofGod。

Moreover，JeanValjeanhadchosenhisrefugewell。Thereheseemedperfectlysecure。

Thechamberwithadressing—room，whichheoccupiedwithCosette，wastheonewhosewindowopenedontheboulevard。Thisbeingtheonlywindowinthehouse，noneighbors’glancesweretobefearedfromacrossthewayorattheside。

Theground—floorofNumber50—52，asortofdilapidatedpenthouse，servedasawagon—houseformarket—gardeners，andnocommunicationexistedbetweenitandthefirststory。Itwasseparatedbytheflooring，whichhadneithertrapsnorstairs，andwhichformedthediaphragmofthebuilding，asitwere。Thefirststorycontained，aswehavesaid，numerouschambersandseveralattics，onlyoneofwhichwasoccupiedbytheoldwomanwhotookchargeofJeanValjean’shousekeeping；alltherestwasuninhabited。

Itwasthisoldwoman，ornamentedwiththenameoftheprincipallodger，andinrealityintrustedwiththefunctionsofportress，whohadlethimthelodgingonChristmaseve。HehadrepresentedhimselftoherasagentlemanofmeanswhohadbeenruinedbySpanishbonds，whowascomingtheretolivewithhislittledaughter。

Hehadpaidhersixmonthsinadvance，andhadcommissionedtheoldwomantofurnishthechamberanddressing—room，aswehaveseen。

Itwasthisgoodwomanwhohadlightedthefireinthestove，andpreparedeverythingontheeveningoftheirarrival。

Weekfollowedweek；thesetwobeingsledahappylifeinthathovel。

Cosettelaughed，chattered，andsangfromdaybreak。Childrenhavetheirmorningsongaswellasbirds。

ItsometimeshappenedthatJeanValjeanclaspedhertinyredhand，allcrackedwithchilblains，andkissedit。Thepoorchild，whowasusedtobeingbeaten，didnotknowthemeaningofthis，andranawayinconfusion。

Attimesshebecameseriousandstaredatherlittleblackgown。

Cosettewasnolongerinrags；shewasinmourning。Shehademergedfrommisery，andshewasenteringintolife。

JeanValjeanhadundertakentoteachhertoread。Sometimes，ashemadethechildspell，herememberedthatitwaswiththeideaofdoingevilthathehadlearnedtoreadinprison。Thisideahadendedinteachingachildtoread。Thentheex—convictsmiledwiththepensivesmileoftheangels。

Hefeltinitapremeditationfromonhigh，thewillofsomeonewhowasnotman，andhebecameabsorbedinrevery。Goodthoughtshavetheirabyssesaswellasevilones。

ToteachCosettetoread，andtoletherplay，thisconstitutednearlythewholeofJeanValjean’sexistence。Andthenhetalkedofhermother，andhemadeherpray。

Shecalledhimfather，andknewnoothernameforhim。

Hepassedhoursinwatchingherdressingandundressingherdoll，andinlisteningtoherprattle。Life，henceforth，appearedtohimtobefullofinterest；menseemedtohimgoodandjust；

henolongerreproachedanyoneinthought；hesawnoreasonwhyheshouldnotlivetobeaveryoldman，nowthatthischildlovedhim。

Hesawawholefuturestretchingoutbeforehim，illuminatedbyCosetteasbyacharminglight。Thebestofusarenotexemptfromegotisticalthoughts。Attimes，hereflectedwithasortofjoythatshewouldbeugly。

Thisisonlyapersonalopinion；but，toutterourwholethought，atthepointwhereJeanValjeanhadarrivedwhenhebegantoloveCosette，itisbynomeanscleartousthathedidnotneedthisencouragementinorderthathemightpersevereinwell—doing。Hehadjustviewedthemaliceofmenandthemiseryofsocietyunderanewaspect——

incompleteaspects，whichunfortunatelyonlyexhibitedonesideofthetruth，thefateofwomanassummedupinFantine，andpublicauthorityaspersonifiedinJavert。Hehadreturnedtoprison，thistimeforhavingdoneright；hehadquaffedfreshbitterness；

disgustandlassitudewereoverpoweringhim；eventhememoryoftheBishopprobablysufferedatemporaryeclipse，thoughsuretoreappearlateronluminousandtriumphant；but，afterall，thatsacredmemorywasgrowingdim。WhoknowswhetherJeanValjeanhadnotbeenontheeveofgrowingdiscouragedandoffallingoncemore？

Helovedandgrewstrongagain。Alas！hewalkedwithnolessindecisionthanCosette。Heprotectedher，andshestrengthenedhim。

Thankstohim，shecouldwalkthroughlife；thankstoher，hecouldcontinueinvirtue。Hewasthatchild’sstay，andshewashisprop。Oh，unfathomableanddivinemysteryofthebalancesofdestiny！