第21章

CHAPTERI

WHICHTREATSOFTHEMANNEROFENTERINGACONVENT

ItwasintothishousethatJeanValjeanhad，asFaucheleventexpressedit，"fallenfromthesky。"

HehadscaledthewallofthegardenwhichformedtheangleoftheRuePolonceau。Thathymnoftheangelswhichhehadheardinthemiddleofthenight，wasthenunschantingmatins；thathall，ofwhichhehadcaughtaglimpseinthegloom，wasthechapel。

Thatphantomwhichhehadseenstretchedonthegroundwasthesisterwhowasmakingreparation；thatbell，thesoundofwhichhadsostrangelysurprisedhim，wasthegardener’sbellattachedtothekneeofFatherFauchelevent。

Cosetteonceputtobed，JeanValjeanandFaucheleventhad，aswehavealreadyseen，suppedonaglassofwineandabitofcheesebeforeagood，cracklingfire；then，theonlybedinthehutbeingoccupiedbyCosette，eachthrewhimselfonatrussofstraw。

Beforeheshuthiseyes，JeanValjeansaid:"Imustremainherehenceforth。"ThisremarktrottedthroughFauchelevent’sheadallnightlong。

Totellthetruth，neitherofthemslept。

JeanValjean，feelingthathewasdiscoveredandthatJavertwasonhisscent，understoodthatheandCosettewerelostiftheyreturnedtoParis。Thenthenewstormwhichhadjustburstuponhimhadstrandedhiminthiscloister。JeanValjeanhad，henceforth，butonethought，——

toremainthere。Now，foranunfortunatemaninhisposition，thisconventwasboththesafestandthemostdangerousofplaces；

themostdangerous，because，asnomenmightenterthere，ifhewerediscovered，itwasaflagrantoffence，andJeanValjeanwouldfindbutonestepinterveningbetweentheconventandprison；

thesafest，because，ifhecouldmanagetogethimselfacceptedthereandremainthere，whowouldeverseekhiminsuchaplace？

Todwellinanimpossibleplacewassafety。

Onhisside，Faucheleventwascudgellinghisbrains。Hebeganbydeclaringtohimselfthatheunderstoodnothingofthematter。

HowhadM。Madeleinegotthere，whenthewallswerewhattheywere？

Cloisterwallsarenottobesteppedover。Howdidhegettherewithachild？Onecannotscaleaperpendicularwallwithachildinone’sarms。Whowasthatchild？Wheredidtheybothcomefrom？

SinceFaucheleventhadlivedintheconvent，hehadheardnothingofM。surM。，andheknewnothingofwhathadtakenplacethere。

FatherMadeleinehadanairwhichdiscouragedquestions；andbesides，Faucheleventsaidtohimself:"Onedoesnotquestionasaint。"

M。MadeleinehadpreservedallhisprestigeinFauchelevent’seyes。

Only，fromsomewordswhichJeanValjeanhadletfall，thegardenerthoughthecoulddrawtheinferencethatM。Madeleinehadprobablybecomebankruptthroughthehardtimes，andthathewaspursuedbyhiscreditors；

orthathehadcompromisedhimselfinsomepoliticalaffair，andwasinhiding；whichlastdidnotdispleaseFauchelevent，who，likemanyofourpeasantsoftheNorth，hadanoldfundofBonapartismabouthim。

Whileinhiding，M。Madeleinehadselectedtheconventasarefuge，anditwasquitesimplethatheshouldwishtoremainthere。

Buttheinexplicablepoint，towhichFaucheleventreturnedconstantlyandoverwhichheweariedhisbrain，wasthatM。Madeleineshouldbethere，andthatheshouldhavethatlittlegirlwithhim。

Faucheleventsawthem，touchedthem，spoketothem，andstilldidnotbelieveitpossible。TheincomprehensiblehadjustmadeitsentranceintoFauchelevent’shut。Faucheleventgropedaboutamidconjectures，andcouldseenothingclearlybutthis:

"M。Madeleinesavedmylife。"Thiscertaintyalonewassufficientanddecidedhiscourse。Hesaidtohimself:"Itismyturnnow。"

Headdedinhisconscience:"M。Madeleinedidnotstoptodeliberatewhenitwasaquestionofthrustinghimselfunderthecartforthepurposeofdraggingmeout。"HemadeuphismindtosaveM。Madeleine。

Nevertheless，heputmanyquestionstohimselfandmadehimselfdiversreplies:"Afterwhathedidforme，wouldIsavehimifhewereathief？Justthesame。Ifhewereanassassin，wouldI

savehim？Justthesame。Sinceheisasaint，shallIsavehim？

Justthesame。"

Butwhataproblemitwastomanagetohavehimremainintheconvent！

Faucheleventdidnotrecoilinthefaceofthisalmostchimericalundertaking；thispoorpeasantofPicardywithoutanyotherladderthanhisself—devotion，hisgoodwill，andalittleofthatoldrusticcunning，onthisoccasionenlistedintheserviceofagenerousenterprise，undertooktoscalethedifficultiesofthecloister，andthesteepescarpmentsoftheruleofSaint—Benoit。FatherFaucheleventwasanoldmanwhohadbeenanegoistallhislife，andwho，towardstheendofhisdays，halt，infirm，withnointerestlefttohimintheworld，founditsweettobegrateful，andperceivingagenerousactiontobeperformed，flunghimselfuponitlikeaman，whoatthemomentwhenheisdying，shouldfindclosetohishandaglassofgoodwinewhichhehadnevertasted，andshouldswallowitwithavidity。

Wemayadd，thattheairwhichhehadbreathedformanyyearsinthisconventhaddestroyedallpersonalityinhim，andhadendedbyrenderingagoodactionofsomekindabsolutelynecessarytohim。

Sohetookhisresolve:todevotehimselftoM。Madeleine。

WehavejustcalledhimapoorpeasantofPicardy。Thatdescriptionisjust，butincomplete。Atthepointofthisstorywhichwehavenowreached，alittleofFatherFauchelevent’sphysiologybecomesuseful。Hewasapeasant，buthehadbeenanotary，whichaddedtrickerytohiscunning，andpenetrationtohisingenuousness。

Having，throughvariouscauses，failedinhisbusiness，hehaddescendedtothecallingofacarterandalaborer。But，inspiteofoathsandlashings，whichhorsesseemtorequire，somethingofthenotaryhadlingeredinhim。Hehadsomenaturalwit；hetalkedgoodgrammar；heconversed，whichisararethinginavillage；

andtheotherpeasantssaidofhim:"Hetalksalmostlikeagentlemanwithahat。"Faucheleventbelonged，infact，tothatspecies，whichtheimpertinentandflippantvocabularyofthelastcenturyqualifiedasdemi—bourgeois，demi—lout，andwhichthemetaphorsshoweredbythechateauuponthethatchedcottageticketedinthepigeon—holeoftheplebeian:ratherrustic，rathercitified；pepperandsalt。

Fauchelevent，thoughsorelytriedandharshlyusedbyfate，wornout，asortofpoor，threadbareoldsoul，was，nevertheless，animpulsiveman，andextremelyspontaneousinhisactions；

apreciousqualitywhichpreventsonefromeverbeingwicked。

Hisdefectsandhisvices，forhehadsome，wereallsuperficial；

inshort，hisphysiognomywasofthekindwhichsucceedswithanobserver。Hisagedfacehadnoneofthosedisagreeablewrinklesatthetopoftheforehead，whichsignifymaliceorstupidity。

Atdaybreak，FatherFaucheleventopenedhiseyes，afterhavingdoneanenormousdealofthinking，andbeheldM。Madeleineseatedonhistrussofstraw，andwatchingCosette’sslumbers。

Faucheleventsatupandsaid:——

"Nowthatyouarehere，howareyougoingtocontrivetoenter？"

ThisremarksummedupthesituationandarousedJeanValjeanfromhisrevery。

Thetwomentookcounseltogether。

"Inthefirstplace，"’saidFauchelevent，"youwillbeginbynotsettingfootoutsideofthischamber，eitheryouorthechild。

Onestepinthegardenandwearedonefor。"

"Thatistrue。"

"MonsieurMadeleine，"resumedFauchelevent，"youhavearrivedataveryauspiciousmoment，Imeantosayaveryinauspiciousmoment；

oneoftheladiesisveryill。Thiswillpreventthemfromlookingmuchinourdirection。Itseemsthatsheisdying。Theprayersofthefortyhoursarebeingsaid。Thewholecommunityisinconfusion。

Thatoccupiesthem。Theonewhoisonthepointofdepartureisasaint。Infact，weareallsaintshere；allthedifferencebetweenthemandmeisthattheysay`ourcell，’andthatIsay`mycabin。’Theprayersforthedyingaretobesaid，andthentheprayersforthedead。Weshallbeatpeacehereforto—day；

butIwillnotanswerforto—morrow。"

"Still，"observedJeanValjean，"thiscottageisinthenicheofthewall，itishiddenbyasortofruin，therearetrees，itisnotvisiblefromtheconvent。"

"AndIaddthatthenunsnevercomenearit。"

"Well？"saidJeanValjean。

Theinterrogationmarkwhichaccentuatedthis"well"signified:

"itseemstomethatonemayremainconcealedhere？"ItwastothisinterrogationpointthatFaucheleventresponded:——

"Therearethelittlegirls。"

"Whatlittlegirls？"askedJeanValjean。

JustasFaucheleventopenedhismouthtoexplainthewordswhichhehaduttered，abellemittedonestroke。

"Thenunisdead，"saidhe。"Thereistheknell。"

AndhemadeasigntoJeanValjeantolisten。

Thebellstruckasecondtime。

"Itistheknell，MonsieurMadeleine。Thebellwillcontinuetostrikeonceaminutefortwenty—fourhours，untilthebodyistakenfromthechurch。——Yousee，theyplay。Atrecreationhoursitsufficestohaveaballrollaside，tosendthemallhither，inspiteofprohibitions，tohuntandrummageforitallabouthere。

Thosecherubsaredevils。"

"Who？"askedJeanValjean。

"Thelittlegirls。Youwouldbeveryquicklydiscovered。

Theywouldshriek:`Oh！aman！’Thereisnodangerto—day。Therewillbenorecreationhour。Thedaywillbeentirelydevotedtoprayers。Youhearthebell。AsItoldyou，astrokeeachminute。

Itisthedeathknell。"

"Iunderstand，FatherFauchelevent。Therearepupils。"

AndJeanValjeanthoughttohimself:——

"HereisCosette’seducationalreadyprovided。"

Faucheleventexclaimed:——

"Pardine！Therearelittlegirlsindeed！Andtheywouldbawlaroundyou！Andtheywouldrushoff！Tobeamanhereistohavetheplague。YouseehowtheyfastenabelltomypawasthoughIwereawildbeast。"

JeanValjeanfellintomoreandmoreprofoundthought。——"Thisconventwouldbeoursalvation，"hemurmured。

Thenheraisedhisvoice:——

"Yes，thedifficultyistoremainhere。"

"No，"saidFauchelevent，"thedifficultyistogetout。"

JeanValjeanfeltthebloodrushbacktohisheart。

"Togetout！"

"Yes，MonsieurMadeleine。Inordertoreturnhereitisfirstnecessarytogetout。"

Andafterwaitinguntilanotherstrokeoftheknellhadsounded，Faucheleventwenton:——

"Youmustnotbefoundhereinthisfashion。Whencecomeyou？

Forme，youfallfromheaven，becauseIknowyou；butthenunsrequireonetoenterbythedoor。"

Allatoncetheyheardarathercomplicatedpealingfromanotherbell。

"Ah！"saidFauchelevent，"theyareringingupthevocalmothers。

Theyaregoingtothechapter。Theyalwaysholdachapterwhenanyonedies。Shediedatdaybreak。Peoplegenerallydodieatdaybreak。

Butcannotyougetoutbythewayinwhichyouentered？Come，Idonotaskforthesakeofquestioningyou，buthowdidyougetin？"

JeanValjeanturnedpale；theverythoughtofdescendingagainintothatterriblestreetmadehimshudder。Youmakeyourwayoutofaforestfilledwithtigers，andonceoutofit，imagineafriendlycounselthatshalladviseyoutoreturnthither！

JeanValjeanpicturedtohimselfthewholepoliceforcestillengagedinswarminginthatquarter，agentsonthewatch，sentinelseverywhere，frightfulfistsextendedtowardshiscollar，Javertatthecorneroftheintersectionofthestreetsperhaps。

"Impossible！"saidhe。"FatherFauchelevent，saythatIfellfromthesky。"

"ButIbelieveit，Ibelieveit，"retortedFauchelevent。

"Youhavenoneedtotellmethat。ThegoodGodmusthavetakenyouinhishandforthepurposeofgettingagoodlookatyoucloseto，andthendroppedyou。Only，hemeanttoplaceyouinaman’sconvent；

hemadeamistake。Come，theregoesanotherpeal，thatistoordertheportertogoandinformthemunicipalitythatthedead—doctoristocomehereandviewacorpse。Allthatistheceremonyofdying。

Thesegoodladiesarenotatallfondofthatvisit。Adoctorisamanwhodoesnotbelieveinanything。Heliftstheveil。

Sometimesheliftssomethingelsetoo。Howquicklytheyhavehadthedoctorsummonedthistime！Whatisthematter？Yourlittleoneisstillasleep。Whatishername？"

"Cosette。"

"Sheisyourdaughter？

Youarehergrandfather，thatis？"

"Yes。"

"Itwillbeeasyenoughforhertogetoutofhere。Ihavemyservicedoorwhichopensonthecourtyard。Iknock。Theporteropens；

Ihavemyvintagebasketonmyback，thechildisinit，Igoout。

FatherFaucheleventgoesoutwithhisbasket——thatisperfectlynatural。

Youwilltellthechildtokeepveryquiet。Shewillbeunderthecover。

Iwillleaveherforwhatevertimeisrequiredwithagoodoldfriend，afruit—sellerwhomIknowintheRueChemin—Vert，whoisdeaf，andwhohasalittlebed。Iwillshoutinthefruit—seller’sear，thatsheisanieceofmine，andthatsheistokeepherformeuntilto—morrow。Thenthelittleonewillre—enterwithyou；

forIwillcontrivetohaveyoure—enter。Itmustbedone。

Buthowwillyoumanagetogetout？"

JeanValjeanshookhishead。

"Noonemustseeme，thewholepointliesthere，FatherFauchelevent。

Findsomemeansofgettingmeoutinabasket，undercover，likeCosette。"

Faucheleventscratchedthelobeofhisearwiththemiddlefingerofhislefthand，asignofseriousembarrassment。

Athirdpealcreatedadiversion。

"Thatisthedead—doctortakinghisdeparture，"saidFauchelevent。

"Hehastakenalookandsaid:`Sheisdead，thatiswell。’

Whenthedoctorhassignedthepassportforparadise，theundertaker’scompanysendsacoffin。Ifitisamother，themotherslayherout；

ifsheisasister，thesisterslayherout。Afterwhich，Inailherup。Thatformsapartofmygardener’sduty。Agardenerisabitofagrave—digger。Sheisplacedinalowerhallofthechurchwhichcommunicateswiththestreet，andintowhichnomanmayentersavethedoctorofthedead。Idon’tcounttheundertaker’smenandmyselfasmen。ItisinthathallthatInailupthecoffin。

Theundertaker’smencomeandgetit，andwhipup，coachman！that’sthewayonegoestoheaven。Theyfetchaboxwithnothinginit，theytakeitawayagainwithsomethinginit。That’swhataburialislike。Deprofundis。"

AhorizontalrayofsunshinelightlytouchedthefaceofthesleepingCosette，wholaywithhermouthvaguelyopen，andhadtheairofanangeldrinkinginthelight。JeanValjeanhadfallentogazingather。HewasnolongerlisteningtoFauchelevent。

Thatoneisnotlistenedtoisnoreasonforpreservingsilence。

Thegoodoldgardenerwentontranquillywithhisbabble:——

"ThegraveisdugintheVaugirardcemetery。TheydeclarethattheyaregoingtosuppressthatVaugirardcemetery。Itisanancientcemeterywhichisoutsidetheregulations，whichhasnouniform，andwhichisgoingtoretire。Itisashame，foritisconvenient。

Ihaveafriendthere，FatherMestienne，thegrave—digger。Thenunsherepossessoneprivilege，itistobetakentothatcemeteryatnightfall。ThereisaspecialpermissionfromthePrefectureontheirbehalf。Buthowmanyeventshavehappenedsinceyesterday！

MotherCrucifixionisdead，andFatherMadeleine——"

"Isburied，"saidJeanValjean，smilingsadly。

Faucheleventcaughttheword。

"Goodness！ifyouwerehereforgood，itwouldbearealburial。"

Afourthpealburstout。Faucheleventhastilydetachedthebelledknee—capfromitsnailandbuckleditonhiskneeagain。

"Thistimeitisforme。TheMotherPrioresswantsme。Good，nowI

amprickingmyselfonthetongueofmybuckle。MonsieurMad

后续内容为VIP可读请开通VIP，或购买此章节