第29章

CHAPTERV

APROVIDENTIALPEEP—HOLE

Mariushadlivedforfiveyearsinpoverty，indestitution，evenindistress，buthenowperceivedthathehadnotknownrealmisery。Truemiseryhehadbutjusthadaviewof。

Itwasitsspectrewhichhadjustpassedbeforehiseyes。

Infact，hewhohasonlybeheldthemiseryofmanhasseennothing；

themiseryofwomaniswhathemustsee；hewhohasseenonlythemiseryofwomanhasseennothing；hemustseethemiseryofthechild。

Whenamanhasreachedhislastextremity，hehasreachedhislastresourcesatthesametime。Woetothedefencelessbeingswhosurroundhim！Work，wages，bread，fire，courage，goodwill，allfailhimsimultaneously。Thelightofdayseemsextinguishedwithout，themorallightwithin；intheseshadowsmanencountersthefeeblenessofthewomanandthechild，andbendsthemviolentlytoignominy。

Thenallhorrorsbecomepossible。Despairissurroundedwithfragilepartitionswhichallopenoneitherviceorcrime。

Health，youth，honor，alltheshydelicaciesoftheyoungbody，theheart，virginity，modesty，thatepidermisofthesoul，aremanipulatedinsinisterwisebythatfumblingwhichseeksresources，whichencountersopprobrium，andwhichaccomodatesitselftoit。

Fathers，mothers，children，brothers，sisters，men，women，daughters，adhereandbecomeincorporated，almostlikeamineralformation，inthatduskypromiscuousnessofsexes，relationships，ages，infamies，andinnocences。Theycrouch，backtoback，inasortofhutoffate。

Theyexchangewoe—begoneglances。Oh，theunfortunatewretches！

Howpaletheyare！Howcoldtheyare！Itseemsasthoughtheydweltinaplanetmuchfurtherfromthesunthanours。

ThisyounggirlwastoMariusasortofmessengerfromtherealmofsadshadows。Sherevealedtohimahideoussideofthenight。

Mariusalmostreproachedhimselfforthepreoccupationsofreveryandpassionwhichhadpreventedhisbestowingaglanceonhisneighborsuptothatday。Thepaymentoftheirrenthadbeenamechanicalmovement，whichanyonewouldhaveyieldedto；

buthe，Marius，shouldhavedonebetterthanthat。What！onlyawallseparatedhimfromthoseabandonedbeingswholivedgropinglyinthedarkoutsidethepaleoftherestoftheworld，hewaselbowtoelbowwiththem，hewas，insomesort，thelastlinkofthehumanracewhichtheytouched，heheardthemlive，orrather，rattleinthedeathagonybesidehim，andhepaidnoheedtothem！

Everyday，everyinstant，heheardthemwalkingontheothersideofthewall，heheardthemgo，andcome，andspeak，andhedidnotevenlendanear！Andgroanslayinthosewords，andhedidnotevenlistentothem，histhoughtswereelsewhere，givenuptodreams，toimpossibleradiances，tolovesintheair，tofollies；

andallthewhile，humancreatures，hisbrothersinJesusChrist，hisbrothersinthepeople，wereagonizinginvainbesidehim！

Heevenformedapartoftheirmisfortune，andheaggravatedit。

Foriftheyhadhadanotherneighborwhowaslesschimericalandmoreattentive，anyordinaryandcharitableman，evidentlytheirindigencewouldhavebeennoticed，theirsignalsofdistresswouldhavebeenperceived，andtheywouldhavebeentakenholdofandrescued！

Theyappearedverycorruptandverydepraved，nodoubt，veryvile，veryodiouseven；butthosewhofallwithoutbecomingdegradedarerare；besides，thereisapointwheretheunfortunateandtheinfamousuniteandareconfoundedinasingleword，afatalword，themiserable；whosefaultisthis？Andthenshouldnotthecharitybeallthemoreprofound，inproportionasthefallisgreat？

Whilereadinghimselfthismorallesson，fortherewereoccasionsonwhichMarius，likealltrulyhonesthearts，washisownpedagogueandscoldedhimselfmorethanhedeserved，hestaredatthewallwhichseparatedhimfromtheJondrettes，asthoughhewereabletomakehisgaze，fullofpity，penetratethatpartitionandwarmthesewretchedpeople。Thewallwasathinlayerofplasterupheldbylathesandbeams，and，asthereaderhadjustlearned，itallowedthesoundofvoicesandwordstobeclearlydistinguished。

OnlyamanasdreamyasMariuscouldhavefailedtoperceivethislongbefore。Therewasnopaperpastedonthewall，eitheronthesideoftheJondrettesoronthatofMarius；thecoarseconstructionwasvisibleinitsnakedness。Mariusexaminedthepartition，almostunconsciously；sometimesreveryexamines，observes，andscrutinizesasthoughtwould。Allatoncehesprangup；

hehadjustperceived，nearthetop，closetotheceiling，atriangularhole，whichresultedfromthespacebetweenthreelathes。

Theplasterwhichshouldhavefilledthiscavitywasmissing，andbymountingonthecommode，aviewcouldbehadthroughthisapertureintotheJondrettes’attic。Commiserationhas，andshouldhave，itscuriosity。Thisapertureformedasortofpeep—hole。Itispermissibletogazeatmisfortunelikeatraitorinordertosuccorit。[27]

[27]Thepeep—holeisaJudasinFrench。Hencethehalf—punningallusion。

"Letusgetsomelittleideaofwhatthesepeoplearelike，"

thoughtMarius，"andinwhatconditiontheyare。"

Heclimbeduponthecommode，puthiseyetothecrevice，andlooked。

CHAPTERVI

THEWILDMANINHISLAIR

Cities，likeforests，havetheircavernsinwhichallthemostwickedandformidablecreatureswhichtheycontainconcealthemselves。Only，incities，thatwhichthusconcealsitselfisferocious，unclean，andpetty，thatistosay，ugly；inforests，thatwhichconcealsitselfisferocious，savage，andgrand，thatistosay，beautiful。Takingonelairwithanother，thebeast’sispreferabletotheman’s。Cavernsarebetterthanhovels。

WhatMariusnowbeheldwasahovel。

Mariuswaspoor，andhischamberwaspoverty—stricken，butashispovertywasnoble，hisgarretwasneat。Thedenuponwhichhiseyenowrestedwasabject，dirty，fetid，pestiferous，mean，sordid。Theonlyfurnitureconsistedofastrawchair，aninfirmtable，someoldbitsofcrockery，andintwoofthecorners，twoindescribablepallets；

allthelightwasfurnishdbyadormerwindowoffourpanes，drapedwithspiders’webs。Throughthisaperturetherepenetratedjustenoughlighttomakethefaceofamanappearlikethefaceofaphantom。Thewallshadaleprousaspect，andwerecoveredwithseamsandscars，likeavisagedisfiguredbysomehorriblemalady；

arepulsivemoistureexudedfromthem。Obscenesketchesroughlysketchedwithcharcoalcouldbedistinguisheduponthem。

ThechamberwhichMariusoccupiedhadadilapidatedbrickpavement；

thisonewasneithertilednorplanked；itsinhabitantssteppeddirectlyontheantiqueplasterofthehovel，whichhadgrownblackunderthelong—continuedpressureoffeet。Uponthisunevenfloor，wherethedirtseemedtobefairlyincrusted，andwhichpossessedbutonevirginity，thatofthebroom，werecapriciouslygroupedconstellationsofoldshoes，socks，andrepulsiverags；however，thisroomhadafireplace，soitwasletforfortyfrancsayear。

Therewaseverysortofthinginthatfireplace，abrazier，apot，brokenboards，ragssuspendedfromnails，abird—cage，ashes，andevenalittlefire。Twobrandsweresmoulderingthereinamelancholyway。

Onethingwhichaddedstillmoretothehorrorsofthisgarretwas，thatitwaslarge。Ithadprojectionsandanglesandblackholes，thelowersidesofroofs，bays，andpromontories。Hencehorrible，unfathomablenookswhereitseemedasthoughspidersasbigasone’sfist，wood—liceaslargeasone’sfoot，andperhapseven——whoknows？——

somemonstroushumanbeings，mustbehiding。

Oneofthepalletswasnearthedoor，theothernearthewindow。

OneendofeachtouchedthefireplaceandfacedMarius。InacornerneartheaperturethroughwhichMariuswasgazing，acoloredengravinginablackframewassuspendedtoanailonthewall，andatitsbottom，inlargeletters，wastheinscription:THEDREAM。

Thisrepresentedasleepingwoman，andachild，alsoasleep，thechildonthewoman’slap，aneagleinacloud，withacrowninhisbeak，andthewomanthrustingthecrownawayfromthechild’shead，withoutawakingthelatter；inthebackground，Napoleoninaglory，leaningonaverybluecolumnwithayellowcapitalornamentedwiththisinscription:

MARINGO

AUSTERLITS

IENA

WAGRAMME

ELOT

Beneaththisframe，asortofwoodenpanel，whichwasnolongerthanitwasbroad，stoodonthegroundandrestedinaslopingattitudeagainstthewall。Ithadtheappearanceofapicturewithitsfaceturnedtothewall，ofaframeprobablyshowingadaubontheotherside，ofsomepier—glassdetachedfromawallandlyingforgottentherewhilewaitingtoberehung。

Nearthetable，uponwhichMariusdescriedapen，ink，andpaper，satamanaboutsixtyyearsofage，small，thin，livid，haggard，withacunning，cruel，anduneasyair；ahideousscoundrel。

IfLavaterhadstudiedthisvisage，hewouldhavefoundthevulturemingledwiththeattorneythere，thebirdofpreyandthepettifoggerrenderingeachothermutuallyhideousandcomplementingeachother；

thepettifoggermakingthebirdofpreyignoble，thebirdofpreymakingthepettifoggerhorrible。

Thismanhadalonggraybeard。Hewascladinawoman’schemise，whichallowedhishairybreastandhisbarearms，bristlingwithgrayhair，tobeseen。Beneaththischemise，muddytrousersandbootsthroughwhichhistoesprojectedwerevisible。

Hehadapipeinhismouthandwassmoking。Therewasnobreadinthehovel，buttherewasstilltobacco。

HewaswritingprobablysomemoreletterslikethosewhichMariushadread。

Onthecornerofthetablelayanancient，dilapidated，reddishvolume，andthesize，whichwastheantique12moofreading—rooms，betrayedaromance。Onthecoversprawledthefollowingtitle，printedinlargecapitals:GOD；THEKING；HONORANDTHELADIES；

BYDUCRAYDUMINIL，1814。

Asthemanwrote，hetalkedaloud，andMariusheardhiswords:——

"Theideathatthereisnoequality，evenwhenyouaredead！

JustlookatPereLachaise！Thegreat，thosewhoarerich，areupabove，intheacaciaalley，whichispaved。Theycanreachitinacarriage。

Thelittlepeople，thepoor，theunhappy，well，whatofthem？theyareputdownbelow，wherethemudisuptoyourknees，inthedampplaces。Theyareputtheresothattheywilldecaythesooner！

Youcannotgotoseethemwithoutsinkingintotheearth。"

Hepaused，smotethetablewithhisfist，andadded，ashegroundhisteeth:——

"Oh！Icouldeatthewholeworld！"

Abigwoman，whomightbefortyyearsofage，orahundred，wascrouchingnearthefireplaceonherbareheels。

She，too，wascladonlyinachemiseandaknittedpetticoatpatchedwithbitsofoldcloth。Acoarselinenapronconcealedthehalfofherpetticoat。Althoughthiswomanwasdoubledupandbenttogether，itcouldbeseenthatshewasofveryloftystature。

Shewasasortofgiant，besideherhusband。Shehadhideoushair，ofareddishblondwhichwasturninggray，andwhichshethrustbackfromtimetotime，withherenormousshininghands，withtheirflatnails。

Besideher，onthefloor，wideopen，layabookofthesameformastheother，andprobablyavolumeofthesameromance。

Ononeofthepallets，Mariuscaughtaglimpseofasortoftallpaleyounggirl，whosattherehalfnakedandwithpendantfeet，andwhodidnotseemtobelisteningorseeingorliving。

Nodoubttheyoungersisteroftheonewhohadcometohisroom。

Sheseemedtobeelevenortwelveyearsofage。Oncloserscrutinyitwasevidentthatshereallywasfourteen。Shewasthechildwhohadsaid，ontheboulevardtheeveningbefore:

"Ibolted，bolted，bolted！"

Shewasofthatpunysortwhichremainsbackwardforalongtime，thensuddenlystartsuprapidly。Itisindigencewhichproducesthesemelancholyhumanplants。Thesecreatureshaveneitherchildhoodnoryouth。Atfifteenyearsofagetheyappeartobetwelve，atsixteentheyseemtwenty。To—dayalittlegirl，to—morrowawoman。

Onemightsaythattheystridethroughlife，inordertogetthroughwithitthemorespeedily。

Atthismoment，thisbeinghadtheairofachild。

Moreover，notraceofworkwasrevealedinthatdwelling；

nohandicraft，nospinning—wheel，notatool。Inonecornerlaysomeironmongeryofdubiousaspect。Itwasthedulllistlessnesswhichfollowsdespairandprecedesthedeathagony。

Mariusgazedforawhileatthisgloomyinterior，moreterrifyingthantheinteriorofatomb，forthehumansoulcouldbefeltflutteringthere，andlifewaspalpitatingthere。Thegarret，thecellar，thelowlyditchwherecertainindigentwretchescrawlattheverybottomofthesocialedifice，isnotexactlythesepulchre，butonlyitsantechamber；but，asthewealthydisplaytheirgreatestmagnificenceattheentranceoftheirpalaces，itseemsthatdeath，whichstandsdirectlysidebysidewiththem，placesitsgreatestmiseriesinthatvestibule。

Themanheldhispeace，thewomanspokenoword，theyounggirldidnotevenseemtobreathe。Thescratchingofthepenonthepaperwasaudible。

Themangrumbled，withoutpausinginhiswriting。"Canaille！canaille！

everybodyiscanaille！"

ThisvariationtoSolomon’sexclamationelicitedasighfromthewoman。

"Calmyourself，mylittlefriend，"shesaid。"Don’thurtyourself，mydear。Youaretoogoodtowritetoallthosepeople，husband。"

Bodiespressclosetoeachotherinmisery，asincold，butheartsdrawapart。Thiswomanmusthavelovedthisman，toallappearance，judgingfromtheamountoflovewithinher；butprobably，inthedailyandreciprocalreproachesofthehorribledistresswhichweighedonthewholegroup，thishadbecomeextinct。Therenolongerexistedinheranythingmorethantheashesofaffectionforherhusband。Nevertheless，caressingappellationshadsurvived，asisoftenthecase。Shecalledhim:Mydear，mylittlefriend，mygoodman，etc。，withhermouthwhileherheartwassilent。

Themanresumedhiswriting。

CHAPTERVII

STRATEGYANDTACTICS

Marius，withaloaduponhisbreast，wasonthepointofdescendingfromthespeciesofobservatorywhichhehadimprovised，whenasoundattractedhisattentionandcausedhimtoremainathispost。

Thedooroftheattichadjustburstopenabruptly。Theeldestgirlmadeherappearanceonthethreshold。Onherfeet，shehadlarge，coarse，men’sshoes，bespatteredwithmud，whichhadsplashedeventoherredankles，andshewaswrappedinanoldmantlewhichhungintatters。Mariushadnotseenitonheranhourpreviously，butshehadprobablydepositeditathisdoor，inorderthatshemightinspirethemorepity，andhadpickeditupagainonemerging。

Sheentered，pushedthedoortobehindher，pausedtotakebreath，forshewascompletelybreathless，thenexclaimedwithanexpressionoftriumphandjoy:——

"Heiscoming！"

Thefatherturnedhiseyestowardsher，thewomanturnedherhead，thelittlesisterdidnotstir。

"Who？"demandedherfather。

"Thegentleman！"

"Thephilanthropist？"

"Yes。"

"FromthechurchofSaint—Jacques？"

"Yes。"

"Thatoldfellow？"

"Yes。"

"Andheiscoming？"

"Heisfollowingme。"

"Youaresure？"

"Iamsure。"

"There，truly，heiscoming？"

"Heiscominginafiacre。"

"Inafiacre。HeisRothschild。"

Thefatherrose。

"Howareyousure？Ifheiscominginafiacre，howisitthatyouarrivebeforehim？Yougavehimouraddressatleast？Didyoutellhimthatitwasthelastdoorattheendofthecorridor，ontheright？

Ifheonlydoesnotmakeamistake！Soyoufoundhimatthechurch？

Didhereadmyletter？Whatdidhesaytoyou？"

"Ta，ta，ta，"saidthegirl，"howyoudogallopon，mygoodman！

Seehere:Ienteredthechurch，hewasinhisusualplace，Imadehimareverence，andIhandedhimtheletter；hereaditandsaidtome:

`Wheredoyoulive，mychild？’Isaid:`Monsieur，Iwillshowyou。’

Hesaidtome:`No，givemeyouraddress，mydaughterhassomepurchasestomake，Iwilltakeacarriageandreachyourhouseatthesametimethatyoudo。’Igavehimtheaddress。WhenImentionedthehouse，heseemedsurprisedandhesitatedforaninstant，thenhesaid:

`Nevermind，Iwillcome。’Whenthemasswasfinished，Iwatchedhimleavethechurchwithhisdaughter，andIsawthementeracarriage。Icertainlydidtellhimthelastdoorinthecorridor，ontheright。"

"Andwhatmakesyouthinkthathewillcome？"

"IhavejustseenthefiacreturnintotheRuePetit—Banquier。Thatiswhatmademerunso。"

"Howdoyouknowthatitwasthesamefiacre？"

"BecauseItooknoticeofthenumber，sothere！"

"Whatwasthenumber？"

"440。"

"Good，youareaclevergirl。"

Thegirlstaredboldlyatherfather，andshowingtheshoeswhichshehadonherfeet:——

"Aclevergirl，possibly；butItellyouIwon’tputtheseshoesonagain，andthatIwon’t，forthesakeofmyhealth，inthefirstplace，andforthesakeofcleanliness，inthenext。

Idon’tknowanythingmoreirritatingthanshoesthatsquelch，andgoghi，ghi，ghi，thewholetime。Iprefertogobarefoot。"

"Youareright，"saidherfather，ina

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