第35章

Withthatmachineonmyhead，IhavetheairofMadameMad—dog。"

JeanValjeanheavedadeepsigh。

Fromthatmomentforth，henoticedthatCosette，whohadalwaysheretoforeaskedtoremainathome，saying:"Father，Ienjoymyselfmoreherewithyou，"nowwasalwaysaskingtogoout。Infact，whatistheuseofhavingahandsomefaceandadeliciouscostumeifonedoesnotdisplaythem？

HealsonoticedthatCosettehadnolongerthesametasteforthebackgarden。Nowshepreferredthegarden，anddidnotdisliketopromenadebackandforthinfrontoftherailedfence。

JeanValjean，whowasshy，neversetfootinthegarden。

Hekepttohisbackyard，likeadog。

Cosette，ingainingtheknowledgethatshewasbeautiful，lostthegraceofignoringit。Anexquisitegrace，forbeautyenhancedbyingenuousnessisineffable，andnothingissoadorableasadazzlingandinnocentcreaturewhowalksalong，holdinginherhandthekeytoparadisewithoutbeingconsciousofit。Butwhatshehadlostiningenuousgrace，shegainedinpensiveandseriouscharm。

Herwholeperson，permeatedwiththejoyofyouth，ofinnocence，andofbeauty，breathedforthasplendidmelancholy。

ItwasatthisepochthatMarius，afterthelapseofsixmonths，sawheroncemoreattheLuxembourg。

CHAPTERVI

THEBATTLEBEGUN

Cosetteinhershadow，likeMariusinhis，wasallreadytotakefire。

Destiny，withitsmysteriousandfatalpatience，slowlydrewtogetherthesetwobeings，allchargedandalllanguishingwiththestormyelectricityofpassion，thesetwosoulswhichwereladenwithloveastwocloudsareladenwithlightning，andwhichwereboundtooverflowandmingleinalooklikethecloudsinaflashoffire。

Theglancehasbeensomuchabusedinloveromancesthatithasfinallyfallenintodisrepute。Onehardlydarestosay，nowadays，thattwobeingsfellinlovebecausetheylookedateachother。

Thatisthewaypeopledofallinlove，nevertheless，andtheonlyway。Therestisnothing，buttherestcomesafterwards。

Nothingismorerealthanthesegreatshockswhichtwosoulsconveytoeachotherbytheexchangeofthatspark。

AtthatparticularhourwhenCosetteunconsciouslydartedthatglancewhichtroubledMarius，MariushadnosuspicionthathehadalsolaunchedalookwhichdisturbedCosette。

Hecausedherthesamegoodandthesameevil。

Shehadbeeninthehabitofseeinghimforalongtime，andshehadscrutinizedhimasgirlsscrutinizeandsee，whilelookingelsewhere。

MariusstillconsideredCosetteugly，whenshehadalreadybeguntothinkMariushandsome。Butashepaidnoattentiontoher，theyoungmanwasnothingtoher。

Still，shecouldnotrefrainfromsayingtoherselfthathehadbeautifulhair，beautifuleyes，handsometeeth，acharmingtoneofvoicewhensheheardhimconversingwithhiscomrades，thatheheldhimselfbadlywhenhewalked，ifyoulike，butwithagracethatwasallhisown，thathedidnotappeartobeatallstupid，thathiswholepersonwasnoble，gentle，simple，proud，andthat，inshort，thoughheseemedtobepoor，yethisairwasfine。

Onthedaywhentheireyesmetatlast，andsaidtoeachotherthosefirst，obscure，andineffablethingswhichtheglancelisps，Cosettedidnotimmediatelyunderstand。ShereturnedthoughtfullytothehouseintheRuedel’Ouest，whereJeanValjean，accordingtohiscustom，hadcometospendsixweeks。Thenextmorning，onwaking，shethoughtofthatstrangeyoungman，solongindifferentandicy，whonowseemedtopayattentiontoher，anditdidnotappeartoherthatthisattentionwastheleastintheworldagreeabletoher。

Shewas，onthecontrary，somewhatincensedatthishandsomeanddisdainfulindividual。Asubstratumofwarstirredwithinher。

Itstruckher，andtheideacausedherawhollychildishjoy，thatshewasgoingtotakeherrevengeatlast。

Knowingthatshewasbeautiful，shewasthoroughlyconscious，thoughinanindistinctfashion，thatshepossessedaweapon。

Womenplaywiththeirbeautyaschildrendowithaknife。

Theywoundthemselves。

ThereaderwillrecallMarius’hesitations，hispalpitations，histerrors。Heremainedonhisbenchanddidnotapproach。

ThisvexedCosette。Oneday，shesaidtoJeanValjean:

"Father，letusstrollaboutalittleinthatdirection。"

SeeingthatMariusdidnotcometoher，shewenttohim。Insuchcases，allwomenresembleMahomet。Andthen，strangetosay，thefirstsymptomoftrueloveinayoungmanistimidity；inayounggirlitisboldness。Thisissurprising，andyetnothingismoresimple。

Itisthetwosexestendingtoapproacheachotherandassuming，eachtheother’squalities。

Thatday，Cosette’sglancedroveMariusbesidehimself，andMarius’

glancesetCosettetotrembling。Mariuswentawayconfident，andCosetteuneasy。Fromthatdayforth，theyadoredeachother。

ThefirstthingthatCosettefeltwasaconfusedandprofoundmelancholy。

Itseemedtoherthathersoulhadbecomeblacksincethedaybefore。

Shenolongerrecognizedit。Thewhitenessofsoulinyounggirls，whichiscomposedofcoldnessandgayety，resemblessnow。Itmeltsinlove，whichisitssun。

Cosettedidnotknowwhatlovewas。Shehadneverheardthewordutteredinitsterrestrialsense。Onthebooksofprofanemusicwhichenteredtheconvent，amour（love）wasreplacedbytambour（drum）

orpandour。Thiscreatedenigmaswhichexercisedtheimaginationsofthebiggirls，suchas:Ah，howdelightfulisthedrum！or，Pityisnotapandour。ButCosettehadlefttheconventtooearlytohaveoccupiedherselfmuchwiththe"drum。"Therefore，shedidnotknowwhatnametogivetowhatshenowfelt。Isanyonethelessillbecauseonedoesnotknowthenameofone’smalady？

Shelovedwithallthemorepassionbecauseshelovedignorantly。

Shedidnotknowwhetheritwasagoodthingorabadthing，usefulordangerous，eternalortemporary，allowableorprohibited；

sheloved。Shewouldhavebeengreatlyastonished，hadanyonesaidtoher:"Youdonotsleep？Butthatisforbidden！

Youdonoteat？Why，thatisverybad！Youhaveoppressionsandpalpitationsoftheheart？Thatmustnotbe！Youblushandturnpale，whenacertainbeingcladinblackappearsattheendofacertaingreenwalk？Butthatisabominable！"

Shewouldnothaveunderstood，andshewouldhavereplied:

"WhatfaultisthereofmineinamatterinwhichIhavenopowerandofwhichIknownothing？"

Itturnedoutthatthelovewhichpresenteditselfwasexactlysuitedtothestateofhersoul。Itwasasortofadmirationatadistance，amutecontemplation，thedeificationofastranger。

Itwastheapparitionofyouthtoyouth，thedreamofnightsbecomearealityyetremainingadream，thelonged—forphantomrealizedandmadefleshatlast，buthavingasyet，neithername，norfault，norspot，norexigence，nordefect；inaword，thedistantloverwholingeredintheideal，achimaerawithaform。

AnynearerandmorepalpablemeetingwouldhavealarmedCosetteatthisfirststage，whenshewasstillhalfimmersedintheexaggeratedmistsofthecloister。Shehadallthefearsofchildrenandallthefearsofnunscombined。Thespiritoftheconvent，withwhichshehadbeenpermeatedforthespaceoffiveyears，wasstillintheprocessofslowevaporationfromherperson，andmadeeverythingtremblearoundher。Inthissituationhewasnotalover，hewasnotevenanadmirer，hewasavision。

ShesetherselftoadoringMariusassomethingcharming，luminous，andimpossible。

Asextremeinnocencebordersonextremecoquetry，shesmiledathimwithallfrankness。

Everyday，shelookedforwardtothehourfortheirwalkwithimpatience，shefoundMariusthere，shefeltherselfunspeakablyhappy，andthoughtinallsinceritythatshewasexpressingherwholethoughtwhenshesaidtoJeanValjean:——

"WhatadeliciousgardenthatLuxembourgis！"

MariusandCosettewereinthedarkastooneanother。Theydidnotaddresseachother，theydidnotsaluteeachother，theydidnotknoweachother；theysaweachother；andlikestarsofheavenwhichareseparatedbymillionsofleagues，theylivedbygazingateachother。

ItwasthusthatCosettegraduallybecameawomananddeveloped，beautifulandloving，withaconsciousnessofherbeauty，andinignoranceofherlove。Shewasacoquettetobootthroughherignorance。

CHAPTERVII

TOONESADNESSOPPOSEASADNESSANDAHALF

Allsituationshavetheirinstincts。OldandeternalMotherNaturewarnedJeanValjeaninadimwayofthepresenceofMarius。

JeanValjeanshudderedtotheverybottomofhissoul。JeanValjeansawnothing，knewnothing，andyethescannedwithobstinateattention，thedarknessinwhichhewalked，asthoughhefeltononesideofhimsomethinginprocessofconstruction，andontheother，somethingwhichwascrumblingaway。Marius，alsowarned，and，inaccordancewiththedeeplawofGod，bythatsameMotherNature，didallhecouldtokeepoutofsightof"thefather。"Nevertheless，itcametopassthatJeanValjeansometimesespiedhim。Marius’mannerswerenolongerintheleastnatural。Heexhibitedambiguousprudenceandawkwarddaring。Henolongercamequiteclosetothemasformerly。

Heseatedhimselfatadistanceandpretendedtobereading；

whydidhepretendthat？Formerlyhehadcomeinhisoldcoat，nowheworehisnewoneeveryday；JeanValjeanwasnotsurethathedidnothavehishaircurled，hiseyeswereveryqueer，heworegloves；

inshort，JeanValjeancordiallydetestedthisyoungman。

Cosetteallowednothingtobedivined。Withoutknowingjustwhatwasthematterwithhershewasconvincedthattherewassomethinginit，andthatitmustbeconcealed。

TherewasacoincidencebetweenthetasteforthetoiletwhichhadrecentlycometoCosette，andthehabitofnewclothesdevelopedbythatstrangerwhichwasveryrepugnanttoJeanValjean。Itmightbeaccidental，nodoubt，certainly，butitwasamenacingaccident。

HeneveropenedhismouthtoCosetteaboutthisstranger。Oneday，however，hecouldnotrefrainfromsodoing，and，withthatvaguedespairwhichsuddenlycaststheleadintothedepthsofitsdespair，hesaidtoher:"Whataverypedanticairthatyoungmanhas！"

Cosette，butayearbeforeonlyanindifferentlittlegirl，wouldhavereplied:"Why，no，heischarming。"Tenyearslater，withtheloveofMariusinherheart，shewouldhaveanswered:

"Apedant，andinsufferabletothesight！Youareright！"——

Atthemomentinlifeandtheheartwhichshehadthenattained，shecontentedherselfwithreplying，withsupremecalmness:

"Thatyoungman！"

Asthoughshenowbeheldhimforthefirsttimeinherlife。

"HowstupidIam！"thoughtJeanValjean。"Shehadnotnoticedhim。

ItisIwhohavepointedhimouttoher。"

Oh，simplicityoftheold！oh，thedepthofchildren！

Itisoneofthelawsofthosefreshyearsofsufferingandtrouble，ofthosevivaciousconflictsbetweenafirstloveandthefirstobstacles，thattheyounggirldoesnotallowherselftobecaughtinanytrapwhatever，andthattheyoungmanfallsintoeveryone。

JeanValjeanhadinstitutedanundeclaredwaragainstMarius，whichMarius，withthesublimestupidityofhispassionandhisage，didnotdivine。JeanValjeanlaidahostofambushesforhim；

hechangedhishour，hechangedhisbench，heforgothishandkerchief，hecamealonetotheLuxembourg；Mariusdashedheadlongintoallthesesnares；andtoalltheinterrogationmarksplantedbyJeanValjeaninhispathway，heingenuouslyanswered"yes。"

ButCosetteremainedimmuredinherapparentunconcernandinherimperturbabletranquillity，sothatJeanValjeanarrivedatthefollowingconclusion:"ThatninnyismadlyinlovewithCosette，butCosettedoesnotevenknowthatheexists。"

Nonethelessdidhebearinhisheartamournfultremor。

TheminutewhenCosettewouldlovemightstrikeatanymoment。

Doesnoteverythingbeginwithindifference？

OnlyoncedidCosettemakeamistakeandalarmhim。Herosefromhisseattodepart，afterastayofthreehours，andshesaid:

"What，already？"

JeanValjeanhadnotdiscontinuedhistripstotheLuxembourg，ashedidnotwishtodoanythingoutoftheway，andas，aboveallthings，hefearedtoarouseCosette；butduringthehourswhichweresosweettothelovers，whileCosettewassendinghersmiletotheintoxicatedMarius，whoperceivednothingelsenow，andwhonowsawnothinginalltheworldbutanadoredandradiantface，JeanValjeanwasfixingonMariusflashingandterribleeyes。He，whohadfinallycometobelievehimselfincapableofamalevolentfeeling，experiencedmomentswhenMariuswaspresent，inwhichhethoughthewasbecomingsavageandferociousoncemore，andhefelttheolddepthsofhissoul，whichhadformerlycontainedsomuchwrath，openingoncemoreandrisingupagainstthatyoungman。Italmostseemedtohimthatunknowncraterswereforminginhisbosom。

What！hewasthere，thatcreature！Whatwashetherefor？

Hecamecreepingabout，smellingout，examining，trying！

Hecame，saying:"Hey！Whynot？"Hecametoprowlabouthis，JeanValjean’s，life！toprowlabouthishappiness，withthepurposeofseizingitandbearingitaway！

JeanValjeanadded:"Yes，that’sit！Whatisheinsearchof？

Anadventure！Whatdoeshewant？Aloveaffair！Aloveaffair！

AndI？What！Ihavebeenfirst，themostwretchedofmen，andthenthemostunhappy，andIhavetraversedsixtyyearsoflifeonmyknees，Ihavesufferedeverythingthatmancansuffer，Ihavegrownoldwithouthavingbeenyoung，Ihavelivedwithoutafamily，withoutrelatives，withoutfriends，withoutlife，withoutchildren，Ihaveleftmybloodoneverystone，oneverybramble，oneverymile—post，alongeverywall，Ihavebeengentle，thoughothershavebeenhardtome，andkind，althoughothershavebeenmalicious，Ihavebecomeanhonestmanoncemore，inspiteofeverything，IhaverepentedoftheevilthatIhavedoneandhaveforgiventheevilthathasbeendonetome，andatthemomentwhenI

receivemyrecompense，atthemomentwhenitisallover，atthemomentwhenIamjusttouchingthegoal，atthemomentwhenIhavewhatIdesire，itiswell，itisgood，Ihavepaid，Ihaveearnedit，allthisistotakeflight，allthiswillvanish，andIshallloseCosette，andIshalllosemylife，myjoy，mysoul，becauseithaspleasedagreatboobytocomeandloungeattheLuxembourg。"

Thenhiseyeswerefilledwithasadandextraordinarygleam。

Itwasnolongeramangazingataman；itwasnolongeranenemysurveyinganenemy。Itwasadogscanningathief。

Thereaderknowstherest。Mariuspursuedhissenselesscourse。

OnedayhefollowedCosettetotheRuedel’Ouest。Anotherdayhespoketotheporter。Theporter，onhisside，spoke，andsaidtoJeanValjean:"Monsieur，whoisthatcuriousyoungmanwhoisaskingforyou？"OnthemorrowJeanValjeanbestowedonMariusthatglancewhichMariusatlastperceived。Aweeklater，JeanValjeanhadtakenhisdeparture。HesworetohimselfthathewouldneveragainsetfooteitherintheLuxembourgorintheRuedel’Ouest。HereturnedtotheRuePlumet。

Cosettedidnotcomplain，shesaidnothing，sheaskednoquestions，shedidnotseektolearnhisreasons；shehadalreadyreachedthepointwhereshewasafraidofbeingdivined，andofbetrayingherself。

JeanValjeanhadnoexperienceofthesemiseries，theonlymiserieswhicharecharmingandtheonlyoneswithwhichhewasnotacquainted；

theconsequencewasthathedidnotunderstandthegravesignificanceofCosette’ssilence。

Hemerelynoticedthatshehadgrownsad，andhegrewgloomy。

Onhissideandonhers，inexperiencehadjoinedissue。

Oncehemadeatrial。HeaskedCosette:——

"WouldyouliketocometotheLuxembourg？"

ArayilluminatedCosette’spaleface。

"Yes，"saidshe。

Theywentthither。Threemonthshadelapsed。Mariusnolongerwentthere。Mariuswasnotthere。

Onthefollowingday，JeanValjeanaskedCosetteagain:——

"WouldyouliketocometotheLuxembourg？"

Shereplied，sadlyandgently:——

"No。"

JeanValjeanwashurtbythissadness，andheart—brokenatthisgentleness。

Whatwasgoingoninthatmindwhichwassoyoungandyetalreadysoimpenetrable？Whatwasonitswaytherewithin？WhatwastakingplaceinCosette’ssoul？Sometimes，insteadofgoingtobed，JeanValjeanremainedseatedonhispallet，withhisheadinhishands，andhepassedwholenightsaskinghimself:"WhathasCosetteinhermind？"

andinthinkingofthethingsthatshemightbethinkingabout。

Oh！atsuchmoments，whatmournfulglancesdidhecasttowardsthatcloister，thatchastepeak，thatabodeofangels，thatinaccessibleglacierofvirtue！Howhecontemplated，withdespairingecstasy，thatconventgarden，fullofignoredflowersandcloisteredvirgins，whereallperfumesandallsoulsmountstraighttoheaven！

HowheadoredthatEdenforeverclosedagainsthim，whencehehadvoluntarilyandmadlyemerged！HowheregrettedhisabnegationandhisfollyinhavingbroughtCosettebackintotheworld，poorheroofsacrifice，seizedandhurledtotheearthbyhisveryself—devotion！Howhesaidtohimself，"WhathaveIdone？"

However，nothingofallthiswasperceptibletoCosette。

Noill—temper，noharshness。Hisfacewasalwayssereneandkind。

JeanValjean’smannersweremoretenderandmorepaternalthanever。

Ifanythingcouldhavebetrayedhislackofjoy，itwashisincreasedsuavity。

Onherside，Cosettelanguished。ShesufferedfromtheabsenceofMariusasshehadrejoicedinhispresence，peculiarly，withoutexactlybeingconsciousofit。WhenJeanValjeanceasedtotakeherontheircustomarystrolls，afeminineinstinctmurmuredconfusedly，atthebottomofherheart，thatshemustnotseemtosetstoreontheLuxembourggarden，andthatifthisprovedtobeamatterofindifferencetoher，herfatherwouldtakeherthitheroncemore。

Butdays，weeks，months，elapsed。JeanValjeanhadtacitlyacceptedCosette’stacitconsent。Sheregrettedit。Itwastoolate。

SoMariushaddisappeared；allwasover。ThedayonwhichshereturnedtotheLuxembourg，Mariuswasnolongerthere。Whatwastobedone？

Shouldsheeverfindhimagain？Shefeltananguishatherheart，whichnothingrelieved，andwhichaugmentedeveryday；shenolongerknewwhetheritwaswinterorsummer，whetheritwasrainingorshining，whetherthebirdsweresinging，whetheritwastheseasonfordahliasordaisies，whethertheLuxembourgwasmorecharmingthantheTuileries，whetherthelinenwhichthelaundressbroughthomewasstarchedtoomuchornotenough，whetherToussainthaddone"hermarketing"wellorill；andsheremaineddejected，absorbed，attentivetobutasinglethought，hereyesvagueandstaringaswhenonegazesbynightatablackandfathomlessspotwhereanapparitionhasvanished。

However，shedidnotallowJeanValjeantoperceiveanythingofthis，exceptherpallor。

Shestillworehersweetfaceforhim。

ThispallorsufficedbuttoothoroughlytotroubleJeanValjean。

Sometimesheaskedher:——

"Whatisthematterwithyou？"

Shereplied:"Thereisnothingthematterwithme。"

Andafterasilence，whenshedivinedthathewassadalso，shewouldadd:——

"Andyou，father——isthereanythingwrongwithyou？"

"Withme？Nothing，"saidhe。

Thesetwobeingswhohadlovedeachothersoexclusively，andwithsotouchinganaffection，andwhohadlivedsolongforeachothernowsufferedsidebyside，eachontheother’saccount；

withoutacknowledgingittoeachother，withoutangertowardseachother，andwithasmile。

CHAPTERVIII

THECHAIN—GANG

JeanValjeanwasthemoreunhappyofthetwo。Youth，eveninitssorrows，alwayspossessesitsownpeculiarradiance。

Attimes，JeanValjeansufferedsogreatlythathebecamepuerile。

Itisthepropertyofgrieftocausethechildishsideofmantoreappear。HehadanunconquerableconvictionthatCosettewasescapingfromhim。Hewouldhavelikedtoresist，toretainher，toarouseherenthusiasmbysomeexternalandbrilliantmatter。

Theseideas，puerile，aswehavejustsaid，andatthesametimesenile，conveyedtohim，bytheirverychildishness，atolerablyjustnotionoftheinfluenceofgoldlaceontheimaginationsofyounggirls。

Heoncechancedtoseeageneralonhorseback，infulluniform，passalongthestreet，ComteCoutard，thecommandantofParis。

Heenviedthatgildedman；whathappinessitwouldbe，hesaidtohimself，ifhecouldputonthatsuitwhichwasanincontestablething；

andifCosettecouldbeholdhimthus，shewouldbedazzled，andwhenhehadCosetteonhisarmandpassedthegatesoftheTuileries，theguardwouldpresentarmstohim，andthatwouldsufficeforCosette，andwoulddispelherideaoflookingatyoungmen。

Anunforeseenshockwasaddedtothesesadreflections。

Intheisolatedlifewhichtheyled，andsincetheyhadcometodwellintheRuePlumet，theyhadcontractedonehabit。

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