第50章

Itwashishabit，asthereaderwillremember，toalwayshavesomemoneyabouthim。Themournfullifeofexpedientstowhichhehadbeencondemnedimposedthisasalawuponhim。Onthisoccasion，however，hehadbeencaughtunprepared。WhendonninghisuniformofaNationalGuardsmanontheprecedingevening，hehadforgotten，dolefullyabsorbedashewas，totakehispocket—book。Hehadonlysomesmallchangeinhisfob。Heturnedouthispocket，allsoakedwithooze，andspreadoutonthebanquetteofthevaultonelouisd’or，twofive—francpieces，andfiveorsixlargesous。

Thenardierthrustouthislowerlipwithasignificanttwistoftheneck。

"Youknockedhimovercheap，"saidhe。

HesettofeelingthepocketsofJeanValjeanandMarius，withthegreatestfamiliarity。JeanValjean，whowaschieflyconcernedinkeepinghisbacktothelight，lethimhavehisway。

WhilehandlingMarius’coat，Thenardier，withtheskillofapickpocket，andwithoutbeingnoticedbyJeanValjean，toreoffastripwhichheconcealedunderhisblouse，probablythinkingthatthismorselofstuffmightserve，lateron，toidentifytheassassinatedmanandtheassassin。However，hefoundnomorethanthethirtyfrancs。

"That’strue，"saidhe，"bothofyoutogetherhavenomorethanthat。"

And，forgettinghismotto:"halfshares，"hetookall。

Hehesitatedalittleoverthelargesous。Afterduereflection，hetookthemalso，muttering:

"Nevermind！Youcutfolks’throatstoocheapaltogether。"

Thatdone，heoncemoredrewthebigkeyfromunderhisblouse。

"Now，myfriend，youmustleave。It’slikethefairhere，youpaywhenyougoout。Youhavepaid，nowclearout。"

Andhebegantolaugh。

Hadhe，inlendingtothisstrangertheaidofhiskey，andinmakingsomeothermanthanhimselfemergefromthatportal，thepureanddisinterestedintentionofrescuinganassassin？

Wemaybepermittedtodoubtthis。

ThenardierhelpedJeanValjeantoreplaceMariusonhisshoulders，thenhebetookhimselftothegratingontiptoe，andbarefooted，makingJeanValjeanasigntofollowhim，lookedout，laidhisfingeronhismouth，andremainedforseveralseconds，asthoughinsuspense；

hisinspectionfinished，heplacedthekeyinthelock。Theboltslippedbackandthegateswungopen。Itneithergratednorsqueaked。

Itmovedverysoftly。

Itwasobviousthatthisgateandthosehinges，carefullyoiled，wereinthehabitofopeningmorefrequentlythanwassupposed。

Thissoftnesswassuspicious；ithintedatfurtivegoingsandcomings，silententrancesandexitsofnocturnalmen，andthewolf—liketreadofcrime。

Thesewerwasevidentlyanaccompliceofsomemysteriousband。

Thistaciturngratingwasareceiverofstolengoods。

Thenardieropenedthegatealittleway，allowingjustsufficientspaceforJeanValjeantopassout，closedthegratingagain，gavethekeyadoubleturninthelockandplungedbackintothedarkness，withoutmakinganymorenoisethanabreath。

Heseemedtowalkwiththevelvetpawsofatiger。

Amomentlater，thathideousprovidencehadretreatedintotheinvisibility。

JeanValjeanfoundhimselfintheopenair。

CHAPTERIX

MARIUSPRODUCESONSOMEONEWHOISAJUDGEOFTHEMATTER，THEEFFECT

OFBEINGDEAD

HeallowedMariustoslidedownupontheshore。

Theywereintheopenair！

Themiasmas，darkness，horrorlaybehindhim。Thepure，healthful，living，joyousairthatwaseasytobreatheinundatedhim。

Everywherearoundhimreignedsilence，butthatcharmingsilencewhenthesunhassetinanuncloudedazuresky。Twilighthaddescended；

nightwasdrawingon，thegreatdeliverer，thefriendofallthosewhoneedamantleofdarknessthattheymayescapefromananguish。

Theskypresenteditselfinalldirectionslikeanenormouscalm。

Theriverflowedtohisfeetwiththesoundofakiss。TheaerialdialogueofthenestsbiddingeachothergoodnightintheelmsoftheChamps—Elyseeswasaudible。Afewstars，daintilypiercingthepaleblueofthezenith，andvisibletoreveryalone，formedimperceptiblelittlesplendorsamidtheimmensity。EveningwasunfoldingovertheheadofJeanValjeanallthesweetnessoftheinfinite。

Itwasthatexquisiteandundecidedhourwhichsaysneitheryesnorno。

Nightwasalreadysufficientlyadvancedtorenderitpossibletoloseoneselfatalittledistanceandyettherewassufficientdaylighttopermitofrecognitionatclosequarters。

Forseveralseconds，JeanValjeanwasirresistiblyovercomebythataugustandcaressingserenity；suchmomentsofobliviondocometomen；sufferingrefrainsfromharassingtheunhappywretch；

everythingiseclipsedinthethoughts；peacebroodsoverthedreamerlikenight；and，beneaththetwilightwhichbeamsandinimitationoftheskywhichisilluminated，thesoulbecomesstuddedwithstars。

JeanValjeancouldnotrefrainfromcontemplatingthatvast，clearshadowwhichrestedoverhim；thoughtfullyhebathedintheseaofecstasyandprayerinthemajesticsilenceoftheeternalheavens。

ThenhebentdownswiftlytoMarius，asthoughthesentimentofdutyhadreturnedtohim，and，dippingupwaterinthehollowofhishand，hegentlysprinkledafewdropsonthelatter’sface。

Marius’eyelidsdidnotopen；buthishalf—openmouthstillbreathed。

JeanValjeanwasonthepointofdippinghishandintheriveroncemore，when，allatonce，heexperiencedanindescribableembarrassment，suchasapersonfeelswhenthereissomeonebehindhimwhomhedoesnotsee。

Wehavealreadyalludedtothisimpression，withwhicheveryoneisfamiliar。

Heturnedround。

Someonewas，infact，behindhim，astherehadbeenashortwhilebefore。

Amanofloftystature，envelopedinalongcoat，withfoldedarms，andbearinginhisrightfistabludgeonofwhichtheleadenheadwasvisible，stoodafewpacesintherearofthespotwhereJeanValjeanwascrouchingoverMarius。

Withtheaidofthedarkness，itseemedasortofapparition。

Anordinarymanwouldhavebeenalarmedbecauseofthetwilight，athoughtfulmanonaccountofthebludgeon。JeanValjeanrecognizedJavert。

Thereaderhasdivined，nodoubt，thatThenardier’spursuerwasnootherthanJavert。Javert，afterhisunlooked—forescapefromthebarricade，hadbetakenhimselftotheprefectureofpolice，hadrenderedaverbalaccounttothePrefectinpersoninabriefaudience，hadthenimmediatelygoneondutyagain，whichimplied——

thenote，thereaderwillrecollect，whichhadbeencapturedonhisperson——acertainsurveillanceoftheshoreontherightbankoftheSeineneartheChamps—Elysees，whichhad，forsometimepast，arousedtheattentionofthepolice。TherehehadcaughtsightofThenardierandhadfollowedhim。Thereaderknowstherest。

Thusitwillbeeasilyunderstoodthatthatgrating，soobliginglyopenedtoJeanValjean，wasabitofclevernessonThenardier’spart。

ThenardierintuitivelyfeltthatJavertwasstillthere；

themanspieduponhasascentwhichneverdeceiveshim；itwasnecessarytoflingabonetothatsleuth—hound。Anassassin，whatagodsend！Suchanopportunitymustneverbeallowedtoslip。Thenardier，byputtingJeanValjeanoutsideinhisstead，providedapreyforthepolice，forcedthemtorelinquishhisscent，madethemforgethiminabiggeradventure，repaidJavertforhiswaiting，whichalwaysflattersaspy，earnedthirtyfrancs，andcountedwithcertainty，sofarashehimselfwasconcerned，onescapingwiththeaidofthisdiversion。

JeanValjeanhadfallenfromonedangeruponanother。

Thesetwoencounters，thisfallingoneaftertheother，fromThenardieruponJavert，wasarudeshock。

JavertdidnotrecognizeJeanValjean，who，aswehavestated，nolongerlookedlikehimself。Hedidnotunfoldhisarms，hemadesureofhisbludgeoninhisfist，byanimperceptiblemovement，andsaidinacurt，calmvoice:

"Whoareyou？"

"I。"

"Whois`I’？"

"JeanValjean。"

Javertthrusthisbludgeonbetweenhisteeth，benthisknees，inclinedhisbody，laidhistwopowerfulhandsontheshouldersofJeanValjean，whichwereclampedwithinthemasinacoupleofvices，scrutinizedhim，andrecognizedhim。Theirfacesalmosttouched。

Javert’slookwasterrible。

JeanValjeanremainedinertbeneathJavert’sgrasp，likealionsubmittingtotheclawsofalynx。

"InspectorJavert，"saidhe，"youhavemeinyourpower。Moreover，Ihaveregardedmyselfasyourprisonereversincethismorning。

Ididnotgiveyoumyaddresswithanyintentionofescapingfromyou。

Takeme。Onlygrantmeonefavor。"

Javertdidnotappeartohearhim。HekepthiseyesrivetedonJeanValjean。Hischinbeingcontracted，thrusthislipsupwardstowardshisnose，asignofsavagerevery。AtlengthhereleasedJeanValjean，straightenedhimselfstifflyupwithoutbending，graspedhisbludgeonagainfirmly，and，asthoughinadream，hemurmuredratherthanutteredthisquestion:

"Whatareyoudoinghere？Andwhoisthisman？"

HestillabstainedfromaddressingJeanValjeanasthou。

JeanValjeanreplied，andthesoundofhisvoiceappearedtorouseJavert:

"ItiswithregardtohimthatIdesiretospeaktoyou。

Disposeofmeasyouseefit；butfirsthelpmetocarryhimhome。

ThatisallthatIaskofyou。"

Javert’sfacecontractedaswasalwaysthecasewhenanyoneseemedtothinkhimcapableofmakingaconcession。Nevertheless，hedidnotsay"no。"

Againhebentover，drewfromhispocketahandkerchiefwhichhemoistenedinthewaterandwithwhichhethenwipedMarius’

blood—stainedbrow。

"Thismanwasatthebarricade，"saidheinalowvoiceandasthoughspeakingtohimself。"HeistheonetheycalledMarius。"

Aspyofthefirstquality，whohadobservedeverything，listenedtoeverything，andtakenineverything，evenwhenhethoughtthathewastodie；whohadplayedthespyeveninhisagony，andwho，withhiselbowsleaningonthefirststepofthesepulchre，hadtakennotes。

HeseizedMarius’handandfelthispulse。

"Heiswounded，"saidJeanValjean。

"Heisadeadman，"saidJavert。

JeanValjeanreplied:

"No。Notyet。"

"Soyouhavebroughthimthitherfromthebarricade？"remarkedJavert。

Hispreoccupationmustindeedhavebeenveryprofoundforhimnottoinsistonthisalarmingrescuethroughthesewer，andforhimnottoevennoticeJeanValjean’ssilenceafterhisquestion。

JeanValjean，onhisside，seemedtohavebutonethought。

Heresumed:

"HelivesintheMarais，RuedesFilles—du—Calvaire，withhisgrandfather。Idonotrecollecthisname。"

JeanValjeanfumbledinMarius’coat，pulledouthispocket—book，openeditatthepagewhichMariushadpencilled，andhelditouttoJavert。

Therewasstillsufficientlighttoadmitofreading。Besidesthis，Javertpossessedinhiseyethefelinephosphorescenceofnightbirds。

HedecipheredthefewlineswrittenbyMarius，andmuttered:

"Gillenormand，RuedesFilles—duCalvaire，No。6。"

Thenheexclaimed:"Coachman！"

Thereaderwillrememberthatthehackney—coachwaswaitingincaseofneed。

JavertkeptMarius’pocket—book。

Amomentlater，thecarriage，whichhaddescendedbytheinclinedplaneofthewatering—place，wasontheshore。Mariuswaslaiduponthebackseat，andJavertseatedhimselfonthefrontseatbesideJeanValjean。

Thedoorslammed，andthecarriagedroverapidlyaway，ascendingthequaysinthedirectionoftheBastille。

Theyquittedthequaysandenteredthestreets。Thecoachman，ablackformonhisbox，whippeduphisthinhorses。Aglacialsilencereignedinthecarriage。Marius，motionless，withhisbodyrestinginthecorner，andhisheaddroopingonhisbreast，hisarmshanging，hislegsstiff，seemedtobeawaitingonlyacoffin；

JeanValjeanseemedmadeofshadow，andJavertofstone，andinthatvehiclefullofnight，whoseinterior，everytimethatitpassedinfrontofastreetlantern，appearedtobeturnedlividlywan，asbyanintermittentflashoflightning，chancehadunitedandseemedtobebringingfacetofacethethreeformsoftragicimmobility，thecorpse，thespectre，andthestatue。

CHAPTERX

RETURNOFTHESONWHOWASPRODIGALOFHISLIFE

Ateveryjoltoverthepavement，adropofbloodtrickledfromMarius’hair。

NighthadfullyclosedinwhenthecarriagearrivedatNo。6，RuedesFilles—du—Calvaire。

Javertwasthefirsttoalight；hemadesurewithoneglanceofthenumberonthecarriagegate，and，raisingtheheavyknockerofbeateniron，embellishedintheoldstyle，withamalegoatandasatyrconfrontingeachother，hegaveaviolentpeal。

ThegateopenedalittlewayandJavertgaveitapush。Theporterhalfmadehisappearanceyawning，vaguelyawake，andwithacandleinhishand。

Everyoneinthehousewasasleep。PeoplegotobedbetimesintheMarais，especiallyondayswhenthereisarevolt。Thisgood，oldquarter，terrifiedattheRevolution，takesrefugeinslumber，aschildren，whentheyheartheBugaboocoming，hidetheirheadshastilyundertheircoverlet。

InthemeantimeJeanValjeanandthecoachmanhadtakenMariusoutofthecarriage，JeanValjeansupportinghimunderthearmpits，andthecoachmanundertheknees。

AstheythusboreMarius，JeanValjeanslippedhishandunderthelatter’sclothes，whichwerebroadlyrent，felthisbreast，andassuredhimselfthathisheartwasstillbeating。Itwasevenbeatingalittlelessfeebly，asthoughthemovementofthecarriagehadbroughtaboutacertainfreshaccessoflife。

Javertaddressedtheporterinatonebefittingthegovernment，andthepresenceoftheporterofafactiousperson。

"SomepersonwhosenameisGillenormand？"

"Here。Whatdoyouwantwithhim？"

"Hissonisbroughtback。"

"Hisson？"saidtheporterstupidly。

"Heisdead。"

JeanValjean，who，soiledandtattered，stoodbehindJavert，andwhomtheporterwassurveyingwithsomehorror，madeasigntohimwithhisheadthatthiswasnotso。

TheporterdidnotappeartounderstandeitherJavert’swordsorJeanValjean’ssign。

Javertcontinued:

"Hewenttothebarricade，andhereheis。"

"Tothebarricade？"ejaculatedtheporter。

"Hehasgothimselfkilled。Gowakenhisfather。"

Theporterdidnotstir。

"Goalongwithyou！"repeatedJavert。

Andheadded:

"Therewillbeafuneralhereto—morrow。"

ForJavert，theusualincidentsofthepublichighwaywerecategoricallyclassed，whichisthebeginningofforesightandsurveillance，andeachcontingencyhaditsowncompartment；allpossiblefactswerearrangedindrawers，asitwere，whencetheyemergedonoccasion，invariablequantities；inthestreet，uproar，revolt，carnival，andfuneral。

TheportercontentedhimselfwithwakingBasque。BasquewokeNicolette；

Nicoletterousedgreat—auntGillenormand。

Asforthegrandfather，theylethimsleepon，thinkingthathewouldhearaboutthematterearlyenoughinanycase。

Mariuswascarrieduptothefirstfloor，withoutanyoneintheotherpartsofthehousebeingawareofthefact，anddepositedonanoldsofainM。Gillenormand’santechamber；andwhileBasquewentinsearchofaphysician，andwhileNicoletteopenedthelinen—presses，JeanValjeanfeltJaverttouchhimontheshoulder。

Heunderstoodanddescendedthestairs，havingbehindhimthestepofJavertwhowasfollowinghim。

Theporterwatchedthemtaketheirdepartureashehadwatchedtheirarrival，interrifiedsomnolence。

Theyenteredthecarriageoncemore，andthecoachmanmountedhisbox。

"InspectorJavert，"saidJean，"grantmeyetanotherfavor。"

"Whatisit？"demandedJavertroughly。

"Letmegohomeforoneinstant。Thenyoushalldowhateveryoulikewithme。"

Javertremainedsilentforafewmoments，withhischindrawnbackintothecollarofhisgreat—coat，thenheloweredtheglassandfront:

"Driver，"saidhe，"Ruedel’HommeArme，No。7。"

CHAPTERXI

CONCUSSIONINTHEABSOLUTE

Theydidnotopentheirlipsagainduringthewholespaceoftheirride。

WhatdidJeanValjeanwant？Tofinishwhathehadbegun；towarnCosette，totellherwhereMariuswas，togiveher，possibly，someotherusefulinformation，totake，ifhecould，certainfinalmeasures。

Asforhimself，sofarashewaspersonallyconcerned，allwasover；

hehadbeenseizedbyJavertandhadnotresisted；anyothermanthanhimselfinlikesituationwould，perhaps，havehadsomevaguethoughtsconnectedwiththeropewhichThenardierhadgivenhim，andofthebarsofthefirstcellthatheshouldenter；but，letusimpressituponthereader，aftertheBishop，therehadexistedinJeanValjeanaprofoundhesitationinthepresenceofanyviolence，evenwhendirectedagainsthimself。

Suicide，thatmysteriousactofviolenceagainsttheunknownwhichmaycontain，inameasure，thedeathofthesoul，wasimpossibletoJeanValjean。

AttheentrancetotheRuedel’HommeArme，thecarriagehalted，thewaybeingtoonarrowtoadmitoftheentranceofvehicles。

JavertandJeanValjeanalighted。

Thecoachmanhumblyrepresentedto"monsieurl’Inspecteur，"

thattheUtrechtvelvetofhiscarriagewasallspottedwiththebloodoftheassassinatedman，andwithmirefromtheassassin。Thatisthewayheunderstoodit。Headdedthatanindemnitywasduehim。

Atthesametime，drawinghiscertificatebookfromhispocket，hebeggedtheinspectortohavethegoodnesstowritehim"abitofanattestation。"

Javertthrustasidethebookwhichthecoachmanheldouttohim，andsaid:

"Howmuchdoyouwant，includingyourtimeofwaitingandthedrive？"

"Itcomestosevenhoursandaquarter，"repliedtheman，"andmyvelvetwasperfectlynew。Eightyfrancs，Mr。Inspector。"

Javertdrewfournapoleonsfromhispocketanddismissedthecarriage。

JeanValjeanfanciedthatitwasJavert’sintentiontoconducthimonfoottothepostoftheBlancs—ManteauxortothepostoftheArchives，bothofwhicharecloseathand。

Theyenteredthestreet。Itwasdesertedasusual。JavertfollowedJeanValjean。TheyreachedNo。7。JeanValjeanknocked。

Thedooropened。

"Itiswell，"saidJavert。"Goupstairs。"

Headdedwithastrangeexpression，andasthoughhewereexertinganeffortinspeakinginthismanner:

"Iwillwaitforyouhere。"

JeanValjeanlookedatJavert。ThismodeofprocedurewasbutlittleinaccordwithJavert’shabits。However，hecouldnotbegreatlysurprisedthatJavertshouldnowhaveasortofhaughtyconfidenceinhim，theconfidenceofthecatwhichgrantsthemouselibertytothelengthofitsclaws，seeingthatJeanValjeanhadmadeuphismindtosurrenderhimselfandtomakeanendofit。

Hepushedopenthedoor，enteredthehouse，calledtotheporterwhowasinbedandwhohadpulledthecordfromhiscouch:"ItisI！"

andascendedthestairs。

Onarrivingatthefirstfloor，hepaused。Allsorrowfulroadshavetheirstations。Thewindowonthelanding—place，whichwasasash—window，wasopen。Asinmanyancienthouses，thestaircasegotitslightfromwithoutandhadaviewonthestreet。

Thestreet—lantern，situateddirectlyopposite，castsomelightonthestairs，andthuseffectedsomeeconomyinillumination。

JeanValjean，eitherforthesakeofgettingtheair，ormechanically，thrusthisheadoutofthiswindow。Heleanedoutoverthestreet。

Itisshort，andthelanternlighteditfromendtoend。

JeanValjeanwasoverwhelmedwithamazement；therewasnolongeranyonethere。

Javerthadtakenhisdeparture。

CHAPTERXII

THEGRANDFATHER

BasqueandtheporterhadcarriedMariusintothedrawing

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