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Funerealsweats。Whatsecretwoundswhichhealonefeltbleed！
Whatexcoriationsinhislamentableexistence！Howmanytimeshehadrisenbleeding，bruised，broken，enlightened，despairinhisheart，serenityinhissoul！and，vanquished，hehadfelthimselftheconqueror。And，afterhavingdislocated，broken，andrenthisconsciencewithred—hotpincers，ithadsaidtohim，asitstoodoverhim，formidable，luminous，andtranquil:"Now，goinpeace！"
Butonemergingfromsomelancholyaconflict，whatalugubriouspeace，alas！
Nevertheless，thatnightJeanValjeanfeltthathewaspassingthroughhisfinalcombat。
Aheart—rendingquestionpresenteditself。
Predestinationsarenotalldirect；theydonotopenoutinastraightavenuebeforethepredestinedman；theyhaveblindcourts，impassablealleys，obscureturns，disturbingcrossroadsofferingthechoiceofmanyways。JeanValjeanhadhaltedatthatmomentatthemostperilousofthesecrossroads。
Hehadcometothesupremecrossingofgoodandevil。Hehadthatgloomyintersectionbeneathhiseyes。Onthisoccasiononcemore，ashadhappenedtohimalreadyinothersadvicissitudes，tworoadsopenedoutbeforehim，theonetempting，theotheralarming。
Whichwashetotake？
Hewascounselledtotheonewhichalarmedhimbythatmysteriousindexfingerwhichweallperceivewheneverwefixoureyesonthedarkness。
Oncemore，JeanValjeanhadthechoicebetweentheterribleportandthesmilingambush。
Isitthentrue？thesoulmayrecover；butnotfate。Frightfulthing！
anincurabledestiny！
Thisistheproblemwhichpresenteditselftohim:
InwhatmannerwasJeanValjeantobehaveinrelationtothehappinessofCosetteandMarius？Itwashewhohadwilledthathappiness，itwashewhohadbroughtitabout；hehad，himself，burieditinhisentrails，andatthatmoment，whenhereflectedonit，hewasabletoenjoythesortofsatisfactionwhichanarmorerwouldexperienceonrecognizinghisfactorymarkonaknife，onwithdrawingit，allsmoking，fromhisownbreast。
CosettehadMarius，MariuspossessedCosette。Theyhadeverything，evenriches。Andthiswashisdoing。
Butwhatwashe，JeanValjean，todowiththishappiness，nowthatitexisted，nowthatitwasthere？Shouldheforcehimselfonthishappiness？Shouldhetreatitasbelongingtohim？
Nodoubt，Cosettedidbelongtoanother；butshouldhe，JeanValjean，retainofCosetteallthathecouldretain？Shouldheremainthesortoffather，halfseenbutrespected，whichhehadhithertobeen？
Shouldhe，withoutsayingaword，bringhispasttothatfuture？
Shouldhepresenthimselfthere，asthoughhehadaright，andshouldheseathimself，veiled，atthatluminousfireside？
Shouldhetakethoseinnocenthandsintohistragichands，withasmile？ShouldheplaceuponthepeacefulfenderoftheGillenormanddrawing—roomthosefeetofhis，whichdraggedbehindthemthedisgracefulshadowofthelaw？ShouldheenterintoparticipationinthefairfortunesofCosetteandMarius？
Shouldherendertheobscurityonhisbrowandthecloudupontheirsstillmoredense？Shouldheplacehiscatastropheasathirdassociateintheirfelicity？Shouldhecontinuetoholdhispeace？
Inaword，shouldhebethesinistermuteofdestinybesidethesetwohappybeings？
Wemusthavebecomehabituatedtofatalityandtoencounterswithit，inordertohavethedaringtoraiseoureyeswhencertainquestionsappeartousinalltheirhorriblenakedness。Goodorevilstandsbehindthissevereinterrogationpoint。Whatareyougoingtodo？
demandsthesphinx。
ThishabitoftrialJeanValjeanpossessed。Hegazedintentlyatthesphinx。
Heexaminedthepitilessproblemunderallitsaspects。
Cosette，thatcharmingexistence，wastheraftofthisshipwreck。
Whatwashetodo？Toclingfasttoit，ortoletgohishold？
Ifheclungtoit，heshouldemergefromdisaster，heshouldascendagainintothesunlight，heshouldletthebitterwaterdripfromhisgarmentsandhishair，hewassaved，heshouldlive。
Andifheletgohishold？
Thentheabyss。
Thushetooksadcouncilwithhisthoughts。Or，tospeakmorecorrectly，hefought；hekickedfuriouslyinternally，nowagainsthiswill，nowagainsthisconviction。
HappilyforJeanValjeanthathehadbeenabletoweep。
Thatrelievedhim，possibly。Butthebeginningwassavage。
Atempest，morefuriousthantheonewhichhadformerlydrivenhimtoArras，brokeloosewithinhim。Thepastsurgedupbeforehimfacingthepresent；hecomparedthemandsobbed。Thesilenceoftearsonceopened，thedespairingmanwrithed。
Hefeltthathehadbeenstoppedshort。
Alas！inthisfighttothedeathbetweenouregotismandourduty，whenwethusretreatstepbystepbeforeourimmutableideal，bewildered，furious，exasperatedathavingtoyield，disputingtheground，hopingforapossibleflight，seekinganescape，whatanabruptandsinisterresistancedoesthefootofthewallofferinourrear！
Tofeelthesacredshadowwhichformsanobstacle！
Theinvisibleinexorable，whatanobsession！
Then，oneisneverdonewithconscience。Makeyourchoice，Brutus；
makeyourchoice，Cato。Itisfathomless，sinceitisGod。
Oneflingsintothatwellthelaborofone’swholelife，oneflingsinone’sfortune，oneflingsinone’sriches，oneflingsinone’ssuccess，oneflingsinone’slibertyorfatherland，oneflingsinone’swell—being，oneflingsinone’srepose，oneflingsinone’sjoy！
More！more！more！Emptythevase！tiptheurn！Onemustfinishbyflinginginone’sheart。
Somewhereinthefogoftheancienthells，thereisatunlikethat。
Isnotonepardonable，ifoneatlastrefuses！Cantheinexhaustiblehaveanyright？Arenotchainswhichareendlessabovehumanstrength？
WhowouldblameSisyphusandJeanValjeanforsaying:"Itisenough！"
Theobedienceofmatterislimitedbyfriction；istherenolimittotheobedienceofthesoul？Ifperpetualmotionisimpossible，canperpetualself—sacrificebeexacted？
Thefirststepisnothing，itisthelastwhichisdifficult。
WhatwastheChampmathieuaffairincomparisonwithCosette’smarriageandofthatwhichitentailed？Whatisare—entranceintothegalleys，comparedtoentranceintothevoid？
Oh，firststepthatmustbedescended，howsombreartthou！
Oh，secondstep，howblackartthou！
Howcouldherefrainfromturningasidehisheadthistime？
Martyrdomissublimation，corrosivesublimation。Itisatorturewhichconsecrates。Onecanconsenttoitforthefirsthour；
oneseatsoneselfonthethroneofglowingiron，oneplacesonone’sheadthecrownofhotiron，oneacceptstheglobeofredhotiron，onetakesthesceptreofredhotiron，butthemantleofflamestillremainstobedonned，andcomestherenotamomentwhenthemiserablefleshrevoltsandwhenoneabdicatesfromsuffering？
Atlength，JeanValjeanenteredintothepeaceofexhaustion。
Heweighed，hereflected，heconsideredthealternatives，themysteriousbalanceoflightanddarkness。
Shouldheimposehisgalleysonthosetwodazzlingchildren，orshouldheconsummatehisirremediableengulfmentbyhimself？
OnonesidelaythesacrificeofCosette，ontheotherthatofhimself。
Atwhatsolutionshouldhearrive？Whatdecisiondidhecometo？
Whatresolutiondidhetake？Whatwashisowninwarddefinitiveresponsetotheunbribableinterrogatoryoffatality？Whatdoordidhedecidetoopen？Whichsideofhislifedidheresolveuponclosingandcondemning？Amongalltheunfathomableprecipiceswhichsurroundedhim，whichwashischoice？Whatextremitydidheaccept？
Towhichofthegulfsdidhenodhishead？
Hisdizzyreverylastedallnightlong。
Heremainedthereuntildaylight，inthesameattitude，bentdoubleoverthatbed，prostratebeneaththeenormityoffate，crushed，perchance，alas！withclenchedfists，witharmsoutspreadatrightangles，likeamancrucifiedwhohasbeenun—nailed，andflungfacedownontheearth。Thereheremainedfortwelvehours，thetwelvelonghoursofalongwinter’snight，ice—cold，withoutonceraisinghishead，andwithoututteringaword。
Hewasasmotionlessasacorpse，whilehisthoughtswallowedontheearthandsoared，nowlikethehydra，nowliketheeagle。
Anyonetobeholdhimthusmotionlesswouldhavepronouncedhimdead；
allatonceheshudderedconvulsively，andhismouth，gluedtoCosette’sgarments，kissedthem；thenitcouldbeseenthathewasalive。
Whocouldsee？SinceJeanValjeanwasalone，andtherewasnoonethere。
TheOnewhoisintheshadows。
BOOKSEVENTH。——THELASTDRAUGHTFROMTHECUP
CHAPTERI
THESEVENTHCIRCLEANDTHEEIGHTHHEAVEN
Thedaysthatfollowweddingsaresolitary。Peoplerespectthemeditationsofthehappypair。Andalso，theirtardyslumbers，tosomedegree。Thetumultofvisitsandcongratulationsonlybeginslateron。Onthemorningofthe17thofFebruary，itwasalittlepastmiddaywhenBasque，withnapkinandfeather—dusterunderhisarm，busyinsettinghisantechambertorights，heardalighttapatthedoor。Therehadbeennoring，whichwasdiscreetonsuchaday。
Basqueopenedthedoor，andbeheldM。Fauchelevent。Heintroducedhimintothedrawing—room，stillencumberedandtopsy—turvy，andwhichboretheairofafieldofbattleafterthejoysoftheprecedingevening。
"Dame，sir，"remarkedBasque，"weallwokeuplate。"
"Isyourmasterup？"askedJeanValjean。
"HowisMonsieur’sarm？"repliedBasque。
"Better。Isyourmasterup？"
"Whichone？theoldoneorthenewone？"
"MonsieurPontmercy。"
"MonsieurleBaron，"saidBasque，drawinghimselfup。
AmanisaBaronmostofalltohisservants。Hecountsforsomethingwiththem；theyarewhataphilosopherwouldcall，bespatteredwiththetitle，andthatflattersthem。Marius，beitsaidinpassing，amilitantrepublicanashehadproved，wasnowaBaroninspiteofhimself。Asmallrevolutionhadtakenplaceinthefamilyinconnectionwiththistitle。ItwasnowM。Gillenormandwhoclungtoit，andMariuswhodetachedhimselffromit。
ButColonelPontmercyhadwritten:"Mysonwillbearmytitle。"
Mariusobeyed。Andthen，Cosette，inwhomthewomanwasbeginningtodawn，wasdelightedtobeaBaroness。
"MonsieurleBaron？"repeatedBasque。"Iwillgoandsee。
IwilltellhimthatM。Faucheleventishere。"
"No。DonottellhimthatitisI。Tellhimthatsomeonewishestospeaktohiminprivate，andmentionnoname。"
"Ah！"ejaculatedBasque。
"Iwishtosurprisehim。"
"Ah！"ejaculatedBasqueoncemore，emittinghissecond"ah！"
asanexplanationofthefirst。
Andhelefttheroom。
JeanValjeanremainedalone。
Thedrawing—room，aswehavejustsaid，wasingreatdisorder。
Itseemedasthough，bylendinganair，onemightstillhearthevaguenoiseofthewedding。Onthepolishedfloorlayallsortsofflowerswhichhadfallenfromgarlandsandhead—dresses。Thewaxcandles，burnedtostumps，addedstalactitesofwaxtothecrystaldropsofthechandeliers。Notasinglepieceoffurniturewasinitsplace。
Inthecorners，threeorfourarm—chairs，drawnclosetogetherinacircle，hadtheappearanceofcontinuingaconversation。
Thewholeeffectwascheerful。Acertaingracestilllingersroundadeadfeast。Ithasbeenahappything。Onthechairsindisarray，amongthosefadingflowers，beneaththoseextinctlights，peoplehavethoughtofjoy。Thesunhadsucceededtothechandelier，andmadeitswaygaylyintothedrawing—room。
Severalminuteselapsed。JeanValjeanstoodmotionlessonthespotwhereBasquehadlefthim。Hewasverypale。Hiseyeswerehollow，andsosunkeninhisheadbysleeplessnessthattheynearlydisappearedintheirorbits。Hisblackcoatborethewearyfoldsofagarmentthathasbeenupallnight。Theelbowswerewhitenedwiththedownwhichthefrictionofclothagainstlinenleavesbehindit。
JeanValjeanstaredatthewindowoutlinedonthepolishedfloorathisfeetbythesun。
Therecameasoundatthedoor，andheraisedhiseyes。
Mariusentered，hisheadwellup，hismouthsmiling，anindescribablelightonhiscountenance，hisbrowexpanded，hiseyestriumphant。
Hehadnotslepteither。
"Itisyou，father！"heexclaimed，oncatchingsightofJeanValjean；
"thatidiotofaBasquehadsuchamysteriousair！Butyouhavecometooearly。Itisonlyhalfpasttwelve。Cosetteisasleep。"
Thatword:"Father，"saidtoM。FaucheleventbyMarius，signified:
supremefelicity。Therehadalwaysexisted，asthereaderknows，aloftywall，acoldnessandaconstraintbetweenthem；
icewhichmustbebrokenormelted。Mariushadreachedthatpointofintoxicationwhenthewallwaslowered，whentheicedissolved，andwhenM。Faucheleventwastohim，astoCosette，afather。
Hecontinued:hiswordspouredforth，asisthepeculiarityofdivineparoxysmsofjoy。
"HowgladIamtoseeyou！Ifyouonlyknewhowwemissedyouyesterday！
Goodmorning，father。Howisyourhand？Better，isitnot？"
And，satisfiedwiththefavorablereplywhichhehadmadetohimself，hepursued:
"Wehavebothbeentalkingaboutyou。Cosettelovesyousodearly！
Youmustnotforgetthatyouhaveachamberhere，WewantnothingmoretodowiththeRuedel’HommeArme。Wewillhavenomoreofitatall。
Howcouldyougotoliveinastreetlikethat，whichissickly，whichisdisagreeable，whichisugly，whichhasabarrieratoneend，whereoneiscold，andintowhichonecannotenter？Youaretocomeandinstallyourselfhere。Andthisveryday。OryouwillhavetodealwithCosette。Shemeanstoleadusallbythenose，Iwarnyou。
Youhaveyourownchamberhere，itisclosetoours，itopensonthegarden；thetroublewiththeclockhasbeenattendedto，thebedismade，itisallready，youhaveonlytotakepossessionofit。
NearyourbedCosettehasplacedahuge，old，easy—chaircoveredwithUtrechtvelvetandshehassaidtoit:`Stretchoutyourarmstohim。’Anightingalecomestotheclumpofacaciasoppositeyourwindows，everyspring。Intwomonthsmoreyouwillhaveit。
Youwillhaveitsnestonyourleftandoursonyourright。Bynightitwillsing，andbydayCosettewillprattle。YourchamberfacesdueSouth。Cosettewillarrangeyourbooksforyou，yourVoyagesofCaptainCookandtheother，——Vancouver’sandallyouraffairs。
Ibelievethatthereisalittlevalisetowhichyouareattached，Ihavefixeduponacornerofhonorforthat。Youhaveconqueredmygrandfather，yousuithim。Wewilllivetogether。Doyouplaywhist？youwilloverwhelmmygrandfatherwithdelightifyouplaywhist。ItisyouwhoshalltakeCosettetowalkonthedayswhenIamatthecourts，youshallgiveheryourarm，youknow，asyouusedto，intheLuxembourg。Weareabsolutelyresolvedtobehappy。Andyoushallbeincludedinit，inourhappiness，doyouhear，father？Come，willyoubreakfastwithusto—day？"
"Sir，"saidJeanValjean，"Ihavesomethingtosaytoyou。
Iamanex—convict。"
Thelimitofshrillsoundsperceptiblecanbeoverleaped，aswellinthecaseofthemindasinthatoftheear。Thesewords:
"Iamanex—convict，"proceedingfromthemouthofM。FaucheleventandenteringtheearofMariusovershotthepossible。Itseemedtohimthatsomethinghadjustbeensaidtohim；buthedidnotknowwhat。
Hestoodwithhismouthwideopen。
Thenheperceivedthatthemanwhowasaddressinghimwasfrightful。
Whollyabsorbedinhisowndazzledstate，hehadnot，uptothatmoment，observedtheotherman’sterriblepallor。
JeanValjeanuntiedtheblackcravatwhichsupportedhisrightarm，unrolledthelinenfromaroundhishand，baredhisthumbandshowedittoMarius。
"Thereisnothingthematterwithmyhand，"saidhe。
Mariuslookedatthethumb。
"Therehasnotbeenanythingthematterwithit，"wentonJeanValjean。
Therewas，infact，notraceofanyinjury。
JeanValjeancontinued:
"ItwasfittingthatIshouldbeabsentfromyourmarriage。
Iabsentedmyselfasmuchaswasinmypower。SoIinventedthisinjuryinorderthatImightnotcommitaforgery，thatImightnotintroduceaflawintothemarriagedocuments，inorderthatI
mightescapefromsigning。"
Mariusstammered。
"Whatisthemeaningofthis？"
"Themeaningofitis，"repliedJeanValjean，"thatIhavebeeninthegalleys。"
"Youaredrivingmemad！"exclaimedMariusinterror。
"MonsieurPontmercy，"saidJeanValjean，"Iwasnineteenyearsinthegalleys。Fortheft。Then，Iwascondemnedforlifefortheft，forasecondoffence。Atthepresentmoment，Ihavebrokenmyban。"
InvaindidMariusrecoilbeforethereality，refusethefact，resisttheevidence，hewasforcedtogiveway。Hebegantounderstand，and，asalwayshappensinsuchcases，heunderstoodtoomuch。
Aninwardshudderofhideousenlightenmentflashedthroughhim；
anideawhichmadehimquivertraversedhismind。Hecaughtaglimpseofawretcheddestinyforhimselfinthefuture。
"Sayall，sayall！"hecried。"YouareCosette’sfather！"
Andheretreatedacoupleofpaceswithamovementofindescribablehorror。
JeanValjeanelevatedhisheadwithsomuchmajestyofattitudethatheseemedtogroweventotheceiling。
"Itisnecessarythatyoushouldbelievemehere，sir；althoughouroathtoothersmaynotbereceivedinlaw……"
Herehepaused，then，withasortofsovereignandsepulchralauthority，headded，articulatingslowly，andemphasizingthesyllables:
"……Youwillbelieveme。IthefatherofCosette！beforeGod，no。
M
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