第54章

TheCorsicanvendettahaspenetratedtocertainlowerstrataandhasbecomethelawthere；itissosimplethatitdoesnotastonishsoulswhicharebuthalfturnedtowardsgood；andthoseheartsaresoconstitutedthatacriminal，whoisinthepathofrepentance，maybescrupulousinthematteroftheftandunscrupulousinthematterofvengeance。JeanValjeanhadkilledJavert。Atleast，thatseemedtobeevident。

Thiswasthefinalquestion，tobesure；buttothistherewasnoreply。ThisquestionMariusfeltlikepincers。HowhaditcometopassthatJeanValjean’sexistencehadelbowedthatofCosetteforsolongaperiod？

WhatmelancholysportofProvidencewasthatwhichhadplacedthatchildincontactwiththatman？Aretherethenchainsfortwowhichareforgedonhigh？anddoesGodtakepleasureincouplingtheangelwiththedemon？Soacrimeandaninnocencecanberoom—matesinthemysteriousgalleysofwretchedness？

Inthatdefilingofcondemnedpersonswhichiscalledhumandestiny，cantwobrowspasssidebyside，theoneingenuous，theotherformidable，theoneallbathedinthedivinewhitenessofdawn，theotherforeverblemishedbytheflashofaneternallightning？

Whocouldhavearrangedthatinexplicablepairingoff？Inwhatmanner，inconsequenceofwhatprodigy，hadanycommunityoflifebeenestablishedbetweenthiscelestiallittlecreatureandthatoldcriminal？

Whocouldhaveboundthelambtothewolf，and，whatwasstillmoreincomprehensible，haveattachedthewolftothelamb？

Forthewolflovedthelamb，forthefiercecreatureadoredthefeebleone，for，duringthespaceofnineyears，theangelhadhadthemonsterasherpointofsupport。Cosette’schildhoodandgirlhood，heradventinthedaylight，hervirginalgrowthtowardslifeandlight，hadbeenshelteredbythathideousdevotion。

Herequestionsexfoliated，sotospeak，intoinnumerableenigmas，abyssesyawnedatthebottomsofabysses，andMariuscouldnolongerbendoverJeanValjeanwithoutbecomingdizzy。Whatwasthisman—precipice？

TheoldsymbolsofGenesisareeternal；inhumansociety，suchasitnowexists，anduntilabroaderdayshalleffectachangeinit，therewillalwaysbetwomen，theonesuperior，theothersubterranean；

theonewhichisaccordingtogoodisAbel；theotherwhichisaccordingtoevilisCain。WhatwasthistenderCain？Whatwasthisruffianreligiouslyabsorbedintheadorationofavirgin，watchingoverher，rearingher，guardingher，dignifyingher，andenvelopingher，impureashewashimself，withpurity？

Whatwasthatcess—poolwhichhadveneratedthatinnocencetosuchapointasnottoleaveuponitasinglespot？WhatwasthisJeanValjeaneducatingCosette？Whatwasthisfigureoftheshadowswhichhadforitsonlyobjectthepreservationoftherisingofastarfromeveryshadowandfromeverycloud？

ThatwasJeanValjean’ssecret；thatwasalsoGod’ssecret。

Inthepresenceofthisdoublesecret，Mariusrecoiled。Theone，insomesort，reassuredhimastotheother。GodwasasvisibleinthisaffairaswasJeanValjean。Godhashisinstruments。

Hemakesuseofthetoolwhichhewills。Heisnotresponsibletomen。DoweknowhowGodsetsaboutthework？JeanValjeanhadlaboredoverCosette。Hehad，tosomeextent，madethatsoul。

Thatwasincontestable。Well，whatthen？Theworkmanwashorrible；

buttheworkwasadmirable。Godproduceshismiraclesasseemsgoodtohim。HehadconstructedthatcharmingCosette，andhehademployedJeanValjean。Ithadpleasedhimtochoosethisstrangecollaboratorforhimself。Whataccounthavewetodemandofhim？

Isthisthefirsttimethatthedung—heaphasaidedthespringtocreatetherose？

Mariusmadehimselfthesereplies，anddeclaredtohimselfthattheyweregood。HehadnotdaredtopressJeanValjeanonallthepointswhichwehavejustindicated，buthedidnotconfesstohimselfthathedidnotdaretodoit。HeadoredCosette，hepossessedCosette，Cosettewassplendidlypure。Thatwassufficientforhim。

Whatenlightenmentdidheneed？Cosettewasalight。Doeslightrequireenlightenment？Hehadeverything；whatmorecouldhedesire？All，——

isnotthatenough？JeanValjean’spersonalaffairsdidnotconcernhim。

Andbendingoverthefatalshadowofthatman，heclungfast，convulsively，tothesolemndeclarationofthatunhappywretch:

"IamnothingtoCosette。TenyearsagoIdidnotknowthatshewasinexistence。"

JeanValjeanwasapasser—by。Hehadsaidsohimself。

Well，hehadpassed。Whateverhewas，hispartwasfinished。

Henceforth，thereremainedMariustofulfilthepartofProvidencetoCosette。Cosettehadsoughttheazureinapersonlikeherself，inherlover，herhusband，hercelestialmale。Cosette，asshetookherflight，wingedandtransfigured，leftbehindherontheearthherhideousandemptychrysalis，JeanValjean。

InwhatevercircleofideasMariusrevolved，healwaysreturnedtoacertainhorrorforJeanValjean。Asacredhorror，perhaps，for，aswehavejustpointedout，hefeltaquiddivinuminthatman。

Butdowhathewould，andseekwhatextenuationhewould，hewascertainlyforcedtofallbackuponthis:themanwasaconvict；

thatistosay，abeingwhohasnotevenaplaceinthesocialladder，sinceheislowerthantheverylowestrung。Aftertheverylastofmencomestheconvict。Theconvictisnolonger，sotospeak，inthesemblanceoftheliving。Thelawhasdeprivedhimoftheentirequantityofhumanityofwhichitcandepriveaman。

Marius，onpenalquestions，stillheldtotheinexorablesystem，thoughhewasademocratandheentertainedalltheideasofthelawonthesubjectofthosewhomthelawstrikes。Hehadnotyetaccomplishedallprogress，weadmit。HehadnotyetcometodistinguishbetweenthatwhichiswrittenbymanandthatwhichiswrittenbyGod，betweenlawandright。Hehadnotexaminedandweighedtherightwhichmantakestodisposeoftheirrevocableandtheirreparable。

Hewasnotshockedbythewordvindicte。Hefounditquitesimplethatcertainbreachesofthewrittenlawshouldbefollowedbyeternalsuffering，andheaccepted，astheprocessofcivilization，socialdamnation。Hestillstoodatthispoint，thoughsafetoadvanceinfalliblylateron，sincehisnaturewasgood，and，atbottom，whollyformedoflatentprogress。

Inthisstageofhisideas，JeanValjeanappearedtohimhideousandrepulsive。Hewasamanreproved，hewastheconvict。

ThatwordwasforhimlikethesoundofthetrumpontheDayofJudgment；and，afterhavingreflecteduponJeanValjeanforalongtime，hisfinalgesturehadbeentoturnawayhishead。

Vaderetro。

Marius，ifwemustrecognizeandeveninsistuponthefact，whileinterrogatingJeanValjeantosuchapointthatJeanValjeanhadsaid:"Youareconfessingme，"hadnot，nevertheless，puttohimtwoorthreedecisivequestions。

Itwasnotthattheyhadnotpresentedthemselvestohismind，butthathehadbeenafraidofthem。TheJondretteattic？

Thebarricade？Javert？Whoknowswheretheserevelationswouldhavestopped？JeanValjeandidnotseemlikeamanwhowoulddrawback，andwhoknowswhetherMarius，afterhavingurgedhimon，wouldnothavehimselfdesiredtoholdhimback？

Hasitnothappenedtoallofus，incertainsupremeconjunctures，tostopourearsinorderthatwemaynothearthereply，afterwehaveaskedaquestion？Itisespeciallywhenonelovesthatonegiveswaytotheseexhibitionsofcowardice。Itisnotwisetoquestionsinistersituationstothelastpoint，particularlywhentheindissolublesideofourlifeisfatallyintermingledwiththem。WhataterriblelightmighthaveproceededfromthedespairingexplanationsofJeanValjean，andwhoknowswhetherthathideousglarewouldnothavedartedforthasfarasCosette？Whoknowswhetherasortofinfernalglowwouldnothavelingeredbehinditonthebrowofthatangel？

Thespatteringofalightning—flashisofthethunderalso。

Fatalityhaspointsofjuncturewhereinnocenceitselfisstampedwithcrimebythegloomylawofthereflectionswhichgivecolor。

Thepurestfiguresmayforeverpreservethereflectionofahorribleassociation。Rightlyorwrongly，Mariushadbeenafraid。

Healreadyknewtoomuch。Hesoughttodullhissensesratherthantogainfurtherlight。

IndismayheboreoffCosetteinhisarmsandshuthiseyestoJeanValjean。

Thatmanwasthenight，thelivingandhorriblenight。

Howshouldhedaretoseekthebottomofit？Itisaterriblethingtointerrogatetheshadow。Whoknowswhatitsreplywillbe？

Thedawnmaybeblackenedforeverbyit。

Inthisstateofmindthethoughtthatthatmanwould，henceforth，comeintoanycontactwhateverwithCosettewasaheartrendingperplexitytoMarius。

Henowalmostreproachedhimselffornothavingputthoseformidablequestions，beforewhichhehadrecoiled，andfromwhichanimplacableanddefinitivedecisionmighthavesprung。

Hefeltthathewastoogood，toogentle，tooweak，ifwemustsaytheword。Thisweaknesshadledhimtoanimprudentconcession。

Hehadallowedhimselftobetouched。Hehadbeeninthewrong。

HeoughttohavesimplyandpurelyrejectedJeanValjean。JeanValjeanplayedthepartoffire，andthatiswhatheshouldhavedone，andhavefreedhishousefromthatman。

Hewasvexedwithhimself，hewasangrywiththatwhirlwindofemotionswhichhaddeafened，blinded，andcarriedhimaway。

Hewasdispleasedwithhimself。

Whatwashetodonow？JeanValjean’svisitswereprofoundlyrepugnanttohim。Whatwastheuseinhavingthatmaninhishouse？Whatdidthemanwant？Here，hebecamedismayed，hedidnotwishtodigdown，hedidnotwishtopenetratedeeply；hedidnotwishtosoundhimself。

Hehadpromised，hehadallowedhimselftobedrawnintoapromise；

JeanValjeanheldhispromise；onemustkeepone’swordeventoaconvict，abovealltoaconvict。Still，hisfirstdutywastoCosette。

Inshort，hewascarriedawaybytherepugnancewhichdominatedhim。

Mariusturnedoverallthisconfusionofideasinhismind，passingfromonetotheother，andmovedbyallofthem。

Hencearoseaprofoundtrouble。

ItwasnoteasyforhimtohidethistroublefromCosette，butloveisatalent，andMariussucceededindoingit。

However，withoutanyapparentobject，hequestionedCosette，whowasascandidasadoveiswhiteandwhosuspectednothing；

hetalkedofherchildhoodandheryouth，andhebecamemoreandmoreconvincedthatthatconvicthadbeeneverythinggood，paternalandrespectablethatamancanbetowardsCosette。

AllthatMariushadcaughtaglimpseofandhadsurmisedwasreal。

Thatsinisternettlehadlovedandprotectedthatlily。

BOOKEIGHTH。——FADINGAWAYOFTHETWILIGHT

CHAPTERI

THELOWERCHAMBER

Onthefollowingday，atnightfall，JeanValjeanknockedatthecarriagegateoftheGillenormandhouse。ItwasBasquewhoreceivedhim。

Basquewasinthecourtyardattheappointedhour，asthoughhehadreceivedhisorders。Itsometimeshappensthatonesaystoaservant:

"YouwillwatchforMr。SoandSo，whenhearrives。"

BasqueaddressedJeanValjeanwithoutwaitingforthelattertoapproachhim:

"MonsieurleBaronhaschargedmetoinquirewhethermonsieurdesirestogoupstairsortoremainbelow？"

"Iwillremainbelow，"repliedJeanValjean。

Basque，whowasperfectlyrespectful，openedthedoorofthewaiting—roomandsaid:

"IwillgoandinformMadame。"

TheroomwhichJeanValjeanenteredwasadamp，vaultedroomonthegroundfloor，whichservedasacellaronoccasion，whichopenedonthestreet，waspavedwithredsquaresandwasbadlylightedbyagratedwindow。

Thischamberwasnotoneofthosewhichareharassedbythefeather—duster，thepope’sheadbrush，andthebroom。

Thedustrestedtranquillythere。Persecutionofthespiderswasnotorganizedthere。Afineweb，whichspreadfarandwide，andwasveryblackandornamentedwithdeadflies，formedawheelononeofthewindow—panes。Theroom，whichwassmallandlow—ceiled，wasfurnishedwithaheapofemptybottlespiledupinonecorner。

Thewall，whichwasdaubedwithanochreyellowwash，wasscalingoffinlargeflakes。Atoneendtherewasachimney—piecepaintedinblackwithanarrowshelf。Afirewasburningthere；

whichindicatedthatJeanValjean’sreply:"Iwillremainbelow，"

hadbeenforeseen。

Twoarm—chairswereplacedatthetwocornersofthefireplace。

Betweenthechairsanoldbedsiderug，whichdisplayedmorefoundationthreadthanwool，hadbeenspreadbywayofacarpet。

Thechamberwaslightedbythefireonthehearthandthetwilightfallingthroughthewindow。

JeanValjeanwasfatigued。Fordayshehadneithereatennorslept。

Hethrewhimselfintooneofthearm—chairs。

Basquereturned，setalightedcandleonthechimney—pieceandretired。

JeanValjean，hisheaddroopingandhischinrestingonhisbreast，perceivedneitherBasquenorthecandle。

Allatonce，hedrewhimselfupwithastart。Cosettewasstandingbesidehim。

Hehadnotseenherenter，buthehadfeltthatshewasthere。

Heturnedround。Hegazedather。Shewasadorablylovely。

Butwhathewascontemplatingwiththatprofoundgazewasnotherbeautybuthersoul。

"Well，"exclaimedCosette，"father，Iknewthatyouwerepeculiar，butInevershouldhaveexpectedthis。Whatanidea！Mariustoldmethatyouwishmetoreceiveyouhere。"

"Yes，itismywish。"

"Iexpectedthatreply。Good。IwarnyouthatIamgoingtomakeasceneforyou。Letusbeginatthebeginning。Embraceme，father。"

Andsheofferedhimhercheek。

JeanValjeanremainedmotionless。

"Youdonotstir。Itakenoteofit。Attitudeofguilt。

Butnevermind，Ipardonyou。JesusChristsaid:Offertheothercheek。Hereitis。"

Andshepresentedherothercheek。

JeanValjeandidnotmove。Itseemedasthoughhisfeetwerenailedtothepavement。

"Thisisbecomingserious，"saidCosette。"WhathaveIdonetoyou？

IdeclarethatIamperplexed。Youowemereparation。Youwilldinewithus。"

"Ihavedined。"

"Thatisnottrue。IwillgetM。Gillenormandtoscoldyou。

Grandfathersaremadetoreprimandfathers。Come。Goupstairswithmetothedrawing—room。Immediately。"

"Impossible。"

HereCosettelostgroundalittle。Sheceasedtocommandandpassedtoquestioning。

"Butwhy？andyouchoosetheugliestchamberinthehouseinwhichtoseeme。It’shorriblehere。"

"Thouknowest……"

JeanValjeancaughthimselfup。

"Youknow，madame，thatIampeculiar，Ihavemyfreaks。"

Cosettestruckhertinyhandstogether。

"Madame！……Youknow！……morenovelties！Whatisthemeaningofthis？"

JeanValjeandirecteduponherthatheartrendingsmiletowhichheoccasionallyhadrecourse:

"YouwishedtobeMadame。Youareso。"

"Notforyou，father。"

"Donotcallmefather。"

"What？"

"Callme`MonsieurJean。’`Jean，’ifyoulike。"

"Youarenolongermyfather？IamnolongerCosette？

`MonsieurJean’？Whatdoesthismean？why，thesearerevolutions，aren’tthey？whathastakenplace？come，lookmeintheface。

Andyouwon’tlivewithus！Andyouwon’thavemychamber！

WhathaveIdonetoyou？Hasanythinghappened？"

"Nothing。"

"Wellthen？"

"Everythingisasusual。"

"Whydoyouchangeyourname？"

"Youhavechangedyours，surely。"

Hesmiledagainwiththesamesmileasbeforeandadded:

"SinceyouareMadamePontmercy，IcertainlycanbeMonsieurJean。"

"Idon’tunderstandanythingaboutit。Allthisisidiotic。

Ishallaskpermissionofmyhusbandforyoutobe`MonsieurJean。’

Ihopethathewillnotconsenttoit。Youcausemeagreatdealofpain。Onedoeshavefreaks，butonedoesnotcauseone’slittleCosettegrief。Thatiswrong。Youhavenorighttobewicked，youwhoaresogood。"

Hemadenoreply。

Sheseizedhishandswithvivacity，andraisingthemtoherfacewithanirresistiblemovement，shepressedthemagainstherneckbeneathherchin，whichisagestureofprofoundtenderness。

"Oh！"shesaidtohim，"begood！"

Andshewenton:

"ThisiswhatIcallbeinggood:beingniceandcomingandlivinghere，——

therearebirdshereasthereareintheRuePlumet，——livingwithus，quittingthatholeofaRuedel’HommeArme，notgivingusriddlestoguess，beinglikealltherestoftheworld，diningwithus，breakfastingwithus，beingmyfather。"

Heloosedherhands。

"Younolongerneedafather，youhaveahusband。"

Cosettebecameangry。

"Inolongerneedafather！Onereallydoesnotknowwhattosaytothingslikethat，whicharenotcommonsense！"

"IfToussaintwerehere，"resumedJeanValjean，likeapersonwhoisdriventoseekauthorities，andwhoclutchesateverybranch，"shewouldbethefirsttoagreethatitistruethatIhavealwayshadwaysofmyown。Thereisnothingnewinthis。Ialwayshavelovedmyblackcorner。"

"Butitiscoldhere。Onecannotseedistinctly。Itisabominable，thatitis，towishtobeMonsieurJean！Iwillnothaveyousay`you’tome。

"Justnow，asIwascominghither，"repliedJeanValjean，"IsawapieceoffurnitureintheRueSaintLouis。Itwasatacabinet—maker’s。IfIwereaprettywoman，Iwouldtreatmyselftothatbitoffurniture。Averyneattoilettableinthereigningstyle。Whatyoucallrosewood，Ithink。Itisinlaid。

Themirrorisquitelarge。Therearedrawers。Itispretty。"

"Hou！thevillainousbear！"repliedCosette。

Andwithsupremegrace，settingherteethanddrawingbackherlips，sheblewatJeanValjean。ShewasaGracecopyingacat。

"Iamfurious，"sheresumed。"Eversinceyesterday，youhavemademerage，allofyou。Iamgreatlyvexed。Idon’tunderstand。YoudonotdefendmeagainstMarius。Mariuswillnotupholdmeagainstyou。

Iamallalone。Iarrangeachamberprettily。IfIcouldhaveputthegoodGodthereIwouldhavedoneit。Mychamberisleftonmyhands。

Mylodgersendsmeintobankruptcy。IorderanicelittledinnerofNicolette。Wewillhavenothingtodowithyourdinner，Madame。

AndmyfatherFaucheleventwantsmetocallhim`MonsieurJean，’

andtoreceivehiminafrightful，old，uglycellar，wherethewallshavebeards，andwherethecrystalconsistsofemptybottles，andthecurtainsareofspiders’webs！Youaresingular，Iadmit，thatisyourstyle，butpeoplewhogetmarriedaregrantedatruce。

Yououghtnottohavebegunbeingsingularagaininstantly。

SoyouaregoingtobeperfectlycontentedinyourabominableRuedel’HommeArme。Iwasverydesperateindeedthere，thatIwas。

Whathaveyouagainstme？Youcausemeagreatdealofgrief。

Fi！"

And，becomingsuddenlyserious，shegazedintentlyatJeanValjeanandadded:

"AreyouangrywithmebecauseIamhappy？"

Ingenuousnesssometimesunconsciouslypenetratesdeep。Thisquestion，whichwassimpleforCosette，wasprofoundforJeanValjean。

Cosettehadmeanttoscratch，andshelacerated。

JeanValjeanturnedpale。

Heremainedforamomentwithoutreplying，then，withaninexpressibleintonation，andspeakingtohimself，hemurmured:

"Herhappinesswastheobjectofmylife。NowGodmaysignmydismissal。Cosette，thouarthappy；mydayisover。"

"Ah，youhavesaidthoutome！"exclaimedCosette。

Andshesprangtohisneck。

JeanValjean，inbewilderment，strainedherwildlytohisbreast。

Italmostseemedtohimasthoughheweretakingherback。

"Thanks，father！"saidCosette。

ThisenthusiasticimpulsewasonthepointofbecomingpoignantforJeanValjean。HegentlyremovedCosette’sarms，andtookhishat。

"Well？"saidCosette。

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