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Les Misérables by Victor Hugo

CHAPTER II—THE OBEDIENCE OF MARTIN VERGA

2555 words  |  Chapter 196

This convent, which in 1824 had already existed for many a long year in the Rue Petit-Picpus, was a community of Bernardines of the obedience of Martin Verga. These Bernardines were attached, in consequence, not to Clairvaux, like the Bernardine monks, but to Cîteaux, like the Benedictine monks. In other words, they were the subjects, not of Saint Bernard, but of Saint Benoît. Any one who has turned over old folios to any extent knows that Martin Verga founded in 1425 a congregation of Bernardines-Benedictines, with Salamanca for the head of the order, and Alcala as the branch establishment. This congregation had sent out branches throughout all the Catholic countries of Europe. There is nothing unusual in the Latin Church in these grafts of one order on another. To mention only a single order of Saint-Benoît, which is here in question: there are attached to this order, without counting the obedience of Martin Verga, four congregations,—two in Italy, Mont-Cassin and Sainte-Justine of Padua; two in France, Cluny and Saint-Maur; and nine orders,—Vallombrosa, Granmont, the Célestins, the Camaldules, the Carthusians, the Humiliés, the Olivateurs, the Silvestrins, and lastly, Cîteaux; for Cîteaux itself, a trunk for other orders, is only an offshoot of Saint-Benoît. Cîteaux dates from Saint Robert, Abbé de Molesme, in the diocese of Langres, in 1098. Now it was in 529 that the devil, having retired to the desert of Subiaco—he was old—had he turned hermit?—was chased from the ancient temple of Apollo, where he dwelt, by Saint-Benoît, then aged seventeen. After the rule of the Carmelites, who go barefoot, wear a bit of willow on their throats, and never sit down, the harshest rule is that of the Bernardines-Benedictines of Martin Verga. They are clothed in black, with a guimpe, which, in accordance with the express command of Saint-Benoît, mounts to the chin. A robe of serge with large sleeves, a large woollen veil, the guimpe which mounts to the chin cut square on the breast, the band which descends over their brow to their eyes,—this is their dress. All is black except the band, which is white. The novices wear the same habit, but all in white. The professed nuns also wear a rosary at their side. The Bernardines-Benedictines of Martin Verga practise the Perpetual Adoration, like the Benedictines called Ladies of the Holy Sacrament, who, at the beginning of this century, had two houses in Paris,—one at the Temple, the other in the Rue Neuve-Sainte-Geneviève. However, the Bernardines-Benedictines of the Petit-Picpus, of whom we are speaking, were a totally different order from the Ladies of the Holy Sacrament, cloistered in the Rue Neuve-Sainte-Geneviève and at the Temple. There were numerous differences in their rule; there were some in their costume. The Bernardines-Benedictines of the Petit-Picpus wore the black guimpe, and the Benedictines of the Holy Sacrament and of the Rue Neuve-Sainte-Geneviève wore a white one, and had, besides, on their breasts, a Holy Sacrament about three inches long, in silver gilt or gilded copper. The nuns of the Petit-Picpus did not wear this Holy Sacrament. The Perpetual Adoration, which was common to the house of the Petit-Picpus and to the house of the Temple, leaves those two orders perfectly distinct. Their only resemblance lies in this practice of the Ladies of the Holy Sacrament and the Bernardines of Martin Verga, just as there existed a similarity in the study and the glorification of all the mysteries relating to the infancy, the life, and death of Jesus Christ and the Virgin, between the two orders, which were, nevertheless, widely separated, and on occasion even hostile. The Oratory of Italy, established at Florence by Philip de Neri, and the Oratory of France, established by Pierre de Bérulle. The Oratory of France claimed the precedence, since Philip de Neri was only a saint, while Bérulle was a cardinal. Let us return to the harsh Spanish rule of Martin Verga. The Bernardines-Benedictines of this obedience fast all the year round, abstain from meat, fast in Lent and on many other days which are peculiar to them, rise from their first sleep, from one to three o’clock in the morning, to read their breviary and chant matins, sleep in all seasons between serge sheets and on straw, make no use of the bath, never light a fire, scourge themselves every Friday, observe the rule of silence, speak to each other only during the recreation hours, which are very brief, and wear drugget chemises for six months in the year, from September 14th, which is the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, until Easter. These six months are a modification: the rule says all the year, but this drugget chemise, intolerable in the heat of summer, produced fevers and nervous spasms. The use of it had to be restricted. Even with this palliation, when the nuns put on this chemise on the 14th of September, they suffer from fever for three or four days. Obedience, poverty, chastity, perseverance in their seclusion,—these are their vows, which the rule greatly aggravates. The prioress is elected for three years by the mothers, who are called _mères vocales_ because they have a voice in the chapter. A prioress can only be re-elected twice, which fixes the longest possible reign of a prioress at nine years. They never see the officiating priest, who is always hidden from them by a serge curtain nine feet in height. During the sermon, when the preacher is in the chapel, they drop their veils over their faces. They must always speak low, walk with their eyes on the ground and their heads bowed. One man only is allowed to enter the convent,—the archbishop of the diocese. There is really one other,—the gardener. But he is always an old man, and, in order that he may always be alone in the garden, and that the nuns may be warned to avoid him, a bell is attached to his knee. Their submission to the prioress is absolute and passive. It is the canonical subjection in the full force of its abnegation. As at the voice of Christ, _ut voci Christi_, at a gesture, at the first sign, _ad nutum, ad primum signum_, immediately, with cheerfulness, with perseverance, with a certain blind obedience, _prompte, hilariter, perseveranter et cæca quadam obedientia_, as the file in the hand of the workman, _quasi limam in manibus fabri_, without power to read or to write without express permission, _legere vel scribere non addiscerit sine expressa superioris licentia_. Each one of them in turn makes what they call _reparation_. The reparation is the prayer for all the sins, for all the faults, for all the dissensions, for all the violations, for all the iniquities, for all the crimes committed on earth. For the space of twelve consecutive hours, from four o’clock in the afternoon till four o’clock in the morning, or from four o’clock in the morning until four o’clock in the afternoon, the sister who is making _reparation_ remains on her knees on the stone before the Holy Sacrament, with hands clasped, a rope around her neck. When her fatigue becomes unendurable, she prostrates herself flat on her face against the earth, with her arms outstretched in the form of a cross; this is her only relief. In this attitude she prays for all the guilty in the universe. This is great to sublimity. As this act is performed in front of a post on which burns a candle, it is called without distinction, _to make reparation_ or _to be at the post_. The nuns even prefer, out of humility, this last expression, which contains an idea of torture and abasement. _To make reparation_ is a function in which the whole soul is absorbed. The sister at the post would not turn round were a thunderbolt to fall directly behind her. Besides this, there is always a sister kneeling before the Holy Sacrament. This station lasts an hour. They relieve each other like soldiers on guard. This is the Perpetual Adoration. The prioresses and the mothers almost always bear names stamped with peculiar solemnity, recalling, not the saints and martyrs, but moments in the life of Jesus Christ: as Mother Nativity, Mother Conception, Mother Presentation, Mother Passion. But the names of saints are not interdicted. When one sees them, one never sees anything but their mouths. All their teeth are yellow. No tooth-brush ever entered that convent. Brushing one’s teeth is at the top of a ladder at whose bottom is the loss of one’s soul. They never say _my_. They possess nothing of their own, and they must not attach themselves to anything. They call everything _our_; thus: our veil, our chaplet; if they were speaking of their chemise, they would say _our chemise_. Sometimes they grow attached to some petty object,—to a book of hours, a relic, a medal that has been blessed. As soon as they become aware that they are growing attached to this object, they must give it up. They recall the words of Saint Thérèse, to whom a great lady said, as she was on the point of entering her order, “Permit me, mother, to send for a Bible to which I am greatly attached.” “Ah, you are attached to something! In that case, do not enter our order!” Every person whatever is forbidden to shut herself up, to have _a place of her own, a chamber_. They live with their cells open. When they meet, one says, “Blessed and adored be the most Holy Sacrament of the altar!” The other responds, “Forever.” The same ceremony when one taps at the other’s door. Hardly has she touched the door when a soft voice on the other side is heard to say hastily, “Forever!” Like all practices, this becomes mechanical by force of habit; and one sometimes says _forever_ before the other has had time to say the rather long sentence, “Praised and adored be the most Holy Sacrament of the altar.” Among the Visitandines the one who enters says: “Ave Maria,” and the one whose cell is entered says, “Gratia plena.” It is their way of saying good day, which is in fact full of grace. At each hour of the day three supplementary strokes sound from the church bell of the convent. At this signal prioress, vocal mothers, professed nuns, lay-sisters, novices, postulants, interrupt what they are saying, what they are doing, or what they are thinking, and all say in unison if it is five o’clock, for instance, “At five o’clock and at all hours praised and adored be the most Holy Sacrament of the altar!” If it is eight o’clock, “At eight o’clock and at all hours!” and so on, according to the hour. This custom, the object of which is to break the thread of thought and to lead it back constantly to God, exists in many communities; the formula alone varies. Thus at The Infant Jesus they say, “At this hour and at every hour may the love of Jesus kindle my heart!” The Bernardines-Benedictines of Martin Verga, cloistered fifty years ago at Petit-Picpus, chant the offices to a solemn psalmody, a pure Gregorian chant, and always with full voice during the whole course of the office. Everywhere in the missal where an asterisk occurs they pause, and say in a low voice, “Jesus-Marie-Joseph.” For the office of the dead they adopt a tone so low that the voices of women can hardly descend to such a depth. The effect produced is striking and tragic. The nuns of the Petit-Picpus had made a vault under their grand altar for the burial of their community. _The Government_, as they say, does not permit this vault to receive coffins so they leave the convent when they die. This is an affliction to them, and causes them consternation as an infraction of the rules. They had obtained a mediocre consolation at best,—permission to be interred at a special hour and in a special corner in the ancient Vaugirard cemetery, which was made of land which had formerly belonged to their community. On Fridays the nuns hear high mass, vespers, and all the offices, as on Sunday. They scrupulously observe in addition all the little festivals unknown to people of the world, of which the Church of France was so prodigal in the olden days, and of which it is still prodigal in Spain and Italy. Their stations in the chapel are interminable. As for the number and duration of their prayers we can convey no better idea of them than by quoting the ingenuous remark of one of them: “The prayers of the postulants are frightful, the prayers of the novices are still worse, and the prayers of the professed nuns are still worse.” Once a week the chapter assembles: the prioress presides; the vocal mothers assist. Each sister kneels in turn on the stones, and confesses aloud, in the presence of all, the faults and sins which she has committed during the week. The vocal mothers consult after each confession and inflict the penance aloud. Besides this confession in a loud tone, for which all faults in the least serious are reserved, they have for their venial offences what they call the _coulpe. To make one’s coulpe_ means to prostrate one’s self flat on one’s face during the office in front of the prioress until the latter, who is never called anything but _our mother_, notifies the culprit by a slight tap of her foot against the wood of her stall that she can rise. The _coulpe_ or _peccavi_, is made for a very small matter—a broken glass, a torn veil, an involuntary delay of a few seconds at an office, a false note in church, etc.; this suffices, and the _coulpe_ is made. The _coulpe_ is entirely spontaneous; it is the culpable person herself (the word is etymologically in its place here) who judges herself and inflicts it on herself. On festival days and Sundays four mother precentors intone the offices before a large reading-desk with four places. One day one of the mother precentors intoned a psalm beginning with _Ecce_, and instead of _Ecce_ she uttered aloud the three notes _do si sol_; for this piece of absent-mindedness she underwent a _coulpe_ which lasted during the whole service: what rendered the fault enormous was the fact that the chapter had laughed. When a nun is summoned to the parlor, even were it the prioress herself, she drops her veil, as will be remembered, so that only her mouth is visible. The prioress alone can hold communication with strangers. The others can see only their immediate family, and that very rarely. If, by chance, an outsider presents herself to see a nun, or one whom she has known and loved in the outer world, a regular series of negotiations is required. If it is a woman, the authorization may sometimes be granted; the nun comes, and they talk to her through the shutters, which are opened only for a mother or sister. It is unnecessary to say that permission is always refused to men. Such is the rule of Saint-Benoît, aggravated by Martin Verga. These nuns are not gay, rosy, and fresh, as the daughters of other orders often are. They are pale and grave. Between 1825 and 1830 three of them went mad.
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Chapters

1. Chapter 1 2. CHAPTER XIV—WHAT HE THOUGHT 3. CHAPTER XIII—LITTLE GERVAIS 4. CHAPTER IX—A MERRY END TO MIRTH 5. CHAPTER III—THE LARK 6. CHAPTER XIII—THE SOLUTION OF SOME QUESTIONS CONNECTED WITH THE 7. CHAPTER II—HOW JEAN MAY BECOME CHAMP 8. CHAPTER VII—THE TRAVELLER ON HIS ARRIVAL TAKES PRECAUTIONS FOR 9. CHAPTER XI—CHAMPMATHIEU MORE AND MORE ASTONISHED 10. CHAPTER V—A SUITABLE TOMB 11. CHAPTER XIX—THE BATTLE-FIELD AT NIGHT 12. CHAPTER II—IN WHICH THE READER WILL PERUSE TWO VERSES, WHICH ARE OF 13. CHAPTER III—THE ANKLE-CHAIN MUST HAVE UNDERGONE A CERTAIN PREPARATORY 14. CHAPTER VIII—THE UNPLEASANTNESS OF RECEIVING INTO ONE’S HOUSE A POOR 15. CHAPTER X—HE WHO SEEKS TO BETTER HIMSELF MAY RENDER HIS SITUATION 16. CHAPTER XI—NUMBER 9,430 REAPPEARS, AND COSETTE WINS IT IN THE LOTTERY 17. CHAPTER V—A FIVE-FRANC PIECE FALLS ON THE GROUND AND PRODUCES A TUMULT 18. CHAPTER X—WHICH EXPLAINS HOW JAVERT GOT ON THE SCENT 19. CHAPTER XI—END OF THE PETIT-PICPUS 20. CHAPTER VIII—FAITH, LAW 21. CHAPTER IV—IN WHICH JEAN VALJEAN HAS QUITE THE AIR OF HAVING READ 22. CHAPTER VII—IN WHICH WILL BE FOUND THE ORIGIN OF THE SAYING: DON’T 23. CHAPTER IX—CLOISTERED 24. CHAPTER VII—THE GAMIN SHOULD HAVE HIS PLACE IN THE CLASSIFICATIONS OF 25. CHAPTER VIII—IN WHICH THE READER WILL FIND A CHARMING SAYING OF THE 26. CHAPTER XIII—LITTLE GAVROCHE 27. CHAPTER VIII—TWO DO NOT MAKE A PAIR 28. CHAPTER V—THE UTILITY OF GOING TO MASS, IN ORDER TO BECOME A 29. CHAPTER VIII—MARBLE AGAINST GRANITE 30. CHAPTER VI—RES ANGUSTA 31. CHAPTER VI—THE SUBSTITUTE 32. CHAPTER IX—ECLIPSE 33. CHAPTER IV—COMPOSITION OF THE TROUPE 34. CHAPTER I—MARIUS, WHILE SEEKING A GIRL IN A BONNET, ENCOUNTERS A MAN 35. CHAPTER XIII—SOLUS CUM SOLO, IN LOCO REMOTO, NON COGITABUNTUR ORARE 36. CHAPTER XVI—IN WHICH WILL BE FOUND THE WORDS TO AN ENGLISH AIR WHICH 37. CHAPTER XXII—THE LITTLE ONE WHO WAS CRYING IN VOLUME TWO 38. CHAPTER VI—ENJOLRAS AND HIS LIEUTENANTS 39. CHAPTER IV—AN APPARITION TO MARIUS 40. CHAPTER VIII—THE CHAIN-GANG 41. CHAPTER II—MOTHER PLUTARQUE FINDS NO DIFFICULTY IN EXPLAINING A 42. CHAPTER VI—OLD PEOPLE ARE MADE TO GO OUT OPPORTUNELY 43. CHAPTER II—IN WHICH LITTLE GAVROCHE EXTRACTS PROFIT FROM NAPOLEON THE 44. CHAPTER III—THE VICISSITUDES OF FLIGHT 45. CHAPTER IV—THE TWO DUTIES: TO WATCH AND TO HOPE 46. CHAPTER VI—MARIUS BECOMES PRACTICAL ONCE MORE TO THE EXTENT OF GIVING 47. CHAPTER VII—THE OLD HEART AND THE YOUNG HEART IN THE PRESENCE OF EACH 48. CHAPTER III—M. MABEUF 49. CHAPTER V—ORIGINALITY OF PARIS 50. CHAPTER I—SOME EXPLANATIONS WITH REGARD TO THE ORIGIN OF GAVROCHE’S 51. CHAPTER VI—RECRUITS 52. CHAPTER VIII—MANY INTERROGATION POINTS WITH REGARD TO A CERTAIN LE 53. CHAPTER III—THE EXTREME EDGE 54. CHAPTER III—GAVROCHE WOULD HAVE DONE BETTER TO ACCEPT ENJOLRAS’ 55. CHAPTER VII—GAVROCHE AS A PROFOUND CALCULATOR OF DISTANCES 56. CHAPTER IV—GAVROCHE’S EXCESS OF ZEAL 57. CHAPTER IX—EMPLOYMENT OF THE OLD TALENTS OF A POACHER AND THAT 58. CHAPTER XX—THE DEAD ARE IN THE RIGHT AND THE LIVING ARE NOT IN THE 59. CHAPTER XXIV—PRISONER 60. CHAPTER VI—FUTURE PROGRESS 61. CHAPTER V—IN THE CASE OF SAND AS IN THAT OF WOMAN, THERE IS A FINENESS 62. CHAPTER VII—ONE SOMETIMES RUNS AGROUND WHEN ONE FANCIES THAT ONE IS 63. CHAPTER IX—MARIUS PRODUCES ON SOME ONE WHO IS A JUDGE OF THE MATTER, 64. CHAPTER XII—THE GRANDFATHER 65. CHAPTER I 66. CHAPTER II—MARIUS, EMERGING FROM CIVIL WAR, MAKES READY FOR DOMESTIC 67. CHAPTER IV—MADEMOISELLE GILLENORMAND ENDS BY NO LONGER THINKING IT A 68. CHAPTER VI—THE TWO OLD MEN DO EVERYTHING, EACH ONE AFTER HIS OWN 69. CHAPTER VIII—TWO MEN IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND 70. CHAPTER IV—THE IMMORTAL LIVER 71. CHAPTER II—THE OBSCURITIES WHICH A REVELATION CAN CONTAIN 72. CHAPTER IV—ATTRACTION AND EXTINCTION 73. CHAPTER III—A PEN IS HEAVY TO THE MAN WHO LIFTED THE FAUCHELEVENT’S 74. CHAPTER VI—THE GRASS COVERS AND THE RAIN EFFACES 75. CHAPTER I—M. MYRIEL 76. CHAPTER II—M. MYRIEL BECOMES M. WELCOME 77. 1712. This palace was a genuine seignorial residence. Everything about 78. CHAPTER III—A HARD BISHOPRIC FOR A GOOD BISHOP 79. CHAPTER IV—WORKS CORRESPONDING TO WORDS 80. CHAPTER V—MONSEIGNEUR BIENVENU MADE HIS CASSOCKS LAST TOO LONG 81. CHAPTER VI—WHO GUARDED HIS HOUSE FOR HIM 82. CHAPTER VII—CRAVATTE 83. CHAPTER VIII—PHILOSOPHY AFTER DRINKING 84. CHAPTER IX—THE BROTHER AS DEPICTED BY THE SISTER 85. CHAPTER X—THE BISHOP IN THE PRESENCE OF AN UNKNOWN LIGHT 86. CHAPTER XI—A RESTRICTION 87. CHAPTER XII—THE SOLITUDE OF MONSEIGNEUR WELCOME 88. CHAPTER XIII—WHAT HE BELIEVED 89. CHAPTER XIV—WHAT HE THOUGHT 90. CHAPTER I—THE EVENING OF A DAY OF WALKING 91. CHAPTER II—PRUDENCE COUNSELLED TO WISDOM. 92. CHAPTER III—THE HEROISM OF PASSIVE OBEDIENCE. 93. CHAPTER IV—DETAILS CONCERNING THE CHEESE-DAIRIES OF PONTARLIER. 94. CHAPTER V—TRANQUILLITY 95. CHAPTER VI—JEAN VALJEAN 96. CHAPTER VII—THE INTERIOR OF DESPAIR 97. CHAPTER VIII—BILLOWS AND SHADOWS 98. CHAPTER IX—NEW TROUBLES 99. CHAPTER X—THE MAN AROUSED 100. CHAPTER XI—WHAT HE DOES 101. CHAPTER XII—THE BISHOP WORKS 102. CHAPTER XIII—LITTLE GERVAIS 103. CHAPTER I—THE YEAR 1817 104. CHAPTER II—A DOUBLE QUARTETTE 105. CHAPTER III—FOUR AND FOUR 106. CHAPTER IV—THOLOMYÈS IS SO MERRY THAT HE SINGS A SPANISH DITTY 107. CHAPTER V—AT BOMBARDA’S 108. CHAPTER VI—A CHAPTER IN WHICH THEY ADORE EACH OTHER 109. CHAPTER VII—THE WISDOM OF THOLOMYÈS 110. CHAPTER VIII—THE DEATH OF A HORSE 111. CHAPTER IX—A MERRY END TO MIRTH 112. CHAPTER I—ONE MOTHER MEETS ANOTHER MOTHER 113. CHAPTER II—FIRST SKETCH OF TWO UNPREPOSSESSING FIGURES 114. CHAPTER III—THE LARK 115. CHAPTER I—THE HISTORY OF A PROGRESS IN BLACK GLASS TRINKETS 116. CHAPTER II—MADELEINE 117. CHAPTER III—SUMS DEPOSITED WITH LAFFITTE 118. CHAPTER IV—M. MADELEINE IN MOURNING 119. CHAPTER V—VAGUE FLASHES ON THE HORIZON 120. CHAPTER VI—FATHER FAUCHELEVENT 121. CHAPTER VII—FAUCHELEVENT BECOMES A GARDENER IN PARIS 122. CHAPTER VIII—MADAME VICTURNIEN EXPENDS THIRTY FRANCS ON MORALITY 123. CHAPTER IX—MADAME VICTURNIEN’S SUCCESS 124. CHAPTER X—RESULT OF THE SUCCESS 125. CHAPTER XI—CHRISTUS NOS LIBERAVIT 126. CHAPTER XII—M. BAMATABOIS’S INACTIVITY 127. CHAPTER XIII—THE SOLUTION OF SOME QUESTIONS CONNECTED WITH THE 128. CHAPTER I—THE BEGINNING OF REPOSE 129. CHAPTER II—HOW JEAN MAY BECOME CHAMP 130. CHAPTER I—SISTER SIMPLICE 131. CHAPTER II—THE PERSPICACITY OF MASTER SCAUFFLAIRE 132. CHAPTER III—A TEMPEST IN A SKULL 133. CHAPTER IV—FORMS ASSUMED BY SUFFERING DURING SLEEP 134. CHAPTER V—HINDRANCES 135. CHAPTER VI—SISTER SIMPLICE PUT TO THE PROOF 136. CHAPTER VII—THE TRAVELLER ON HIS ARRIVAL TAKES PRECAUTIONS FOR 137. CHAPTER VIII—AN ENTRANCE BY FAVOR 138. CHAPTER IX—A PLACE WHERE CONVICTIONS ARE IN PROCESS OF FORMATION 139. CHAPTER X—THE SYSTEM OF DENIALS 140. CHAPTER XI—CHAMPMATHIEU MORE AND MORE ASTONISHED 141. CHAPTER I—IN WHAT MIRROR M. MADELEINE CONTEMPLATES HIS HAIR 142. CHAPTER II—FANTINE HAPPY 143. CHAPTER III—JAVERT SATISFIED 144. CHAPTER IV—AUTHORITY REASSERTS ITS RIGHTS 145. CHAPTER V—A SUITABLE TOMB 146. CHAPTER I—WHAT IS MET WITH ON THE WAY FROM NIVELLES 147. CHAPTER II—HOUGOMONT 148. CHAPTER III—THE EIGHTEENTH OF JUNE, 1815 149. CHAPTER IV—A 150. CHAPTER V—THE QUID OBSCURUM OF BATTLES 151. CHAPTER VI—FOUR O’CLOCK IN THE AFTERNOON 152. CHAPTER VII—NAPOLEON IN A GOOD HUMOR 153. CHAPTER VIII—THE EMPEROR PUTS A QUESTION TO THE GUIDE LACOSTE 154. CHAPTER IX—THE UNEXPECTED 155. CHAPTER X—THE PLATEAU OF MONT-SAINT-JEAN 156. CHAPTER XI—A BAD GUIDE TO NAPOLEON; A GOOD GUIDE TO BÜLOW 157. CHAPTER XII—THE GUARD 158. CHAPTER XIII—THE CATASTROPHE 159. CHAPTER XIV—THE LAST SQUARE 160. CHAPTER XV—CAMBRONNE 161. CHAPTER XVI—QUOT LIBRAS IN DUCE? 162. CHAPTER XVII—IS WATERLOO TO BE CONSIDERED GOOD? 163. CHAPTER XVIII—A RECRUDESCENCE OF DIVINE RIGHT 164. CHAPTER XIX—THE BATTLE-FIELD AT NIGHT 165. CHAPTER I—NUMBER 24,601 BECOMES NUMBER 9,430 166. CHAPTER II—IN WHICH THE READER WILL PERUSE TWO VERSES, WHICH ARE OF THE 167. CHAPTER III—THE ANKLE-CHAIN MUST HAVE UNDERGONE A CERTAIN PREPARATORY 168. CHAPTER I—THE WATER QUESTION AT MONTFERMEIL 169. CHAPTER II—TWO COMPLETE PORTRAITS 170. CHAPTER III—MEN MUST HAVE WINE, AND HORSES MUST HAVE WATER 171. CHAPTER IV—ENTRANCE ON THE SCENE OF A DOLL 172. CHAPTER V—THE LITTLE ONE ALL ALONE 173. CHAPTER VI—WHICH POSSIBLY PROVES BOULATRUELLE’S INTELLIGENCE 174. CHAPTER VII—COSETTE SIDE BY SIDE WITH THE STRANGER IN THE DARK 175. CHAPTER VIII—THE UNPLEASANTNESS OF RECEIVING INTO ONE’S HOUSE A POOR 176. CHAPTER IX— THÉNARDIER AND HIS MANŒUVRES 177. CHAPTER X—HE WHO SEEKS TO BETTER HIMSELF MAY RENDER HIS SITUATION WORSE 178. CHAPTER XI—NUMBER 9,430 REAPPEARS, AND COSETTE WINS IT IN THE LOTTERY 179. CHAPTER I—MASTER GORBEAU 180. CHAPTER II—A NEST FOR OWL AND A WARBLER 181. CHAPTER III—TWO MISFORTUNES MAKE ONE PIECE OF GOOD FORTUNE 182. CHAPTER IV—THE REMARKS OF THE PRINCIPAL TENANT 183. CHAPTER V—A FIVE-FRANC PIECE FALLS ON THE GROUND AND PRODUCES A TUMULT 184. CHAPTER I—THE ZIGZAGS OF STRATEGY 185. CHAPTER II—IT IS LUCKY THAT THE PONT D’AUSTERLITZ BEARS CARRIAGES 186. CHAPTER III—TO WIT, THE PLAN OF PARIS IN 1727 187. CHAPTER IV—THE GROPINGS OF FLIGHT 188. CHAPTER V—WHICH WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE WITH GAS LANTERNS 189. CHAPTER VI—THE BEGINNING OF AN ENIGMA 190. CHAPTER VII—CONTINUATION OF THE ENIGMA 191. CHAPTER VIII—THE ENIGMA BECOMES DOUBLY MYSTERIOUS 192. CHAPTER IX—THE MAN WITH THE BELL 193. CHAPTER X—WHICH EXPLAINS HOW JAVERT GOT ON THE SCENT 194. episode of the thousand-franc bill. She had seen it! She had handled 195. CHAPTER I—NUMBER 62 RUE PETIT-PICPUS 196. CHAPTER II—THE OBEDIENCE OF MARTIN VERGA 197. CHAPTER III—AUSTERITIES 198. CHAPTER IV—GAYETIES 199. CHAPTER V—DISTRACTIONS 200. CHAPTER VI—THE LITTLE CONVENT 201. CHAPTER VII—SOME SILHOUETTES OF THIS DARKNESS 202. CHAPTER VIII—POST CORDA LAPIDES 203. CHAPTER IX—A CENTURY UNDER A GUIMPE 204. CHAPTER X—ORIGIN OF THE PERPETUAL ADORATION 205. CHAPTER XI—END OF THE PETIT-PICPUS 206. CHAPTER I—THE CONVENT AS AN ABSTRACT IDEA 207. CHAPTER II—THE CONVENT AS AN HISTORICAL FACT 208. CHAPTER III—ON WHAT CONDITIONS ONE CAN RESPECT THE PAST 209. CHAPTER IV—THE CONVENT FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF PRINCIPLES 210. CHAPTER V—PRAYER 211. CHAPTER VI—THE ABSOLUTE GOODNESS OF PRAYER 212. CHAPTER VII—PRECAUTIONS TO BE OBSERVED IN BLAME 213. CHAPTER VIII—FAITH, LAW 214. CHAPTER I—WHICH TREATS OF THE MANNER OF ENTERING A CONVENT 215. CHAPTER II—FAUCHELEVENT IN THE PRESENCE OF A DIFFICULTY 216. CHAPTER III—MOTHER INNOCENTE 217. CHAPTER IV—IN WHICH JEAN VALJEAN HAS QUITE THE AIR OF HAVING READ 218. CHAPTER V—IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO BE DRUNK IN ORDER TO BE IMMORTAL 219. CHAPTER VI—BETWEEN FOUR PLANKS 220. CHAPTER VII—IN WHICH WILL BE FOUND THE ORIGIN OF THE SAYING: DON’T LOSE 221. CHAPTER VIII—A SUCCESSFUL INTERROGATORY 222. CHAPTER IX—CLOISTERED 223. CHAPTER I—PARVULUS 224. CHAPTER II—SOME OF HIS PARTICULAR CHARACTERISTICS 225. CHAPTER III—HE IS AGREEABLE 226. CHAPTER IV—HE MAY BE OF USE 227. CHAPTER V—HIS FRONTIERS 228. CHAPTER VI—A BIT OF HISTORY 229. CHAPTER VII—THE GAMIN SHOULD HAVE HIS PLACE IN THE CLASSIFICATIONS OF 230. CHAPTER VIII—IN WHICH THE READER WILL FIND A CHARMING SAYING OF THE 231. CHAPTER IX—THE OLD SOUL OF GAUL 232. CHAPTER X—ECCE PARIS, ECCE HOMO 233. CHAPTER XI—TO SCOFF, TO REIGN 234. CHAPTER XII—THE FUTURE LATENT IN THE PEOPLE 235. CHAPTER XIII—LITTLE GAVROCHE 236. CHAPTER I—NINETY YEARS AND THIRTY-TWO TEETH 237. CHAPTER II—LIKE MASTER, LIKE HOUSE 238. CHAPTER III—LUC-ESPRIT 239. CHAPTER IV—A CENTENARIAN ASPIRANT 240. CHAPTER V—BASQUE AND NICOLETTE 241. CHAPTER VI—IN WHICH MAGNON AND HER TWO CHILDREN ARE SEEN 242. CHAPTER VII—RULE: RECEIVE NO ONE EXCEPT IN THE EVENING 243. CHAPTER VIII—TWO DO NOT MAKE A PAIR 244. CHAPTER I—AN ANCIENT SALON 245. CHAPTER II—ONE OF THE RED SPECTRES OF THAT EPOCH 246. 1794. Pontmercy fought at Spire, at Worms, at Neustadt, at Turkheim, at 247. CHAPTER III—REQUIESCANT 248. introduction into history of M. le Marquis de Bonaparte, 249. CHAPTER IV—END OF THE BRIGAND 250. CHAPTER V—THE UTILITY OF GOING TO MASS, IN ORDER TO BECOME A 251. CHAPTER VI—THE CONSEQUENCES OF HAVING MET A WARDEN 252. CHAPTER VII—SOME PETTICOAT 253. CHAPTER VIII—MARBLE AGAINST GRANITE 254. CHAPTER I—A GROUP WHICH BARELY MISSED BECOMING HISTORIC 255. CHAPTER II—BLONDEAU’S FUNERAL ORATION BY BOSSUET 256. CHAPTER III—MARIUS’ ASTONISHMENTS 257. CHAPTER IV—THE BACK ROOM OF THE CAFÉ MUSAIN 258. CHAPTER V—ENLARGEMENT OF HORIZON 259. CHAPTER VI—RES ANGUSTA 260. CHAPTER I—MARIUS INDIGENT 261. CHAPTER II—MARIUS POOR 262. CHAPTER III—MARIUS GROWN UP 263. CHAPTER IV—M. MABEUF 264. CHAPTER V—POVERTY A GOOD NEIGHBOR FOR MISERY 265. CHAPTER VI—THE SUBSTITUTE 266. CHAPTER I—THE SOBRIQUET: MODE OF FORMATION OF FAMILY NAMES 267. CHAPTER II—LUX FACTA EST 268. CHAPTER III—EFFECT OF THE SPRING 269. CHAPTER IV—BEGINNING OF A GREAT MALADY 270. CHAPTER V—DIVERS CLAPS OF THUNDER FALL ON MA’AM BOUGON 271. CHAPTER VI—TAKEN PRISONER 272. CHAPTER VII—ADVENTURES OF THE LETTER U DELIVERED OVER TO CONJECTURES 273. CHAPTER VIII—THE VETERANS THEMSELVES CAN BE HAPPY 274. CHAPTER IX—ECLIPSE 275. CHAPTER I—MINES AND MINERS 276. CHAPTER II—THE LOWEST DEPTHS 277. CHAPTER III—BABET, GUEULEMER, CLAQUESOUS, AND MONTPARNASSE 278. CHAPTER IV—COMPOSITION OF THE TROUPE 279. CHAPTER I—MARIUS, WHILE SEEKING A GIRL IN A BONNET, ENCOUNTERS A MAN IN 280. CHAPTER II—TREASURE TROVE 281. CHAPTER III—QUADRIFRONS 282. CHAPTER IV—A ROSE IN MISERY 283. CHAPTER V—A PROVIDENTIAL PEEP-HOLE 284. CHAPTER VI—THE WILD MAN IN HIS LAIR 285. CHAPTER VII—STRATEGY AND TACTICS 286. CHAPTER VIII—THE RAY OF LIGHT IN THE HOVEL 287. CHAPTER IX—JONDRETTE COMES NEAR WEEPING 288. CHAPTER X—TARIFF OF LICENSED CABS: TWO FRANCS AN HOUR 289. CHAPTER XI—OFFERS OF SERVICE FROM MISERY TO WRETCHEDNESS 290. CHAPTER XII—THE USE MADE OF M. LEBLANC’S FIVE-FRANC PIECE 291. CHAPTER XIII—SOLUS CUM SOLO, IN LOCO REMOTO, NON COGITABUNTUR ORARE 292. CHAPTER XIV—IN WHICH A POLICE AGENT BESTOWS TWO FISTFULS ON A LAWYER 293. CHAPTER XV—JONDRETTE MAKES HIS PURCHASES 294. CHAPTER XVI—IN WHICH WILL BE FOUND THE WORDS TO AN ENGLISH AIR WHICH 295. CHAPTER XVII—THE USE MADE OF MARIUS’ FIVE-FRANC PIECE 296. CHAPTER XVIII—MARIUS’ TWO CHAIRS FORM A VIS-A-VIS 297. CHAPTER XIX—OCCUPYING ONE’S SELF WITH OBSCURE DEPTHS 298. CHAPTER XX—THE TRAP 299. CHAPTER XXI—ONE SHOULD ALWAYS BEGIN BY ARRESTING THE VICTIMS 300. CHAPTER XXII—THE LITTLE ONE WHO WAS CRYING IN VOLUME TWO 301. CHAPTER I—WELL CUT 302. CHAPTER II—BADLY SEWED 303. CHAPTER III—LOUIS PHILIPPE 304. CHAPTER IV—CRACKS BENEATH THE FOUNDATION 305. CHAPTER V—FACTS WHENCE HISTORY SPRINGS AND WHICH HISTORY IGNORES 306. CHAPTER VI—ENJOLRAS AND HIS LIEUTENANTS 307. CHAPTER I—THE LARK’S MEADOW 308. CHAPTER II—EMBRYONIC FORMATION OF CRIMES IN THE INCUBATION OF PRISONS 309. CHAPTER III—APPARITION TO FATHER MABEUF 310. CHAPTER IV—AN APPARITION TO MARIUS 311. CHAPTER I—THE HOUSE WITH A SECRET 312. CHAPTER II—JEAN VALJEAN AS A NATIONAL GUARD 313. 1831. The municipal information collected at that time had even reached 314. CHAPTER III—FOLIIS AC FRONDIBUS 315. CHAPTER IV—CHANGE OF GATE 316. CHAPTER V—THE ROSE PERCEIVES THAT IT IS AN ENGINE OF WAR 317. CHAPTER VI—THE BATTLE BEGUN 318. CHAPTER VII—TO ONE SADNESS OPPOSE A SADNESS AND A HALF 319. CHAPTER VIII—THE CHAIN-GANG 320. CHAPTER I—A WOUND WITHOUT, HEALING WITHIN 321. CHAPTER II—MOTHER PLUTARQUE FINDS NO DIFFICULTY IN EXPLAINING A 322. CHAPTER I—SOLITUDE AND THE BARRACKS COMBINED 323. CHAPTER II—COSETTE’S APPREHENSIONS 324. CHAPTER III—ENRICHED WITH COMMENTARIES BY TOUSSAINT 325. CHAPTER IV—A HEART BENEATH A STONE 326. CHAPTER V—COSETTE AFTER THE LETTER 327. CHAPTER VI—OLD PEOPLE ARE MADE TO GO OUT OPPORTUNELY 328. CHAPTER I—THE MALICIOUS PLAYFULNESS OF THE WIND 329. CHAPTER II—IN WHICH LITTLE GAVROCHE EXTRACTS PROFIT FROM NAPOLEON THE 330. CHAPTER III—THE VICISSITUDES OF FLIGHT 331. CHAPTER I—ORIGIN 332. CHAPTER II—ROOTS 333. CHAPTER III—SLANG WHICH WEEPS AND SLANG WHICH LAUGHS 334. CHAPTER IV—THE TWO DUTIES: TO WATCH AND TO HOPE 335. CHAPTER I—FULL LIGHT 336. CHAPTER II—THE BEWILDERMENT OF PERFECT HAPPINESS 337. CHAPTER III—THE BEGINNING OF SHADOW 338. CHAPTER IV—A CAB RUNS IN ENGLISH AND BARKS IN SLANG 339. CHAPTER V—THINGS OF THE NIGHT 340. CHAPTER VI—MARIUS BECOMES PRACTICAL ONCE MORE TO THE EXTENT OF GIVING 341. CHAPTER VII—THE OLD HEART AND THE YOUNG HEART IN THE PRESENCE OF EACH 342. CHAPTER I—JEAN VALJEAN 343. CHAPTER II—MARIUS 344. CHAPTER III—M. MABEUF 345. CHAPTER I—THE SURFACE OF THE QUESTION 346. CHAPTER II—THE ROOT OF THE MATTER 347. CHAPTER III—A BURIAL; AN OCCASION TO BE BORN AGAIN 348. CHAPTER IV—THE EBULLITIONS OF FORMER DAYS 349. CHAPTER V—ORIGINALITY OF PARIS 350. CHAPTER I—SOME EXPLANATIONS WITH REGARD TO THE ORIGIN OF GAVROCHE’S 351. CHAPTER II—GAVROCHE ON THE MARCH 352. CHAPTER III—JUST INDIGNATION OF A HAIR-DRESSER 353. CHAPTER IV—THE CHILD IS AMAZED AT THE OLD MAN 354. CHAPTER V—THE OLD MAN 355. CHAPTER VI—RECRUITS 356. CHAPTER I—HISTORY OF CORINTHE FROM ITS FOUNDATION 357. CHAPTER II—PRELIMINARY GAYETIES 358. CHAPTER III—NIGHT BEGINS TO DESCEND UPON GRANTAIRE 359. CHAPTER IV—AN ATTEMPT TO CONSOLE THE WIDOW HUCHELOUP 360. CHAPTER V—PREPARATIONS 361. CHAPTER VI—WAITING 362. CHAPTER VII—THE MAN RECRUITED IN THE RUE DES BILLETTES 363. CHAPTER VIII—MANY INTERROGATION POINTS WITH REGARD TO A CERTAIN LE 364. CHAPTER I—FROM THE RUE PLUMET TO THE QUARTIER SAINT-DENIS 365. CHAPTER II—AN OWL’S VIEW OF PARIS 366. CHAPTER III—THE EXTREME EDGE 367. CHAPTER I—THE FLAG: ACT FIRST 368. CHAPTER II—THE FLAG: ACT SECOND 369. CHAPTER III—GAVROCHE WOULD HAVE DONE BETTER TO ACCEPT ENJOLRAS’ CARBINE 370. CHAPTER IV—THE BARREL OF POWDER 371. CHAPTER V—END OF THE VERSES OF JEAN PROUVAIRE 372. CHAPTER VI—THE AGONY OF DEATH AFTER THE AGONY OF LIFE 373. CHAPTER VII—GAVROCHE AS A PROFOUND CALCULATOR OF DISTANCES 374. CHAPTER I—A DRINKER IS A BABBLER 375. CHAPTER II—THE STREET URCHIN AN ENEMY OF LIGHT 376. CHAPTER III—WHILE COSETTE AND TOUSSAINT ARE ASLEEP 377. CHAPTER IV—GAVROCHE’S EXCESS OF ZEAL 378. CHAPTER I—THE CHARYBDIS OF THE FAUBOURG SAINT ANTOINE AND THE SCYLLA OF 379. CHAPTER II—WHAT IS TO BE DONE IN THE ABYSS IF ONE DOES NOT CONVERSE 380. CHAPTER III—LIGHT AND SHADOW 381. CHAPTER IV—MINUS FIVE, PLUS ONE 382. CHAPTER V—THE HORIZON WHICH ONE BEHOLDS FROM THE SUMMIT OF A BARRICADE 383. CHAPTER VI—MARIUS HAGGARD, JAVERT LACONIC 384. CHAPTER VII—THE SITUATION BECOMES AGGRAVATED 385. CHAPTER VIII—THE ARTILLERY-MEN COMPEL PEOPLE TO TAKE THEM SERIOUSLY 386. CHAPTER IX—EMPLOYMENT OF THE OLD TALENTS OF A POACHER AND THAT 387. CHAPTER X—DAWN 388. CHAPTER XI—THE SHOT WHICH MISSES NOTHING AND KILLS NO ONE 389. CHAPTER XII—DISORDER A PARTISAN OF ORDER 390. 1832. Captain Fannicot, a bold and impatient bourgeois, a sort of 391. CHAPTER XIII—PASSING GLEAMS 392. CHAPTER XIV—WHEREIN WILL APPEAR THE NAME OF ENJOLRAS’ MISTRESS 393. CHAPTER XV—GAVROCHE OUTSIDE 394. CHAPTER XVI—HOW FROM A BROTHER ONE BECOMES A FATHER 395. CHAPTER XVII—MORTUUS PATER FILIUM MORITURUM EXPECTAT 396. CHAPTER XVIII—THE VULTURE BECOME PREY 397. CHAPTER XIX—JEAN VALJEAN TAKES HIS REVENGE 398. CHAPTER XX—THE DEAD ARE IN THE RIGHT AND THE LIVING ARE NOT IN THE 399. CHAPTER XXI—THE HEROES 400. CHAPTER XXII—FOOT TO FOOT 401. CHAPTER XXIII—ORESTES FASTING AND PYLADES DRUNK 402. CHAPTER XXIV—PRISONER 403. CHAPTER I—THE LAND IMPOVERISHED BY THE SEA 404. CHAPTER II—ANCIENT HISTORY OF THE SEWER 405. CHAPTER III—BRUNESEAU 406. CHAPTER IV 407. CHAPTER V—PRESENT PROGRESS 408. CHAPTER VI—FUTURE PROGRESS 409. 1806. All sorts of obstacles hindered this operation, some peculiar to 410. CHAPTER I—THE SEWER AND ITS SURPRISES 411. CHAPTER II—EXPLANATION 412. CHAPTER III—THE “SPUN” MAN 413. CHAPTER IV—HE ALSO BEARS HIS CROSS 414. CHAPTER V—IN THE CASE OF SAND AS IN THAT OF WOMAN, THERE IS A FINENESS 415. CHAPTER VI—THE FONTIS 416. CHAPTER VII—ONE SOMETIMES RUNS AGROUND WHEN ONE FANCIES THAT ONE IS 417. CHAPTER VIII—THE TORN COAT-TAIL 418. CHAPTER IX—MARIUS PRODUCES ON SOME ONE WHO IS A JUDGE OF THE MATTER, 419. CHAPTER X—RETURN OF THE SON WHO WAS PRODIGAL OF HIS LIFE 420. CHAPTER XI—CONCUSSION IN THE ABSOLUTE 421. CHAPTER XII—THE GRANDFATHER 422. CHAPTER I 423. CHAPTER I—IN WHICH THE TREE WITH THE ZINC PLASTER APPEARS AGAIN 424. CHAPTER II—MARIUS, EMERGING FROM CIVIL WAR, MAKES READY FOR DOMESTIC 425. CHAPTER III—MARIUS ATTACKED 426. 7. Ah! There we have it! Ah! so you want her! Well, you shall have her. 427. CHAPTER IV—MADEMOISELLE GILLENORMAND ENDS BY NO LONGER THINKING IT A 428. CHAPTER V—DEPOSIT YOUR MONEY IN A FOREST RATHER THAN WITH A NOTARY 429. CHAPTER VI—THE TWO OLD MEN DO EVERYTHING, EACH ONE AFTER HIS OWN 430. CHAPTER VII—THE EFFECTS OF DREAMS MINGLED WITH HAPPINESS 431. CHAPTER VIII—TWO MEN IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND 432. CHAPTER I—THE 16TH OF FEBRUARY, 1833 433. CHAPTER II—JEAN VALJEAN STILL WEARS HIS ARM IN A SLING 434. CHAPTER III—THE INSEPARABLE 435. CHAPTER IV—THE IMMORTAL LIVER 68 436. CHAPTER I—THE SEVENTH CIRCLE AND THE EIGHTH HEAVEN 437. CHAPTER II—THE OBSCURITIES WHICH A REVELATION CAN CONTAIN 438. CHAPTER I—THE LOWER CHAMBER 439. CHAPTER II—ANOTHER STEP BACKWARDS 440. CHAPTER III—THEY RECALL THE GARDEN OF THE RUE PLUMET 441. CHAPTER IV—ATTRACTION AND EXTINCTION 442. CHAPTER I—PITY FOR THE UNHAPPY, BUT INDULGENCE FOR THE HAPPY 443. CHAPTER II—LAST FLICKERINGS OF A LAMP WITHOUT OIL 444. CHAPTER III—A PEN IS HEAVY TO THE MAN WHO LIFTED THE FAUCHELEVENT’S 445. CHAPTER IV—A BOTTLE OF INK WHICH ONLY SUCCEEDED IN WHITENING 446. CHAPTER V—A NIGHT BEHIND WHICH THERE IS DAY 447. CHAPTER VI—THE GRASS COVERS AND THE RAIN EFFACES

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