Back to Book

Les Misérables by Victor Hugo

CHAPTER I—THE HOUSE WITH A SECRET

1790 words  |  Chapter 311

About the middle of the last century, a chief justice in the Parliament of Paris having a mistress and concealing the fact, for at that period the grand seignors displayed their mistresses, and the bourgeois concealed them, had “a little house” built in the Faubourg Saint-Germain, in the deserted Rue Blomet, which is now called Rue Plumet, not far from the spot which was then designated as _Combat des Animaux_. This house was composed of a single-storied pavilion; two rooms on the ground floor, two chambers on the first floor, a kitchen downstairs, a boudoir upstairs, an attic under the roof, the whole preceded by a garden with a large gate opening on the street. This garden was about an acre and a half in extent. This was all that could be seen by passers-by; but behind the pavilion there was a narrow courtyard, and at the end of the courtyard a low building consisting of two rooms and a cellar, a sort of preparation destined to conceal a child and nurse in case of need. This building communicated in the rear by a masked door which opened by a secret spring, with a long, narrow, paved winding corridor, open to the sky, hemmed in with two lofty walls, which, hidden with wonderful art, and lost as it were between garden enclosures and cultivated land, all of whose angles and detours it followed, ended in another door, also with a secret lock which opened a quarter of a league away, almost in another quarter, at the solitary extremity of the Rue du Babylone. Through this the chief justice entered, so that even those who were spying on him and following him would merely have observed that the justice betook himself every day in a mysterious way somewhere, and would never have suspected that to go to the Rue de Babylone was to go to the Rue Blomet. Thanks to clever purchasers of land, the magistrate had been able to make a secret, sewer-like passage on his own property, and consequently, without interference. Later on, he had sold in little parcels, for gardens and market gardens, the lots of ground adjoining the corridor, and the proprietors of these lots on both sides thought they had a party wall before their eyes, and did not even suspect the long, paved ribbon winding between two walls amid their flower-beds and their orchards. Only the birds beheld this curiosity. It is probable that the linnets and tomtits of the last century gossiped a great deal about the chief justice. The pavilion, built of stone in the taste of Mansard, wainscoted and furnished in the Watteau style, rocaille on the inside, old-fashioned on the outside, walled in with a triple hedge of flowers, had something discreet, coquettish, and solemn about it, as befits a caprice of love and magistracy. This house and corridor, which have now disappeared, were in existence fifteen years ago. In ’93 a coppersmith had purchased the house with the idea of demolishing it, but had not been able to pay the price; the nation made him bankrupt. So that it was the house which demolished the coppersmith. After that, the house remained uninhabited, and fell slowly to ruin, as does every dwelling to which the presence of man does not communicate life. It had remained fitted with its old furniture, was always for sale or to let, and the ten or a dozen people who passed through the Rue Plumet were warned of the fact by a yellow and illegible bit of writing which had hung on the garden wall since 1819. Towards the end of the Restoration, these same passers-by might have noticed that the bill had disappeared, and even that the shutters on the first floor were open. The house was occupied, in fact. The windows had short curtains, a sign that there was a woman about. In the month of October, 1829, a man of a certain age had presented himself and had hired the house just as it stood, including, of course, the back building and the lane which ended in the Rue de Babylone. He had had the secret openings of the two doors to this passage repaired. The house, as we have just mentioned, was still very nearly furnished with the justice’s old fitting; the new tenant had ordered some repairs, had added what was lacking here and there, had replaced the paving-stones in the yard, bricks in the floors, steps in the stairs, missing bits in the inlaid floors and the glass in the lattice windows, and had finally installed himself there with a young girl and an elderly maid-servant, without commotion, rather like a person who is slipping in than like a man who is entering his own house. The neighbors did not gossip about him, for the reason that there were no neighbors. This unobtrusive tenant was Jean Valjean, the young girl was Cosette. The servant was a woman named Toussaint, whom Jean Valjean had saved from the hospital and from wretchedness, and who was elderly, a stammerer, and from the provinces, three qualities which had decided Jean Valjean to take her with him. He had hired the house under the name of M. Fauchelevent, independent gentleman. In all that has been related heretofore, the reader has, doubtless, been no less prompt than Thénardier to recognize Jean Valjean. Why had Jean Valjean quitted the convent of the Petit-Picpus? What had happened? Nothing had happened. It will be remembered that Jean Valjean was happy in the convent, so happy that his conscience finally took the alarm. He saw Cosette every day, he felt paternity spring up and develop within him more and more, he brooded over the soul of that child, he said to himself that she was his, that nothing could take her from him, that this would last indefinitely, that she would certainly become a nun, being thereto gently incited every day, that thus the convent was henceforth the universe for her as it was for him, that he should grow old there, and that she would grow up there, that she would grow old there, and that he should die there; that, in short, delightful hope, no separation was possible. On reflecting upon this, he fell into perplexity. He interrogated himself. He asked himself if all that happiness were really his, if it were not composed of the happiness of another, of the happiness of that child which he, an old man, was confiscating and stealing; if that were not theft? He said to himself, that this child had a right to know life before renouncing it, that to deprive her in advance, and in some sort without consulting her, of all joys, under the pretext of saving her from all trials, to take advantage of her ignorance of her isolation, in order to make an artificial vocation germinate in her, was to rob a human creature of its nature and to lie to God. And who knows if, when she came to be aware of all this some day, and found herself a nun to her sorrow, Cosette would not come to hate him? A last, almost selfish thought, and less heroic than the rest, but which was intolerable to him. He resolved to quit the convent. He resolved on this; he recognized with anguish, the fact that it was necessary. As for objections, there were none. Five years’ sojourn between these four walls and of disappearance had necessarily destroyed or dispersed the elements of fear. He could return tranquilly among men. He had grown old, and all had undergone a change. Who would recognize him now? And then, to face the worst, there was danger only for himself, and he had no right to condemn Cosette to the cloister for the reason that he had been condemned to the galleys. Besides, what is danger in comparison with the right? Finally, nothing prevented his being prudent and taking his precautions. As for Cosette’s education, it was almost finished and complete. His determination once taken, he awaited an opportunity. It was not long in presenting itself. Old Fauchelevent died. Jean Valjean demanded an audience with the revered prioress and told her that, having come into a little inheritance at the death of his brother, which permitted him henceforth to live without working, he should leave the service of the convent and take his daughter with him; but that, as it was not just that Cosette, since she had not taken the vows, should have received her education gratuitously, he humbly begged the Reverend Prioress to see fit that he should offer to the community, as indemnity, for the five years which Cosette had spent there, the sum of five thousand francs. It was thus that Jean Valjean quitted the convent of the Perpetual Adoration. On leaving the convent, he took in his own arms the little valise the key to which he still wore on his person, and would permit no porter to touch it. This puzzled Cosette, because of the odor of embalming which proceeded from it. Let us state at once, that this trunk never quitted him more. He always had it in his chamber. It was the first and only thing sometimes, that he carried off in his moving when he moved about. Cosette laughed at it, and called this valise his _inseparable_, saying: “I am jealous of it.” Nevertheless, Jean Valjean did not reappear in the open air without profound anxiety. He discovered the house in the Rue Plumet, and hid himself from sight there. Henceforth he was in the possession of the name:—Ultime Fauchelevent. At the same time he hired two other apartments in Paris, in order that he might attract less attention than if he were to remain always in the same quarter, and so that he could, at need, take himself off at the slightest disquietude which should assail him, and in short, so that he might not again be caught unprovided as on the night when he had so miraculously escaped from Javert. These two apartments were very pitiable, poor in appearance, and in two quarters which were far remote from each other, the one in the Rue de l’Ouest, the other in the Rue de l’Homme Armé. He went from time to time, now to the Rue de l’Homme Armé, now to the Rue de l’Ouest, to pass a month or six weeks, without taking Toussaint. He had himself served by the porters, and gave himself out as a gentleman from the suburbs, living on his funds, and having a little temporary resting-place in town. This lofty virtue had three domiciles in Paris for the sake of escaping from the police.
Previous Chapter Chapter List Next Chapter

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

Reading Tips

Use arrow keys to navigate

Press 'N' for next chapter

Press 'P' for previous chapter