Les Misérables, v. 5/5: Jean Valjean

by Victor Hugo

  CHAPTER I.

  THE GROUND-FLOOR ROOM.

  On the morrow, at nightfall, Jean Valjean tapped at the gateway of theGillenormand mansion, and it was Basque who received him. Basque wasin the yard at the appointed time, as if he had had his orders. Itsometimes happens that people say to a servant, "You will watch for Mr.So-and-so's arrival." Basque, without waiting for Jean Valjean to comeup to him, said,--

  "Monsieur le Baron has instructed me to ask you, sir, whether you wishto go upstairs or stay down here?"

  "Stay down here," Jean Valjean replied.

  Basque, who, however, was perfectly respectful in his manner, openedthe door of the ground-floor room, and said, "I will go and informher ladyship." The room which Jean Valjean entered was a damp,arched, basement room, employed as a cellar at times, looking out onthe street, with a flooring of red tiles, and badly lighted by aniron-barred window. This room was not one of those which are harassedby the broom and mop, and the dust was quiet there. No persecution ofthe spiders had been organized; and a fine web, extensively drawn out,quite black, and adorned with dead flies, formed a wheel on one of thewindow-panes. The room, which was small and low-ceiled, was furnishedwith a pile of empty bottles collected in a corner. The wall, coveredwith a yellow-ochre wash, crumbled off in large patches; at the end wasa mantel-piece of panelled black wood, with a narrow shelf, and a firewas lighted in it, which indicated that Jean Valjean's reply, "Staydown here," had been calculated on. Two chairs were placed, one in eachchimney-corner, and between the chairs was spread, in guise of carpet,an old bed-room rug, which displayed more cord than wool. The room wasillumined by the flickering of the fire, and the twilight through thewindow. Jean Valjean was fatigued; for several days he had not eaten orslept, and he fell into one of the arm-chairs. Basque returned, placeda lighted candle on the mantelpiece, and withdrew. Jean Valjean, whowas sitting with hanging head, did not notice either Basque or thecandle, till all at once he started up, for Cosette was behind him: hehad not seen her come in, but he felt that she was doing so. He turnedround and contemplated her; she was adorably lovely. But what he gazedat with this profound glance was not the beauty, but the soul.

  "Well, father," Cosette exclaimed, "I knew that you were singular, butI could never have expected this. What an idea! Marius told me that itwas your wish to see me here."

  "Yes, it is."

  "I expected that answer, and I warn you that I am going to have a scenewith you. Let us begin with the beginning: kiss me, father."

  And she offered her cheek, but Jean Valjean remained motionless.

  "You do not stir: I mark the fact! It is the attitude of a culprit. ButI do not care, I forgive you. Christ said, 'Offer the other cheek;'here it is."

  And she offered the other cheek, but Jean Valjean did not stir; itseemed as if his feet were riveted to the floor.

  "Things are growing serious," said Cosette. "What have I done to you? Iam offended, and you must make it up with me; you will dine with us?"

  "I have dined."

  "That is not true, and I will have you scolded by M. Gillenormand.Grandfathers are made to lay down the law to fathers. Come, go with meto the drawing-room. At once."

  "Impossible!"

  Cosette here lost a little ground; she ceased to order and beganquestioning.

  "But why? And you choose the ugliest room in the house to see me in. Itis horrible here."

  "You know--"

  Jean Valjean broke off--

  "You know, Madame, that I am peculiar, and have my fancies."

  "Madame--_you_ know--more novelties; what does this all mean?"

  Jean Valjean gave her that heart-broken smile to which he sometimes hadrecourse.

  "You wished to be Madame. You are."

  "Not for you, father."

  "Do not call me father."

  "What?"

  "Call me Monsieur Jean, or Jean, if you like."

  "You are no longer father? I am no longer Cosette? Monsieur Jean? Why,what does it mean? These are revolutions. What has happened? Look me inthe face, if you can. And you will not live with us! And you will notaccept our bed-room! What have I done to offend you? Oh, what have Idone? There must be something."

  "Nothing."

  "In that case, then?"

  "All is as usual."

  "Why do you change your name?"

  "You have changed yours."

  He smiled the same smile again, and added,--

  "Since you are Madame Pontmercy, I may fairly be Monsieur Jean."

  "I do not understand anything, and all this is idiotic. I will ask myhusband's leave for you to be Monsieur Jean, and I hope that he willnot consent. You cause me great sorrow; and though you may have whims,you have no right to make your little Cosette grieve. That is wrong,and you have no right to be naughty, fear you are so good."

  As he made no reply, she seized both his hands eagerly, and with anirresistible movement raising them to her face she pressed them againsther neck under her chin, which is a profound sign of affection.

  "Oh," she said, "be kind to me!" And she continued: "This is what Icall being kind,--to behave yourself, come and live here, for there arebirds here as in the Rue Plumet; to live with us, leave that hole inthe Rue de l'Homme Armé, give us no more riddles to guess; to be likeeverybody else, dine With us, breakfast with us, and be my father."

  He removed her hands,--

  "You no longer want a father, as you have a husband."

  Cosette broke out,--

  "I no longer want a father! Things like that have no common sense, andI really do not know what to say."

  "If Toussaint were here," Jean Valjean continued, like a man seekingauthorities and who clings to every branch, "she would be the first toallow that I have always had strange ways of my own. There is nothingnew in it, for I always loved my dark corner."

  "But it is cold here, and we cannot see distinctly; and it isabominable to wish to be Monsieur Jean; and I shall not allow you tocall me Madame."

  "As I was coming along just now," Jean Valjean replied, "I saw a verypretty piece of furniture at a cabinet-maker's in the Rue St. Louis. IfI were a pretty woman, I should treat myself to it It is a very nicetoilette table in the present fashion, made of rosewood, I think youcall it, and inlaid. There is a rather large glass with drawers, andit is very nice."

  "Hou! the ugly bear!" Cosette replied. And clenching her teeth, andparting her lips in the most graceful way possible, she blew at JeanValjean; it was a grace imitating a cat.

  "I am furious," she went on, "and since yesterday you have all putme in a passion. I do not understand it at all; you do not defend meagainst Marius, Marius does not take my part against you, and I am allalone. I have a nice room prepared, and if I could have put my dearfather in it, I would have done so; but my room is left on my handsand my lodger fails me. I order Nicolette to prepare a nice littledinner, and--they will not touch your dinner, Madame. And my fatherFauchelevent wishes me to call him Monsieur Jean, and that I shouldreceive him in a frightful old, ugly, mildewed cellar, in which thewalls wear a beard, and empty bottles represent the looking-glasses,and spiders' webs the curtains. I allow that you are a singular man,it is your way; but a truce is accorded to newly-married folk, and youought not to have begun to be singular again so soon. You are goingto be very satisfied, then, in your Rue de l'Homme Armé; well, I wasvery wretched there. What have I done to offend you? You cause me greatsorrow. Fie!"

  And suddenly growing serious, she looked intently at Jean Valjean andadded,--

  "You are angry with me for being happy; is that it?"

  Simplicity sometimes penetrates unconsciously very deep, and thisquestion, simple for Cosette, was profound for Jean Valjean. Cosettewished to scratch, but she tore. Jean Valjean turned pale, he remainedfor a moment without answering, and then murmured with an indescribableaccent, and speaking to himself,--

  "Her happiness was the object of my life, and at present God may ordermy departure. Cosette, thou art happy, and my course is ru
n."

  "Ah! you said _thou_ to me," Cosette exclaimed, and leaped on his neck.

  Jean Valjean wildly strained her to his heart, for he felt as if hewere almost taking her back again.

  "Thank you, father," Cosette said to him.

  The excitement was getting too painful for Jean Valjean; he gentlywithdrew himself from Cosette's arms, and took up his hat.

  "Well?" said Cosette.

  Jean Valjean replied,--

  "I am going to leave you, Madame, as you will be missed."

  And on the threshold he added,--

  "I said _thou_ to you; tell your husband that it shall not happenagain. Forgive me."

  Jean Valjean left Cosette stupefied by this enigmatical leave-taking.