按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃A gentleman of property； like yourself。〃
Perhaps she had no ulterior meaning。
Jean Valjean thought he perceived one。
When the old woman had taken her departure； he did up a hundred francs which he had in a cupboard； into a roll； and put it in his pocket。 In spite of all the precautions which he took in this operation so that he might not be heard rattling silver； a hundred…sou piece escaped from his hands and rolled noisily on the floor。
When darkness came on； he descended and carefully scrutinized both sides of the boulevard。
He saw no one。
The boulevard appeared to be absolutely deserted。
It is true that a person can conceal himself behind trees。
He went up stairs again。
〃e。〃
he said to Cosette。
He took her by the hand； and they both went out。
BOOK FIFTH。FOR A BLACK HUNT； A MUTE PACK
CHAPTER I
THE ZIGZAGS OF STRATEGY
An observation here bees necessary； in view of the pages which the reader is about to peruse； and of others which will be met with further on。
The author of this book； who regrets the necessity of mentioning himself； has been absent from Paris for many years。
Paris has been transformed since he quitted it。
A new city has arisen； which is； after a fashion； unknown to him。
There is no need for him to say that he loves Paris： Paris is his mind's natal city。
In consequence of demolitions and reconstructions； the Paris of his youth； that Paris which he bore away religiously in his memory； is now a Paris of days gone by。 He must be permitted to speak of that Paris as though it still existed。 It is possible that when the author conducts his readers to a spot and says； 〃In such a street there stands such and such a house；〃 neither street nor house will any longer exist in that locality。 Readers may verify the facts if they care to take the trouble。 For his own part； he is unacquainted with the new Paris； and he writes with the old Paris before his eyes in an illusion which is precious to him。
It is a delight to him to dream that there still lingers behind him something of that which he beheld when he was in his own country； and that all has not vanished。
So long as you go and e in your native land； you imagine that those streets are a matter of indifference to you； that those windows； those roofs； and those doors are nothing to you； that those walls are strangers to you； that those trees are merely the first encountered haphazard； that those houses； which you do not enter； are useless to you； that the pavements which you tread are merely stones。
Later on； when you are no longer there； you perceive that the streets are dear to you； that you miss those roofs； those doors； and that those walls are necessary to you； those trees are well beloved by you； that you entered those houses which you never entered； every day； and that you have left a part of your heart； of your blood； of your soul； in those pavements。
All those places which you no longer behold； which you may never behold again； perchance； and whose memory you have cherished； take on a melancholy charm； recur to your mind with the melancholy of an apparition； make the holy land visible to you； and are； so to speak； the very form of France； and you love them； and you call them up as they are； as they were； and you persist in this； and you will submit to no change： for you are attached to the figure of your fatherland as to the face of your mother。
May we； then； be permitted to speak of the past in the present？ That said； we beg the reader to take note of it； and we continue。
Jean Valjean instantly quitted the boulevard and plunged into the streets； taking the most intricate lines which he could devise； returning on his track at times； to make sure that he was not being followed。
This manoeuvre is peculiar to the hunted stag。
On soil where an imprint of the track may be left； this manoeuvre possesses； among other advantages； that of deceiving the huntsmen and the dogs； by throwing them on the wrong scent。
In venery this is called false re…imbushment。
The moon was full that night。
Jean Valjean was not sorry for this。 The moon； still very close to the horizon； cast great masses of light and shadow in the streets。
Jean Valjean could glide along close to the houses on the dark side； and yet keep watch on the light side。 He did not； perhaps； take sufficiently into consideration the fact that the dark side escaped him。
Still； in the deserted lanes which lie near the Rue Poliveau； he thought he felt certain that no one was following him。
Cosette walked on without asking any questions。
The sufferings of the first six years of her life had instilled something passive into her nature。
Moreover；and this is a remark to which we shall frequently have occasion to recur；she had grown used； without being herself aware of it； to the peculiarities of this good man and to the freaks of destiny。
And then she was with him； and she felt safe。
Jean Valjean knew no more where he was going than did Cosette。 He trusted in God； as she trusted in him。
It seemed as though he also were clinging to the hand of some one greater than himself； he thought he felt a being leading him； though invisible。 However； he had no settled idea； no plan； no project。
He was not even absolutely sure that it was Javert； and then it might have been Javert； without Javert knowing that he was Jean Valjean。
Was not he disguised？
Was not he believed to be dead？
Still； queer things had been going on for several days。
He wanted no more of them。 He was determined not to return to the Gorbeau house。
Like the wild animal chased from its lair； he was seeking a hole in which he might hide until he could find one where he might dwell。
Jean Valjean described many and varied labyrinths in the Mouffetard quarter； which was already asleep； as though the discipline of the Middle Ages and the yoke of the curfew still existed； he bined in various manners； with cunning strategy； the Rue Censier and the Rue Copeau； the Rue du Battoir…Saint…Victor and the Rue du Puits l'Ermite。 There are lodging houses in this