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！
〃We must！〃
〃But it will be too late then！
Don't you see that the cart is sinking？〃
〃Well！〃
〃Listen；〃 resumed Madeleine； 〃there is still room enough under the cart to allow a man to crawl beneath it and raise it with his back。 Only half a minute； and the poor man can be taken out。
Is there any one here who has stout loins and heart？
There are five louis d'or to be earned！〃
Not a man in the group stirred。
〃Ten louis；〃 said Madeleine。
The persons present dropped their eyes。
One of them muttered： 〃A man would need to be devilish strong。
And then he runs the risk of getting crushed！〃
〃e；〃 began Madeleine again； 〃twenty louis。〃
The same silence。
〃It is not the will which is lacking；〃 said a voice。
M。 Madeleine turned round； and recognized Javert。
He had not noticed him on his arrival。
Javert went on：
〃It is strength。
One would have to be a terrible man to do such a thing as lift a cart like that on his back。〃
Then； gazing fixedly at M。 Madeleine； he went on； emphasizing every word that he uttered：
〃Monsieur Madeleine； I have never known but one man capable of doing what you ask。〃
Madeleine shuddered。
Javert added； with an air of indifference； but without removing his eyes from Madeleine：
〃He was a convict。〃
〃Ah！〃 said Madeleine。
〃In the galleys at Toulon。〃
Madeleine turned pale。
Meanwhile； the cart continued to sink slowly。
Father Fauchelevent rattled in the throat； and shrieked：
〃I am strangling！
My ribs are breaking！ a screw！ something！
Ah！〃
Madeleine glanced about him。
〃Is there； then； no one who wishes to earn twenty louis and save the life of this poor old man？〃
No one stirred。
Javert resumed：
〃I have never known but one man who could take the place of a screw； and he was that convict。〃
〃Ah！
It is crushing me！〃 cried the old man。
Madeleine raised his head； met Javert's falcon eye still fixed upon him； looked at the motionless peasants； and smiled sadly。 Then； without saying a word； he fell on his knees； and before the crowd had even had time to utter a cry； he was underneath the vehicle。
A terrible moment of expectation and silence ensued。
They beheld Madeleine； almost flat on his stomach beneath that terrible weight； make two vain efforts to bring his knees and his elbows together。
They shouted to him； 〃Father Madeleine； e out！〃 Old Fauchelevent himself said to him； 〃Monsieur Madeleine； go away！ You see that I am fated to die！
Leave me！
You will get yourself crushed also！〃
Madeleine made no reply。
All the spectators were panting。
The wheels had continued to sink； and it had bee almost impossible for Madeleine to make his way from under the vehicle。
Suddenly the enormous mass was seen to quiver； the cart rose slowly； the wheels half emerged from the ruts。
They heard a stifled voice crying； 〃Make haste！
Help！〃
It was Madeleine； who had just made a final effort。
They rushed forwards。
The devotion of a single man had given force and courage to all。
The cart was raised by twenty arms。 Old Fauchelevent was saved。
Madeleine rose。
He was pale； though dripping with perspiration。 His clothes were torn and covered with mud。
All wept。
The old man kissed his knees and called him the good God。
As for him； he bore upon his countenance an indescribable expression of happy and celestial suffering； and he fixed his tranquil eye on Javert； who was still staring at him。
BOOK FIFTH。THE DESCENT
CHAPTER VII
FAUCHELEVENT BEES A GARDENER IN PARIS
Fauchelevent had dislocated his kneepan in his fall。
Father Madeleine had him conveyed to an infirmary which he had established for his workmen in the factory building itself； and which was served by two sisters of charity。
On the following morning the old man found a thousand…franc bank…note on his night…stand； with these words in Father Madeleine's writing：
〃I purchase your horse and cart。〃 The cart was broken； and the horse was dead。
Fauchelevent recovered； but his knee remained stiff。
M。 Madeleine； on the remendation of the sisters of charity and of his priest； got the good man a place as gardener in a female convent in the Rue Saint…Antoine in Paris。
Some time afterwards； M。 Madeleine was appointed mayor。
The first time that Javert beheld M。 Madeleine clothed in the scarf which gave him authority over the town； he felt the sort of shudder which a watch…dog might experience on smelling a wolf in his master's clothes。 From that time forth he avoided him as much as he possibly could。 When the requirements of the service imperatively demanded it； and he could not do otherwise than meet the mayor； he addressed him with profound respect。
This prosperity created at M。 sur M。 by Father Madeleine had； besides the visible signs which we have mentioned； another symptom which was none the less significant for not being visible。 This never deceives。
When the population suffers； when work is lacking； when there is no merce； the tax…payer resists imposts through penury； he exhausts and oversteps his respite； and the state expends a great deal of money in the charges for pelling and collection。
When work is abundant； when the country is rich and happy； the taxes are paid easily and cost the state nothing。 It may be said； that there is one infallible thermometer of the public misery and riches；the cost of collecting the taxes。 In the course of seven years the expense of collecting the taxes had diminished three…fourths in the arrondissement of M。 sur M。； and this led to this arrondissement being frequently cited from all the rest by M。 de Villele； then Minister of Finance。
Such was the condition of the country when Fantine returned thither。 No one remembered her。
Fortunately； the door of M。 Madeleine's factory was like the face of a friend。
She presented herself there； and was admitted to the women's workroom。
The trade was entirely new to Fantine； she could not be very skilful at it； and she therefore earned but little by her day's wor