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They held counsel together。
〃He is going to Paris；〃 said the wife。
〃I don't believe it；〃 said the husband。
M。 Madeleine had forgotten the paper with the figures on it； and it lay on the chimney…piece。 The Fleming picked it up and studied it。 〃Five； six； eight and a half？
That must designate the posting relays。〃 He turned to his wife：
〃I have found out。〃
〃What？〃
〃It is five leagues from here to Hesdin； six from Hesdin to Saint…Pol； eight and a half from Saint…Pol to Arras。
He is going to Arras。〃
Meanwhile； M。 Madeleine had returned home。
He had taken the longest way to return from Master Scaufflaire's； as though the parsonage door had been a temptation for him； and he had wished to avoid it。
He ascended to his room； and there he shut himself up； which was a very simple act； since he liked to go to bed early。
Nevertheless； the portress of the factory； who was； at the same time； M。 Madeleine's only servant； noticed that the latter's light was extinguished at half…past eight； and she mentioned it to the cashier when he came home； adding：
〃Is Monsieur le Maire ill？
I thought he had a rather singular air。〃
This cashier occupied a room situated directly under M。 Madeleine's chamber。
He paid no heed to the portress's words； but went to bed and to sleep。
Towards midnight he woke up with a start； in his sleep he had heard a noise above his head。
He listened； it was a footstep pacing back and forth； as though some one were walking in the room above him。
He listened more attentively； and recognized M。 Madeleine's step。
This struck him as strange； usually； there was no noise in M。 Madeleine's chamber until he rose in the morning。
A moment later the cashier heard a noise which resembled that of a cupboard being opened； and then shut again； then a piece of furniture was disarranged； then a pause ensued； then the step began again。
The cashier sat up in bed； quite awake now； and staring； and through his window…panes he saw the reddish gleam of a lighted window reflected on the opposite wall； from the direction of the rays； it could only e from the window of M。 Madeleine's chamber。
The reflection wavered； as though it came rather from a fire which had been lighted than from a candle。 The shadow of the window…frame was not shown； which indicated that the window was wide open。
The fact that this window was open in such cold weather was surprising。
The cashier fell asleep again。 An hour or two later he waked again。
The same step was still passing slowly and regularly back and forth overhead。
The reflection was still visible on the wall； but now it was pale and peaceful； like the reflection of a lamp or of a candle。 The window was still open。
This is what had taken place in M。 Madeleine's room。
BOOK SEVENTH。THE CHAMPMATHIEU AFFAIR
CHAPTER III （1）
A TEMPEST IN A SKULL
The reader has； no doubt； already divined that M。 Madeleine is no other than Jean Valjean。
We have already gazed into the depths of this conscience； the moment has now e when we must take another look into it。 We do so not without emotion and trepidation。
There is nothing more terrible in existence than this sort of contemplation。 The eye of the spirit can nowhere find more dazzling brilliance and more shadow than in man； it can fix itself on no other thing which is more formidable； more plicated； more mysterious； and more infinite。
There is a spectacle more grand than the sea； it is heaven：
there is a spectacle more grand than heaven； it is the inmost recesses of the soul。
To make the poem of the human conscience； were it only with reference to a single man； were it only in connection with the basest of men； would be to blend all epics into one superior and definitive epic。 Conscience is the chaos of chimeras； of lusts； and of temptations； the furnace of dreams； the lair of ideas of which we are ashamed； it is the pandemonium of sophisms； it is the battlefield of the passions。 Penetrate； at certain hours； past the livid face of a human being who is engaged in reflection； and look behind； gaze into that soul； gaze into that obscurity。
There； beneath that external silence； battles of giants； like those recorded in Homer； are in progress； skirmishes of dragons and hydras and swarms of phantoms； as in Milton； visionary circles； as in Dante。
What a solemn thing is this infinity which every man bears within him； and which he measures with despair against the caprices of his brain and the actions of his life！
Alighieri one day met with a sinister…looking door； before which he hesitated。
Here is one before us； upon whose threshold we hesitate。 Let us enter； nevertheless。
We have but little to add to what the reader already knows of what had happened to Jean Valjean after the adventure with Little Gervais。 From that moment forth he was； as we have seen； a totally different man。 What the Bishop had wished to make of him； that he carried out。 It was more than a transformation； it was a transfiguration。
He succeeded in disappearing； sold the Bishop's silver； reserving only the candlesticks as a souvenir； crept from town to town； traversed France； came to M。 sur M。； conceived the idea which we have mentioned； acplished what we have related； succeeded in rendering himself safe from seizure and inaccessible； and； thenceforth； established at M。 sur M。； happy in feeling his conscience saddened by the past and the first half of his existence belied by the last； he lived in peace； reassured and hopeful； having henceforth only two thoughts；to conceal his name and to sanctify his life； to escape men and to return to God。
These two thoughts were so closely intertwined in his mind that they formed but a single one there； both were equally absorbing and imperative and ruled his slightest actions。
In general； they conspired to regulate the conduct of his life； they turned him towards the gloom； they rendered him kindly and simple； they counselled him to the same things。
Sometimes； however； they conflicted。
In that case； as the reader will remember； the man whom all the country