雨果 悲惨世界 英文版1-第38章
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！
It was impossible to disengage him otherwise than by lifting the vehicle off of him。
Javert； who had e up at the moment of the accident； had sent for a jack…screw。
M。 Madeleine arrived。
People stood aside respectfully。
〃Help！〃 cried old Fauchelevent。
〃Who will be good and save the old man？〃
M。Madeleine turned towards those present：
〃Is there a jack…screw to be had？〃
〃One has been sent for；〃 answered the peasant。
〃How long will it take to get it？〃
〃They have gone for the nearest； to Flachot's place； where there is a farrier； but it makes no difference； it will take a good quarter of an hour。〃
〃A quarter of an hour！〃 exclaimed Madeleine。
It had rained on the preceding night； the soil was soaked。
The cart was sinking deeper into the earth every moment； and crushing the old carter's breast more and more。 It was evident that his ribs would be broken in five minutes more。
〃It is impossible to wait another quarter of an hour；〃 said Madeleine to the peasants； who were staring at him。
〃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 work； but it was sufficient； the problem was solved； she was earning her living。
BOOK FIFTH。THE DESCENT
CHAPTER VIII
MADAME VICTURNIEN EXPENDS THIRTY FRANCS ON MORALITY
When Fantine saw that she was making her living； she felt joyful for a moment。
To live honestly by her own labor； what mercy from heaven！
The taste for work had really returned to her。 She bought a looking…glass； took pleasure in surveying in it her youth； her beautiful hair； her fine teeth； she forgot many things； she thought only of Cosette and of the possible future； and was almost happy。 She hired a little room and furnished on credit on the strength of her future worka lingering trace of her improvident ways。 As she was not able to say that she was married she took good care； as we have seen； not to mention her little girl。
At first； as the reader has seen； she paid the Thenardiers promptly。 As she only knew how to sign her name； she was obliged to write through a public letter…writer。
She wrote often； and this was noticed。
It began to be said in an undertone； in the women's workroom； that Fantine 〃wrote letters〃 and that 〃she had ways about her。〃
There is no one for spying on people's actions like those who are not concerned in them。
Why does that gentleman never e except at nightfall？
Why does Mr。 So…and…So never hang his key on its nail on Tuesday？
Why does he always take the narrow streets？ Why does Madame always descend from her hackney…coach before reaching her house？
Why does she send out to purchase six sheets of note paper； when she has a 〃whole stationer's shop full of it？〃 etc。
There exist beings who； for the sake of obtaining the key to these enigmas； which are； moreover； of no consequence whatever to them； spend more money； waste more time； take more trouble； than would be required for ten good actions； and that gratuitously； for their own pleasure； without receiving any other payment for their curiosity than curiosity。
They will follow up such and such a man or woman for whole days； they will do sentry duty for hours at a time on the corners of the streets； under alley…way doors at night； in cold and rain； they will bribe errand…porters； they will make the drivers of hackney…coaches and lackeys tipsy； buy a waiting…maid； suborn a porter。
Why？
For no reason。 A pure passion for seeing； knowing； and penetrating into things。 A pure itch for talking。
And often these secrets once known； these mysteries made public； these enigmas illuminated by the light of day； bring on catastrophies； duels； failures； the ruin of families； and broken lives； to the great joy of those who have 〃found out everything；〃 without any interest in the matter； and by pure instinct。
A sad thing。
Certain persons are malicious solely through a necessity for talking。 Their conversation； the chat of the drawing…room； gossip of the anteroom； is like those chimneys which consume wood rapidly； they need a great amount of bustibles； and their bustibles are furnished by their neighbors。
So Fantine was watched。
In addition； many a one was jealous of her golden hair and of her white teeth。
It was remarked that in the workroom she often turned aside； in the midst of the rest； to wipe away a tear。
These were the moments when she was thinking of her child； perhaps； also； of the man whom she had loved。
Breaking the gloomy bonds of the past is a mournful task。
It was observed that she wrote twice a month at least； and that she paid the carriage on the letter。
They managed to obtain the address： Monsieur； Monsieur Thenardier； inn…keeper at Montfermeil。 The public writer； a good old man who could not fill his stomach with red wine without emptying his pocket of secrets； was made to talk in the wine…shop。 In short； it was discovered that Fantine had a child。 〃She must be a pretty sort of a woman。〃
An old gossip was found； who made the trip to Montfermeil； talked to the Thenardiers； and said on her return：
�
