雨果 悲惨世界 英文版1-第41章

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　　At　that　period　a　dandy　was　posed　of　a　tall　collar；　a　big　cravat；　a　watch　with　trinkets；　three　vests　of　different　colors；　worn　one　on　top　of　the　otherthe　red　and　blue　inside；　of　a　short…waisted　olive　coat；　with　a　codfish　tail；　a　double　row　of　silver　buttons　set　close　to　each　other　and　running　up　to　the　shoulder；　and　a　pair　of　trousers　of　a　lighter　shade　of　olive；　ornamented　on　the　two　seams　with　an　indefinite；　but　always　uneven；　number　of　lines；　varying　from　one　to　elevena　limit　which　was　never　exceeded。　Add　to　this；　high　shoes　with　little　irons　on　the　heels；　a　tall　hat　with　a　narrow　brim；　hair　worn　in　a　tuft；　an　enormous　cane；　and　conversation　set　off　by　puns　of　Potier。
　　Over　all；　spurs　and　a　mustache。
　　At　that　epoch　mustaches　indicated　the　bourgeois；　and　spurs　the　pedestrian。
　　The　provincial　dandy　wore　the　longest　of　spurs　and　the　fiercest　of　mustaches。
　　It　was　the　period　of　the　conflict　of　the　republics　of　South　America　with　the　King　of　Spain；　of　Bolivar　against　Morillo。　Narrow…brimmed　hats　were　royalist；　and　were　called　morillos；　liberals　wore　hats　with　wide　brims；　which　were　called　bolivars。
　　Eight　or　ten　months；　then；　after　that　which　is　related　in　the　preceding　pages；　towards　the　first　of　January；　1823；　on　a　snowy　evening；　one　of　these　dandies；　one　of　these　unemployed；　a　〃right　thinker；〃　for　he　wore　a　morillo；　and　was；　moreover；　warmly　enveloped　in　one　of　those　large　cloaks　which　pleted　the　fashionable　costume　in　cold　weather；　was　amusing　himself　by　tormenting　a　creature　who　was　prowling　about　in　a　ball…dress；　with　neck　uncovered　and　flowers　in　her　hair；　in　front　of　the　officers'　cafe。
　　This　dandy　was　smoking；　for　he　was　decidedly　fashionable。
　　Each　time　that　the　woman　passed　in　front　of　him；　he　bestowed　on　her；　together　with　a　puff　from　his　cigar；　some　apostrophe　which　he　considered　witty　and　mirthful；　such　as；　〃How　ugly　you　are！　Will　you　get　out　of　my　sight？You　have　no　teeth！〃　etc。；　etc。　This　gentleman　was　known　as　M。　Bamatabois。
　　The　woman；　a　melancholy；　decorated　spectre　which　went　and　came　through　the　snow；　made　him　no　reply；　did　not　even　glance　at　him；　and　nevertheless　continued　her　promenade　in　silence；　and　with　a　sombre　regularity；　which　brought　her　every　five　minutes　within　reach　of　this　sarcasm；　like　the　condemned　soldier　who　returns　under　the　rods。
　　The　small　effect　which　he　produced　no　doubt　piqued　the　lounger；　and　taking　advantage　of　a　moment　when　her　back　was　turned；　he　crept　up　behind　her　with　the　gait　of　a　wolf；　and　stifling　his　laugh；　bent　down；　picked　up　a　handful　of　snow　from　the　pavement；　and　thrust　it　abruptly　into　her　back；　between　her　bare　shoulders。
　　The　woman　uttered　a　roar；　whirled　round；　gave　a　leap　like　a　panther；　and　hurled　herself　upon　the　man；　burying　her　nails　in　his　face；　with　the　most　frightful　words　which　could　fall　from　the　guard…room　into　the　gutter。
　　These　insults；　poured　forth　in　a　voice　roughened　by　brandy；　did；　indeed；　proceed　in　hideous　wise　from　a　mouth　which　lacked　its　two　front　teeth。　It　was　Fantine。
　　At　the　noise　thus　produced；　the　officers　ran　out　in　throngs　from　the　cafe；　passers…by　collected；　and　a　large　and　merry　circle；　hooting　and　applauding；　was　formed　around　this　whirlwind　posed　of　two　beings；　whom　there　was　some　difficulty　in　recognizing　as　a　man　and　a　woman：
　　the　man　struggling；　his　hat　on　the　ground；　the　woman　striking　out　with　feet　and　fists；　bareheaded；　howling；　minus　hair　and　teeth；　livid　with　wrath；　horrible。
　　Suddenly　a　man　of　lofty　stature　emerged　vivaciously　from　the　crowd；　seized　the　woman　by　her　satin　bodice；　which　was　covered　with　mud；　and　said　to　her；　〃Follow　me！〃
　　The　woman　raised　her　head；　her　furious　voice　suddenly　died　away。　Her　eyes　were　glassy；　she　turned　pale　instead　of　livid；　and　she　trembled　with　a　quiver　of　terror。
　　She　had　recognized　Javert。
　　The　dandy　took　advantage　of　the　incident　to　make　his　escape。


BOOK　FIFTH。THE　DESCENT
CHAPTER　XIII　
　　THE　SOLUTION　OF　SOME　QUESTIONS　CONNECTED　WITH　THE　MUNICIPAL　POLICE
　　　Javert　thrust　aside　the　spectators；　broke　the　circle；　and　set　out　with　long　strides　towards　the　police　station；　which　is　situated　at　the　extremity　of　the　square；　dragging　the　wretched　woman　after　him。　She　yielded　mechanically。
　　Neither　he　nor　she　uttered　a　word。　The　cloud　of　spectators　followed；　jesting；　in　a　paroxysm　of　delight。　Supreme　misery　an　occasion　for　obscenity。
　　On　arriving　at　the　police　station；　which　was　a　low　room；　warmed　by　a　stove；　with　a　glazed　and　grated　door　opening　on　the　street；　and　guarded　by　a　detachment；　Javert　opened　the　door；　entered　with　Fantine；　and　shut　the　door　behind　him；　to　the　great　disappointment　of　the　curious；　who　raised　themselves　on　tiptoe；　and　craned　their　necks　in　front　of　the　thick　glass　of　the　station…house；　in　their　effort　to　see。　Curiosity　is　a　sort　of　gluttony。
　　To　see　is　to　devour。
　　On　entering；　Fantine　fell　down　in　a　corner；　motionless　and　mute；　crouching　down　like　a　terrified　dog。
　　The　sergeant　of　the　guard　brought　a　lighted　candle　to　the　table。　Javert　seated　himself；　drew　a　sheet　of　stamped　paper　from　his　pocket；　and　began　to　write。
　　This　class　of　women　is　consigned　by　our　laws　entirely　to　the　discretion　of　the　police。
　　The　latter　do　what　they　please；　punish　them；　as　seems　good　to　them；　and　confiscate　at　their　will　those　two　sorry　things　which　they　entitle　their　industry　and　their　liberty。　Javert　was　impassive；　his　grave　face　betrayed　no　emotion　whatever。　Nevertheless；　he　was　seriously　and　deeply　preoccupied。
　　It　was　one　of　those　moments　when　he　was　exercising　without　control；　but　subject　to　all　the　scruples　of　a　severe　conscience；　his　redoubtable　discretionary　power。
　　At　that　moment　he　was　conscious　that　his　police　agent's　stool　was　a　tribunal。
　　He　was　entering　judgment。　He　judged　and　condemned。
　　He　summoned　all　the　ideas　which　could　possibly　exist　in　his　mind；　around　the　great　thing　which　he　was　doing。　The　more　he　examined　the　deed　of　this　woman；　the　more　shocked　he　felt。　It　was　evident　that　he　had　just　witnessed　the　mission　of　a　crime。　He　had　just　beheld；　yonder；　in　the　street；　society；　in　the　person　of　a　freeholder　and　an　elector；　insulted　and　attacked　by　a　creature　who　was　outside　all　pales。
　　A　prostitute　had　made　an　attempt　on　the　life　of　a　citizen。
　　He　had　seen　that；　he；　Javert。
　　He　wrote　in　silence。
　　When　he　had　finished　he　signed　the　paper；　folded　it；　and　said　to　the　sergeant　of　the　guard；　as　he　handed　it　to　him；　〃Take　three　men　and　conduct　this　creature　to　jail。〃
　　Then；　turning　to　Fantine；　〃You　are　to　have　six　months　of　it。〃　The　unhappy　woman　shuddered。
　　〃Six　months！　six　months　of　prison！〃　she　exclaimed。
　　〃Six　months　in　which　to　earn　seven　sous　a　day！
　　But　what　will　bee　of　Cosette？　My　daughter！　my　daughter！
　　But　I　still　owe　the　Thenardiers　over　a　hundred　francs；　do　you　know　that；　Monsieur　Inspector？〃
　　She　dragged　herself　across　the　damp　floor；　among　the　muddy　boots　of　all　those　men；　without　rising；　with　clasped　hands；　and　taking　great　strides　on　her　knees。
　　〃Monsieur　Javert；〃　said　she；　〃I　beseech　your　mercy。
　　I　assure　you　that　I　was　not　in　the　wrong。
　　If　you　had　seen　the　beginning；　you　would　have　seen。
　　I　swear　to　you　by　the　good　God　that　I　was　not　to　blame！
　　That　gentleman；　the　bourgeois；　whom　I　do　not　know；　put　snow　in　my　back。
　　Has　any　one　the　right　to　put　snow　down　our　backs　when　we　are　walking　along　peaceably；　and　doing　no　harm　to　any　one？　I　am　rather　ill；　as　you　see。
　　And　then；　he　had　been　saying　impertinent　things　to　me　for　a　long　time：
　　‘You　are　ugly！　you　have　no　teeth！'　I　know　well　that　I　have　no　longer　those　teeth。
　　I　did　nothing；　I　said　to　myself；　‘The　gentleman　is　amusing　himself。'
　　I　was　honest　with　him；　I　did　not　speak　to　him。
　　It　was　at　that　moment　that　he　put　the　snow　down　my　back。
　　Monsieur　Javert；　good　Monsieur　Inspector！　is　there　not　some　person　here　who　saw　it　and　can　tell　you　that　this　is　quite　true？
　　Perhaps　I　did　wrong　to　get　angry。　You　know　that　one　is　not　master　of　one's　self　at　the　first　moment。　One　gives　way　to　vivacity；　and　then；　when　some　one　puts　something　cold　down　your　back　just　when　you　are　not　expecting　it！
　　I　did　wrong　to　spoil　that　gentleman's　hat。
　　Why　did　he　go　away？
　　I　would　ask　his　pardon。
　　Oh；　my　God！
　　It　makes　no　difference　to　me　whether　I　ask　his　pardon。
　　Do　me　the　favor　to…day；　for　this　once；　Monsieur　Javert。　Hold！　you　do　not　know　that　in　prison　one　can　earn　only　seven　sous　a　day；　it　is　not　the　government's　fault；　but　seven　sous　is　one's　earnings；　and　just　fancy；　I　must　pay　one　hundred　francs；　or　my　little　girl　will　be　sent　to　me。
　　Oh；　my　God！
　　I　cannot　have　her　with　me。　What　I　do　is　so　vile！
　　Oh；　my　Cosette！
　　Oh；　my　little　angel　of　the　Holy　Virgin！　what　will　bee　of　her；　poor　creature？
　　I　will　tell　you：　it　is　the　Thenardiers；　inn…keepers；　peasants；　and　such　people　are　unreasonable。
　　They　want　money。
　　Don't　put　me　in　prison！　You　see；　there　is　a　little　girl　who　will　be　turned　out　into　the　street　to　get　along　as　best　she　may；　in　the　very　heart　of　the　winter；　and　you　must　have　pity　on　such　a　being；　my　good　Monsieur　Javert。　If　she　were　older；　she　might　earn　her　living；　but　it　cannot　be　done　at　that　age。
　　I　am　not　a　bad　woman　at　bottom。
　　It　is　not　cowardliness　and　gluttony　that　have　made　me　what　I　am。
　　If　I　have　drunk　brandy；　it　was　out　of　misery。
　　I　do　not　love　it；　but　it　benumbs　the　senses。　When　I　was　happy；　it　was　only　necessary　to　glance　into　my　closets；　and　it　would　have　been　evident　that　I　was　not　a　coquettish　and　untidy　woman。
　　I　had　linen；　a　great　deal　of　linen。
　　Have　pity　on　me；　Monsieur　Javert！〃
　　She　spoke　thus；　rent　in　twain；　shaken　with　sobs；　blinded　with　tears；　her　neck　bare；　wringing　her　hands；　and　coughing　with　a　dry；　short　cough；　stammering　softly　with　a　voice　of　agony。
　　Great　sorrow　is　a　divine　and　terrible　ray；　which　transfigures　the　unhappy。　At　that　moment　Fantine　had　bee　beautiful　once　more。
　　From　time　to　time　she　paused；　and　tenderly　kissed　the　police　agent's　coat。　She　would　have　softened　a　heart　of　granite；　but　a　heart　of　wood　cannot　be　softened。
　　〃e！〃　said　Javert；　〃I　have　heard　you　out。
　　Have　you　entirely　finished？　You　will　get　six　months。
　　Now　march！
　　The　Eternal　Father　in　person　could　do　nothing　more。〃
　　At　these　solemn　words；　〃the　Eternal　Father　in　person　could　do　nothing　more；〃　she　understood　that　her　fate　was　sealed。　She　sank　down；　murmuring；　〃Mercy！〃
　　Javert　turned　his　back。
　　The　soldiers　seized　her　by　the　arms。
　　A　few　moments　earlier　a　man　had　entered；　but　no　one　had　paid　any　heed　to　him。
　　He　shut　the　door；　leaned　his　back　against　it；　and　listened　to　Fantine's　despairing　supplications。
　　At　the　instant　when　the　soldiers　laid　their　hands　upon　the　unfortunate　woman；　who　would　not　rise；　he　emerged　from　the　shadow；　and　said：
　　〃One　moment；　if　you　please。〃
　　Javert　raised　his　eyes　and　recognized　M。　Madeleine。
　　He　removed　his　hat；　and；　saluting　him　with　a　sort　of　aggrieved　awkwardness：
　　〃Excuse　me；　Mr。　Mayor〃
　　The　words　〃Mr。　Mayor〃　produced　a　curious　effect　upon　Fantine。　She　rose　to　her　feet　with　one　bound；　like　a　spectre　springing　from　the　earth；　thrust　aside　the　soldiers　with　both