CHAPTERI
WHICHTREATSOFTHEMANNEROFENTERINGACONVENT
ItwasintothishousethatJeanValjeanhad，asFaucheleventexpressedit，"fallenfromthesky。"
HehadscaledthewallofthegardenwhichformedtheangleoftheRuePolonceau。Thathymnoftheangelswhichhehadheardinthemiddleofthenight，wasthenunschantingmatins；thathall，ofwhichhehadcaughtaglimpseinthegloom，wasthechapel。
Thatphantomwhichhehadseenstretchedonthegroundwasthesisterwhowasmakingreparation；thatbell，thesoundofwhichhadsostrangelysurprisedhim，wasthegardener’sbellattachedtothekneeofFatherFauchelevent。
Cosetteonceputtobed，JeanValjeanandFaucheleventhad，aswehavealreadyseen，suppedonaglassofwineandabitofcheesebeforeagood，cracklingfire；then，theonlybedinthehutbeingoccupiedbyCosette，eachthrewhimselfonatrussofstraw。
Beforeheshuthiseyes，JeanValjeansaid:"Imustremainherehenceforth。"ThisremarktrottedthroughFauchelevent’sheadallnightlong。
Totellthetruth，neitherofthemslept。
JeanValjean，feelingthathewasdiscoveredandthatJavertwasonhisscent，understoodthatheandCosettewerelostiftheyreturnedtoParis。Thenthenewstormwhichhadjustburstuponhimhadstrandedhiminthiscloister。JeanValjeanhad，henceforth，butonethought，——
toremainthere。Now，foranunfortunatemaninhisposition，thisconventwasboththesafestandthemostdangerousofplaces；
themostdangerous，because，asnomenmightenterthere，ifhewerediscovered，itwasaflagrantoffence，andJeanValjeanwouldfindbutonestepinterveningbetweentheconventandprison；
thesafest，because，ifhecouldmanagetogethimselfacceptedthereandremainthere，whowouldeverseekhiminsuchaplace？
Todwellinanimpossibleplacewassafety。
Onhisside，Faucheleventwascudgellinghisbrains。Hebeganbydeclaringtohimselfthatheunderstoodnothingofthematter。
HowhadM。Madeleinegotthere，whenthewallswerewhattheywere？
Cloisterwallsarenottobesteppedover。Howdidhegettherewithachild？Onecannotscaleaperpendicularwallwithachildinone’sarms。Whowasthatchild？Wheredidtheybothcomefrom？
SinceFaucheleventhadlivedintheconvent，hehadheardnothingofM。surM。，andheknewnothingofwhathadtakenplacethere。
FatherMadeleinehadanairwhichdiscouragedquestions；andbesides，Faucheleventsaidtohimself:"Onedoesnotquestionasaint。"
M。MadeleinehadpreservedallhisprestigeinFauchelevent’seyes。
Only，fromsomewordswhichJeanValjeanhadletfall，thegardenerthoughthecoulddrawtheinferencethatM。Madeleinehadprobablybecomebankruptthroughthehardtimes，andthathewaspursuedbyhiscreditors；
orthathehadcompromisedhimselfinsomepoliticalaffair，andwasinhiding；whichlastdidnotdispleaseFauchelevent，who，likemanyofourpeasantsoftheNorth，hadanoldfundofBonapartismabouthim。
Whileinhiding，M。Madeleinehadselectedtheconventasarefuge，anditwasquitesimplethatheshouldwishtoremainthere。
Buttheinexplicablepoint，towhichFaucheleventreturnedconstantlyandoverwhichheweariedhisbrain，wasthatM。Madeleineshouldbethere，andthatheshouldhavethatlittlegirlwithhim。
Faucheleventsawthem，touchedthem，spoketothem，andstilldidnotbelieveitpossible。TheincomprehensiblehadjustmadeitsentranceintoFauchelevent’shut。Faucheleventgropedaboutamidconjectures，andcouldseenothingclearlybutthis:
"M。Madeleinesavedmylife。"Thiscertaintyalonewassufficientanddecidedhiscourse。Hesaidtohimself:"Itismyturnnow。"
Headdedinhisconscience:"M。Madeleinedidnotstoptodeliberatewhenitwasaquestionofthrustinghimselfunderthecartforthepurposeofdraggingmeout。"HemadeuphismindtosaveM。Madeleine。
Nevertheless，heputmanyquestionstohimselfandmadehimselfdiversreplies:"Afterwhathedidforme，wouldIsavehimifhewereathief？Justthesame。Ifhewereanassassin，wouldI
savehim？Justthesame。Sinceheisasaint，shallIsavehim？
Justthesame。"
Butwhataproblemitwastomanagetohavehimremainintheconvent！
Faucheleventdidnotrecoilinthefaceofthisalmostchimericalundertaking；thispoorpeasantofPicardywithoutanyotherladderthanhisself—devotion，hisgoodwill，andalittleofthatoldrusticcunning，onthisoccasionenlistedintheserviceofagenerousenterprise，undertooktoscalethedifficultiesofthecloister，andthesteepescarpmentsoftheruleofSaint—Benoit。FatherFaucheleventwasanoldmanwhohadbeenanegoistallhislife，andwho，towardstheendofhisdays，halt，infirm，withnointerestlefttohimintheworld，founditsweettobegrateful，andperceivingagenerousactiontobeperformed，flunghimselfuponitlikeaman，whoatthemomentwhenheisdying，shouldfindclosetohishandaglassofgoodwinewhichhehadnevertasted，andshouldswallowitwithavidity。
Wemayadd，thattheairwhichhehadbreathedformanyyearsinthisconventhaddestroyedallpersonalityinhim，andhadendedbyrenderingagoodactionofsomekindabsolutelynecessarytohim。
Sohetookhisresolve:todevotehimselftoM。Madeleine。
WehavejustcalledhimapoorpeasantofPicardy。Thatdescriptionisjust，butincomplete。Atthepointofthisstorywhichwehavenowreached，alittleofFatherFauchelevent’sphysiologybecomesuseful。Hewasapeasant，buthehadbeenanotary，whichaddedtrickerytohiscunning，andpenetrationtohisingenuousness。
Having，throughvariouscauses，failedinhisbusiness，hehaddescendedtothecallingofacarterandalaborer。But，inspiteofoathsandlashings，whichhorsesseemtorequire，somethingofthenotaryhadlingeredinhim。Hehadsomenaturalwit；hetalkedgoodgrammar；heconversed，whichisararethinginavillage；
andtheotherpeasantssaidofhim:"Hetalksalmostlikeagentlemanwithahat。"Faucheleventbelonged，infact，tothatspecies，whichtheimpertinentandflippantvocabularyofthelastcenturyqualifiedasdemi—bourgeois，demi—lout，andwhichthemetaphorsshoweredbythechateauuponthethatchedcottageticketedinthepigeon—holeoftheplebeian:ratherrustic，rathercitified；pepperandsalt。
Fauchelevent，thoughsorelytriedandharshlyusedbyfate，wornout，asortofpoor，threadbareoldsoul，was，nevertheless，animpulsiveman，andextremelyspontaneousinhisactions；
apreciousqualitywhichpreventsonefromeverbeingwicked。
Hisdefectsandhisvices，forhehadsome，wereallsuperficial；
inshort，hisphysiognomywasofthekindwhichsucceedswithanobserver。Hisagedfacehadnoneofthosedisagreeablewrinklesatthetopoftheforehead，whichsignifymaliceorstupidity。
Atdaybreak，FatherFaucheleventopenedhiseyes，afterhavingdoneanenormousdealofthinking，andbeheldM。Madeleineseatedonhistrussofstraw，andwatchingCosette’sslumbers。
Faucheleventsatupandsaid:——
"Nowthatyouarehere，howareyougoingtocontrivetoenter？"
ThisremarksummedupthesituationandarousedJeanValjeanfromhisrevery。
Thetwomentookcounseltogether。
"Inthefirstplace，"’saidFauchelevent，"youwillbeginbynotsettingfootoutsideofthischamber，eitheryouorthechild。
Onestepinthegardenandwearedonefor。"
"Thatistrue。"
"MonsieurMadeleine，"resumedFauchelevent，"youhavearrivedataveryauspiciousmoment，Imeantosayaveryinauspiciousmoment；
oneoftheladiesisveryill。Thiswillpreventthemfromlookingmuchinourdirection。Itseemsthatsheisdying。Theprayersofthefortyhoursarebeingsaid。Thewholecommunityisinconfusion。
Thatoccupiesthem。Theonewhoisonthepointofdepartureisasaint。Infact，weareallsaintshere；allthedifferencebetweenthemandmeisthattheysay`ourcell，’andthatIsay`mycabin。’Theprayersforthedyingaretobesaid，andthentheprayersforthedead。Weshallbeatpeacehereforto—day；
butIwillnotanswerforto—morrow。"
"Still，"observedJeanValjean，"thiscottageisinthenicheofthewall，itishiddenbyasortofruin，therearetrees，itisnotvisiblefromtheconvent。"
"AndIaddthatthenunsnevercomenearit。"
"Well？"saidJeanValjean。
Theinterrogationmarkwhichaccentuatedthis"well"signified:
"itseemstomethatonemayremainconcealedhere？"ItwastothisinterrogationpointthatFaucheleventresponded:——
"Therearethelittlegirls。"
"Whatlittlegirls？"askedJeanValjean。
JustasFaucheleventopenedhismouthtoexplainthewordswhichhehaduttered，abellemittedonestroke。
"Thenunisdead，"saidhe。"Thereistheknell。"
AndhemadeasigntoJeanValjeantolisten。
Thebellstruckasecondtime。
"Itistheknell，MonsieurMadeleine。Thebellwillcontinuetostrikeonceaminutefortwenty—fourhours，untilthebodyistakenfromthechurch。——Yousee，theyplay。Atrecreationhoursitsufficestohaveaballrollaside，tosendthemallhither，inspiteofprohibitions，tohuntandrummageforitallabouthere。
Thosecherubsaredevils。"
"Who？"askedJeanValjean。
"Thelittlegirls。Youwouldbeveryquicklydiscovered。
Theywouldshriek:`Oh！aman！’Thereisnodangerto—day。Therewillbenorecreationhour。Thedaywillbeentirelydevotedtoprayers。Youhearthebell。AsItoldyou，astrokeeachminute。
Itisthedeathknell。"
"Iunderstand，FatherFauchelevent。Therearepupils。"
AndJeanValjeanthoughttohimself:——
"HereisCosette’seducationalreadyprovided。"
Faucheleventexclaimed:——
"Pardine！Therearelittlegirlsindeed！Andtheywouldbawlaroundyou！Andtheywouldrushoff！Tobeamanhereistohavetheplague。YouseehowtheyfastenabelltomypawasthoughIwereawildbeast。"
JeanValjeanfellintomoreandmoreprofoundthought。——"Thisconventwouldbeoursalvation，"hemurmured。
Thenheraisedhisvoice:——
"Yes，thedifficultyistoremainhere。"
"No，"saidFauchelevent，"thedifficultyistogetout。"
JeanValjeanfeltthebloodrushbacktohisheart。
"Togetout！"
"Yes，MonsieurMadeleine。Inordertoreturnhereitisfirstnecessarytogetout。"
Andafterwaitinguntilanotherstrokeoftheknellhadsounded，Faucheleventwenton:——
"Youmustnotbefoundhereinthisfashion。Whencecomeyou？
Forme，youfallfromheaven，becauseIknowyou；butthenunsrequireonetoenterbythedoor。"
Allatoncetheyheardarathercomplicatedpealingfromanotherbell。
"Ah！"saidFauchelevent，"theyareringingupthevocalmothers。
Theyaregoingtothechapter。Theyalwaysholdachapterwhenanyonedies。Shediedatdaybreak。Peoplegenerallydodieatdaybreak。
Butcannotyougetoutbythewayinwhichyouentered？Come，Idonotaskforthesakeofquestioningyou，buthowdidyougetin？"
JeanValjeanturnedpale；theverythoughtofdescendingagainintothatterriblestreetmadehimshudder。Youmakeyourwayoutofaforestfilledwithtigers，andonceoutofit，imagineafriendlycounselthatshalladviseyoutoreturnthither！
JeanValjeanpicturedtohimselfthewholepoliceforcestillengagedinswarminginthatquarter，agentsonthewatch，sentinelseverywhere，frightfulfistsextendedtowardshiscollar，Javertatthecorneroftheintersectionofthestreetsperhaps。
"Impossible！"saidhe。"FatherFauchelevent，saythatIfellfromthesky。"
"ButIbelieveit，Ibelieveit，"retortedFauchelevent。
"Youhavenoneedtotellmethat。ThegoodGodmusthavetakenyouinhishandforthepurposeofgettingagoodlookatyoucloseto，andthendroppedyou。Only，hemeanttoplaceyouinaman’sconvent；
hemadeamistake。Come，theregoesanotherpeal，thatistoordertheportertogoandinformthemunicipalitythatthedead—doctoristocomehereandviewacorpse。Allthatistheceremonyofdying。
Thesegoodladiesarenotatallfondofthatvisit。Adoctorisamanwhodoesnotbelieveinanything。Heliftstheveil。
Sometimesheliftssomethingelsetoo。Howquicklytheyhavehadthedoctorsummonedthistime！Whatisthematter？Yourlittleoneisstillasleep。Whatishername？"
"Cosette。"
"Sheisyourdaughter？
Youarehergrandfather，thatis？"
"Yes。"
"Itwillbeeasyenoughforhertogetoutofhere。Ihavemyservicedoorwhichopensonthecourtyard。Iknock。Theporteropens；
Ihavemyvintagebasketonmyback，thechildisinit，Igoout。
FatherFaucheleventgoesoutwithhisbasket——thatisperfectlynatural。
Youwilltellthechildtokeepveryquiet。Shewillbeunderthecover。
Iwillleaveherforwhatevertimeisrequiredwithagoodoldfriend，afruit—sellerwhomIknowintheRueChemin—Vert，whoisdeaf，andwhohasalittlebed。Iwillshoutinthefruit—seller’sear，thatsheisanieceofmine，andthatsheistokeepherformeuntilto—morrow。Thenthelittleonewillre—enterwithyou；
forIwillcontrivetohaveyoure—enter。Itmustbedone。
Buthowwillyoumanagetogetout？"
JeanValjeanshookhishead。
"Noonemustseeme，thewholepointliesthere，FatherFauchelevent。
Findsomemeansofgettingmeoutinabasket，undercover，likeCosette。"
Faucheleventscratchedthelobeofhisearwiththemiddlefingerofhislefthand，asignofseriousembarrassment。
Athirdpealcreatedadiversion。
"Thatisthedead—doctortakinghisdeparture，"saidFauchelevent。
"Hehastakenalookandsaid:`Sheisdead，thatiswell。’
Whenthedoctorhassignedthepassportforparadise，theundertaker’scompanysendsacoffin。Ifitisamother，themotherslayherout；
ifsheisasister，thesisterslayherout。Afterwhich，Inailherup。Thatformsapartofmygardener’sduty。Agardenerisabitofagrave—digger。Sheisplacedinalowerhallofthechurchwhichcommunicateswiththestreet，andintowhichnomanmayentersavethedoctorofthedead。Idon’tcounttheundertaker’smenandmyselfasmen。ItisinthathallthatInailupthecoffin。
Theundertaker’smencomeandgetit，andwhipup，coachman！that’sthewayonegoestoheaven。Theyfetchaboxwithnothinginit，theytakeitawayagainwithsomethinginit。That’swhataburialislike。Deprofundis。"
AhorizontalrayofsunshinelightlytouchedthefaceofthesleepingCosette，wholaywithhermouthvaguelyopen，andhadtheairofanangeldrinkinginthelight。JeanValjeanhadfallentogazingather。HewasnolongerlisteningtoFauchelevent。
Thatoneisnotlistenedtoisnoreasonforpreservingsilence。
Thegoodoldgardenerwentontranquillywithhisbabble:——
"ThegraveisdugintheVaugirardcemetery。TheydeclarethattheyaregoingtosuppressthatVaugirardcemetery。Itisanancientcemeterywhichisoutsidetheregulations，whichhasnouniform，andwhichisgoingtoretire。Itisashame，foritisconvenient。
Ihaveafriendthere，FatherMestienne，thegrave—digger。Thenunsherepossessoneprivilege，itistobetakentothatcemeteryatnightfall。ThereisaspecialpermissionfromthePrefectureontheirbehalf。Buthowmanyeventshavehappenedsinceyesterday！
MotherCrucifixionisdead，andFatherMadeleine——"
"Isburied，"saidJeanValjean，smilingsadly。
Faucheleventcaughttheword。
"Goodness！ifyouwerehereforgood，itwouldbearealburial。"
Afourthpealburstout。Faucheleventhastilydetachedthebelledknee—capfromitsnailandbuckleditonhiskneeagain。
"Thistimeitisforme。TheMotherPrioresswantsme。Good，nowI
amprickingmyselfonthetongueofmybuckle。MonsieurMadeleine，don’tstirfromhere，andwaitforme。Somethingnewhascomeup。
Ifyouarehungry，thereiswine，breadandcheese。"
Andhehastenedoutofthehut，crying:"Coming！coming！"
JeanValjeanwatchedhimhurryingacrossthegardenasfastashiscrookedlegwouldpermit，castingasidelongglancebythewayonhismelonpatch。
Lessthantenminuteslater，FatherFauchelevent，whosebellputthenunsinhisroadtoflight，tappedgentlyatadoor，andagentlevoicereplied:"Forever！Forever！"thatistosay:"Enter。"
Thedoorwastheoneleadingtotheparlorreservedforseeingthegardeneronbusiness。Thisparloradjoinedthechapterhall。
Theprioress，seatedontheonlychairintheparlor，waswaitingforFauchelevent。
CHAPTERII
FAUCHELEVENTINTHEPRESENCEOFADIFFICULTY
Itisthepeculiarityofcertainpersonsandcertainprofessions，notablypriestsandnuns，towearagraveandagitatedaironcriticaloccasions。AtthemomentwhenFauchelevententered，thisdoubleformofpreoccupationwasimprintedonthecountenanceoftheprioress，whowasthatwiseandcharmingMademoiselledeBlemeur，MotherInnocente，whowasordinarilycheerful。
Thegardenermadeatimidbow，andremainedatthedoorofthecell。
Theprioress，whowastellingherbeads，raisedhereyesandsaid:——
"Ah！itisyou，FatherFauvent。"
Thisabbreviationhadbeenadoptedintheconvent。
Faucheleventbowedagain。
"FatherFauvent，Ihavesentforyou。"
"HereIam，reverendMother。"
"Ihavesomethingtosaytoyou。"
"AndsohaveI，"saidFaucheleventwithaboldnesswhichcausedhiminwardterror，"IhavesomethingtosaytotheveryreverendMother。"
Theprioressstaredathim。
"Ah！youhaveacommunicationtomaketome。"
"Arequest。"
"Verywell，speak。"
GoodmanFauchelevent，theex—notary，belongedtothecategoryofpeasantswhohaveassurance。Acertaincleverignoranceconstitutesaforce；youdonotdistrustit，andyouarecaughtbyit。
Faucheleventhadbeenasuccessduringthesomethingmorethantwoyearswhichhehadpassedintheconvent。Alwayssolitaryandbusiedabouthisgardening，hehadnothingelsetodothantoindulgehiscuriosity。Ashewasatadistancefromallthoseveiledwomenpassingtoandfro，hesawbeforehimonlyanagitationofshadows。
Bydintofattentionandsharpnesshehadsucceededinclothingallthosephantomswithflesh，andthosecorpseswerealiveforhim。
Hewaslikeadeafmanwhosesightgrowskeener，andlikeablindmanwhosehearingbecomesmoreacute。Hehadappliedhimselftoriddlingoutthesignificanceofthedifferentpeals，andhehadsucceeded，sothatthistaciturnandenigmaticalcloisterpossessednosecretsforhim；thesphinxbabbledallhersecretsinhisear。
Faucheleventknewallandconcealedall；thatconstitutedhisart。
Thewholeconventthoughthimstupid。Agreatmeritinreligion。
ThevocalmothersmademuchofFauchelevent。Hewasacuriousmute。
Heinspiredconfidence。Moreover，hewasregular，andneverwentoutexceptforwell—demonstratedrequirementsoftheorchardandvegetablegarden。Thisdiscretionofconducthadinuredtohiscredit。
Nonetheless，hehadsettwomentochattering:theporter，intheconvent，andheknewthesingularitiesoftheirparlor，andthegrave—digger，atthecemetery，andhewasacquaintedwiththepeculiaritiesoftheirsepulture；inthisway，hepossessedadoublelightonthesubjectofthesenuns，oneastotheirlife，theotherastotheirdeath。Buthedidnotabusehisknowledge。
Thecongregationthoughtagreatdealofhim。Old，lame，blindtoeverything，probablyalittledeafintothebargain，——whatqualities！
Theywouldhavefounditdifficulttoreplacehim。
Thegoodman，withtheassuranceofapersonwhofeelsthatheisappreciated，enteredintoaratherdiffuseandverydeeprusticharanguetothereverendprioress。Hetalkedalongtimeabouthisage，hisinfirmities，thesurchargeofyearscountingdoubleforhimhenceforth，oftheincreasingdemandsofhiswork，ofthegreatsizeofthegarden，ofnightswhichmustbepassed，likethelast，forinstance，whenhehadbeenobligedtoputstrawmatsoverthemelonbeds，becauseofthemoon，andhewoundupasfollows:
"Thathehadabrother"——（theprioressmadeamovement），——"abrothernolongeryoung"——（asecondmovementonthepartoftheprioress，butoneexpressiveofreassurance），——"that，ifhemightbepermitted，thisbrotherwouldcomeandlivewithhimandhelphim，thathewasanexcellentgardener，thatthecommunitywouldreceivefromhimgoodservice，betterthanhisown；that，otherwise，ifhisbrotherwerenotadmitted，ashe，theelder，feltthathishealthwasbrokenandthathewasinsufficientforthework，heshouldbeobliged，greatlytohisregret，togoaway；andthathisbrotherhadalittledaughterwhomhewouldbringwithhim，whomightberearedforGodinthehouse，andwhomight，whoknows，becomeanunsomeday。"
Whenhehadfinishedspeaking，theprioressstayedtheslippingofherrosarybetweenherfingers，andsaidtohim:——
"Couldyouprocureastoutironbarbetweennowandthisevening？"
"Forwhatpurpose？"
"Toserveasalever。"
"Yes，reverendMother，"repliedFauchelevent。
Theprioress，withoutaddingaword，roseandenteredtheadjoiningroom，whichwasthehallofthechapter，andwherethevocalmotherswereprobablyassembled。Faucheleventwasleftalone。
CHAPTERIII
MOTHERINNOCENTE
Aboutaquarterofanhourelapsed。Theprioressreturnedandseatedherselfoncemoreonherchair。
Thetwointerlocutorsseemedpreoccupied。Wewillpresentastenographicreportofthedialoguewhichthenensued，tothebestofourability。
"FatherFauvent！"
"ReverendMother！"
"Doyouknowthechapel？"
"Ihavealittlecagethere，whereIhearthemassandtheoffices。"
"Andyouhavebeeninthechoirinpursuanceofyourduties？"
"Twoorthreetimes。"
"Thereisastonetoberaised。"
"Heavy？"
"Theslabofthepavementwhichisatthesideofthealtar。"
"Theslabwhichclosesthevault？"
"Yes。"
"Itwouldbeagoodthingtohavetwomenforit。"
"MotherAscension，whoisasstrongasaman，willhelpyou。"
"Awomanisneveraman。"
"Wehaveonlyawomanheretohelpyou。Eachonedoeswhathecan。
BecauseDomMabillongivesfourhundredandseventeenepistlesofSaintBernard，whileMerlonusHorstiusonlygivesthreehundredandsixty—seven，IdonotdespiseMerlonusHorstius。"
"NeitherdoI。"
"Meritconsistsinworkingaccordingtoone’sstrength。Acloisterisnotadock—yard。"
"Andawomanisnotaman。Butmybrotheristhestrongone，though！"
"Andcanyougetalever？"
"Thatistheonlysortofkeythatfitsthatsortofdoor。"
"Thereisaringinthestone。"
"Iwillputtheleverthroughit。"
"Andthestoneissoarrangedthatitswingsonapivot。"
"Thatisgood，reverendMother。Iwillopenthevault。"
"AndthefourMotherPrecentorswillhelpyou。"
"Andwhenthevaultisopen？"
"Itmustbeclosedagain。"
"Willthatbeall？"
"No。"
"Givemeyourorders，veryreverendMother。"
"Fauvent，wehaveconfidenceinyou。"
"Iamheretodoanythingyouwish。"
"Andtoholdyourpeaceabouteverything！"
"Yes，reverendMother。"
"Whenthevaultisopen——"
"Iwillcloseitagain。"
"Butbeforethat——"
"What，reverendMother？"
"Somethingmustbeloweredintoit。"
Asilenceensued。Theprioress，afterapoutoftheunderlipwhichresembledhesitation，brokeit。
"FatherFauvent！"
"ReverendMother！"
"Youknowthatamotherdiedthismorning？"
"No。"
"Didyounothearthebell？"
"Nothingcanbeheardatthebottomofthegarden。"
"Really？"
"Icanhardlydistinguishmyownsignal。"
"Shediedatdaybreak。"
"Andthen，thewindisnotblowinginmydirectionthismorning。"
"ItwasMotherCrucifixion。Ablessedwoman。"
Theprioresspaused，movedherlips，asthoughinmentalprayer，andresumed:——
"Threeyearsago，MadamedeBethune，aJansenist，turnedorthodox，merelyfromhavingseenMotherCrucifixionatprayer。"
"Ah！yes，nowIheartheknell，reverendMother。"
"Themothershavetakenhertothedead—room，whichopensonthechurch。"
"Iknow。"
"Noothermanthanyoucanormustenterthatchamber。Seetothat。
Afinesightitwouldbe，toseeamanenterthedead—room！"
"Moreoften！"
"Hey？"
"Moreoften！"
"Whatdoyousay？"
"Isaymoreoften。"
"Moreoftenthanwhat？"
"ReverendMother，Ididnotsaymoreoftenthanwhat，Isaidmoreoften。"
"Idon’tunderstandyou。Whydoyousaymoreoften？"
"Inordertospeaklikeyou，reverendMother。"
"ButIdidnotsay`moreoften。’"
Atthatmoment，nineo’clockstruck。
"Atnineo’clockinthemorningandatallhours，praisedandadoredbethemostHolySacramentofthealtar，"saidtheprioress。
"Amen，"saidFauchelevent。
Theclockstruckopportunely。Itcut"moreoften"short。
Itisprobable，thathaditnotbeenforthis，theprioressandFaucheleventwouldneverhaveunravelledthatskein。
Faucheleventmoppedhisforehead。
Theprioressindulgedinanotherlittleinwardmurmur，probablysacred，thenraisedhervoice:——
"Inherlifetime，MotherCrucifixionmadeconverts；afterherdeath，shewillperformmiracles。"
"Shewill！"repliedFatherFauchelevent，fallingintostep，andstrivingnottoflinchagain。
"FatherFauvent，thecommunityhasbeenblessedinMotherCrucifixion。
Nodoubt，itisnotgrantedtoeveryonetodie，likeCardinaldeBerulle，whilesayingtheholymass，andtobreatheforththeirsoulstoGod，whilepronouncingthesewords:Hancigituroblationem。
Butwithoutattainingtosuchhappiness，MotherCrucifixion’sdeathwasveryprecious。Sheretainedherconsciousnesstotheverylastmoment。Shespoketous，thenshespoketotheangels。
Shegaveusherlastcommands。Ifyouhadalittlemorefaith，andifyoucouldhavebeeninhercell，shewouldhavecuredyourlegmerelybytouchingit。Shesmiled。WefeltthatshewasregainingherlifeinGod。Therewassomethingofparadiseinthatdeath。"
Faucheleventthoughtthatitwasanorisonwhichshewasfinishing。
"Amen，"saidhe。
"FatherFauvent，whatthedeadwishmustbedone。"
Theprioresstookoffseveralbeadsofherchaplet。Faucheleventheldhispeace。
Shewenton:——
"IhaveconsulteduponthispointmanyecclesiasticslaboringinOurLord，whooccupythemselvesintheexercisesoftheclericallife，andwhobearwonderfulfruit。"
"ReverendMother，youcanheartheknellmuchbetterherethaninthegarden。"
"Besides，sheismorethanadeadwoman，sheisasaint。"
"Likeyourself，reverendMother。"
"Shesleptinhercoffinfortwentyyears，byexpresspermissionofourHolyFather，PiusVII。——"
"TheonewhocrownedtheEmp——Buonaparte。"
ForaclevermanlikeFauchelevent，thisallusionwasanawkwardone。
Fortunately，theprioress，completelyabsorbedinherownthoughts，didnothearit。Shecontinued:——
"FatherFauvent？"
"ReverendMother？"
"SaintDidorus，ArchbishopofCappadocia，desiredthatthissinglewordmightbeinscribedonhistomb:Acarus，whichsignifies，awormoftheearth；thiswasdone。Isthistrue？"
"Yes，reverendMother。"
"TheblessedMezzocane，AbbotofAquila，wishedtobeburiedbeneaththegallows；thiswasdone。"
"Thatistrue。"
"SaintTerentius，BishopofPort，wherethemouthoftheTiberemptiesintothesea，requestedthatonhistombmightbeengravedthesignwhichwasplacedonthegravesofparricides，inthehopethatpassers—bywouldspitonhistomb。Thiswasdone。
Thedeadmustbeobeyed。"
"Sobeit。"
"ThebodyofBernardGuidonis，borninFrancenearRoche—Abeille，was，ashehadordered，andinspiteofthekingofCastile，bornetothechurchoftheDominicansinLimoges，althoughBernardGuidoniswasBishopofTuyinSpain。Canthecontrarybeaffirmed？"
"Forthatmatter，no，reverendMother。"
"ThefactisattestedbyPlantavitdelaFosse。"
Severalbeadsofthechapletweretoldoff，stillinsilence。
Theprioressresumed:——
"FatherFauvent，MotherCrucifixionwillbeinterredinthecoffininwhichshehassleptforthelasttwentyyears。"
"Thatisjust。"
"Itisacontinuationofherslumber。"
"SoIshallhavetonailupthatcoffin？"
"Yes。"
"Andwearetorejecttheundertaker’scoffin？"
"Precisely。"
"Iamattheordersoftheveryreverendcommunity。"
"ThefourMotherPrecentorswillassistyou。"
"Innailingupthecoffin？Idonotneedthem。"
"No。Inloweringthecoffin。"
"Where？"
"Intothevault。"
"Whatvault？"
"Underthealtar。"
Faucheleventstarted。
"Thevaultunderthealtar？"
"Underthealtar。"
"But——"
"Youwillhaveanironbar。"
"Yes，but——"
"Youwillraisethestonewiththebarbymeansofthering。"
"But——"
"Thedeadmustbeobeyed。Tobeburiedinthevaultunderthealtarofthechapel，nottogotoprofaneearth；toremainthereindeathwheresheprayedwhileliving；suchwasthelastwishofMotherCrucifixion。Sheaskeditofus；thatistosay，commandedus。"
"Butitisforbidden。"
"Forbiddenbymen，enjoinedbyGod。"
"Whatifitbecameknown？"
"Wehaveconfidenceinyou。"
"Oh！Iamastoneinyourwalls。"
"Thechapterassembled。Thevocalmothers，whomIhavejustconsultedagain，andwhoarenowdeliberating，havedecidedthatMotherCrucifixionshallbeburied，accordingtoherwish，inherowncoffin，underouraltar。Think，FatherFauvent，ifsheweretoworkmiracleshere！WhatagloryofGodforthecommunity！
Andmiraclesissuefromtombs。"
"But，reverendMother，iftheagentofthesanitarycommission——"
"SaintBenoitII。，inthematterofsepulture，resistedConstantinePogonatus。"
"Butthecommissaryofpolice——"
"Chonodemaire，oneofthesevenGermankingswhoenteredamongtheGaulsundertheEmpireofConstantius，expresslyrecognizedtherightofnunstobeburiedinreligion，thatistosay，beneaththealtar。"
"ButtheinspectorfromthePrefecture——"
"Theworldisnothinginthepresenceofthecross。Martin，theeleventhgeneraloftheCarthusians，gavetohisorderthisdevice:
Statcruxdumvolviturorbis。"
"Amen，"saidFauchelevent，whoimperturbablyextricatedhimselfinthismannerfromthedilemma，wheneverheheardLatin。
Anyaudiencesufficesforapersonwhohasheldhispeacetoolong。
OnthedaywhentherhetoricianGymnastoraslefthisprison，bearinginhisbodymanydilemmasandnumeroussyllogismswhichhadstruckin，hehaltedinfrontofthefirsttreewhichhecameto，harangueditandmadeverygreateffortstoconvinceit。Theprioress，whowasusuallysubjectedtothebarrierofsilence，andwhosereservoirwasoverfull，roseandexclaimedwiththeloquacityofadamwhichhasbrokenaway:——
"IhaveonmyrightBenoitandonmyleftBernard。WhowasBernard？
ThefirstabbotofClairvaux。FontainesinBurgundyisacountrythatisblestbecauseitgavehimbirth。HisfatherwasnamedTecelin，andhismotherAlethe。HebeganatCiteaux，toendinClairvaux；
hewasordainedabbotbythebishopofChalon—sur—Saone，GuillaumedeChampeaux；hehadsevenhundrednovices，andfoundedahundredandsixtymonasteries；heoverthrewAbeilardatthecouncilofSensin1140，andPierredeBruysandHenryhisdisciple，andanothersortoferringspiritswhowerecalledtheApostolics；
heconfoundedArnaulddeBrescia，dartedlightningatthemonkRaoul，themurdereroftheJews，dominatedthecouncilofReimsin1148，causedthecondemnationofGilbertdePorea，BishopofPoitiers，causedthecondemnationofEondel’Etoile，arrangedthedisputesofprinces，enlightenedKingLouistheYoung，advisedPopeEugeneIII。，regulatedtheTemple，preachedthecrusade，performedtwohundredandfiftymiraclesduringhislifetime，andasmanyasthirty—nineinoneday。WhowasBenoit？HewasthepatriarchofMont—Cassin；
hewasthesecondfounderoftheSainteteClaustrale，hewastheBasiloftheWest。Hisorderhasproducedfortypopes，twohundredcardinals，fiftypatriarchs，sixteenhundredarchbishops，fourthousandsixhundredbishops，fouremperors，twelveempresses，forty—sixkings，forty—onequeens，threethousandsixhundredcanonizedsaints，andhasbeeninexistenceforfourteenhundredyears。OnonesideSaintBernard，ontheothertheagentofthesanitarydepartment！
OnonesideSaintBenoit，ontheothertheinspectorofpublicways！
Thestate，theroadcommissioners，thepublicundertaker，regulations，theadministration，whatdoweknowofallthat？
Thereisnotachancepasser—bywhowouldnotbeindignanttoseehowwearetreated。WehavenoteventherighttogiveourdusttoJesusChrist！Yoursanitarydepartmentisarevolutionaryinvention。
Godsubordinatedtothecommissaryofpolice；suchistheage。
Silence，Fauvent！"
Faucheleventwasbutillateaseunderthisshowerbath。
Theprioresscontinued:——
"Noonedoubtstherightofthemonasterytosepulture。Onlyfanaticsandthoseinerrordenyit。Weliveintimesofterribleconfusion。
Wedonotknowthatwhichitisnecessarytoknow，andweknowthatwhichweshouldignore。Weareignorantandimpious。InthisagethereexistpeoplewhodonotdistinguishbetweentheverygreatSaintBernardandtheSaintBernarddenominatedofthepoorCatholics，acertaingoodecclesiasticwholivedinthethirteenthcentury。
OthersaresoblasphemousastocomparethescaffoldofLouisXVI。
tothecrossofJesusChrist。LouisXVI。wasmerelyaking。
LetusbewareofGod！Thereisnolongerjustnorunjust。
ThenameofVoltaireisknown，butnotthenameofCesardeBus。
Nevertheless，CesardeBusisamanofblessedmemory，andVoltaireoneofunblessedmemory。Thelastarch—bishop，theCardinaldePerigord，didnotevenknowthatCharlesdeGondrensucceededtoBerulle，andFrancoisBourgointoGondren，andJean—FrancoisSenaulttoBourgoin，andFatherSainte—MarthetoJean—FrancoisSenault。
ThenameofFatherCotonisknown，notbecausehewasoneofthethreewhourgedthefoundationoftheOratorie，butbecausehefurnishedHenriIV。，theHuguenotking，withthematerialforanoath。
ThatwhichpleasespeopleoftheworldinSaintFrancoisdeSales，isthathecheatedatplay。Andthen，religionisattacked。
Why？Becausetherehavebeenbadpriests，becauseSagittaire，BishopofGap，wasthebrotherofSalone，BishopofEmbrun，andbecausebothofthemfollowedMommol。Whathasthattodowiththequestion？DoesthatpreventMartindeToursfrombeingasaint，andgivinghalfofhiscloaktoabeggar？Theypersecutethesaints。Theyshuttheireyestothetruth。Darknessistherule。Themostferociousbeastsarebeastswhichareblind。
Noonethinksofhellasareality。Oh！howwickedpeopleare！
Byorderofthekingsignifiesto—day，byorderoftherevolution。
Onenolongerknowswhatisduetothelivingortothedead。Aholydeathisprohibited。Burialisacivilmatter。Thisishorrible。
SaintLeoII。wrotetwospecialletters，onetoPierreNotaire，theothertothekingoftheVisigoths，forthepurposeofcombatingandrejecting，inquestionstouchingthedead，theauthorityoftheexarchandthesupremacyoftheEmperor。Gauthier，BishopofChalons，heldhisowninthismatteragainstOtho，DukeofBurgundy。
Theancientmagistracyagreedwithhim。Informertimeswehadvoicesinthechapter，evenonmattersoftheday。TheAbbotofCiteaux，thegeneraloftheorder，wascouncillorbyrightofbirthtotheparliamentofBurgundy。Wedowhatwepleasewithourdead。
IsnotthebodyofSaintBenoithimselfinFrance，intheabbeyofFleury，calledSaintBenoit—sur—Loire，althoughhediedinItalyatMont—Cassin，onSaturday，the21stofthemonthofMarch，oftheyear543？Allthisisincontestable。Iabhorpsalm—singers，Ihatepriors，Iexecrateheretics，butIshoulddetestyetmoreanyonewhoshouldmaintainthecontrary。OnehasonlytoreadArnoulWion，GabrielBucelin，Trithemus，Maurolics，andDomLucd’Achery。"
Theprioresstookbreath，thenturnedtoFauchelevent。
"Isitsettled，FatherFauvent？"
"Itissettled，reverendMother。"
"Wemaydependonyou？"
"Iwillobey。"
"Thatiswell。"
"Iamentirelydevotedtotheconvent。"
"Thatisunderstood。Youwillclosethecoffin。Thesisterswillcarryittothechapel。Theofficeforthedeadwillthenbesaid。
Thenweshallreturntothecloister。Betweeneleveno’clockandmidnight，youwillcomewithyourironbar。Allwillbedoneinthemostprofoundsecrecy。TherewillbeinthechapelonlythefourMotherPrecentors，MotherAscensionandyourself。"
"Andthesisteratthepost？"
"Shewillnotturnround。"
"Butshewillhear。"
"Shewillnotlisten。Besides，whatthecloisterknowstheworldlearnsnot。"
Apauseensued。Theprioresswenton:——
"Youwillremoveyourbell。Itisnotnecessarythatthesisteratthepostshouldperceiveyourpresence。"
"ReverendMother？"
"What，FatherFauvent？"
"Hasthedoctorforthedeadpaidhisvisit？"
"Hewillpayitatfouro’clockto—day。Thepealwhichordersthedoctorforthedeadtobesummonedhasalreadybeenrung。
Butyoudonotunderstandanyofthepeals？"
"Ipaynoattentiontoanybutmyown。"
"Thatiswell，FatherFauvent。"
"ReverendMother，aleveratleastsixfeetlongwillberequired。"
"Wherewillyouobtainit？"
"Wheregratingsarenotlacking，ironbarsarenotlacking。
Ihavemyheapofoldironatthebottomofthegarden。"
"Aboutthree—quartersofanhourbeforemidnight；donotforget。"
"ReverendMother？"
"What？"
"Ifyouwereevertohaveanyotherjobsofthissort，mybrotheristhestrongmanforyou。AperfectTurk！"
"Youwilldoitasspeedilyaspossible。"
"Icannotworkveryfast。Iaminfirm；thatiswhyIrequireanassistant。Ilimp。"
"Tolimpisnosin，andperhapsitisablessing。TheEmperorHenryII。，whocombatedAntipopeGregoryandre—establishedBenoitVIII。，hastwosurnames，theSaintandtheLame。"
"Twosurtoutsareagoodthing，"murmuredFauchelevent，whoreallywasalittlehardofhearing。
"NowthatIthinkofit，FatherFauvent，letusgiveawholehourtoit。Thatisnottoomuch。Beneartheprincipalaltar，withyourironbar，ateleveno’clock。Theofficebeginsatmidnight。
Everythingmusthavebeencompletedagoodquarterofanhourbeforethat。"
"Iwilldoanythingtoprovemyzealtowardsthecommunity。
Thesearemyorders。Iamtonailupthecoffin。Ateleveno’clockexactly，Iamtobeinthechapel。TheMotherPrecentorswillbethere。MotherAscensionwillbethere。Twomenwouldbebetter。However，nevermind！Ishallhavemylever。
Wewillopenthevault，wewilllowerthecoffin，andwewillclosethevaultagain。Afterwhich，therewillbenotraceofanything。
Thegovernmentwillhavenosuspicion。Thusallhasbeenarranged，reverendMother？"
"No！"
"Whatelseremains？"
"Theemptycoffinremains。"
Thisproducedapause。Faucheleventmeditated。Theprioressmeditated。
"Whatistobedonewiththatcoffin，FatherFauvent？"
"Itwillbegiventotheearth。"
"Empty？"
Anothersilence。Faucheleventmade，withhislefthand，thatsortofagesturewhichdismissesatroublesomesubject。
"ReverendMother，Iamtheonewhoistonailupthecoffininthebasementofthechurch，andnoonecanentertherebutmyself，andIwillcoverthecoffinwiththepall。"
"Yes，butthebearers，whentheyplaceitinthehearseandloweritintothegrave，willbesuretofeelthatthereisnothinginit。"
"Ah！thede——！"exclaimedFauchelevent。
Theprioressbegantomakethesignofthecross，andlookedfixedlyatthegardener。Thevilstuckfastinhisthroat。
Hemadehastetoimproviseanexpedienttomakeherforgettheoath。
"Iwillputearthinthecoffin，reverendMother。Thatwillproducetheeffectofacorpse。"
"Youareright。Earth，thatisthesamethingasman。Soyouwillmanagetheemptycoffin？"
"Iwillmakethatmyspecialbusiness。"
Theprioress’sface，uptothatmomenttroubledandclouded，grewsereneoncemore。Shemadethesignofasuperiordismissinganinferiortohim。Faucheleventwenttowardsthedoor。Ashewasonthepointofpassingout，theprioressraisedhervoicegently:——
"Iampleasedwithyou，FatherFauvent；bringyourbrothertometo—morrow，aftertheburial，andtellhimtofetchhisdaughter。"
CHAPTERIV
INWHICHJEANVALJEANHASQUITETHEAIROFHAVINGREADAUSTIN
CASTILLEJO
Thestridesofalamemanareliketheoglingglancesofaone—eyedman；
theydonotreachtheirgoalverypromptly。Moreover，Faucheleventwasinadilemma。Hetooknearlyaquarterofanhourtoreturntohiscottageinthegarden。Cosettehadwakedup。JeanValjeanhadplacedhernearthefire。AtthemomentwhenFauchelevententered，JeanValjeanwaspointingouttoherthevintner’sbasketonthewall，andsayingtoher，"Listenattentivelytome，mylittleCosette。
Wemustgoawayfromthishouse，butweshallreturntoit，andweshallbeveryhappyhere。Thegoodmanwholiveshereisgoingtocarryyouoffonhisbackinthat。Youwillwaitformeatalady’shouse。
Ishallcometofetchyou。Obey，andsaynothing，aboveallthings，unlessyouwantMadameThenardiertogetyouagain！"
Cosettenoddedgravely。
JeanValjeanturnedroundatthenoisemadebyFaucheleventopeningthedoor。
"Well？"
"Everythingisarranged，andnothingis，"saidFauchelevent。
"Ihavepermissiontobringyouin；butbeforebringingyouinyoumustbegotout。That’swherethedifficultylies。Itiseasyenoughwiththechild。"
"Youwillcarryherout？"
"Andshewillholdhertongue？"
"Ianswerforthat。"
"Butyou，FatherMadeleine？"
And，afterasilence，fraughtwithanxiety，Faucheleventexclaimed:——
"Why，getoutasyoucamein！"
JeanValjean，asinthefirstinstance，contentedhimselfwithsaying，"Impossible。"
Faucheleventgrumbled，moretohimselfthantoJeanValjean:——
"Thereisanotherthingwhichbothersme。IhavesaidthatIwouldputearthinit。WhenIcometothinkitover，theearthinsteadofthecorpsewillnotseemliketherealthing，itwon’tdo，itwillgetdisplaced，itwillmoveabout。Themenwillbearit。
Youunderstand，FatherMadeleine，thegovernmentwillnoticeit。"
JeanValjeanstaredhimstraightintheeyeandthoughtthathewasraving。
Faucheleventwenton:——
"Howthede——uceareyougoingtogetout？Itmustallbedonebyto—morrowmorning。Itisto—morrowthatIamtobringyouin。
Theprioressexpectsyou。"
ThenheexplainedtoJeanValjeanthatthiswashisrecompenseforaservicewhichhe，Fauchelevent，wastorendertothecommunity。
Thatitfellamonghisdutiestotakepartintheirburials，thathenailedupthecoffinsandhelpedthegrave—diggeratthecemetery。
Thatthenunwhohaddiedthatmorninghadrequestedtobeburiedinthecoffinwhichhadservedherforabed，andinterredinthevaultunderthealtarofthechapel。Thatthepoliceregulationsforbadethis，butthatshewasoneofthosedeadtowhomnothingisrefused。
Thattheprioressandthevocalmothersintendedtofulfilthewishofthedeceased。Thatitwassomuchtheworseforthegovernment。
Thathe，Fauchelevent，wastonailupthecoffininthecell，raisethestoneinthechapel，andlowerthecorpseintothevault。
Andthat，bywayofthanks，theprioresswastoadmithisbrothertothehouseasagardener，andhisnieceasapupil。ThathisbrotherwasM。Madeleine，andthathisniecewasCosette。Thattheprioresshadtoldhimtobringhisbrotheronthefollowingevening，afterthecounterfeitintermentinthecemetery。ButthathecouldnotbringM。MadeleineinfromtheoutsideifM。Madeleinewasnotoutside。
Thatthatwasthefirstproblem。Andthen，thattherewasanother:
theemptycoffin。"
"Whatisthatemptycoffin？"askedJeanValjean。
Faucheleventreplied:——
"Thecoffinoftheadministration。"
"Whatcoffin？Whatadministration？"
"Anundies。Themunicipaldoctorcomesandsays，`Anunhasdied。’
Thegovernmentsendsacoffin。Thenextdayitsendsahearseandundertaker’smentogetthecoffinandcarryittothecemetery。
Theundertaker’smenwillcomeandliftthecoffin；therewillbenothinginit。"
"Putsomethinginit。"
"Acorpse？Ihavenone。"
"No。"
"Whatthen？"
"Alivingperson。"
"Whatperson？"
"Me！"saidJeanValjean。
Fauchelevent，whowasseated，sprangupasthoughabombhadburstunderhischair。
"You！"
"Whynot？"
JeanValjeangavewaytooneofthoseraresmileswhichlighteduphisfacelikeaflashfromheaveninthewinter。
"Youknow，Fauchelevent，whatyouhavesaid:`MotherCrucifixionisdead。’andIadd:`andFatherMadeleineisburied。’
"Ah！good，youcanlaugh，youarenotspeakingseriously。"
"Veryseriously，Imustgetoutofthisplace。"
"Certainly。"
"lhavetoldyoutofindabasket，andacoverformealso，"
"Well？"
"Thebasketwillbeofpine，andthecoverablackcloth。"
"Inthefirstplace，itwillbeawhitecloth。Nunsareburiedinwhite。"
"Letitbeawhitecloth，then。"
"Youarenotlikeothermen，FatherMadeleine。"
Tobeholdsuchdevices，whicharenothingelsethanthesavageanddaringinventionsofthegalleys，springforthfromthepeaceablethingswhichsurroundedhim，andminglewithwhathecalledthe"pettycourseoflifeintheconvent，"causedFaucheleventasmuchamazementasagullfishinginthegutteroftheRueSaint—Deniswouldinspireinapasser—by。
JeanValjeanwenton:——
"Theproblemistogetoutofherewithoutbeingseen。Thisoffersthemeans。Butgivemesomeinformation，inthefirstplace。
Howisitmanaged？Whereisthiscoffin？"
"Theemptyone？"
"Yes。"
"Downstairs，inwhatiscalledthedead—room。Itstandsontwotrestles，underthepall。"
"Howlongisthecoffin？"
"Sixfeet。"
"Whatisthisdead—room？"
"Itisachamberonthegroundfloorwhichhasagratedwindowopeningonthegarden，whichisclosedontheoutsidebyashutter，andtwodoors；oneleadsintotheconvent，theotherintothechurch。"
"Whatchurch？"
"Thechurchinthestreet，thechurchwhichanyonecanenter。"
"Haveyouthekeystothosetwodoors？"
"No；Ihavethekeytothedoorwhichcommunicateswiththeconvent；
theporterhasthekeytothedoorwhichcommunicateswiththechurch。"
"Whendoestheporteropenthatdoor？"
"Onlytoallowtheundertaker’smentoenter，whentheycometogetthecoffin。Whenthecoffinhasbeentakenout，thedoorisclosedagain。"
"Whonailsupthecoffin？"
"Ido。"
"Whospreadsthepalloverit？"
"Ido。"
"Areyoualone？"
"Notanotherman，exceptthepolicedoctor，canenterthedead—room。
Thatisevenwrittenonthewall。"
"Couldyouhidemeinthatroomto—nightwheneveryoneisasleep？"
"No。ButIcouldhideyouinasmall，darknookwhichopensonthedead—room，whereIkeepmytoolstouseforburials，andofwhichIhavethekey。"
"Atwhattimewillthehearsecomeforthecoffinto—morrow？"
"Aboutthreeo’clockintheafternoon。TheburialwilltakeplaceattheVaugirardcemeteryalittlebeforenightfall。
第21章