Page 153 - les-miserables
P. 153

pane of glass and taken a loaf of bread.
            Room for a brief parenthesis. This is the second time,
         during his studies on the penal question and damnation by
         law, that the author of this book has come across the theft
         of a loaf of bread as the point of departure for the disaster
         of a destiny. Claude Gaux had stolen a loaf; Jean Valjean
         had stolen a loaf. English statistics prove the fact that four
         thefts out of five in London have hunger for their immedi-
         ate cause.
            Jean Valjean had entered the galleys sobbing and shud-
         dering; he emerged impassive. He had entered in despair; he
         emerged gloomy.
            What had taken place in that soul?

























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