Page 169 - les-miserables

CHAPTER IX

NEW TROUBLES

When the hour came for him to take his departure from
the galleys, when Jean Valjean heard in his ear the strange
words, Thou art free! the moment seemed improbable and
unprecedented; a ray of vivid light, a ray of the true light of
the living, suddenly penetrated within him. But it was not
long before this ray paled. Jean Valjean had been dazzled
by the idea of liberty. He had believed in a new life. He very
speedily perceived what sort of liberty it is to which a yellow
passport is provided.
And this was encompassed with much bitterness. He had
calculated that his earnings, during his sojourn in the gal-
leys, ought to amount to a hundred and seventy-one francs.
It is but just to add that he had forgotten to include in his
calculations the forced repose of Sundays and festival days
during nineteen years, which entailed a diminution of about
eighty francs. At all events, his hoard had been reduced by
various local levies to the sum of one hundred and nine
francs fifteen sous, which had been counted out to him on
his departure. He had understood nothing of this, and had
thought himself wronged. Let us say the word—robbed.

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