Page 2168 - les-miserables

and almost without breathing, in that half light, he gazed at
him with inexpressible hatred.
On disarranging Marius’ garments, he had found two
things in his pockets, the roll which had been forgotten
there on the preceding evening, and Marius’ pocketbook.
He ate the roll and opened the pocketbook. On the first page
he found the four lines written by Marius. The reader will
recall them:
‘My name is Marius Pontmercy. Carry my body to my
grandfather, M. Gillenormand, Rue des Filles-du-Calvaire,
No. 6, in the Marais.’
Jean Valjean read these four lines by the light of the air-
hole, and remained for a moment as though absorbed in
thought, repeating in a low tone: ‘Rue des Filles-du-Cal-
vaire, number 6, Monsieur Gillenormand.’ He replaced the
pocketbook in Marius’ pocket. He had eaten, his strength
had returned to him; he took Marius up once more upon his
back, placed the latter’s head carefully on his right shoulder,
and resumed his descent of the sewer.
The Grand Sewer, directed according to the course of
the valley of Menilmontant, is about two leagues long. It is
paved throughout a notable portion of its extent.
This torch of the names of the streets of Paris, with which
we are illuminating for the reader Jean Valjean’s subterra-
nean march, Jean Valjean himself did not possess. Nothing
told him what zone of the city he was traversing, nor what
way he had made. Only the growing pallor of the pools of
light which he encountered from time to time indicated to
him that the sun was withdrawing from the pavement, and

2168 Les Miserables