Page 2396 - les-miserables

CHAPTER II

LAST FLICKERINGS OF A

LAMP WITHOUT OIL

One day, Jean Valjean descended his staircase, took three
steps in the street, seated himself on a post, on that same
stone post where Gavroche had found him meditating on
the night between the 5th and the 6th of June; he remained
there a few moments, then went up stairs again. This was
the last oscillation of the pendulum. On the following day
he did not leave his apartment. On the day after that, he did
not leave his bed.
His portress, who prepared his scanty repasts, a few
cabbages or potatoes with bacon, glanced at the brown
earthenware plate and exclaimed:
‘But you ate nothing yesterday, poor, dear man!’
‘Certainly I did,’ replied Jean Valjean.
‘The plate is quite full.’
‘Look at the water jug. It is empty.’
‘That proves that you have drunk; it does not prove that
you have eaten.’
‘Well,’ said Jean Valjean, ‘what if I felt hungry only for

2396 Les Miserables