Page 282 - les-miserables

CHAPTER III

SUMS DEPOSITED

WITH LAFFITTE

On the other hand, he remained as simple as on the first
day. He had gray hair, a serious eye, the sunburned com-
plexion of a laborer, the thoughtful visage of a philosopher.
He habitually wore a hat with a wide brim, and a long coat
of coarse cloth, buttoned to the chin. He fulfilled his du-
ties as mayor; but, with that exception, he lived in solitude.
He spoke to but few people. He avoided polite attentions; he
escaped quickly; he smiled to relieve himself of the neces-
sity of talking; he gave, in order to get rid of the necessity
for smiling, The women said of him, ‘What a good-natured
bear!’ His pleasure consisted in strolling in the fields.
He always took his meals alone, with an open book be-
fore him, which he read. He had a well-selected little library.
He loved books; books are cold but safe friends. In propor-
tion as leisure came to him with fortune, he seemed to take
advantage of it to cultivate his mind. It had been observed
that, ever since his arrival at M. sur M.. his language had
grown more polished, more choice, and more gentle with

282 Les Miserables