Page 1158 - les-miserables

CHAPTER II

MARIUS POOR

It is the same with wretchedness as with everything else.
It ends by becoming bearable. It finally assumes a form, and
adjusts itself. One vegetates, that is to say, one develops in
a certain meagre fashion, which is, however, sufficient for
life. This is the mode in which the existence of Marius Pont-
mercy was arranged:
He had passed the worst straits; the narrow pass was
opening out a little in front of him. By dint of toil, perse-
verance, courage, and will, he had managed to draw from
his work about seven hundred francs a year. He had learned
German and English; thanks to Courfeyrac, who had put
him in communication with his friend the publisher, Mar-
ius filled the modest post of utility man in the literature of
the publishing house. He drew up prospectuses, translated
newspapers, annotated editions, compiled biographies, etc.;
net product, year in and year out, seven hundred francs. He
lived on it. How? Not so badly. We will explain.
Marius occupied in the Gorbeau house, for an annu-
al sum of thirty francs, a den minus a fireplace, called a
cabinet, which contained only the most indispensable ar-

1158 Les Miserables