Page 1250 - les-miserables

lines:—
Benevolent Man: If you deign to accompany my daugh-
ter, you will behold a misserable calamity, and I will show
you my certificates.
At the aspect of these writings your generous soul will
be moved with a sentiment of obvious benevolence, for true
philosophers always feel lively emotions.
Admit, compassionate man, that it is necessary to suf-
fer the most cruel need, and that it is very painful, for the
sake of obtaining a little relief, to get oneself attested by
the authorities as though one were not free to suffer and to
die of inanition while waiting to have our misery relieved.
Destinies are very fatal for several and too prodigal or too
protecting for others.
I await your presence or your offering, if you deign
to make one, and I beseech you to accept the respect-
ful sentiments with which I have the honor to be,
truly magnanimous man,
your very humble
and very obedient servant,
P. Fabantou, dramatic artist.
After perusing these four letters, Marius did not find
himself much further advanced than before.
In the first place, not one of the signers gave his address.
Then, they seemed to come from four different individu-
als, Don Alveras, Mistress Balizard, the poet Genflot, and
dramatic artist Fabantou; but the singular thing about these
letters was, that all four were written by the same hand.
What conclusion was to be drawn from this, except that

1250 Les Miserables