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CHAPTER VI

MARIUS HAGGARD,

JAVERT LACONIC

Let us narrate what was passing in Marius’ thoughts.
Let the reader recall the state of his soul. We have just
recalled it, everything was a vision to him now. His judg-
ment was disturbed. Marius, let us insist on this point, was
under the shadow of the great, dark wings which are spread
over those in the death agony. He felt that he had entered
the tomb, it seemed to him that he was already on the other
side of the wall, and he no longer beheld the faces of the liv-
ing except with the eyes of one dead.
How did M. Fauchelevent come there? Why was he there?
What had he come there to do? Marius did not address all
these questions to himself. Besides, since our despair has
this peculiarity, that it envelops others as well as ourselves,
it seemed logical to him that all the world should come
thither to die.
Only, he thought of Cosette with a pang at his heart.
However, M. Fauchelevent did not speak to him, did not
look at him, and had not even the air of hearing him, when

2006 Les Miserables