Page 777 - les-miserables

called the passers-by. This practice of filling up corners of
the wall is much in use in Paris.
This mass was about five feet in height; the space above
the summit of this mass which it was necessary to climb
was not more than fourteen feet.
The wall was surmounted by a flat stone without a cop-
ing.
Cosette was the difficulty, for she did not know how to
climb a wall. Should he abandon her? Jean Valjean did not
once think of that. It was impossible to carry her. A man’s
whole strength is required to successfully carry out these
singular ascents. The least burden would disturb his centre
of gravity and pull him downwards.
A rope would have been required; Jean Valjean had
none. Where was he to get a rope at midnight, in the Rue
Polonceau? Certainly, if Jean Valjean had had a kingdom, he
would have given it for a rope at that moment.
All extreme situations have their lightning flashes which
sometimes dazzle, sometimes illuminate us.
Jean Valjean’s despairing glance fell on the street lan-
tern-post of the blind alley Genrot.
At that epoch there were no gas-jets in the streets of Par-
is. At nightfall lanterns placed at regular distances were
lighted; they were ascended and descended by means of a
rope, which traversed the street from side to side, and was
adjusted in a groove of the post. The pulley over which this
rope ran was fastened underneath the lantern in a little iron
box, the key to which was kept by the lamp-lighter, and the
rope itself was protected by a metal case.

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