Page 894 - les-miserables

Before he shut his eyes, Jean Valjean said: ‘I must remain
here henceforth.’ This remark trotted through Fauchelev-
ent’s head all night long.
To tell the truth, neither of them slept.
Jean Valjean, feeling that he was discovered and that Jav-
ert was on his scent, understood that he and Cosette were
lost if they returned to Paris. Then the new storm which had
just burst upon him had stranded him in this cloister. Jean
Valjean had, henceforth, but one thought,— to remain there.
Now, for an unfortunate man in his position, this convent
was both the safest and the most dangerous of places; the
most dangerous, because, as no men might enter there, if he
were discovered, it was a flagrant offence, and Jean Valjean
would find but one step intervening between the convent
and prison; the safest, because, if he could manage to get
himself accepted there and remain there, who would ever
seek him in such a place? To dwell in an impossible place
was safety.
On his side, Fauchelevent was cudgelling his brains. He
began by declaring to himself that he understood noth-
ing of the matter. How had M. Madeleine got there, when
the walls were what they were? Cloister walls are not to be
stepped over. How did he get there with a child? One can-
not scale a perpendicular wall with a child in one’s arms.
Who was that child? Where did they both come from? Since
Fauchelevent had lived in the convent, he had heard noth-
ing of M. sur M., and he knew nothing of what had taken
place there. Father Madeleine had an air which discouraged
questions; and besides, Fauchelevent said to himself: ‘One

894 Les Miserables