Page 946 - les-miserables

CHAPTER VII

IN WHICH WILL BE

FOUND THE ORIGIN

OF THE SAYING: DON’T

LOSE THE CARD

This is what had taken place above the coffin in which lay
Jean Valjean.
When the hearse had driven off, when the priest and the
choir boy had entered the carriage again and taken their de-
parture, Fauchelevent, who had not taken his eyes from the
grave-digger, saw the latter bend over and grasp his shovel,
which was sticking upright in the heap of dirt.
Then Fauchelevent took a supreme resolve.
He placed himself between the grave and the grave-digger,
crossed his arms and said:—
‘I am the one to pay!’
The grave-digger stared at him in amazement, and
replied:—
‘What’s that, peasant?’

946 Les Miserables