2430 Les Miserables
shawl.’
Cosette thought him mad and obeyed.
He could not breathe, he laid his hand on his heart to
restrain its throbbing. He paced back and forth with huge
strides, he embraced Cosette:
‘Ah! Cosette! I am an unhappy wretch!’ said he.
Marius was bewildered. He began to catch a glimpse in
Jean Valjean of some indescribably lofty and melancholy
figure. An unheard-of virtue, supreme and sweet, humble
in its immensity, appeared to him. The convict was trans-
figured into Christ.
Marius was dazzled by this prodigy. He did not know
precisely what he beheld, but it was grand.
In an instant, a hackney-carriage stood in front of the
door.
Marius helped Cosette in and darted in himself.
‘Driver,’ said he, ‘Rue de l’Homme Arme, Number 7.’
The carriage drove off.
‘Ah! what happiness!’ ejaculated Cosette. ‘Rue de
l’Homme Arme, I did not dare to speak to you of that. We
are going to see M. Jean.’
‘Thy father! Cosette, thy father more than ever. Cosette,
I guess it. You told me that you had never received the let-
ter that I sent you by Gavroche. It must have fallen into his
hands. Cosette, he went to the barricade to save me. As it
is a necessity with him to be an angel, he saved others also;
he saved Javert. He rescued me from that gulf to give me to
you. He carried me on his back through that frightful sew-
er. Ah! I am a monster of ingratitude. Cosette, after having