898 Les Miserables
‘In the first place,’ said Fauchelevent, ‘you will begin by
not setting foot outside of this chamber, either you or the
child. One step in the garden and we are done for.’
‘That is true.’
‘Monsieur Madeleine,’ resumed Fauchelevent, ‘you have
arrived at a very auspicious moment, I mean to say a very
inauspicious moment; one of the ladies is very ill. This will
prevent them from looking much in our direction. It seems
that she is dying. The prayers of the forty hours are being
said. The whole community is in confusion. That occupies
them. The one who is on the point of departure is a saint. In
fact, we are all saints here; all the difference between them
and me is that they say ‘our cell,’ and that I say ‘my cabin.’
The prayers for the dying are to be said, and then the prayers
for the dead. We shall be at peace here for to-day; but I will
not answer for to-morrow.’
‘Still,’ observed Jean Valjean, ‘this cottage is in the niche
of the wall, it is hidden by a sort of ruin, there are trees, it is
not visible from the convent.’
‘And I add that the nuns never come near it.’
‘Well?’ said Jean Valjean.
The interrogation mark which accentuated this ‘well’
signified: ‘it seems to me that one may remain concealed
here?’ It was to this interrogation point that Fauchelevent
responded:—
‘There are the little girls.’
‘What little girls?’ asked Jean Valjean.
Just as Fauchelevent opened his mouth to explain the
words which he had uttered, a bell emitted one stroke.