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〃What a farce this is！〃 repeated Fauchelevent in consternation。
BOOK EIGHTH。CEMETERIES TAKE THAT WHICH IS MITTED THEM
CHAPTER VI
BETWEEN FOUR PLANKS
Who was in the coffin？
The reader knows。
Jean Valjean。
Jean Valjean had arranged things so that he could exist there； and he could almost breathe。
It is a strange thing to what a degree security of conscience confers security of the rest。
Every bination thought out by Jean Valjean had been progressing； and progressing favorably； since the preceding day。
He； like Fauchelevent； counted on Father Mestienne。
He had no doubt as to the end。
Never was there a more critical situation； never more plete posure。
The four planks of the coffin breathe out a kind of terrible peace。 It seemed as though something of the repose of the dead entered into Jean Valjean's tranquillity。
From the depths of that coffin he had been able to follow； and he had followed； all the phases of the terrible drama which he was playing with death。
Shortly after Fauchelevent had finished nailing on the upper plank； Jean Valjean had felt himself carried out； then driven off。
He knew； from the diminution in the jolting； when they left the pavements and reached the earth road。
He had divined； from a dull noise； that they were crossing the bridge of Austerlitz。
At the first halt； he had understood that they were entering the cemetery； at the second halt； he said to himself：
〃Here is the grave。〃
Suddenly； he felt hands seize the coffin； then a harsh grating against the planks； he explained it to himself as the rope which was being fastened round the casket in order to lower it into the cavity。
Then he experienced a giddiness。
The undertaker's man and the grave…digger had probably allowed the coffin to lose its balance； and had lowered the head before the foot。
He recovered himself fully when he felt himself horizontal and motionless。
He had just touched the bottom。
He had a certain sensation of cold。
A voice rose above him； glacial and solemn。
He heard Latin words； which he did not understand； pass over him； so slowly that he was able to catch them one by one：
〃Qui dormiunt in terrae pulvere； evigilabunt； alii in vitam aeternam； et alii in approbrium； ut videant semper。〃
A child's voice said：
〃De profundis。〃
The grave voice began again：
〃Requiem aeternam dona ei； Domine。〃
The child's voice responded：
〃Et lux perpetua luceat ei。〃
He heard something like the gentle patter of several drops of rain on the plank which covered him。
It was probably the holy water。
He thought：
〃This will be over soon now。
Patience for a little while longer。
The priest will take his departure。 Fauchelevent will take Mestienne off to drink。
I shall be left。 Then Fauchelevent will return alone； and I shall get out。 That will be the work of a good hour。〃
The grave voice resumed
〃Requiescat in pace。〃
And the child's voice said：
〃Amen。〃
Jean Valjean strained his ears； and heard something like retreating footsteps。
〃There； they are going now；〃 thought he。
〃I am alone。〃
All at once； he heard over his head a sound which seemed to him to be a clap of thunder。
It was a shovelful of earth falling on the coffin。
A second shovelful fell。
One of the holes through which he breathed had just been stopped up。
A third shovelful of earth fell。
Then a fourth。
There are things which are too strong for the strongest man。 Jean Valjean lost consciousness。
BOOK EIGHTH。CEMETERIES TAKE THAT WHICH IS MITTED THEM
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 departure； 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？〃
Fauchelevent repeated：
〃I am the one who pays！〃
〃What？〃
〃For the wine。〃
〃What wine？〃
〃That Argenteuil wine。〃
〃Where is the Argenteuil？〃
〃At the Bon Coing。〃
〃Go to the devil！〃 said the grave…digger。
And he flung a shovelful of earth on the coffin。
The coffin gave back a hollow sound。
Fauchelevent felt himself stagger and on the point of falling headlong into the grave himself。 He shouted in a voice in which the strangling sound of the death rattle began to mingle：
〃rade！
Before the Bon Coing is shut！〃
The grave…digger took some more earth on his shovel。 Fauchelevent continued。
〃I will pay。〃
And he seized the man's arm。
〃Listen to me； rade。
I am the convent grave…digger； I have e to help you。
It is a business which can be performed at night。 Let us begin； then； by going for a drink。〃
And as he spoke； and clung to this desperate insistence； this melancholy reflection occurred to him：
〃And if he drinks； will he get drunk？〃
〃Provincial；〃 said the man； 〃if you positively insist upon it； I consent。
We will drink。
After work； never before。〃
And he flourished his shovel briskly。
Fauchelevent held him back。
〃It is Argenteuil wine； at six。〃
〃Oh； e；〃 said the grave…digger； 〃you are a bell…ringer。 Ding dong； ding dong； that's all you know how to say。
Go hang yourself。〃
And he threw in a second shovelful。
Fauchelevent had reached a point where he no longer knew what he was saying。
〃e along and drink；〃 he cried； 〃since it is I who pays the bill。〃
〃When we have put the child to bed；〃 said the grave…digger。
He flung in a third shovelful。
Then he thrust his shovel into the earth and added：
〃It's cold to…night； you see； and the