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〃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 corpse would shriek out after us if we were to plant her there without a coverlet。〃
At that moment； as he loaded his shovel； the grave…digger bent over； and the pocket of his waistcoat gaped。
Fauchelevent's wild gaze fell mechanically into that pocket； and there it stopped。
The sun was not yet hidden behind the horizon； there was still light enough to enable him to distinguish something white at the bottom of that yawning pocket。
The sum total of lightning that the eye of a Picard peasant can contain； traversed Fauchelevent's pupils。
An idea had just occurred to him。
He thrust his hand into the pocket from behind； without the grave…digger； who was wholly absorbed in his shovelful of earth； observing it； and pulled out the white object which lay at the bottom of it。
The man sent a fourth shovelful tumbling into the grave。
Just as he turned round to get the fifth； Fauchelevent looked calmly at him and said：
〃By the way； you new man； have you your card？〃
The grave…digger paused。
〃What card？〃
〃The sun is on the point of setting。〃
〃That's good； it is going to put on its nightcap。〃
〃The gate of the cemetery will close immediately。〃
〃Well； what then？〃
〃Have you your card？〃
〃Ah！ my card？〃 said the grave…digger。
And he fumbled in his pocket。
Having searched one pocket； he proceeded to search the other。 He passed on to his fobs； explored the first； returned to the second。
〃Why； no；〃 said he； 〃I have not my card。
I must have forgotten it。〃
〃Fifteen francs fine；〃 said Fauchelevent。
The grave…digger turned green。
Green is the pallor of livid people。
〃Ah！
Jesus…mon…Dieu…bancroche…a…bas…la…lune！〃＇17＇ he exclaimed。 〃Fifteen francs fine！〃
＇17＇ Jesus…my…God…bandy…legdown with the moon！
〃Three pieces of a hundred sous；〃 said Fauchelevent。
The grave…digger dropped his shovel。
Fauchelevent's turn had e。
〃Ah； e now； conscript；〃 said Fauchelevent； 〃none of this despair。 There is no question of mitting suicide and benefiting the grave。 Fifteen francs is fifteen francs； and besides； you may not be able to pay it。
I am an old hand； you are a new one。
I know all the ropes and the devices。
I will give you some friendly advice。 One thing is clear； the sun is on the point of setting； it is touching the dome now； the cemetery will be closed in five minutes more。〃
〃That is true；〃 replied the man。
〃Five minutes more and you will not have time to fill the grave； it is as hollow as the devil； this grave； and to reach the gate in season to pass it before it is shut。〃
〃That is true。〃
〃In that case； a fine of fifteen francs。〃
〃Fifteen francs。〃
〃But you have time。
Where do you live？〃
〃A couple of steps from the barrier； a quarter of an hour from here。 No。 87 Rue de Vaugirard。〃
〃You have just time to get out by taking to your heels at your best speed。〃
〃That is exactly so。〃
〃Once outside the gate； you gallop home； you get your card； you return； the cemetery porter admits you。
As you have your card； there will be nothing to pay。
And you will bury your corpse。 I'll watch it for you in the meantime； so that it shall not run away。〃
〃I am indebted to you for my life； peasant。〃
〃Decamp！〃 said Fauchelevent。
The grave…digger； overwhelmed with gratitude； shook his hand and set off on a run。
When the man had disappeared in the thicket； Fauchelevent listened until he heard his footsteps die away in the distance； then he leaned over the grave； and said in a low tone：
〃Father Madeleine！〃
There was no reply。
Fauchelevent was seized with a shudder。
He tumbled rather than climbed into the grave； flung himself on the head of the coffin and cried：
〃Are you there？〃
Silence in the coffin。
Fauchelevent； hardly able to draw his breath for trembling； seized his cold chisel and his hammer； and pried up the coffin lid。
Jean Valjean's face appeared in the twilight； it was pale and his eyes were closed。
Fauchelevent's hair rose upright on his head； he sprang to his feet； then fell back against the side of the grave； ready to swoon on the coffin。
He stared at Jean Valjean。
Jean Valjean lay there pallid and motionless。
Fauchelevent murmured in a voice as faint as a sigh：
〃He is dead！〃
And； drawing himself up； and folding his arms with such violence that his clenched fists came in contact with his shoulders； he cried：
〃And this is the way I save his life！〃
Then the poor man fell to sobbing。
He soliloquized the while； for it is an error to suppose that the soliloquy is unnatural。 Powerful emotion often talks aloud。
〃It is Father Mestienne's fault。
Why did that fool die？
What need was there for him to give up the ghost at the very moment when no one was expecting it？
It is he who has killed M。 Madeleine。 Father Madeleine！
He is in the coffin。
It is quite handy。 All is over。
Now； is there any sense in these things？ Ah！ my God！ he is dead！
Well！ and his little girl； what am I to do with her？
What will the fruit…seller say？
The idea of its being possible for a man like that to die like this！ When I think how he put himself under that cart！
Father Madeleine！ Father Madeleine！
Pardine！
He was suffocated； I said so。 He wouldn't believe me。
Well！
Here's a pretty trick to play！ He is dead； that good man； the very best man out of all the good God's good folks！
And his little girl！
Ah！
In the first place； I won't go back there myself。
I shall stay here。
After having done such a thing as that！
What's the use of being two old men； if we are two old fools！
But； in the first place； how did he manage to enter the convent？
That was the beginning of it all。 One should not do such things。
Father Madeleine！
Father Madeleine！ Father Madeleine！
Madeleine！