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There are meditations which may be called vertical； when one is at the bottom of them； time is required to return to earth。
Jean Valjean had plunged into one of these reveries。
He was thinking of Cosette； of the happiness that was possible if nothing came between him and her； of the light with which she filled his life； a light which was but the emanation of her soul。
He was almost happy in his revery。
Cosette； who was standing beside him； was gazing at the clouds as they turned rosy。
All at once Cosette exclaimed：
〃Father； I should think some one was ing yonder。〃
Jean Valjean raised his eyes。
Cosette was right。
The causeway which leads to the ancient Barriere du Maine is a prolongation； as the reader knows； of the Rue de Sevres； and is cut at right angles by the inner boulevard。 At the elbow of the causeway and the boulevard； at the spot where it branches； they heard a noise which it was difficult to account for at that hour； and a sort of confused pile made its appearance。 Some shapeless thing which was ing from the boulevard was turning into the road。
It grew larger； it seemed to move in an orderly manner； though it was bristling and quivering； it seemed to be a vehicle； but its load could not be distinctly made out。
There were horses； wheels； shouts； whips were cracking。
By degrees the outlines became fixed； although bathed in shadows。
It was a vehicle； in fact； which had just turned from the boulevard into the highway； and which was directing its course towards the barrier near which sat Jean Valjean； a second； of the same aspect； followed； then a third； then a fourth； seven chariots made their appearance in succession； the heads of the horses touching the rear of the wagon in front。 Figures were moving on these vehicles； flashes were visible through the dusk as though there were naked swords there； a clanking became audible which resembled the rattling of chains； and as this something advanced； the sound of voices waxed louder； and it turned into a terrible thing such as emerges from the cave of dreams。
As it drew nearer； it assumed a form； and was outlined behind the trees with the pallid hue of an apparition； the mass grew white； the day； which was slowly dawning； cast a wan light on this swarming heap which was at once both sepulchral and living； the heads of the figures turned into the faces of corpses； and this is what it proved to be：
Seven wagons were driving in a file along the road。
The first six were singularly constructed。
They resembled coopers' drays； they consisted of long ladders placed on two wheels and forming barrows at their rear extremities。
Each dray； or rather let us say； each ladder； was attached to four horses harnessed tandem。 On these ladders strange clusters of men were being drawn。 In the faint light； these men were to be divined rather than seen。 Twenty…four on each vehicle； twelve on a side； back to back； facing the passers…by； their legs dangling in the air；this was the manner in which these men were travelling； and behind their backs they had something which clanked； and which was a chain； and on their necks something which shone； and which was an iron collar。 Each man had his collar； but the chain was for all； so that if these four and twenty men had occasion to alight from the dray and walk； they were seized with a sort of inexorable unity； and were obliged to wind over the ground with the chain for a backbone； somewhat after the fashion of millepeds。
In the back and front of each vehicle； two men armed with muskets stood erect； each holding one end of the chain under his foot。
The iron necklets were square。 The seventh vehicle； a huge rack…sided baggage wagon； without a hood； had four wheels and six horses； and carried a sonorous pile of iron boilers； cast…iron pots； braziers； and chains； among which were mingled several men who were pinioned and stretched at full length； and who seemed to be ill。
This wagon； all lattice…work； was garnished with dilapidated hurdles which appeared to have served for former punishments。
These vehicles kept to the middle of the road。 On each side marched a double hedge of guards of infamous aspect； wearing three…cornered hats； like the soldiers under the Directory； shabby； covered with spots and holes； muffled in uniforms of veterans and the trousers of undertakers' men； half gray； half blue； which were almost hanging in rags； with red epaulets； yellow shoulder belts； short sabres； muskets； and cudgels； they were a species of soldier…blackguards。 These myrmidons seemed posed of the abjectness of the beggar and the authority of the executioner。 The one who appeared to be their chief held a postilion's whip in his hand。
All these details； blurred by the dimness of dawn； became more and more clearly outlined as the light increased。 At the head and in the rear of the convoy rode mounted gendarmes； serious and with sword in fist。
This procession was so long that when the first vehicle reached the barrier； the last was barely debauching from the boulevard。 A throng； sprung； it is impossible to say whence； and formed in a twinkling； as is frequently the case in Paris； pressed forward from both sides of the road and looked on。
In the neighboring lanes the shouts of people calling to each other and the wooden shoes of market…gardeners hastening up to gaze were audible。
The men massed upon the drays allowed themselves to be jolted along in silence。
They were livid with the chill of morning。 They all wore linen trousers； and their bare feet were thrust into wooden shoes。
The rest of their costume was a fantasy of wretchedness。 Their accoutrements were horribly incongruous； nothing is more funereal than the harlequin in rags。
Battered felt hats； tarpaulin caps； hideous woollen nightcaps； and； side by side with a short blouse； a black coat broken at the elbow； many wore women's headgear； others had baskets on their heads； hairy breasts were visible； and through the rent in their garments tattooed designs could be descried； temples of Love； flaming hearts； Cupids； eruptions and unhealthy red blotches could also be seen。