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the other peasants said of him：
〃He talks almost like a gentleman with a hat。〃
Fauchelevent belonged； in fact； to that species； which the impertinent and flippant vocabulary of the last century qualified as demi…bourgeois； demi…lout； and which the metaphors showered by the chateau upon the thatched cottage ticketed in the pigeon…hole of the plebeian：
rather rustic； rather citified； pepper and salt。 Fauchelevent； though sorely tried and harshly used by fate； worn out； a sort of poor； threadbare old soul； was； nevertheless； an impulsive man； and extremely spontaneous in his actions； a precious quality which prevents one from ever being wicked。 His defects and his vices； for he had some； were all superficial； in short； his physiognomy was of the kind which succeeds with an observer。
His aged face had none of those disagreeable wrinkles at the top of the forehead； which signify malice or stupidity。
At daybreak； Father Fauchelevent opened his eyes； after having done an enormous deal of thinking； and beheld M。 Madeleine seated on his truss of straw； and watching Cosette's slumbers。 Fauchelevent sat up and said：
〃Now that you are here； how are you going to contrive to enter？〃
This remark summed up the situation and aroused Jean Valjean from his revery。
The two men took counsel together。
〃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 munity 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 e 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。
〃The nun is dead；〃 said he。
〃There is the knell。〃
And he made a sign to Jean Valjean to listen。
The bell struck a second time。
〃It is the knell； Monsieur Madeleine。
The bell will continue to strike once a minute for twenty…four hours； until the body is taken from the church。You see； they play。
At recreation hours it suffices to have a ball roll aside； to send them all hither； in spite of prohibitions； to hunt and rummage for it all about here。 Those cherubs are devils。〃
〃Who？〃 asked Jean Valjean。
〃The little girls。
You would be very quickly discovered。 They would shriek：
‘Oh！ a man！'
There is no danger to…day。 There will be no recreation hour。
The day will be entirely devoted to prayers。
You hear the bell。
As I told you； a stroke each minute。 It is the death knell。〃
〃I understand； Father Fauchelevent。
There are pupils。〃
And Jean Valjean thought to himself：
〃Here is Cosette's education already provided。〃
Fauchelevent exclaimed：
〃Pardine！
There are little girls indeed！
And they would bawl around you！
And they would rush off！
To be a man here is to have the plague。
You see how they fasten a bell to my paw as though I were a wild beast。〃
Jean Valjean fell into more and more profound thought。〃This convent would be our salvation；〃 he murmured。
Then he raised his voice：
〃Yes； the difficulty is to remain here。〃
〃No；〃 said Fauchelevent； 〃the difficulty is to get out。〃
Jean Valjean felt the blood rush back to his heart。
〃To get out！〃
〃Yes； Monsieur Madeleine。
In order to return here it is first necessary to get out。〃
And after waiting until another stroke of the knell had sounded； Fauchelevent went on：
〃You must not be found here in this fashion。
Whence e you？ For me； you fall from heaven； because I know you； but the nuns require one to enter by the door。〃
All at once they heard a rather plicated pealing from another bell。
〃Ah！〃 said Fauchelevent； 〃they are ringing up the vocal mothers。 They are going to the chapter。
They always hold a chapter when any one dies。
She died at daybreak。
People generally do die at daybreak。 But cannot you get out by the way in which you entered？
e； I do not ask for the sake of questioning you； but how did you get in？〃
Jean Valjean turned pale； the very thought of descending again into that terrible street made him shudder。
You make your way out of a forest filled with tigers； and once out of it； imagine a friendly counsel that shall advise you to return thither！ Jean Valjean pictured to himself the whole police force still engaged in swarming in that quarter； agents on the watch； sentinels everywhere； frightful fists extended towards his collar； Javert at the corner of the intersection of the streets perhaps。
〃Impossible！〃 said he。
〃Father Fauchelevent； say that I fell from the sky。〃
〃But I believe it； I believe it；〃 retorted Fauchelevent。 〃You have no need to tell me that。
The good God must have taken you in his hand for the purpose of getting a good look at you close to； and then dropped you。
Only； he meant to place you in a man's convent； he made a mistake。
e； there goes another peal； that is to order the po