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His disfort was augmented by all the reflections which occurred to him。
An escarpment rose around him。 He was in accord neither with his grandfather nor with his friends； daring in the eyes of the one； he was behind the times in the eyes of the others； and he recognized the fact that he was doubly isolated； on the side of age and on the side of youth。
He ceased to go to the Cafe Musain。
In the troubled state of his conscience； he no longer thought of certain serious sides of existence。
The realities of life do not allow themselves to be forgotten。
They soon elbowed him abruptly。
One morning； the proprietor of the hotel entered Marius' room and said to him：
〃Monsieur Courfeyrac answered for you。〃
〃Yes。〃
〃But I must have my money。〃
〃Request Courfeyrac to e and talk with me；〃 said Marius。
Courfeyrac having made his appearance； the host left them。 Marius then told him what it had not before occurred to him to relate； that he was the same as alone in the world； and had no relatives。
〃What is to bee of you？〃 said Courfeyrac。
〃I do not know in the least；〃 replied Marius。
〃What are you going to do？〃
〃I do not know。〃
〃Have you any money？〃
〃Fifteen francs。〃
〃Do you want me to lend you some？〃
〃Never。〃
〃Have you clothes？〃
〃Here is what I have。〃
〃Have you trinkets？〃
〃A watch。〃
〃Silver？〃
〃Gold； here it is。〃
〃I know a clothes…dealer who will take your frock…coat and a pair of trousers。〃
〃That is good。〃
〃You will then have only a pair of trousers； a waistcoat； a hat and a coat。〃
〃And my boots。〃
〃What！ you will not go barefoot？
What opulence！〃
〃That will be enough。〃
〃I know a watchmaker who will buy your watch。〃
〃That is good。〃
〃No； it is not good。
What will you do after that？〃
〃Whatever is necessary。
Anything honest； that is to say。〃
〃Do you know English？〃
〃No。〃
〃Do you know German？〃
〃No。〃
〃So much the worse。〃
〃Why？〃
〃Because one of my friends； a publisher； is getting up a sort of an encyclopaedia； for which you might have translated English or German articles。
It is badly paid work； but one can live by it。〃
〃I will learn English and German。〃
〃And in the meanwhile？〃
〃In the meanwhile I will live on my clothes and my watch。〃
The clothes…dealer was sent for。
He paid twenty francs for the cast…off garments。
They went to the watchmaker's。 He bought the watch for forty…five francs。
〃That is not bad；〃 said Marius to Courfeyrac； on their return to the hotel； 〃with my fifteen francs； that makes eighty。〃
〃And the hotel bill？〃 observed Courfeyrac。
〃Hello； I had forgotten that；〃 said Marius。
The landlord presented his bill； which had to be paid on the spot。 It amounted to seventy francs。
〃I have ten francs left；〃 said Marius。
〃The deuce；〃 exclaimed Courfeyrac； 〃you will eat up five francs while you are learning English； and five while learning German。 That will be swallowing a tongue very fast； or a hundred sous very slowly。〃
In the meantime Aunt Gillenormand； a rather good…hearted person at bottom in difficulties； had finally hunted up Marius' abode。
One morning； on his return from the law…school； Marius found a letter from his aunt； and the sixty pistoles； that is to say； six hundred francs in gold； in a sealed box。
Marius sent back the thirty louis to his aunt； with a respectful letter； in which he stated that he had sufficient means of subsistence and that he should be able thenceforth to supply all his needs。 At that moment； he had three francs left。
His aunt did not inform his grandfather of this refusal for fear of exasperating him。
Besides； had he not said：
〃Let me never hear the name of that blood…drinker again！〃
Marius left the hotel de la Porte Saint…Jacques； as he did not wish to run in debt there。
Index
BOOK FIFTH。THE EXCELLENCE OF MISFORTUNE
CHAPTER I
MARIUS INDIGENT
Life became hard for Marius。
It was nothing to eat his clothes and his watch。
He ate of that terrible； inexpressible thing that is called de la vache enrage； that is to say； he endured great hardships and privations。
A terrible thing it is； containing days without bread； nights without sleep； evenings without a candle； a hearth without a fire； weeks without work； a future without hope； a coat out at the elbows； an old hat which evokes the laughter of young girls； a door which one finds locked on one at night because one's rent is not paid； the insolence of the porter and the cook…shop man； the sneers of neighbors； humiliations； dignity trampled on； work of whatever nature accepted； disgusts； bitterness； despondency。
Marius learned how all this is eaten； and how such are often the only things which one has to devour。
At that moment of his existence when a man needs his pride； because he needs love； he felt that he was jeered at because he was badly dressed； and ridiculous because he was poor。 At the age when youth swells the heart with imperial pride； he dropped his eyes more than once on his dilapidated boots； and he knew the unjust shame and the poignant blushes of wretchedness。 Admirable and terrible trial from which the feeble emerge base； from which the strong emerge sublime。
A crucible into which destiny casts a man； whenever it desires a scoundrel or a demi…god。
For many great deeds are performed in petty bats。
There are instances of bravery ignored and obstinate； which defend themselves step by step in that fatal onslaught of necessities and turpitudes。 Noble and mysterious triumphs which no eye beholds； which are requited with no renown； which are saluted with no trumpet blast。 Life； misfortune； isolation； abandonment； poverty； are the fields of battle which have their heroes； obscure heroes； who are； sometimes； grander than the heroes who win renown。
Firm and rare natures are thus created； misery； almost always a step…mother； is sometimes a mother； destitution gives birth to might of soul and spirit； distress is the nurse of pride； unhappiness is a good milk for the magnanimous。
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