按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
good milk for the magnanimous。
There came a moment in Marius' life； when he swept his own landing； when he bought his sou's worth of Brie cheese at the fruiterer's； when he waited until twilight had fallen to slip into the baker's and purchase a loaf； which he carried off furtively to his attic as though he had stolen it。
Sometimes there could be seen gliding into the butcher's shop on the corner； in the midst of the bantering cooks who elbowed him； an awkward young man； carrying big books under his arm； who had a timid yet angry air； who； on entering； removed his hat from a brow whereon stood drops of perspiration； made a profound bow to the butcher's astonished wife； asked for a mutton cutlet； paid six or seven sous for it； wrapped it up in a paper； put it under his arm； between two books； and went away。 It was Marius。
On this cutlet； which he cooked for himself； he lived for three days。
On the first day he ate the meat； on the second he ate the fat； on the third he gnawed the bone。
Aunt Gillenormand made repeated attempts； and sent him the sixty pistoles several times。 Marius returned them on every occasion； saying that he needed nothing。
He was still in mourning for his father when the revolution which we have just described was effected within him。
From that time forth； he had not put off his black garments。
But his garments were quitting him。
The day came when he had no longer a coat。 The trousers would go next。
What was to be done？
Courfeyrac； to whom he had； on his side； done some good turns； gave him an old coat。 For thirty sous； Marius got it turned by some porter or other； and it was a new coat。
But this coat was green。
Then Marius ceased to go out until after nightfall。
This made his coat black。 As he wished always to appear in mourning； he clothed himself with the night。
In spite of all this； he got admitted to practice as a lawyer。 He was supposed to live in Courfeyrac's room； which was decent； and where a certain number of law…books backed up and pleted by several dilapidated volumes of romance； passed as the library required by the regulations。
He had his letters addressed to Courfeyrac's quarters。
When Marius became a lawyer； he informed his grandfather of the fact in a letter which was cold but full of submission and respect。 M。 Gillenormand trembled as he took the letter； read it； tore it in four pieces； and threw it into the waste…basket。 Two or three days later； Mademoiselle Gillenormand heard her father； who was alone in his room； talking aloud to himself。
He always did this whenever he was greatly agitated。
She listened； and the old man was saying： 〃If you were not a fool； you would know that one cannot be a baron and a lawyer at the same time。〃
BOOK FIFTH。THE EXCELLENCE OF MISFORTUNE
CHAPTER II
MARIUS POOR
It is the same with wretchedness as with everything else。
It ends by being bearable。
It finally assumes a form； and adjusts itself。 One vegetates； that is to say； one develops in a certain meagre fashion； which is； however； sufficient for life。
This is the mode in which the existence of Marius Pontmercy was arranged：
He had passed the worst straits； the narrow pass was opening out a little in front of him。
By dint of toil； perseverance； courage； and will； he had managed to draw from his work about seven hundred francs a year。 He had learned German and English； thanks to Courfeyrac； who had put him in munication with his friend the publisher； Marius filled the modest post of utility man in the literature of the publishing house。 He drew up prospectuses； translated newspapers； annotated editions； piled biographies； etc。； net product； year in and year out； seven hundred francs。
He lived on it。
How？
Not so badly。 We will explain。
Marius occupied in the Gorbeau house； for an annual sum of thirty francs； a den minus a fireplace； called a cabinet； which contained only the most indispensable articles of furniture。
This furniture belonged to him。
He gave three francs a month to the old principal tenant to e and sweep his hole； and to bring him a little hot water every morning； a fresh egg； and a penny roll。
He breakfasted on this egg and roll。
His breakfast varied in cost from two to four sous； according as eggs were dear or cheap。
At six o'clock in the evening he descended the Rue Saint…Jacques to dine at Rousseau's； opposite Basset's； the stamp…dealer's； on the corner of the Rue des Mathurins。
He ate no soup。
He took a six…sou plate of meat； a half…portion of vegetables for three sous； and a three…sou dessert。 For three sous he got as much bread as he wished。
As for wine； he drank water。
When he paid at the desk where Madam Rousseau； at that period still plump and rosy majestically presided； he gave a sou to the waiter； and Madam Rousseau gave him a smile。 Then he went away。
For sixteen sous he had a smile and a dinner。
This Restaurant Rousseau； where so few bottles and so many water carafes were emptied； was a calming potion rather than a restaurant。 It no longer exists。
The proprietor had a fine nickname：
he was called Rousseau the Aquatic。
Thus； breakfast four sous； dinner sixteen sous； his food cost him twenty sous a day； which made three hundred and sixty…five francs a year。
Add the thirty francs for rent； and the thirty…six francs to the old woman； plus a few trifling expenses； for four hundred and fifty francs； Marius was fed； lodged； and waited on。 His clothing cost him a hundred francs； his linen fifty francs； his washing fifty francs； the whole did not exceed six hundred and fifty francs。
He was rich。
He sometimes lent ten francs to a friend。 Courfeyrac had once been able to borrow sixty francs of him。 As far as fire was concerned； as Marius had no fireplace； he had 〃simplified matters。〃
Marius always had two plete suits of clothes； the one old； 〃for every day〃； the other； brand new for special occasions。 Both were black。
He had but three shirts； one on his person； the second in the mode； and the third in the washerwoman's hands。 He renewed them as