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by a candle。
The two girls of the twilight recurred to his mind。
〃Poor mothers！〃 he thought。
〃There is one thing sadder than to see one's children die； it is to see them leading an evil life。〃
Then those shadows which had varied his melancholy vanished from his thoughts； and he fell back once more into his habitual preoccupations。
He fell to thinking once more of his six months of love and happiness in the open air and the broad daylight； beneath the beautiful trees of Luxembourg。
〃How gloomy my life has bee！〃 he said to himself。
〃Young girls are always appearing to me； only formerly they were angels and now they are ghouls。〃
BOOK EIGHTH。THE WICKED POOR MAN
CHAPTER III
QUADRIFRONS
That evening； as he was undressing preparatory to going to bed； his hand came in contact； in the pocket of his coat； with the packet which he had picked up on the boulevard。
He had forgotten it。 He thought that it would be well to open it； and that this package might possibly contain the address of the young girls； if it really belonged to them； and； in any case； the information necessary to a restitution to the person who had lost it。
He opened the envelope。
It was not sealed and contained four letters； also unsealed。
They bore addresses。
All four exhaled a horrible odor of tobacco。
The first was addressed：
〃To Madame； Madame la Marquise de Grucheray； the place opposite the Chamber of Deputies； No。〃
Marius said to himself； that he should probably find in it the information which he sought； and that； moreover； the letter being open； it was probable that it could be read without impropriety。
It was conceived as follows：
Madame la Marquise：
The virtue of clemency and piety is that which most closely unites sosiety。
Turn your Christian spirit and cast a look of passion on this unfortunate Spanish victim of loyalty and attachment to the sacred cause of legitimacy； who has given with his blood； consecrated his fortune； evverything； to defend that cause； and to…day finds himself in the greatest missery。 He doubts not that your honorable person will grant succor to preserve an existence exteremely painful for a military man of education and honor full of wounds； counts in advance on the humanity which animates you and on the interest which Madame la Marquise bears to a nation so unfortunate。
Their prayer will not be in vain； and their gratitude will preserve theirs charming souvenir。
My respectful sentiments； with which I have the honor to be
Madame；
Don Alvares； Spanish Captain
of Cavalry； a royalist who
has take refuge in France；
who finds himself on travells
for his country； and the
resources are lacking him to
continue his travells。
No address was joined to the signature。
Marius hoped to find the address in the second letter； whose superscription read： A Madame； Madame la tesse de Montvernet； Rue Cassette； No。 9。 This is what Marius read in it：
Madame la tesse：
It is an unhappy mother of a family of six children the last of which is only eight months old。
I sick since my last confinement； abandoned by my husband five months ago； haveing no resources in the world the most frightful indigance。
In the hope of Madame la tesse； she has the honor to be； Madame； with profound respect；
Mistress Balizard。
Marius turned to the third letter； which was a petition like the preceding； he read：
Monsieur Pabourgeot； Elector； wholesale stocking merchant；
Rue Saint…Denis on the corner of the Rue aux Fers。
I permit myself to address you this letter to beg you to grant me the pretious favor of your simpaties and to interest yourself in a man of letters who has just sent a drama to the Theatre…Francais。 The subject is historical； and the action takes place in Auvergne in the time of the Empire； the style； I think； is natural； laconic； and may have some merit。
There are couplets to be sung in four places。
The ic； the serious； the unexpected； are mingled in a variety of characters； and a tinge of romanticism lightly spread through all the intrigue which proceeds misteriously； and ends； after striking altarations； in the midst of many beautiful strokes of brilliant scenes。
My principal object is to satisfi the desire which progressively animates the man of our century； that is to say； the fashion； that capritious and bizarre weathervane which changes at almost every new wind。
In spite of these qualities I have reason to fear that jealousy； the egotism of priviliged authors； may obtaine my exclusion from the theatre； for I am not ignorant of the mortifications with which new…ers are treated。
Monsiuer Pabourgeot； your just reputation as an enlightened protector of men of litters emboldens me to send you my daughter who will explain our indigant situation to you； lacking bread and fire in this wynter season。
When I say to you that I beg you to accept the dedication of my drama which I desire to make to you and of all those that I shall make； is to prove to you how great is my ambition to have the honor of sheltering myself under your protection； and of adorning my writings with your name。
If you deign to honor me with the most modest offering； I shall immediately occupy myself in making a piesse of verse to pay you my tribute of gratitude。 Which I shall endeavor to render this piesse as perfect as possible； will be sent to you before it is inserted at the beginning of the drama and delivered on the stage。
To Monsieur
and Madame Pabourgeot；
My most respectful plements；
Genflot； man of letters。
P。 S。 Even if it is only forty sous。
Excuse me for sending my daughter and not presenting myself； but sad motives connected with the toilet do not permit me； alas！ to go out。
Finally； Marius opened the fourth letter。
The address ran： To the benevolent Gentleman of the church of Saint…Jacquesdu…haut…Pas。 It contained the following lines：
Benevolent Man：
If you deign to acpany my daughter； you will behold a misserable calamity； and I will show you my certificates。
At