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re confounded in a single word； a fatal word； the miserable； whose fault is this？
And then should not the charity be all the more profound； in proportion as the fall is great？
While reading himself this moral lesson； for there were occasions on which Marius； like all truly honest hearts； was his own pedagogue and scolded himself more than he deserved； he stared at the wall which separated him from the Jondrettes； as though he were able to make his gaze； full of pity； penetrate that partition and warm these wretched people。
The wall was a thin layer of plaster upheld by lathes and beams； and； as the reader had just learned； it allowed the sound of voices and words to be clearly distinguished。 Only a man as dreamy as Marius could have failed to perceive this long before。
There was no paper pasted on the wall； either on the side of the Jondrettes or on that of Marius； the coarse construction was visible in its nakedness。
Marius examined the partition； almost unconsciously； sometimes revery examines； observes； and scrutinizes as thought would。
All at once he sprang up； he had just perceived； near the top； close to the ceiling； a triangular hole； which resulted from the space between three lathes。 The plaster which should have filled this cavity was missing； and by mounting on the mode； a view could be had through this aperture into the Jondrettes' attic。
miseration has； and should have； its curiosity。
This aperture formed a sort of peep…hole。 It is permissible to gaze at misfortune like a traitor in order to succor it。＇27＇
＇27＇ The peep…hole is a Judas in French。
Hence the half…punning allusion。
〃Let us get some little idea of what these people are like；〃 thought Marius； 〃and in what condition they are。〃
He climbed upon the mode； put his eye to the crevice； and looked。
BOOK EIGHTH。THE WICKED POOR MAN
CHAPTER VI
THE WILD MAN IN HIS LAIR
Cities； like forests； have their caverns in which all the most wicked and formidable creatures which they contain conceal themselves。
Only； in cities； that which thus conceals itself is ferocious； unclean； and petty； that is to say； ugly； in forests； that which conceals itself is ferocious； savage； and grand； that is to say； beautiful。
Taking one lair with another； the beast's is preferable to the man's。 Caverns are better than hovels。
What Marius now beheld was a hovel。
Marius was poor； and his chamber was poverty…stricken； but as his poverty was noble； his garret was neat。
The den upon which his eye now rested was abject； dirty； fetid； pestiferous； mean； sordid。
The only furniture consisted of a straw chair； an infirm table； some old bits of crockery； and in two of the corners； two indescribable pallets； all the light was furnishd by a dormer window of four panes； draped with spiders' webs。
Through this aperture there penetrated just enough light to make the face of a man appear like the face of a phantom。
The walls had a leprous aspect； and were covered with seams and scars； like a visage disfigured by some horrible malady； a repulsive moisture exuded from them。
Obscene sketches roughly sketched with charcoal could be distinguished upon them。
The chamber which Marius occupied had a dilapidated brick pavement； this one was neither tiled nor planked； its inhabitants stepped directly on the antique plaster of the hovel； which had grown black under the long…continued pressure of feet。
Upon this uneven floor； where the dirt seemed to be fairly incrusted； and which possessed but one virginity； that of the broom； were capriciously grouped constellations of old shoes； socks； and repulsive rags； however； this room had a fireplace； so it was let for forty francs a year。 There was every sort of thing in that fireplace； a brazier； a pot； broken boards； rags suspended from nails； a bird…cage； ashes； and even a little fire。
Two brands were smouldering there in a melancholy way。
One thing which added still more to the horrors of this garret was； that it was large。
It had projections and angles and black holes； the lower sides of roofs； bays； and promontories。
Hence horrible； unfathomable nooks where it seemed as though spiders as big as one's fist； wood…lice as large as one's foot； and perhaps evenwho knows？ some monstrous human beings； must be hiding。
One of the pallets was near the door； the other near the window。 One end of each touched the fireplace and faced Marius。
In a corner near the aperture through which Marius was gazing； a colored engraving in a black frame was suspended to a nail on the wall； and at its bottom； in large letters； was the inscription：
THE DREAM。 This represented a sleeping woman； and a child； also asleep； the child on the woman's lap； an eagle in a cloud； with a crown in his beak； and the woman thrusting the crown away from the child's head； without awaking the latter； in the background； Napoleon in a glory； leaning on a very blue column with a yellow capital ornamented with this inscription：
MARINGO
AUSTERLITS
IENA WAGRAMME
ELOT
Beneath this frame； a sort of wooden panel； which was no longer than it was broad； stood on the ground and rested in a sloping attitude against the wall。
It had the appearance of a picture with its face turned to the wall； of a frame probably showing a daub on the other side； of some pier…glass detached from a wall and lying forgotten there while waiting to be rehung。
Near the table； upon which Marius descried a pen； ink； and paper； sat a man about sixty years of age； small； thin； livid； haggard； with a cunning； cruel； and uneasy air； a hideous scoundrel。
If Lavater had studied this visage； he would have found the vulture mingled with the attorney there； the bird of prey and the pettifogger rendering each other mutually hideous and plementing each other； the pettifogger making the bird of prey ignoble； the bird of prey making the pettifogger horrible。
This man had a long gray beard。
He was clad in a woman's chemise； which allowed his hairy breast and his bare arms； bristling with gray hair； to be seen。
Beneath this chemise； muddy trouse