The Lower Chamber — Les Misérables

On the following day, at nightfall, Jean Valjean knocked at the carriage gate of the Gillenormand house. It was Basque who received him. Basque was in the courtyard at the appointed hour, as though he had received his orders. Basque asked whether monsieur desired to go upstairs or to remain below. I will remain below, replied Jean Valjean. The room he entered was a damp, vaulted chamber on the ground floor, paved with red squares and badly lighted by a grated window. The dust rested there. A fine web, very black and ornamented with dead flies, formed a wheel on one of the panes. Empty bottles were piled in a corner. A fire was burning on the hearth, which indicated that his remaining below had been foreseen. Two armchairs waited at the corners of the fireplace. Jean Valjean was fatigued. For days he had neither eaten nor slept. He threw himself into one of the chairs. Basque set a lighted candle on the chimney-piece and retired. All at once he drew himself up with a start. Cosette was standing beside him.

She was adorably lovely. What he contemplated was not her beauty but her soul. Well, father, she exclaimed, Marius told me that you wish me to receive you here. Yes, it is my wish. She offered him her cheek. He remained motionless. She presented the other. It seemed as though his feet were nailed to the pavement. She told him he would dine with them. He had dined. She told him to go upstairs immediately. Impossible. Why, and why the ugliest chamber in the house. He caught himself on thou and said you know, madame, that I am peculiar. Madame, she struck her tiny hands together. You wished to be Madame. You are so. Not for you, father. Do not call me father. Call me Monsieur Jean. Jean, if you like. Since you are Madame Pontmercy, I certainly can be Monsieur Jean. She seized his hands and pressed them against her neck. Be good. Come and live here. There are birds here as there are in the Rue Plumet. Be my father. You no longer need a father, you have a husband.

She became angry. She was all alone. Her chamber was left on her hands. Her father Fauchelevent wanted her to call him Monsieur Jean and receive him in a cellar where the walls have beards. Are you angry with me because I am happy. Ingenuousness sometimes unconsciously penetrates deep. This question, which was simple for Cosette, was profound for Jean Valjean. Cosette had meant to scratch, and she lacerated. He turned pale. Her happiness was the object of my life. Now God may sign my dismissal. Cosette, thou art happy. My day is over. Ah, you have said thou to me, she exclaimed, and she sprang to his neck. He strained her wildly to his breast. It almost seemed to him as though he were taking her back. Then he gently removed her arms and took his hat. I leave you, Madame, they are waiting for you. From the threshold he added that he had said thou to her. Tell your husband that this shall not happen again. Pardon me. Jean Valjean quitted the room, leaving Cosette stupefied at this enigmatical farewell.