Last Flickerings of a Lamp without Oil — Les Misérables

One day Jean Valjean descended his staircase, took three steps in the street, and seated himself on a post, the same stone post where Gavroche had found him on the night between the 5th and the 6th of June. He remained there a few moments, then went upstairs again. This was the last oscillation of the pendulum. On the following day he did not leave his apartment. On the day after that, he did not leave his bed.

His portress, who prepared his scanty meals, glanced at the brown plate and exclaimed that he had eaten nothing. The plate is quite full. Look at the water jug. It is empty. That proves that you have drunk. It does not prove that you have eaten. That is called thirst, and when one does not eat at the same time, it is called fever. I will eat tomorrow. He took the old woman's hand and promised, in his benevolent voice, that he would eat them. I am not pleased with you, replied the portress. He saw no other human creature than this good woman. He was in one of those streets through which no one ever passes, and one of those houses to which no one ever comes. While he still went out, he had bought a little copper crucifix and hung it opposite his bed. That gibbet is always good to look at.

A week passed. He had not taken a step in his room. The portress told her husband the good man upstairs no longer eats, he will not last long, his daughter has made a bad marriage. The porter said if he is rich, let him have a doctor; if he has no doctor he will die; and if he has one, he will die. She scraped the grass from her pavement and grumbled. Such a neat old man. He is as white as a chicken. She caught sight of the doctor of the quarter and took it upon herself to request him to come upstairs. The door is always unlocked. When the doctor came down she asked what was the matter. Everything and nothing. He is a man who has lost some person who is dear to him. People die of that. He told me that he was in good health. Shall you come again. Yes, replied the doctor. But some one else besides must come.