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And in truth； the mysterious impression produced on Cosette in the depths of the forest of Chelles by the hand of Jean Valjean grasping hers in the dark was not an illusion； but a reality。 The entrance of that man into the destiny of that child had been the advent of God。
Moreover； Jean Valjean had chosen his refuge well。
There he seemed perfectly secure。
The chamber with a dressing…room； which he occupied with Cosette； was the one whose window opened on the boulevard。
This being the only window in the house； no neighbors' glances were to be feared from across the way or at the side。
The ground…floor of Number 50…52； a sort of dilapidated penthouse； served as a wagon…house for market…gardeners； and no munication existed between it and the first story。
It was separated by the flooring； which had neither traps nor stairs； and which formed the diaphragm of the building； as it were。
The first story contained； as we have said； numerous chambers and several attics； only one of which was occupied by the old woman who took charge of Jean Valjean's housekeeping； all the rest was uninhabited。
It was this old woman； ornamented with the name of the principal lodger； and in reality intrusted with the functions of portress； who had let him the lodging on Christmas eve。
He had represented himself to her as a gentleman of means who had been ruined by Spanish bonds； who was ing there to live with his little daughter。 He had paid her six months in advance； and had missioned the old woman to furnish the chamber and dressing…room； as we have seen。 It was this good woman who had lighted the fire in the stove； and prepared everything on the evening of their arrival。
Week followed week； these two beings led a happy life in that hovel。
Cosette laughed； chattered； and sang from daybreak。
Children have their morning song as well as birds。
It sometimes happened that Jean Valjean clasped her tiny red hand； all cracked with chilblains； and kissed it。
The poor child； who was used to being beaten； did not know the meaning of this； and ran away in confusion。
At times she became serious and stared at her little black gown。 Cosette was no longer in rags； she was in mourning。
She had emerged from misery； and she was entering into life。
Jean Valjean had undertaken to teach her to read。
Sometimes； as he made the child spell； he remembered that it was with the idea of doing evil that he had learned to read in prison。
This idea had ended in teaching a child to read。
Then the ex…convict smiled with the pensive smile of the angels。
He felt in it a premeditation from on high； the will of some one who was not man； and he became absorbed in revery。
Good thoughts have their abysses as well as evil ones。
To teach Cosette to read； and to let her play； this constituted nearly the whole of Jean Valjean's existence。
And then he talked of her mother； and he made her pray。
She called him father； and knew no other name for him。
He passed hours in watching her dressing and undressing her doll； and in listening to her prattle。
Life； henceforth； appeared to him to be full of interest； men seemed to him good and just； he no longer reproached any one in thought； he saw no reason why he should not live to be a very old man； now that this child loved him。 He saw a whole future stretching out before him； illuminated by Cosette as by a charming light。
The best of us are not exempt from egotistical thoughts。
At times； he reflected with a sort of joy that she would be ugly。
This is only a personal opinion； but； to utter our whole thought； at the point where Jean Valjean had arrived when he began to love Cosette； it is by no means clear to us that he did not need this encouragement in order that he might persevere in well…doing。 He had just viewed the malice of men and the misery of society under a new aspect inplete aspects； which unfortunately only exhibited one side of the truth； the fate of woman as summed up in Fantine； and public authority as personified in Javert。
He had returned to prison； this time for having done right； he had quaffed fresh bitterness； disgust and lassitude were overpowering him； even the memory of the Bishop probably suffered a temporary eclipse； though sure to reappear later on luminous and triumphant； but； after all； that sacred memory was growing dim。
Who knows whether Jean Valjean had not been on the eve of growing discouraged and of falling once more？ He loved and grew strong again。
Alas！ he walked with no less indecision than Cosette。
He protected her； and she strengthened him。 Thanks to him； she could walk through life； thanks to her； he could continue in virtue。
He was that child's stay； and she was his prop。
Oh； unfathomable and divine mystery of the balances of destiny！
BOOK FOURTH。THE GORBEAU HOVEL
CHAPTER IV
THE REMARKS OF THE PRINCIPAL TENANT
Jean Valjean was prudent enough never to go out by day。 Every evening； at twilight； he walked for an hour or two； sometimes alone； often with Cosette； seeking the most deserted side alleys of the boulevard； and entering churches at nightfall。 He liked to go to Saint…Medard； which is the nearest church。 When he did not take Cosette with him； she remained with the old woman； but the child's delight was to go out with the good man。
She preferred an hour with him to all her rapturous tete…a…tetes with Catherine。 He held her hand as they walked； and said sweet things to her。
It turned out that Cosette was a very gay little person。
The old woman attended to the housekeeping and cooking and went to market。
They lived soberly； always having a little fire； but like people in very moderate circumstances。
Jean Valjean had made no alterations in the furniture as it was the first day； he had merely had the glass door leading to Cosette's dressing…room replaced by a solid door。
He still wore his yellow coat； his black breeches； and his old hat。 In the street； he was taken for a poor man。
It sometimes happened that kind…hearted women turned back to bestow a sou on him。 Jean Valjean accepted the sou with a deep bow。
It also happened occasionally that he encountered some poor wretch asking alms； then he looked behind him to make sure that no one was observing him； stealthily approached the unfortunate man； put a piece of money into his hand； often a silver coin； and walked rapidly away。 This had its disadvantages。
He began to be known in the neighborhood under the name of the beggar who gives alms。
The old principal lodger； a cross…looking creature； who was thoroughly permeated； so far as her neighbors were concerned； with the inquisitiveness peculiar to envious persons； scrutinized Jean Valjean a great deal； without his suspecting the fact。
She was a little deaf； which rendered her talkative。
There remained to her from her past； two teeth；one above； the other below；which she was continually knocking against each other。
She had questioned Cosette； who had not been able to tell her anything； since she knew nothing herself except that she had e from Montfermeil。
One morning； this spy saw Jean Valjean； with an air which struck the old gossip as peculiar； entering one of the uninhabited partments of the hovel。 She followed him with the step of an old cat； and was able to observe him without being seen； through a crack in the door； which was directly opposite him。
Jean Valjean had his back turned towards this door； by way of greater security； no doubt。
The old woman saw him fumble in his pocket and draw thence a case； scissors； and thread； then he began to rip the lining of one of the skirts of his coat； and from the opening he took a bit of yellowish paper； which he unfolded。 The old woman recognized； with terror； the fact that it was a bank…bill for a thousand francs。
It was the second or third only that she had seen in the course of her existence。
She fled in alarm。
A moment later； Jean Valjean accosted her； and asked her to go and get this thousand…franc bill changed for him； adding that it was his quarterly ine； which he had received the day befo