There exists a legitimate prejudice against poachers。 The poacher； like the smuggler； smacks too strongly of the brigand。 Nevertheless； we will remark cursorily； there is still an abyss between these races of men and the hideous assassin of the towns。 The poacher lives in the forest； the smuggler lives in the mountains or on the sea。
The cities make ferocious men because they make corrupt men。
The mountain； the sea； the forest； make savage men； they develop the fierce side； but often without destroying the humane side。
Jean Valjean was pronounced guilty。
The terms of the Code were explicit。
There occur formidable hours in our civilization； there are moments when the penal laws decree a shipwreck。 What an ominous minute is that in which society draws back and consummates the irreparable abandonment of a sentient being！ Jean Valjean was condemned to five years in the galleys。
On the 22d of April； 1796； the victory of Montenotte； won by the general…in…chief of the army of Italy； whom the message of the Directory to the Five Hundred； of the 2d of Floreal； year IV。； calls Buona…Parte； was announced in Paris； on that same day a great gang of galley…slaves was put in chains at Bicetre。
Jean Valjean formed a part of that gang。
An old turnkey of the prison； who is now nearly eighty years old； still recalls perfectly that unfortunate wretch who was chained to the end of the fourth line； in the north angle of the courtyard。
He was seated on the ground like the others。 He did not seem to prehend his position； except that it was horrible。 It is probable that he； also； was disentangling from amid the vague ideas of a poor man； ignorant of everything； something excessive。 While the bolt of his iron collar was being riveted behind his head with heavy blows from the hammer； he wept； his tears stifled him； they impeded his speech； he only managed to say from time to time； 〃I was a tree…pruner at Faverolles。〃
Then still sobbing； he raised his right hand and lowered it gradually seven times； as though he were touching in succession seven heads of unequal heights； and from this gesture it was divined that the thing which he had done； whatever it was； he had done for the sake of clothing and nourishing seven little children。
He set out for Toulon。
He arrived there； after a journey of twenty…seven days； on a cart； with a chain on his neck。
At Toulon he was clothed in the red cassock。
All that had constituted his life； even to his name； was effaced； he was no longer even Jean Valjean； he was number 24；601。 What became of his sister？ What became of the seven children？
Who troubled himself about that？ What bees of the handful of leaves from the young tree which is sawed off at the root？
It is always the same story。
These poor living beings； these creatures of God； henceforth without support； without guide； without refuge； wandered away at random；who even knows？ each in his own direction perhaps； and little by little buried themselves in that cold mist which engulfs solitary destinies； gloomy shades； into which disappear in succession so many unlucky heads； in the sombre march of the human race。
They quitted the country。 The clock…tower of what had been their village forgot them； the boundary line of what had been their field forgot them； after a few years' residence in the galleys； Jean Valjean himself forgot them。 In that heart； where there had been a wound； there was a scar。 That is all。
Only once； during all the time which he spent at Toulon； did he hear his sister mentioned。
This happened； I think； towards the end of the fourth year of his captivity。
I know not through what channels the news reached him。
Some one who had known them in their own country had seen his sister。
She was in Paris。 She lived in a poor street Rear Saint…Sulpice； in the Rue du Gindre。 She had with her only one child； a little boy； the youngest。 Where were the other six？
Perhaps she did not know herself。 Every morning she went to a printing office； No。 3 Rue du Sabot； where she was a folder and stitcher。
She was obliged to be there at six o'clock in the morninglong before daylight in winter。 In the same building with the printing office there was a school； and to this school she took her little boy； who was seven years old。 But as she entered the printing office at six； and the school only opened at seven； the child had to wait in the courtyard； for the school to open； for an hourone hour of a winter night in the open air！ They would not allow the child to e into the printing office； because he was in the way； they said。
When the workmen passed in the morning； they beheld this poor little being seated on the pavement； overe with drowsiness； and often fast asleep in the shadow； crouched down and doubled up over his basket。
When it rained； an old woman； the portress； took pity on him； she took him into her den； where there was a pallet； a spinning…wheel； and two wooden chairs； and the little one slumbered in a corner； pressing himself close to the cat that he might suffer less from cold。
At seven o'clock the school opened； and he entered。
That is what was told to Jean Valjean。
They talked to him about it for one day； it was a moment； a flash； as though a window had suddenly been opened upon the destiny of those things whom he had loved； then all closed again。
He heard nothing more forever。
Nothing from them ever reached him again； he never beheld them； he never met them again； and in the continuation of this mournful history they will not be met with any more。
Towards the end of this fourth year Jean Valjean's turn to escape arrived。
His rades assisted him； as is the custom in that sad place。 He escaped。
He wandered for two days in the fields at liberty； if being at liberty is to be hunted； to turn the head every instant； to quake at the slightest noise； to be afraid of everything；of a smoking roof； of a passing man； of a barking dog； of a galloping horse； of a striking clock； of the day because one can see； of the night because one cannot see； of the highway； of the path； of a bush； of sleep。
On the evening of the second day he was captured。 He had neither eaten nor slept for thirty…six hours。
The maritime tribunal condemned him； for this crime； to a prolongation of his term for three years； which made eight years。
In the sixth year his turn to escape occurred again； he availed himself of it； but could not acplish his flight fully。
He was missing at roll…call。 The cannon were fired； and at night the patrol found him hidden under the keel of a vessel in process of construction； he resisted the galley guards who seized him。
Escape and rebellion。 This case； provided for by a special code； was punished by an addition of five years； two of them in the double chain。
Thirteen years。 In the tenth year his turn came round again； he again profited by it； he succeeded no better。
Three years for this fresh attempt。 Sixteen years。
Finally； I think it was during his thirteenth year； he made a last attempt； and only succeeded in getting retaken at the end of four hours of absence。