It is he who has killed M。 Madeleine。 Father Madeleine！
He is in the coffin。
It is quite handy。 All is over。
Now； is there any sense in these things？ Ah！ my God！ he is dead！
Well！ and his little girl； what am I to do with her？
What will the fruit…seller say？
The idea of its being possible for a man like that to die like this！ When I think how he put himself under that cart！
Father Madeleine！ Father Madeleine！
Pardine！
He was suffocated； I said so。 He wouldn't believe me。
Well！
Here's a pretty trick to play！ He is dead； that good man； the very best man out of all the good God's good folks！
And his little girl！
Ah！
In the first place； I won't go back there myself。
I shall stay here。
After having done such a thing as that！
What's the use of being two old men； if we are two old fools！
But； in the first place； how did he manage to enter the convent？
That was the beginning of it all。 One should not do such things。
Father Madeleine！
Father Madeleine！ Father Madeleine！
Madeleine！
Monsieur Madeleine！
Monsieur le Maire！ He does not hear me。
Now get out of this scrape if you can！〃
And he tore his hair。
A grating sound became audible through the trees in the distance。 It was the cemetery gate closing。
Fauchelevent bent over Jean Valjean； and all at once he bounded back and recoiled so far as the limits of a grave permit。
Jean Valjean's eyes were open and gazing at him。
To see a corpse is alarming； to behold a resurrection is almost as much so。
Fauchelevent became like stone； pale； haggard； overwhelmed by all these excesses of emotion； not knowing whether he had to do with a living man or a dead one； and staring at Jean Valjean； who was gazing at him。
〃I fell asleep；〃 said Jean Valjean。
And he raised himself to a sitting posture。
Fauchelevent fell on his knees。
〃Just； good Virgin！
How you frightened me！〃
Then he sprang to his feet and cried：
〃Thanks； Father Madeleine！〃
Jean Valjean had merely fainted。
The fresh air had revived him。
Joy is the ebb of terror。
Fauchelevent found almost as much difficulty in recovering himself as Jean Valjean had。
〃So you are not dead！
Oh！
How wise you are！
I called you so much that you came back。
When I saw your eyes shut； I said： ‘Good！ there he is； stifled；' I should have gone raving mad； mad enough for a strait jacket。
They would have put me in Bicetre。 What do you suppose I should have done if you had been dead？ And your little girl？
There's that fruit…seller；she would never have understood it！
The child is thrust into your arms； and then the grandfather is dead！
What a story！ good saints of paradise； what a tale！
Ah！ you are alive； that's the best of it！〃
〃I am cold；〃 said Jean Valjean。
This remark recalled Fauchelevent thoroughly to reality； and there was pressing need of it。
The souls of these two men were troubled even when they had recovered themselves； although they did not realize it； and there was about them something uncanny； which was the sinister bewilderment inspired by the place。
〃Let us get out of here quickly；〃 exclaimed Fauchelevent。
He fumbled in his pocket； and pulled out a gourd with which he had provided himself。
〃But first； take a drop；〃 said he。
The flask finished what the fresh air had begun； Jean Valjean swallowed a mouthful of brandy； and regained full possession of his faculties。
He got out of the coffin； and helped Fauchelevent to nail on the lid again。
Three minutes later they were out of the grave。
Moreover； Fauchelevent was perfectly posed。
He took his time。 The cemetery was closed。
The arrival of the grave…digger Gribier was not to be apprehended。
That 〃conscript〃 was at home busily engaged in looking for his card； and at some difficulty in finding it in his lodgings； since it was in Fauchelevent's pocket。 Without a card； he could not get back into the cemetery。
Fauchelevent took the shovel； and Jean Valjean the pick…axe； and together they buried the empty coffin。
When the grave was full； Fauchelevent said to Jean Valjean：
〃Let us go。
I will keep the shovel； do you carry off the mattock。〃
Night was falling。
Jean Valjean experienced rome difficulty in moving and in walking。 He had stiffened himself in that coffin； and had bee a little like a corpse。
The rigidity of death had seized upon him between those four planks。
He had； in a manner； to thaw out； from the tomb。
〃You are benumbed；〃 said Fauchelevent。
〃It is a pity that I have a game leg； for otherwise we might step out briskly。〃
〃Bah！〃 replied Jean Valjean； 〃four paces will put life into my legs once more。〃
They set off by the alleys through which the hearse had passed。 On arriving before the closed gate and the porter's pavilion Fauchelevent； who held the grave…digger's card in his hand； dropped it into the box； the porter pulled the rope； the gate opened； and they went out。
〃How well everything is going！〃 said Fauchelevent； 〃what a capital idea that was of yours； Father Madeleine！〃
They passed the Vaugirard barrier in the simplest manner in the world。 In the neighborhood of the cemetery； a shovel and pick are equal to two passports。
The Rue Vaugirard was deserted。
〃Father Madeleine；〃 said Fauchelevent as they went along； and raising his eyes to the houses； 〃Your eyes are better than mine。 Show me No。 87。〃
〃Here it is；〃 said Jean Valjean。
〃There is no one in the street；〃 said Fauchelevent。
〃Give me your mattock and wait a couple of minutes for me。〃
Fauchelevent entered No。 87； ascended to the very top； guided by the instinct which always leads the poor man to the garret； and knocked in the dark； at the door of an attic。
A voice replied：
〃e in。〃
It was Gribier's voice。
Fauchelevent opened the door。
The grave…digger's dwelling was； like all such wretched habitations； an unfurnished and encumbered garret。 A packing…casea coffin； perhapstook the place of a mode； a butter…pot served for a drinking…fountain； a straw mattress served for a bed； the floor served instead of tables and chairs。
In a corner； on a tattered fragment which had been a piece of an old carpet； a thin woman and a number of children were piled in a heap。
The whole of this poverty…stricken interior bore traces of having been overturned。 One would have said that there had been an earthquake 〃for one。〃 The covers were displaced； the rags scattered about； the jug broken； the mother had been crying； the children had probably been beaten； traces of a vigorous and ill…tempered search。
It was plain that the grave…digger had made a desperate search for his card； and had made everybody in the garret； from the jug to his wife； responsible for its loss。
He wore an air of desperation。
But Fauchelevent was in too great a hurry to terminate this adventure to take any notice of this sad side of his success。
He entered and said：
〃I have brought you back your shovel and pick。〃
Gribier gazed at hi