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ttice windows； and had finally installed himself there with a young girl and an elderly maid…servant； without motion； rather like a person who is slipping in than like a man who is entering his own house。
The neighbors did not gossip about him； for the reason that there were no neighbors。
This unobtrusive tenant was Jean Valjean； the young girl was Cosette。 The servant was a woman named Toussaint； whom Jean Valjean had saved from the hospital and from wretchedness； and who was elderly； a stammerer； and from the provinces； three qualities which had decided Jean Valjean to take her with him。
He had hired the house under the name of M。 Fauchelevent； independent gentleman。 In all that has been related heretofore； the reader has； doubtless； been no less prompt than Thenardier to recognize Jean Valjean。
Why had Jean Valjean quitted the convent of the Petit…Picpus？ What had happened？
Nothing had happened。
It will be remembered that Jean Valjean was happy in the convent； so happy that his conscience finally took the alarm。
He saw Cosette every day； he felt paternity spring up and develop within him more and more； he brooded over the soul of that child； he said to himself that she was his； that nothing could take her from him； that this would last indefinitely； that she would certainly bee a nun； being thereto gently incited every day； that thus the convent was henceforth the universe for her as it was for him； that he should grow old there； and that she would grow up there； that she would grow old there； and that he should die there； that； in short； delightful hope； no separation was possible。
On reflecting upon this； he fell into perplexity。
He interrogated himself。
He asked himself if all that happiness were really his； if it were not posed of the happiness of another； of the happiness of that child which he； an old man； was confiscating and stealing； if that were not theft？ He said to himself； that this child had a right to know life before renouncing it； that to deprive her in advance； and in some sort without consulting her； of all joys； under the pretext of saving her from all trials； to take advantage of her ignorance of her isolation； in order to make an artificial vocation germinate in her； was to rob a human creature of its nature and to lie to God。 And who knows if； when she came to be aware of all this some day； and found herself a nun to her sorrow； Cosette would not e to hate him？
A last； almost selfish thought； and less heroic than the rest； but which was intolerable to him。
He resolved to quit the convent。
He resolved on this； he recognized with anguish； the fact that it was necessary。
As for objections； there were none。 Five years' sojourn between these four walls and of disappearance had necessarily destroyed or dispersed the elements of fear。 He could return tranquilly among men。
He had grown old； and all had undergone a change。
Who would recognize him now？ And then； to face the worst； there was danger only for himself； and he had no right to condemn Cosette to the cloister for the reason that he had been condemned to the galleys。
Besides； what is danger in parison with the right？
Finally； nothing prevented his being prudent and taking his precautions。
As for Cosette's education； it was almost finished and plete。
His determination once taken； he awaited an opportunity。 It was not long in presenting itself。
Old Fauchelevent died。
Jean Valjean demanded an audience with the revered prioress and told her that； having e into a little inheritance at the death of his brother； which permitted him henceforth to live without working； he should leave the service of the convent and take his daughter with him； but that； as it was not just that Cosette； since she had not taken the vows； should have received her education gratuitously； he humbly begged the Reverend Prioress to see fit that he should offer to the munity； as indemnity； for the five years which Cosette had spent there； the sum of five thousand francs。
It was thus that Jean Valjean quitted the convent of the Perpetual Adoration。
On leaving the convent； he took in his own arms the little valise the key to which he still wore on his person； and would permit no porter to touch it。
This puzzled Cosette； because of the odor of embalming which proceeded from it。
Let us state at once； that this trunk never quitted him more。 He always had it in his chamber。
It was the first and only thing sometimes； that he carried off in his moving when he moved about。 Cosette laughed at it； and called this valise his inseparable； saying： 〃I am jealous of it。〃
Nevertheless； Jean Valjean did not reappear in the open air without profound anxiety。
He discovered the house in the Rue Plumet； and hid himself from sight there。
Henceforth he was in the possession of the name： Ultime Fauchelevent。
At the same time he hired two other apartments in Paris； in order that he might attract less attention than if he were to remain always in the same quarter； and so that he could； at need； take himself off at the slightest disquietude which should assail him； and in short； so that he might not again be caught unprovided as on the night when he had so miraculously escaped from Javert。 These two apartments were very pitiable； poor in appearance； and in two quarters which were far remote from each other； the one in the Rue de l'Ouest； the other in the Rue de l'Homme Arme。
He went from time to time； now to the Rue de l'Homme Arme； now to the Rue de l'Ouest； to pass a month or six weeks； without taking Toussaint。
He had himself served by the porters； and gave himself out as a gentleman from the suburbs； living on his funds； and having a little temporary resting…place in town。 This lofty virtue had three domiciles in Paris for the sake of escaping from the police。
BOOK THIRD。THE HOUSE IN THE RUE PLUMET
CHAPTER II
JEAN VALJEAN AS A NATIONAL GUARD
However； properly speaking； he lived in the Rue Plumet； and he had arranged his existence there in the following fashion：
Cosette and the servant occupied the pavilion； she had the big sleeping…room with the painted pier…glasses； the boudoir with the gilded fillets； the justice's drawing…room furnished with tapestries and vast arm…chairs； she had the garden。
Jean Valjean had a canopied bed of antique damask in three colors and a beautiful Persian rug purchased in the Rue du Figuier…Saint…Paul at Mother Gaucher's； put into Cosette's chamber； and； in order to redeem the severity of these magnificent old things； he had amalgamated with this bric…a…brac all the gay and graceful little pieces of furniture suitable to young girls； an etagere； a bookcase filled with gilt…edged books； an inkstand； a blotting…book； paper； a work…table incrusted with mother of pearl； a silver…gilt dressing…case； a toilet service in Japanese porcelain。 Long damask curtains with a red foundation and three colors； like those on the bed； hung at the windows of the first floor。 On the ground floor； the curtains were of tapestry。
All winter long； Cosette's little house was heated from top to bottom。
Jean Valje