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aming hearts； Cupids； eruptions and unhealthy red blotches could also be seen。
Two or three had a straw rope attached to the cross…bar of the dray； and suspended under them like a stirrup； which supported their feet。
One of them held in his hand and raised to his mouth something which had the appearance of a black stone and which he seemed to be gnawing； it was bread which he was eating。 There were no eyes there which were not either dry； dulled； or flaming with an evil light。
The escort troop cursed； the men in chains did not utter a syllable； from time to time the sound of a blow became audible as the cudgels descended on shoulder…blades or skulls； some of these men were yawning； their rags were terrible； their feet hung down； their shoulders oscillated； their heads clashed together； their fetters clanked； their eyes glared ferociously； their fists clenched or fell open inertly like the hands of corpses； in the rear of the convoy ran a band of children screaming with laughter。
This file of vehicles； whatever its nature was； was mournful。 It was evident that to…morrow； that an hour hence； a pouring rain might descend； that it might be followed by another and another； and that their dilapidated garments would be drenched； that once soaked； these men would not get dry again； that once chilled； they would not again get warm； that their linen trousers would be glued to their bones by the downpour； that the water would fill their shoes； that no lashes from the whips would be able to prevent their jaws from chattering； that the chain would continue to bind them by the neck； that their legs would continue to dangle； and it was impossible not to shudder at the sight of these human beings thus bound and passive beneath the cold clouds of autumn； and delivered over to the rain； to the blast； to all the furies of the air； like trees and stones。
Blows from the cudgel were not omitted even in the case of the sick men； who lay there knotted with ropes and motionless on the seventh wagon； and who appeared to have been tossed there like sacks filled with misery。
Suddenly； the sun made its appearance； the immense light of the Orient burst forth； and one would have said that it had set fire to all those ferocious heads。
Their tongues were unloosed； a conflagration of grins； oaths； and songs exploded。
The broad horizontal sheet of light severed the file in two parts； illuminating heads and bodies； leaving feet and wheels in the obscurity。
Thoughts made their appearance on these faces； it was a terrible moment； visible demons with their masks removed； fierce souls laid bare。
Though lighted up； this wild throng remained in gloom。
Some； who were gay； had in their mouths quills through which they blew vermin over the crowd； picking out the women； the dawn accentuated these lamentable profiles with the blackness of its shadows； there was not one of these creatures who was not deformed by reason of wretchedness； and the whole was so monstrous that one would have said that the sun's brilliancy had been changed into the glare of the lightning。 The wagon…load which headed the line had struck up a song； and were shouting at the top of their voices with a haggard joviality； a potpourri by Desaugiers； then famous； called The Vestal； the trees shivered mournfully； in the cross…lanes； countenances of bourgeois listened in an idiotic delight to these coarse strains droned by spectres。
All sorts of distress met in this procession as in chaos； here were to be found the facial angles of every sort of beast； old men； youths； bald heads； gray beards； cynical monstrosities； sour resignation； savage grins； senseless attitudes； snouts surmounted by caps； heads like those of young girls with corkscrew curls on the temples； infantile visages； and by reason of that； horrible thin skeleton faces； to which death alone was lacking。
On the first cart was a negro； who had been a slave； in all probability； and who could make a parison of his chains。
The frightful leveller from below； shame； had passed over these brows； at that degree of abasement； the last transformations were suffered by all in their extremest depths； and ignorance； converted into dulness； was the equal of intelligence converted into despair。
There was no choice possible between these men who appeared to the eye as the flower of the mud。 It was evident that the person who had had the ordering of that unclean procession had not classified them。
These beings had been fettered and coupled pell…mell； in alphabetical disorder； probably； and loaded hap…hazard on those carts。
Nevertheless； horrors； when grouped together； always end by evolving a result； all additions of wretched men give a sum total； each chain exhaled a mon soul； and each dray…load had its own physiognomy。
By the side of the one where they were singing； there was one where they were howling； a third where they were begging； one could be seen in which they were gnashing their teeth； another load menaced the spectators； another blasphemed God； the last was as silent as the tomb。 Dante would have thought that he beheld his seven circles of hell on the march。
The march of the damned to their tortures； performed in sinister wise； not on the formidable and flaming chariot of the Apocalypse； but； what was more mournful than that； on the gibbet cart。
One of the guards； who had a hook on the end of his cudgel； made a pretence from time to time； of stirring up this mass of human filth。 An old woman in the crowd pointed them out to her little boy five years old； and said to him：
〃Rascal； let that be a warning to you！〃
As the songs and blasphemies increased； the man who appeared to be the captain of the escort cracked his whip； and at that signal a fearful dull and blind flogging； which produced the sound of hail； fell upon the seven dray…loads； many roared and foamed at the mouth； which redoubled the delight of the street urchins who had hastened up； a swarm of flies on these wounds。
Jean Valjean's eyes had assumed a frightful expression。 They were no longer eyes； they were those deep and glassy objects which replace the glance in the case of certain wretched men； which seem unconscious of reality； and in which flames the reflection of terrors and of catastrophes。
He was not looking at a spectacle； he was seeing a vision。
He tried to rise； to flee； to make his escape； he could not move his feet。
Sometimes； the things that you see seize upon you and hold you fast。
He remained nailed to the spot； petrified； stupid； asking himself； athwart confused and inexpressible anguish； what this sepulchral persecution signified； and whence had e that pandemonium which was pursuing him。 All at once； he raised his hand to his brow； a gesture habitual to those whose memory suddenly returns； he remembered that this was； in fact； the usual itinerary； that it was customary to make this detour in order to avoid all possibility of encountering royalty on the road to Fontainebleau； and that； five and thirty years before； he had himself passed through that barrier。
Cosette was no less terrified； but in a different way。
She did not understand；