登陆注册
12107900000025

第25章 PART ONE(24)

The host,who was also the chief cook,was going from one stew-pan to another,very busily superintending an excellent dinner designed for the wagoners,whose loud talking,conversation,and laughter were audible from an adjoining apartment.Any one who has travelled knows that there is no one who indulges in better cheer than wagoners.

A fat marmot,flanked by white partridges and heather-cocks,was turning on a long spit before the fire;on the stove,two huge carps from Lake Lauzet and a trout from Lake Alloz were cooking.

The host,hearing the door open and seeing a newcomer enter,said,without raising his eyes from his stoves:——

'What do you wish,sir?'

'Food and lodging,'said the man.

'Nothing easier,'replied the host.

At that moment he turned his head,took in the traveller's appearance with a single glance,and added,'By paying for it.'

The man drew a large leather purse from the pocket of his blouse,and answered,'I have money.'

'In that case,we are at your service,'said the host.

The man put his purse back in his pocket,removed his knapsack from his back,put it on the ground near the door,retained his stick in his hand,and seated himself on a low stool close to the fire.D——is in the mountains.

The evenings are cold there in October.

But as the host went back and forth,he scrutinized the traveller.

'Will dinner be ready soon?'said the man.

'Immediately,'replied the landlord.

While the newcomer was warming himself before the fire,with his back turned,the worthy host,Jacquin Labarre,drew a pencil from his pocket,then tore off the corner of an old newspaper which was lying on a small table near the window.

On the white margin he wrote a line or two,folded it without sealing,and then intrusted this scrap of paper to a child who seemed to serve him in the capacity both of scullion and lackey.

The landlord whispered a word in the scullion's ear,and the child set off on a run in the direction of the town-hall.

The traveller saw nothing of all this.

Once more he inquired,'Will dinner be ready soon?'

'Immediately,'responded the host.

The child returned.

He brought back the paper.

The host unfolded it eagerly,like a person who is expecting a reply.

He seemed to read it attentively,then tossed his head,and remained thoughtful for a moment.

Then he took a step in the direction of the traveller,who appeared to be immersed in reflections which were not very serene.

'I cannot receive you,sir,'said he.

The man half rose.

'What!

Are you afraid that I will not pay you?

Do you want me to pay you in advance?

I have money,I tell you.'

'It is not that.'

'What then?'

'You have money——'

'Yes,'said the man.

'And I,'said the host,'have no room.'

The man resumed tranquilly,'Put me in the stable.'

'I cannot.'

'Why?'

'The horses take up all the space.'

'Very well!'retorted the man;'a corner of the loft then,a truss of straw.

We will see about that after dinner.'

'I cannot give you any dinner.'

This declaration,made in a measured but firm tone,struck the stranger as grave.

He rose.

'Ah!bah!

But I am dying of hunger.

I have been walking since sunrise.I have travelled twelve leagues.

I pay.

I wish to eat.'

'I have nothing,'said the landlord.

The man burst out laughing,and turned towards the fireplace and the stoves:

'Nothing!and all that?'

'All that is engaged.'

'By whom?'

'By messieurs the wagoners.'

'How many are there of them?'

'Twelve.'

'There is enough food there for twenty.'

'They have engaged the whole of it and paid for it in advance.'

The man seated himself again,and said,without raising his voice,'I am at an inn;I am hungry,and I shall remain.'

Then the host bent down to his ear,and said in a tone which made him start,'Go away!'

At that moment the traveller was bending forward and thrusting some brands into the fire with the iron-shod tip of his staff;he turned quickly round,and as he opened his mouth to reply,the host gazed steadily at him and added,still in a low voice:'Stop!there's enough of that sort of talk.

Do you want me to tell you your name?

Your name is Jean Valjean.

Now do you want me to tell you who you are?

When I saw you come in I suspected something;I sent to the town-hall,and this was the reply that was sent to me.Can you read?

So saying,he held out to the stranger,fully unfolded,the paper which had just travelled from the inn to the town-hall,and from the town-hall to the inn.

The man cast a glance upon it.The landlord resumed after a pause.

'I am in the habit of being polite to every one.

Go away!'

The man dropped his head,picked up the knapsack which he had deposited on the ground,and took his departure.

He chose the principal street.

He walked straight on at a venture,keeping close to the houses like a sad and humiliated man.He did not turn round a single time.

Had he done so,he would have seen the host of the Cross of Colbas standing on his threshold,surrounded by all the guests of his inn,and all the passers-by in the street,talking vivaciously,and pointing him out with his finger;and,from the glances of terror and distrust cast by the group,he might have divined that his arrival would speedily become an event for the whole town.

He saw nothing of all this.

People who are crushed do not look behind them.

They know but too well the evil fate which follows them.

Thus he proceeded for some time,walking on without ceasing,traversing at random streets of which he knew nothing,forgetful of his fatigue,as is often the case when a man is sad.

All at once he felt the pangs of hunger sharply.

Night was drawing near.He glanced about him,to see whether he could not discover some shelter.

The fine hostelry was closed to him;he was seeking some very humble public house,some hovel,however lowly.

Just then a light flashed up at the end of the streets;a pine branch suspended from a cross-beam of iron was outlined against the white sky of the twilight.

He proceeded thither.

It proved to be,in fact,a public house.

The public house which is in the Rue de Chaffaut.

同类推荐
  • 医方论

    医方论

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • Signs of Change

    Signs of Change

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 六月霜

    六月霜

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 甫田之什

    甫田之什

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 间书

    间书

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 福妻驾到

    福妻驾到

    现代饭店彪悍老板娘魂穿古代。不分是非的极品婆婆?三年未归生死不明的丈夫?心狠手辣的阴毒亲戚?贪婪而好色的地主老财?吃上顿没下顿的贫困宭境?不怕不怕,神仙相助,一技在手,天下我有!且看现代张悦娘,如何身带福气玩转古代,开面馆、收小弟、左纳财富,右傍美男,共绘幸福生活大好蓝图!!!!快本新书《天媒地聘》已经上架开始销售,只要3.99元即可将整本书抱回家,你还等什么哪,赶紧点击下面的直通车,享受乐乐精心为您准备的美食盛宴吧!)
  • 药入执念自难收

    药入执念自难收

    本是无心之举并未想过从那以后你陆然记住了李伊颜但是毕竟你陆然只是为了报恩对于李伊颜的感情朦胧不清你陆然可以为了药材放弃李伊颜李伊颜可以为了你放弃尊严李伊颜听信了一句关于你的话可以忙上几天你陆然听信了一句关于李伊颜的话依旧选择药材“要是当初李伊颜没有答应你”“李伊颜会不会有更好的选择?”“会”陆然不懂李伊颜,他以为报恩就该娶她回家也许喜欢是因为李伊颜的单纯也许喜欢是因为他能记得住李伊颜李伊颜,在我心里你比任何珍贵的药材都重要
  • 花千骨之桃花飘落

    花千骨之桃花飘落

    她,他唯一的徒儿,爱他,敬他,不求爱的回报,只想做他上慈下孝的徒儿。他,既要守护苍天,又要保护她,爱她,却不敢说,不能说!终是虐恋……
  • 血杀传

    血杀传

    这是实力主宰的世界,这里有奇妙的故事、幻妙无双的术法,还有形形色色的修士、不可思议的妖魔。一个不能修行的少年,原本注定碌碌无为。只是造化天意弄人,惊天变故之后又机缘巧合的走上了一条不同的修行之路。拥有了前所未有的术法,经过血与火的洗礼。不为在这修真路上争霸称雄,只为血洗心中的仇恨。吾名血杀,誓用此名斩杀所有怨仇。
  • 捍卫荣耀

    捍卫荣耀

    当LPL一次又一次在大赛中失利;当国服Rank排行榜被国外选手霸占。当国内职业选手的骄傲与自尊被无情的践踏;中国职业选手的荣耀,谁能捍卫?
  • 女王大人太妖孽

    女王大人太妖孽

    乌月帝国的女王陛下,身为女王却没有丝毫元素之力,然而这一切只是这样吗,不,故事才刚刚开始。“三年之后,我要让整个乌月帝国和整个大陆都在我脚下颤抖!”
  • 那一季,泪成了廉价品

    那一季,泪成了廉价品

    那么,在你最脆弱的时候,是谁陪伴,不!是自己双手紧用自己~仅此而已。
  • 魔法天才

    魔法天才

    还在炼丹?炼符?炼器?你们都OUT了~温柔娇小的萝莉,高傲刁钻的少女,丰满诱人的熟妇?不好意思,兄弟全收了~做人要低调,嘘~且看魔法天才如何从一介废材成长为至尊强者,这里是低调和高调的结合,诙谐和智慧的结晶,不动声色的享受温柔幸福。
  • 末日世界的幸福生活

    末日世界的幸福生活

    末世降临了,差点被吓尿的老王,看了看身后的老婆闺女,双腿直抖却始终不退一步,谁说末世就是黑暗流了?我老王偏要在末世创造出美好的家园!
  • 误惹妖孽魔王

    误惹妖孽魔王

    谁的穿越有她倒霉?刚来灵界的第一天殷紫月就不小心弄坏了魔王大人的宝物,随后她就成为了整个魔族追捕的目标。三十六计走为上计,斗智斗勇,最后她还是倒霉的落到了魔王大人的手里,谁能告诉她传闻中高贵冷艳的魔王大人为什么会是这么一副痞子的样子?什么,神族让她去继承天神的位置?还要她代表正义灭了邪恶的魔王大人?不不,她只是一个路人甲而已,绝对不是什么天神的继承人,跟前任天神大人长得像又不是她的错,再说了,魔王大人的强大之处可不是她一个小小的人类能对付了得……