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She lay down again； with the nun's assistance； helped the nun to arrange her pillow； and kissed the little silver cross which she wore on her neck； and which Sister Simplice had given her。
〃My child；〃 said the sister； 〃try to rest now； and do not talk any more。〃
Fantine took the sister's hand in her moist hands； and the latter was pained to feel that perspiration。
〃He set out this morning for Paris； in fact； he need not even go through Paris； Montfermeil is a little to the left as you e thence。 Do you remember how he said to me yesterday； when I spoke to him of Cosette； Soon； soon？
He wants to give me a surprise； you know！ he made me sign a letter so that she could be taken from the Thenardiers； they cannot say anything； can they？ they will give back Cosette； for they have been paid； the authorities will not allow them to keep the child since they have received their pay。 Do not make signs to me that I must not talk； sister！
I am extremely happy； I am doing well； I am not ill at all any more； I am going to see Cosette again； I am even quite hungry； it is nearly five years since I saw her last； you cannot imagine how much attached one gets to children； and then； she will be so pretty； you will see！
If you only knew what pretty little rosy fingers she had！
In the first place； she will have very beautiful hands； she had ridiculous hands when she was only a year old； like this！ she must be a big girl now； she is seven years old； she is quite a young lady； I call her Cosette； but her name is really Euphrasie。 Stop！ this morning I was looking at the dust on the chimney…piece； and I had a sort of idea e across me； like that； that I should see Cosette again soon。
Mon Dieu！ how wrong it is not to see one's children for years！
One ought to reflect that life is not eternal。 Oh； how good M。 le Maire is to go！ it is very cold！ it is true； he had on his cloak； at least？ he will be here to…morrow； will he not？ to…morrow will be a festival day； to…morrow morning； sister； you must remind me to put on my little cap that has lace on it。 What a place that Montfermeil is！
I took that journey on foot once； it was very long for me； but the diligences go very quickly！ he will be here to…morrow with Cosette：
how far is it from here to Montfermeil？〃
The sister； who had no idea of distances； replied； 〃Oh； I think that be will be here to…morrow。〃
〃To…morrow！ to…morrow！〃 said Fantine； 〃I shall see Cosette to…morrow！ you see； good sister of the good God； that I am no longer ill； I am mad； I could dance if any one wished it。〃
A person who had seen her a quarter of an hour previously would not have understood the change； she was all rosy now； she spoke in a lively and natural voice； her whole face was one smile； now and then she talked； she laughed softly； the joy of a mother is almost infantile。
〃Well；〃 resumed the nun； 〃now that you are happy； mind me； and do not talk any more。〃
Fantine laid her head on her pillow and said in a low voice： 〃Yes； lie down again； be good； for you are going to have your child； Sister Simplice is right； every one here is right。〃
And then； without stirring； without even moving her head； she began to stare all about her with wide…open eyes and a joyous air； and she said nothing more。
The sister drew the curtains together again； hoping that she would fall into a doze。
Between seven and eight o'clock the doctor came； not hearing any sound； he thought Fantine was asleep； entered softly； and approached the bed on tiptoe； he opened the curtains a little； and； by the light of the taper； he saw Fantine's big eyes gazing at him。
She said to him； 〃She will be allowed to sleep beside me in a little bed； will she not； sir？〃
The doctor thought that she was delirious。
She added：
〃See！ there is just room。〃
The doctor took Sister Simplice aside； and she explained matters to him； that M。 Madeleine was absent for a day or two； and that in their doubt they had not thought it well to undeceive the invalid； who believed that the mayor had gone to Montfermeil； that it was possible； after all； that her guess was correct： the doctor approved。
He returned to Fantine's bed； and she went on：
〃You see； when she wakes up in the morning； I shall be able to say good morning to her； poor kitten； and when I cannot sleep at night； I can hear her asleep； her little gentle breathing will do me good。〃
〃Give me your hand；〃 said the doctor。
She stretched out her arm； and exclaimed with a laugh：
〃Ah； hold！ in truth； you did not know it； I am cured； Cosette will arrive to…morrow。〃
The doctor was surprised； she was better； the pressure on her chest had decreased； her pulse had regained its strength； a sort of life had suddenly supervened and reanimated this poor； worn…out creature。
〃Doctor；〃 she went on； 〃did the sister tell you that M。 le Maire has gone to get that mite of a child？〃
The doctor remended silence； and that all painful emotions should be avoided； he prescribed an infusion of pure chinchona； and； in case the fever should increase again during the night； a calming potion。 As he took his departure； he said to the sister：
〃She is doing better； if good luck willed that the mayor should actually arrive to…morrow with the child； who knows？ there are crises so astounding； great joy has been known to arrest maladies； I know well that this is an organic disease； and in an advanced state； but all those things are such mysteries：
we may be able to save her。〃
BOOK SEVENTH。THE CHAMPMATHIEU AFFAIR
CHAPTER VII
THE TRAVELLER ON HIS ARRIVAL TAKES PRECAUTIONS FOR DEPARTURE
It was nearly eight o'clock in the evening when the cart； which we left on the road； entered the porte…cochere of the Hotel de la Poste in Arras； the man whom we have been following up to this moment alighted from it； responded with an abstracted air to the attentions of the people of the inn； sent back the extra horse； and with his own hands led the little white horse to the stable； then he opened the door of a billiard…room which was situated on the ground floor； sat down there； and leaned his elbows on a table； he had taken fourteen hours for the journey which he had counted on making in six； he did himself the justice to acknowledge that it was not his fault； but at bottom； he was not sorry。
The landlady of the hotel entered。
〃Does Monsieur wish a bed？
Does Monsieur require supper？〃
He made a sign of the head in the negative。
〃The stableman says that Monsieur's horse is extremely fatigued。〃
Here he broke his silence。
〃Will not the horse be in a condition to set out again to…morrow morning？〃
〃Oh； Monsieur！ he must rest for two days at least。〃
He inquired：
〃Is not the posting…station located here？〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
The hostess conducted him to the office； he showed his passport； and inquired whether there was any way of returning that same night to M。 sur M。 by the mail…wagon； the seat beside the post…boy chanced to be vacant； he engaged it and paid for it。
〃Monsieur；〃 said the clerk； 〃do not fail to be here ready to start at precisely one o'clock in the morning。〃
This done； he left the hotel and began to wander about the town。
He was not acquainted with Arras； the streets were dark； and he walked on at random； but he seemed bent upon not asking the way of the passers…by。 He crossed the little river Crinchon； and found himself in a labyrinth of narrow alleys where he lost his way。 A citizen was passing along with a lantern。
After some hesitation； he decided to apply to this man； not without having first glanced behind and in front of him； as though he feared lest some one should hear the question which he was about to put。
〃Monsieur；〃 said he； 〃where is the court…house； if you please。〃
〃You do not belong in town； sir？〃 replied the bourgeois； who was an oldish man； 〃well； follow me。
I happen to be going in the direction of the court…house； that is to say； in the direction of the hotel of the prefecture； for the court…house is undergoing repairs just at this moment； and the courts are holding their sittings provisionally in the prefecture。〃
〃Is it there that the Assizes are held？〃 he asked。
〃Certainly； sir； you see； the prefecture of to…day was the bishop's palace before the Revolution。
M。 de Conzie； who was bishop in '82； built a grand hall there。
It is in this grand hall that the court is held。〃
On the way； the bourgeois said to him：
〃If Monsieur desires to witness a case； it is rather late。 The sittings generally close at six o'clock。〃
When they arrived on the grand square； however； the man pointed out to him four long windows all lighted up； in the front of a vast and gloomy building。
〃Upon my word； sir； you are in luck； you have arrived in season。 Do you see those four windows？
That is the Court of Assizes。 There is light there； so they are not through。
The matter must have been greatly protracted； and they are holding an evening session。 Do you take an interest in this affair？
Is it a criminal case？ Are you a witness？〃
He replied：
〃I have not e on any business； I only wish to speak to one of the lawyers。〃
〃That is different；〃 said the bourgeois。
〃Stop； sir； here is the door where the sentry stands。
You have only to ascend the grand staircase。〃
He conformed to the bourgeois's directions； and a few minutes later he was in a hall containing many people； and where groups； intermingled with lawyers in their gowns； were whispering together here and there。
It is always a heart…breaking thing to see these congregations of men robed in black； murmuring together in low voices； on the threshold of the halls of justice。
It is rare that charity and pity are the oute of these words。
Condemnations pronounced in advance are more likely to be the result。
All these groups seem to the passing and thoughtful observer so many sombre hives where buzzing spirits construct in concert all sorts of dark edifices。
This spacious hall； illuminated by a single lamp； was the old hall of the episcopal palace； and served as the large hall of the palace of justice。
A double…leaved door； which was closed at that moment； separated it from the large apartment where the court was sitting。
The obscurity was such that he did not fear to accost the first lawyer whom he met。
〃What stage have they reached； sir？〃 he asked。
〃It is finished；〃 said the lawyer。
〃Finished！〃
This word was repeated in such accents that the lawyer turned round。
〃Excuse me sir； perhaps you are a relative？〃
〃No； I know no one here。
Has judgment been pronounced？〃
〃Of course。
Nothing else was possible。〃
〃To penal servitude？〃
〃For life。〃
He continued； in a voice so weak that it was barely audible：
〃Then his identity was established？〃
〃What identity？〃 replied the lawyer。
〃There was no identity to be established。
The matter was very simple。
The woman had murdered her child； the infanticide was proved； the jury threw out the question of premeditation； and she was condemned for life。〃
〃So it was a woman？〃 said he。
〃Why； certainly。
The Limosin woman。
Of what are you speaking？〃
〃Nothing。
But since it is all over； how es it that the hall is still lighted？〃
〃For another case； which was begun about two hours ago。
〃What other case？〃
〃Oh！ this one is a clear case also。
It is about a sort of blackguard； a man arrested for a second offence； a convict who has been guilty of theft。
I don't know his name exactly。
There's a bandit's phiz for you！
I'd send him to the galleys on the strength of his face alone。〃
〃Is there any way of getting into the court…room； sir？〃 said he。
〃I really think that there is not。
There is a great crowd。 However； the hearing has been suspended。
Some people have gone out； and when the hearing is resumed； you might make an effort。〃
〃Where is the entrance？〃
〃Through yonder large door。〃
The lawyer left him。
In the course of a few moments he had experienced； almost simultaneously； almost intermingled with each o