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The detestable maxim； Live on the enemy！ produced this leprosy； which a strict discipline alone could heal。 There are reputations which are deceptive； one does not always know why certain generals； great in other directions； have been so popular。 Turenne was adored by his soldiers because he tolerated pillage； evil permitted constitutes part of goodness。
Turenne was so good that he allowed the Palatinate to be delivered over to fire and blood。 The marauders in the train of an army were more or less in number； according as the chief was more or less severe。
Hoche and Marceau had no stragglers； Wellington had few； and we do him the justice to mention it。
Nevertheless； on the night from the 18th to the 19th of June； the dead were robbed。
Wellington was rigid； he gave orders that any one caught in the act should be shot； but rapine is tenacious。 The marauders stole in one corner of the battlefield while others were being shot in another。
The moon was sinister over this plain。
Towards midnight； a man was prowling about； or rather； climbing in the direction of the hollow road of Ohain。
To all appearance he was one of those whom we have just described；neither English nor French； neither peasant nor soldier； less a man than a ghoul attracted by the scent of the dead bodies having theft for his victory； and e to rifle Waterloo。
He was clad in a blouse that was something like a great coat； he was uneasy and audacious； he walked forwards and gazed behind him。
Who was this man？ The night probably knew more of him than the day。
He had no sack； but evidently he had large pockets under his coat。
From time to time he halted； scrutinized the plain around him as though to see whether he were observed； bent over abruptly； disturbed something silent and motionless on the ground； then rose and fled。 His sliding motion； his attitudes； his mysterious and rapid gestures； caused him to resemble those twilight larvae which haunt ruins； and which ancient Norman legends call the Alleurs。
Certain nocturnal wading birds produce these silhouettes among the marshes。
A glance capable of piercing all that mist deeply would have perceived at some distance a sort of little sutler's wagon with a fluted wicker hood； harnessed to a famished nag which was cropping the grass across its bit as it halted； hidden； as it were； behind the hovel which adjoins the highway to Nivelles； at the angle of the road from Mont…Saint…Jean to Braine l'Alleud； and in the wagon； a sort of woman seated on coffers and packages。 Perhaps there was some connection between that wagon and that prowler。
The darkness was serene。
Not a cloud in the zenith。
What matters it if the earth be red！ the moon remains white； these are the indifferences of the sky。
In the fields； branches of trees broken by grape…shot； but not fallen； upheld by their bark； swayed gently in the breeze of night。
A breath； almost a respiration； moved the shrubbery。 Quivers which resembled the departure of souls ran through the grass。
In the distance the ing and going of patrols and the general rounds of the English camp were audible。
Hougomont and La Haie…Sainte continued to burn； forming； one in the west； the other in the east； two great flames which were joined by the cordon of bivouac fires of the English； like a necklace of rubies with two carbuncles at the extremities； as they extended in an immense semicircle over the hills along the horizon。
We have described the catastrophe of the road of Ohain。
The heart is terrified at the thought of what that death must have been to so many brave men。
If there is anything terrible； if there exists a reality which surpasses dreams； it is this：
to live； to see the sun； to be in full possession of virile force； to possess health and joy； to laugh valiantly； to rush towards a glory which one sees dazzling in front of one； to feel in one's breast lungs which breathe； a heart which beats； a will which reasons； to speak； think； hope； love； to have a mother； to have a wife； to have children； to have the lightand all at once； in the space of a shout； in less than a minute； to sink into an abyss； to fall； to roll； to crush； to be crushed； to see ears of wheat； flowers； leaves； branches； not to be able to catch hold of anything； to feel one's sword useless； men beneath one； horses on top of one； to struggle in vain； since one's bones have been broken by some kick in the darkness； to feel a heel which makes one's eyes start from their sockets； to bite horses' shoes in one's rage； to stifle； to yell； to writhe； to be beneath； and to say to one's self； 〃But just a little while ago I was a living man！〃
There； where that lamentable disaster had uttered its death…rattle； all was silence now。
The edges of the hollow road were encumbered with horses and riders； inextricably heaped up。
Terrible entanglement！ There was no longer any slope； for the corpses had levelled the road with the plain； and reached the brim like a well…filled bushel of barley。
A heap of dead bodies in the upper part； a river of blood in the lower partsuch was that road on the evening of the 18th of June； 1815。
The blood ran even to the Nivelles highway； and there overflowed in a large pool in front of the abatis of trees which barred the way； at a spot which is still pointed out。
It will be remembered that it was at the opposite point； in the direction of the Genappe road； that the destruction of the cuirassiers had taken place。
The thickness of the layer of bodies was proportioned to the depth of the hollow road。 Towards the middle； at the point where it became level； where Delort's division had passed； the layer of corpses was thinner。
The nocturnal prowler whom we have just shown to the reader was going in that direction。
He was searching that vast tomb。 He gazed about。
He passed the dead in some sort of hideous review。 He walked with his feet in the blood。
All at once he paused。
A few paces in front of him； in the hollow road； at the point where the pile of dead came to an end； an open hand； illumined by the moon； projected from beneath that heap of men。
That hand had on its finger something sparkling； which was a ring of gold。
The man bent over； remained in a crouching attitude for a moment； and when he rose there was no longer a ring on the hand。
He did not precisely rise； he remained in a stooping and frightened attitude； with his back turned to the heap of dead； scanning the horizon on his knees； with the whole upper portion of his body supported on his two forefingers； which rested on the earth； and his head peering above the edge of the hollow road。 The jackal's four paws suit some actions。
Then ing to a decision； he rose to his feet。
At that moment； he gave a terrible start。
He felt some one clutch him from behind。
He wheeled round； it was the open hand； which had closed； and had seized the skirt of his coat。
An honest man would have been terrified； this man burst into a laugh。
〃e；〃 said he； 〃it's only a dead body。
I prefer a spook to a gendarme。〃
But the hand weakened and released him。
Effort is quickly exhausted in the grave。
〃Well now；〃 said the prowler； 〃is that dead fellow alive？ Let's see。〃
He bent down again； fumbled among the heap； pushed aside everything that was in his way； seized the hand； grasped the arm； freed the head； pulled out the body； and a few moments later he was dragging the lifeless； or at least the unconscious； man； through the shadows of hollow road。
He was a cuirassier； an officer； and even an officer of considerable rank； a large gold epaulette peeped from beneath the cuirass； this officer no longer possessed a helmet。
A furious sword…cut had scarred his face； where nothing was discernible but blood。
However； he did not appear to have any broken limbs； and； by some happy chance； if that word is permissible here； the dead had been vaulted above him in such a manner as to preserve him from being crushed。 His eyes were still closed。
On his cuirass he wore the silver cross of the Legion of Honor。
The prowler tore off this cross； which disappeared into one of the gulfs which he had beneath his great coat。
Then he felt of the officer's fob； discovered a watch there； and took possession of it。
Next he searched his waistcoat； found a purse and pocketed it。
When he had arrived at this stage of succor which he was administering to this dying man； the officer opened his eyes。
〃Thanks；〃 he said feebly。
The abruptness of the movements of the man who was manipulating him； the freshness of the night； the air which he could inhale freely； had roused him from his lethargy。
The prowler made no reply。
He raised his head。
A sound of footsteps was audible in the plain； some patrol was probably approaching。
The officer murmured； for the death agony was still in his voice：
〃Who won the battle？〃
〃The English；〃 answered the prowler。
The officer went on：
〃Look in my pockets； you will find a watch and a purse。
Take them。〃
It was already done。
The prowler executed the required feint； and said：
〃There is nothing there。〃
〃I have been robbed；〃 said the officer； 〃I am sorry for that。 You should have had them。〃
The steps of the patrol became more and more distinct。
〃Some one is ing；〃 said the prowler； with the movement of a man who is taking his departure。
The officer raised his arm feebly； and detained him。
〃You have saved my life。
Who are you？〃
The prowler answered rapidly； and in a low voice：
〃Like yourself； I belonged to the French army。
I must leave you。 If they were to catch me； they would shoot me。
I have saved your life。 Now get out of the scrape yourself。〃
〃What is your rank？〃
〃Sergeant。〃
〃What is your name？〃
〃Thenardier。〃
〃I shall not forget that name；〃 said the officer； 〃and do you remember mine。
My name is Pontmercy。〃
BOOK SECOND。THE SHIP ORION
CHAPTER I
NUMBER 24；601 BEES NUMBER 9；430
Jean Valjean had been recaptured。
The reader will be grateful to us if we pass rapidly over the sad details。
We will confine ourselves to transcribing two paragraphs published by the journals of that day； a few months after the surprising events which had taken place at M。 sur M。
These articles are rather summary。
It must be remembered； that at that epoch the Gazette des Tribunaux was not yet in existence。
We borrow the first from the Drapeau Blanc。
It bears the date of July 25； 1823。
An arrondissement of the Pas de Calais has just been the theatre of an event quite out of the ordinary course。
A man； who was a stranger in the Department； and who bore the name of M。 Madeleine； had； thanks to the new methods； resuscitated some years ago an ancient local industry； the manufacture of jet and of black glass trinkets。
He had made his fortune in the business； and that of the arrondissement as well； we will admit。
He had been appointed mayor； in recognition of his services。
The police discovered that M。 Madeleine was no other than an ex…convict who had broken his ban； condemned in 1796 for theft； and named Jean Valjean。 Jean Valjean has been remitted to prison。
It appears that previous to his arrest he had succeeded in withdrawing from the hands of M。 Laffitte； a sum of over half a million which he had lodged there； and which he had； moreover； and by perfectly legitimate means； acquired in his business。
No one has been able to discover where Jean Valjean has concealed this money since his return to prison at Toulon。
The second article； which enters a little more into detail； is an extract from the Journal de Paris； of the same date。 A former convict； who had been liberated； named Jean Valjean； has just appeared before the Court of Assizes of the Var； under circumstances calculated to attract attention。
This wretch had succeeded in escaping the vigilance of the police； he had changed his name； and had succeeded in getting himself appointed mayor of one of our small northern towns； in this town he had established a considerable merce。
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