Join Host Bree Carlile as she reads the fifty-third chapter of Les Miserables.

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>> Speaker A: Take a look, in the book and let's see

what we can find.

Take it chapter by chapter. One

fight M at a time.

>> Brie Carlisle: So.

>> Speaker A: Many adventures and mountains

we can climb

to give word for word, line by

line, one bite at a time.

>> Brie Carlisle: Welcome.

>> Brie Carlisle: To bite at a time books where we read you your favorite

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>> Brie Carlisle: Values today well be

continuing.

Les miserable by Victor Hugo

Book six Javert

chapter one the beginning of

repose Monsieur

Madeleine had Fantine removed to that infirmary which he had

established in his own house. He

confided her to the sisters, who put her to bed.

A burning fever had come on. She

passed a part of the night in delirium and raving

at length. However, she fell asleep.

On the morrow, towards midday, Fantine

awoke. She heard someone breathing close to her

bed. She drew aside the curtain and saw

Monsieur Madeleine standing there and looking at something over

her head. His gaze was full

of pity, anguish, and

supplication. She followed its

direction and saw that it was fixed on a crucifix which

was nailed to the wall. Thenceforth,

Monsieur Madeleine was transfigured in fantines

eyes. He seemed to her to be

clothed in light. He was absorbed in a sort of

prayer. She gazed at him for a long time

without daring to interrupt him. At, last, she said

timidly, what are you doing?

Monsieur Madeleine had been there for an hour.

He had been waiting for Fantine to awake.

He took her hand, felt of her pulse, and

replied, how do you feel while

I have slept? She replied, I

think that I am better. It is nothing,

he answered, responding to the first question which she had put

to him as though he had just heard it. I was

praying to the martyr there on high. And

he added in his own mind for the martyr

here below. Monsieur Madeleine had

passed the night and the morning in making inquiries.

He knew all now. He knew fantines

history and all its heartrending details. He

went on, you suffered much, poor

mother. Oh, do not complain. You now have the

dowry of the elect. It is thus that men are

transformed into angels. It is not their

fault they do not know how to go to work. Otherwise.

You see, this hell from which you have just emerged is the first

form of heaven. It was necessary to begin

there. He sighed deeply,

but she smiled on him with that sublime smile in

which two teeth were lacking. That

same night, Javert wrote a letter. The

next morning he posted it himself at the office of M. Sur

M m. It was addressed to Paris

and the superscription ran to Monsieur

Chamboulet, secretary of Monsieur le

Prfet of police, as, The affair in the

station house had been bruited about

the postmistress and some other persons who saw the

letter before it was sent off and who recognized

Javerts handwriting on the COVID thought that he was sending in his

resignation. Monsieur Madeleine made

haste to write to the thenardiers.

Fantine owed them 120 francs.

He sent them 300 francs, telling them to pay themselves

from that sum and to fetch the child instantly to M.

Sur m where her sick mother required her presence.

This dazzled thenardier.

The devil, said the man to his wife,

dont lets allow the child to go. This lark is going

to turn into a milch cow. I see through it. Some

ninny has taken a fancy to the mother. He

replied with a very well drawn up bill for 500 and

some odd francs. In this memorandum,

two indisputable items figured up over 300

francs. One for the doctor,

the other for the apothecary who had attended in

physic to eponine and Azelma through two long

illnesses. Cosette, as we have already

said, had not been ill. It was only a question

of a trifling substitution of names. At

the foot of the memorandum, Thenardier received

on account 300 francs.

Monsieur Madeleine immediately sent 300 francs more

and wrote, make haste to bring Cosette

Christie, said Thenardier, lets not give

up the child. In the meantime,

Fantine did not recover. She still remained

in the infirmary. The sisters had at first

only received and nursed that woman with

repugnance. Those who have seen the basile

leaves of Rhemes will recall the inflation of the lower lip of the

wise virgins as they survey the foolish virgins,

the ancient scorn of the vestals for the Ambibajai

is one of the most profound instincts of feminine

dignity. The sisters felt it with a double

force contributed by religion. But in a

few days Fantine disarmed them. She said

all kinds of humble and gentle things,

and the mother in her provoked tenderness.

One day the sisters heard her say, amid her fever,

I have been a sinner, but when I have my

child beside me, it will be a sign that God has pardoned

me. while I was leading a bad life, I should not have liked to have my

cosette with me. I could not have borne her

sad, astonished eyes. It was for her sake

that I did evil, and that is why God pardons

me. I shall feel the benediction of the good God.

When Cosette is here, I shall gaze at her.

It will do me good to see that innocent creature.

She knows nothing at all. She is an angel,

you see, my sisters, at that age,

the wings have not fallen off. Monsieur

Madeleine went to see her twice a day, and each time

she asked him, shall I see my Cosette

soon? He answered, tomorrow,

perhaps. She may arrive at any moment.

I am expecting her. And the mothers

pale face grew radiant. Oh, she

said, how happy I am going to be.

We have just said that she did not recover her health.

On the contrary, her condition seemed to become more grave

from week to week. That handful of snow

applied to her bare skin between her shoulder blades had brought about a

sudden suppression of perspiration, as a

consequence of which the malady, which had been smoldering within

her for many years, was violently developed

at last. At that time, people were

beginning to follow the fine linen suggestions in the

study and treatment of chest maladies.

The doctor sounded Fantine's chest and shook his

head. Monster, Madeleine said to the

doctor. Well, has, ah, she

not a child which she desires to see, said the

doctor. Yes, well, make

haste and get it here. Monsieur

Madeleine shuddered. Fantine inquired,

what did the doctor say? Monsieur

Madeleine forced himself to smile. He said

that your child was to be brought speedily, that that would

restore your health. Oh, she

rejoined, he is right. But

what do those thenardiers mean by keeping my Cosette from

me? Oh, she is coming.

At last I behold happiness close beside

me. In the meantime,

Thenardier did not let go of the child

and gave 100 insignificant reasons for it.

Cosette was not quite well enough to take a journey in the winter.

And then there still remained some petty but

pressing debts in the neighborhood, and they were collecting the bills

for them. Etcetera, etcetera. I shall send

someone to fetch Cosette, said Father Madeleine.

If necessary, I will go myself.

He wrote the following letter to fantines dictation

and made her sign it. Monsieur

thenardier, you will deliver Cosette to this

person. You will be paid for all the little

things. I, have the honor to salute you with respect,

Fantine. In the

meantime, a serious incident occurred.

Carve as we will the mysterious block of which our life is

made. The black vein of destiny

constantly reappears in it. Thank

you for joining bite at a time books today while we read a.

>> Brie Carlisle: Bite of one of your favorite classics.

>> Brie Carlisle: Again, my name is Brie carlisle, and I

hope you come back tomorrow, for the next bite of

le Miserable.

>> Brie Carlisle: Dont forget to sign up for our

newsletter@biteoutimebooks.com, dot. And

check out the shop. You can check out the show notes or

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>> Speaker A: M

mountains we can climb

take your words go word, line by

line, one bite at a time.