Take it chapter by chapter, one fight at a time So many adventures and mountains to climb
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Today we'll be continuing Les Miserables by Victor Hugo. CHAPTER 11 OFFERS OF SERVICE FROM MISERY TO WRETCHEDNESS Marius ascended the stairs of the hovel with slow steps.
At the moment when he was about to re-enter his cell, he caught sight of the elder John Dreck girl following him through the corridor.The very sight of this girl was odious to him.It was she who had his five francs.
It was too late to demand them back.The cab was no longer there.The fiacre was far away.Moreover, she would not have given them back.As for questioning her about the residence of the persons who had just been there, that was useless.
It was evident that she did not know, since the letter signed Fabin-Thau had been addressed to the benevolent gentleman of the Church of Saint-Jacques-du-Haut-Paz.Marius entered his room and pushed the door to after him. It did not close.
He turned round and beheld a hand which held the door half open.What is it?He asked.Who is there?It was the John Drek girl.Is it you?Resumed Marius almost harshly.Still you?What do you want with me?
She appeared to be thoughtful, and did not look at him.She no longer had the air of assurance which had characterized her that morning.
She did not enter, but held back in the darkness of the corridor, where Marius could see her through the half-open door.Come now, what will you answer?cried Marius.What do you want with me?
She raised her dull eyes, in which a sort of gleam seemed to flicker vaguely, and said, Monsieur Marius, you look sad.What is the matter with you?With me?said Marius.Yes, you.There is nothing the matter with me.Yes, there is.No, I tell you there is.
Let me alone. Aunt Marius gave the door another push, but she retained her hold on it.Stop, said she.You are in the wrong.Although you are not rich, you were kind this morning.Be so again now.You gave me something to eat.Now tell me what ails you.
You are grieved, that is plain.I do not want you to be grieved.What can be done for it?Can I be of any service?Employ me.I do not ask for your secrets, you need not tell them to me.But I may be of use, nevertheless.
I may be able to help you, since I helped my father.When it is necessary to carry letters, to go to houses, to inquire from door to door, to find out an address, to follow anyone, I am of service.Well,
You may assuredly tell me what is the matter with you, and I will go and speak to the persons.Sometimes it is enough if someone speaks to the persons.That suffices to let them understand matters and everything comes right.Make use of me."
An idea flashed across Marius's mind.What branch does one disdain when one feels that one is falling?He drew near to the John Drek girl. Listen, he said to her.She interrupted him with a gleam of joy in her eyes.Oh yes, do call me thou.
I like that better.Well, he resumed.Thou hast bought hither that old gentleman and his daughter.Yes.Dost thou know their address?No.Find it for me.The John Dratt's dull eyes had grown joyous.And now they became gloomy. "'Is that what you want?'
she demanded."'Yes.'"'Do you know them?'"'No.'"'That is to say,' she resumed quickly, "'you do not know her, but you wish to know her.'"This them, which had turned into her, had something indescribably significant and bitter about it.
"'Well, can you do it?'said Marius."'You shall have the beautiful lady's address. There was still a shade in the words, The Beautiful Lady, which troubled Marius.He resumed.Never mind, after all.The address of the father and daughter.
Their address, indeed.She gazed fixedly at him.Will you give me?Anything you like.Anything I like?Yes.You shall have the address.She dropped her head.Then, with a brusque movement, she pulled to the door, which closed behind her.
Marius found himself alone.He dropped into a chair, with his head and both elbows on his bed, absorbed in thoughts which he could not grasp, and as though a prey to vertigo.All that had taken place since the morning.The appearance of the angel.
Her disappearance.What that creature just said to him.A gleam of hope floating in an immense despair.This was what filled his brain confusedly.All at once, he was violently aroused from his reverie.
He heard the shrill, hard voice of Jandrette out of these words, which were fraught with a strange interest for him.I tell you that I am sure of it and that I recognized him.Of whom was Jandrette speaking?Whom had he recognized?Monsieur LeBlanc?
The father of his Ursule?What?Did Jandrette know him?Was Marius about to obtain, in subrupt and unexpected fashion, all the information without which his life was so dark to him? Was he about to learn at last who it was that he loved?
Who that young girl was?Who her father was?Was the dense shadow which enwrapped them on the point of being dispelled?Was the veil about to be rent?Oh, heavens.
He bounded rather than climbed upon his commode and resumed his post near the little peephole in the partition wall.Again, he beheld the interior of John Dret's hovel.
Thank you for joining Byte at a Time Books today, while we read a Byte of one of your favorite classics.Again, my name is Brie Carlyle, and I hope you come back tomorrow for the next Byte of Les Miserables.
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Adventure the mountains we can climb Take it word for word, line by line, one bite at a time
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