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e of those attics whose extremity forms an angle with the floor； and knocks you on the head every instant。 The poor occupant can reach the end of his chamber as he can the end of his destiny； only by bending over more and more。
She had no longer a bed； a rag which she called her coverlet； a mattress on the floor； and a seatless chair still remained。 A little rosebush which she had； had dried up； forgotten； in one corner。 In the other corner was a butter…pot to hold water； which froze in winter； and in which the various levels of the water remained long marked by these circles of ice。
She had lost her shame； she lost her coquetry。
A final sign。
She went out； with dirty caps。 Whether from lack of time or from indifference； she no longer mended her linen。
As the heels wore out； she dragged her stockings down into her shoes。
This was evident from the perpendicular wrinkles。 She patched her bodice； which was old and worn out； with scraps of calico which tore at the slightest movement。
The people to whom she was indebted made 〃scenes〃 and gave her no peace。 She found them in the street； she found them again on her staircase。 She passed many a night weeping and thinking。
Her eyes were very bright； and she felt a steady pain in her shoulder towards the top of the left shoulder…blade。 She coughed a great deal。 She deeply hated Father Madeleine； but made no plaint。
She sewed seventeen hours a day； but a contractor for the work of prisons； who made the prisoners work at a discount； suddenly made prices fall； which reduced the daily earnings of working…women to nine sous。 Seventeen hours of toil； and nine sous a day！
Her creditors were more pitiless than ever。
The second…hand dealer； who had taken back nearly all his furniture； said to her incessantly； 〃When will you pay me； you hussy？〃
What did they want of her； good God！
She felt that she was being hunted； and something of the wild beast developed in her。 About the same time； Thenardier wrote to her that he had waited with decidedly too much amiability and that he must have a hundred francs at once； otherwise he would turn little Cosette out of doors； convalescent as she was from her heavy illness； into the cold and the streets； and that she might do what she liked with herself； and die if she chose。
〃A hundred francs；〃 thought Fantine。 〃But in what trade can one earn a hundred sous a day？〃
〃e！〃 said she； 〃let us sell what is left。〃
The unfortunate girl became a woman of the town。
BOOK FIFTH。THE DESCENT
CHAPTER XI
CHRISTUS NOS LIBERAVIT
What is this history of Fantine？
It is society purchasing a slave。
From whom？
From misery。
From hunger； cold； isolation； destitution。
A dolorous bargain。 A soul for a morsel of bread。
Misery offers； society accepts。
The sacred law of Jesus Christ governs our civilization； but it does not； as yet； permeate it； it is said that slavery has disappeared from European civilization。
This is a mistake。
It still exists； but it weighs only upon the woman； and it is called prostitution。
It weighs upon the woman； that is to say； upon grace； weakness； beauty； maternity。
This is not one of the least of man's disgraces。
At the point in this melancholy drama which we have now reached； nothing is left to Fantine of that which she had formerly been。
She has bee marble in being mire。
Whoever touches her feels cold。 She passes； she endures you； she ignores you； she is the severe and dishonored figure。
Life and the social order have said their last word for her。
All has happened to her that will happen to her。 She has felt everything； borne everything； experienced everything； suffered everything； lost everything； mourned everything。 She is resigned； with that resignation which resembles indifference； as death resembles sleep。
She no longer avoids anything。 Let all the clouds fall upon her； and all the ocean sweep over her！ What matters it to her？
She is a sponge that is soaked。
At least； she believes it to be so； but it is an error to imagine that fate can be exhausted； and that one has reached the bottom of anything whatever。
Alas！
What are all these fates； driven on pell…mell？ Whither are they going？
Why are they thus？
He who knows that sees the whole of the shadow。
He is alone。
His name is God。
BOOK FIFTH。THE DESCENT
CHAPTER XII
M。 BAMATABOIS'S INACTIVITY
There is in all small towns； and there was at M。 sur M。 in particular； a class of young men who nibble away an ine of fifteen hundred francs with the same air with which their prototypes devour two hundred thousand francs a year in Paris。
These are beings of the great neuter species：
impotent men； parasites； cyphers； who have a little land； a little folly； a little wit； who would be rustics in a drawing…room； and who think themselves gentlemen in the dram…shop； who say； 〃My fields； my peasants； my woods〃； who hiss actresses at the theatre to prove that they are persons of taste； quarrel with the officers of the garrison to prove that they are men of war； hunt； smoke； yawn； drink； smell of tobacco； play billiards； stare at travellers as they descend from the diligence； live at the cafe； dine at the inn； have a dog which eats the bones under the table； and a mistress who eats the dishes on the table； who stick at a sou； exaggerate the fashions； admire tragedy； despise women； wear out their old boots； copy London through Paris； and Paris through the medium of Pont…A…Mousson； grow old as dullards； never work； serve no use； and do no great harm。
M。 Felix Tholomyes； had he remained in his own province and never beheld Paris； would have been one of these men。
If they were richer； one would say； 〃They are dandies；〃 if they were poorer； one would say； 〃They are idlers。〃
They are simply men without employment。
Among these unemployed there are bores； the bored； dreamers； and some knaves。
At that period a dandy was posed of a tall collar； a big cravat； a watch with trinkets； three vests of different colors； worn one on top of the otherthe red and blue inside； of a short…waisted olive coat； with a codfish tail； a double row of silver buttons set close to each other and running up to the shoulder； and a pair of trousers of a lighter shade of olive； ornamented on the two seams with an indefinite； but always uneven； number of lines； varying from one to elevena limit which was never exceeded。 Add to this； high shoes with little irons on the heels； a tall hat with a narrow brim； hair worn in a tuft； an enormous cane； and conversation set off by puns of Potier。
Over all； spurs and a mustache。
At that epoch mustaches indicated the bourgeois； and spurs the pedestrian。
The provincial dandy wore the longest of spurs and the fiercest of mustaches。
It was the period of the conflict of the republics of South America with the King of Spain； of Bolivar against Morillo。 Narrow…brimmed hats were royalist； and were called morillos； liberals wore hats with wide brims； which were called bolivars。
Eight or ten months； then； after that which is related in the prec