him, I will pass the rest of my life in venerating him.
Yes, that is how it should be, do you see, Cosette?
Gavroche must have delivered my letter to him.
All is explained.
You understand."
Cosette did not understand a word.
"You are right," she said to him.
Meanwhile the carriage rolled on.
BOOK NINTH.--SUPREME SHADOW, SUPREME DAWN
CHAPTER V
A NIGHT BEHIND WHICH THERE IS DAY
Jean Valjean turned round at the knock which he heard on his door.
"Come in," he said feebly.
The door opened.
Cosette and Marius made their appearance.
Cosette rushed into the room.
Marius remained on the threshold, leaning against the jamb of the door.
"Cosette!" said Jean Valjean.
And he sat erect in his chair, his arms outstretched and trembling, haggard, livid, gloomy, an immense joy in his eyes.
Cosette, stifling with emotion, fell upon Jean Valjean''s breast.
"Father!" said she.
Jean Valjean, overcome, stammered:
"Cosette! she! you!
Madame! it is thou!
Ah! my God!"
And, pressed close in Cosette''s arms, he exclaimed:
"It is thou! thou art here!
Thou dost pardon me then!"
Marius, lowering his eyelids, in order to keep his tears from flowing, took a step forward and murmured between lips convulsively contracted to repress his sobs:
"My father!"
"And you also, you pardon me!"