Fantine had been at the factory for more than a year, when, one morning, the superintendent of the workroom handed her fifty francs from the mayor, told her that she was no longer employed in the shop, and requested her, in the mayor's name, to leave the neighborhood.
This was the very month when the Thenardiers, after having demanded twelve francs instead of six, had just exacted fifteen francs instead of twelve.
Fantine was overwhelmed.
She could not leave the neighborhood; she was in debt for her rent and furniture.
Fifty francs was not sufficient to cancel this debt.
She stammered a few supplicating words. The superintendent ordered her to leave the shop on the instant. Besides, Fantine was only a moderately good workwoman. Overcome with shame, even more than with despair, she quitted the shop, and returned to her room.
So her fault was now known to every one.
She no longer felt strong enough to say a word.
She was advised to see the mayor; she did not dare.
The mayor had given her fifty francs because he was good, and had dismissed her because he was just. She bowed before the decision.
BOOK FIFTH.--THE DESCENT
CHAPTER IX
MADAME VICTURNIEN'S SUCCESS
So the monk's widow was good for something.
But M. Madeleine had heard nothing of all this.
Life is full of just such combinations of events.
M. Madeleine was in the habit of almost never entering the women's workroom.
At the head of this room he had placed an elderly spinster, whom the priest had provided for him, and he had full confidence in this superintendent,--a truly respectable person, firm, equitable, upright, full of the charity which consists in giving, but not having in the same degree that charity which consists in understanding and in forgiving.