I did wrong to spoil that gentleman's hat.
Why did he go away?
I would ask his pardon.
Oh, my God!
It makes no difference to me whether I ask his pardon.
Do me the favor to-day, for this once, Monsieur Javert. Hold! you do not know that in prison one can earn only seven sous a day; it is not the government's fault, but seven sous is one's earnings; and just fancy, I must pay one hundred francs, or my little girl will be sent to me.
Oh, my God!
I cannot have her with me. What I do is so vile!
Oh, my Cosette!
Oh, my little angel of the Holy Virgin! what will become of her, poor creature?
I will tell you: it is the Thenardiers, inn-keepers, peasants; and such people are unreasonable.
They want money.
Don't put me in prison! You see, there is a little girl who will be turned out into the street to get along as best she may, in the very heart of the winter; and you must have pity on such a being, my good Monsieur Javert. If she were older, she might earn her living; but it cannot be done at that age.
I am not a bad woman at bottom.
It is not cowardliness and gluttony that have made me what I am.
If I have drunk brandy, it was out of misery.
I do not love it; but it benumbs the senses. When I was happy, it was only necessary to glance into my closets, and it would have been evident that I was not a coquettish and untidy woman.
I had linen, a great deal of linen.
Have pity on me, Monsieur Javert!"
She spoke thus, rent in twain, shaken with sobs, blinded with tears, her neck bare, wringing her hands, and coughing with a dry, short cough, stammering softly with a voice of agony.