A moment later he extinguished his light; it embarrassed him.
lt seemed to him as though he might be seen.
By whom?
Alas!
That on which he desired to close the door had already entered; that which he desired to blind was staring him in the face,-- his conscience.
His conscience; that is to say, God.
Nevertheless, he deluded himself at first; he had a feeling of security and of solitude; the bolt once drawn, he thought himself impregnable; the candle extinguished, he felt himself invisible.
Then he took possession of himself:
he set his elbows on the table, leaned his head on his hand, and began to meditate in the dark.
"Where do I stand?
Am not I dreaming?
What have I heard?
Is it really true that I have seen that Javert, and that he spoke to me in that manner?
Who can that Champmathieu be?
So he resembles me! Is it possible?
When I reflect that yesterday I was so tranquil, and so far from suspecting anything!
What was I doing yesterday at this hour?
What is there in this incident?
What will the end be? What is to be done?"
This was the torment in which he found himself.