(Why Romainville?)[5]
[5] This parenthesis is due to Jean Valjean.
"The first street that I entered was deserted.
I entered a second street.
Behind the angle formed by the two streets, a man was standing erect against the wall.
I said to this Man:--
"`What country is this?
Where am I?'
The man made no reply. I saw the door of a house open, and I entered.
"The first chamber was deserted.
I entered the second.
Behind the door of this chamber a man was standing erect against the wall. I inquired of this man, `Whose house is this?
Where am I?' The man replied not.
"The house had a garden.
I quitted the house and entered the garden. The garden was deserted.
Behind the first tree I found a man standing upright.
I said to this man, `What garden is this? Where am I?'
The man did not answer.
"I strolled into the village, and perceived that it was a town. All the streets were deserted, all the doors were open.
Not a single living being was passing in the streets, walking through the chambers or strolling in the gardens.