CHAPTER XL
CHRISTUS NOS LIBERAVIT.
What is this story of Fantine? It is society buying a slave.
Of whom? Of misery, of hunger, of cold, of loneliness, of desertion,of destitution. Cursed bargain! A soul for a morsel of bread. Miseryoffers its wares, and society accepts.
The holy law of Jesus Christ governs our civilization, but it does notyet pervade it. They say that slavery has disappeared from Europeancivilization. That's a mistake. It still exists; but it weighs now onlyon woman, and its name is prostitution.
It weighs on woman; that is, on grace, on helplessness, on beauty, onmotherhood. This is not one of the least reproaches upon man.
At the point which we have reached in this painful drama, there isnothing left in Fantine of her former self. She became marble whenshe became mud. Whoever touches her is chilled. She is handed along,she submits to you, but she forgets your presence. She is the type ofdishonor and rigidity. Life and social order have said to her theirlast word. Everything that can happen to her, has already happened. Shehas felt all, borne all, endured all, suffered all, lost all, wept forall. She is resigned with a resignation which is as like indifferenceas death is like sleep. She shuns nothing now. She fears nothing now.Let the whole sky fall on her, let the whole ocean pass over her! Whatdoes she care? She is a sponge soaked full.
At least she thinks so; but it is never safe to think that you havedrained the cup of misfortune, or that you have reached the end ofanything.
Alas! what are all these destinies driven along thus helter-skelter?Where are they going? Why are they what they are?
He who knows this sees the whole shadow. He is one alone. His name isGod.