his
hurts!

Then we will not say of Valjean, "He has conscience," but rather, we
will say, "He is conscience." Valjean's struggle with conscience is
one of the majestic chapters of the world's literature, presenting, as
it does, the worthiest and profoundest study of Christian conscience
given by any dramatist since Christ opened a new chapter for conscience
in the soul. Monsieur Madeleine, the mayor, is rich, respected,
honored, is a savior of society, sought out by the king for political
preferment. One shadow tracks him like a nightmare. Javert is on his
track, instinct serving him for reason. At last, Javert himself thinks
Jean Valjean has been found; for a man has been arrested, is to be
tried, will doubtless be convicted, seeing evidence is damning. Now,
Monsieur Madeleine, mayor of M----, your fear is all but ended. An
anodyne will be administered to your pain. Jean Valjean has known many
a struggle. He thought his fiercest battles fought; but all his
yesterdays of conflict are as play contests and sham battles matched
with this. Honor, usefulness, long years of service, love,
guardianship of Cossette, and fealty to a promise given a dying
mother--all beckon to him. He is theirs; and has he not suffered
enough? More than enough. Let this man alone, that is all. Let him
alone! He sees it. Joy shouts in his heart, "Javert will leave me in
quiet." "Let us not interfere with God," and his resolution is formed.
But conscience looks into his face. Ha! the bishop, too, is beside
him. Conscience speaks, and is saying, "Let the real Valjean go and
declare himself." This is duty. Conscience speaks, and his words are
terrible, "Go, declare thyself." Jean Valjean's sin is following him.
That evening he had robbed Petit Gervais; therefore he is imperiled.
Sin finds man out. But the fight thickens, and Valjean thinks to
destroy the mementos of his past, and looks fearfully toward the door,
bolted as it is, and gathers from a secret closet his old blue blouse,
an old pair of trousers, an old haversack, and a great thorn stick, and
incontinently flings them into the flames. Then, noticing the silver
candlesticks, the bishop's gifts, "These, too, must be destroyed," he
says, and takes them in his hands, and stirs the fire with one of the
candlesticks, when he hears a voice clamoring, "Jean Valjean! Jean
Valjean! Jean Valjean!" Conscience and a battle, but the battle was
not lost; for you see him in the