按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
he black glass trinkets of Germany。 This industry had always vegetated； on account of the high price of the raw material； which reacted on the manufacture。 At the moment when Fantine returned to M。 sur M。； an unheard…of transformation had taken place in the production of 〃black goods。〃 Towards the close of 1815 a man； a stranger； had established himself in the town； and had been inspired with the idea of substituting； in this manufacture； gum…lac for resin； and； for bracelets in particular； slides of sheet…iron simply laid together； for slides of soldered sheet…iron。
This very small change had effected a revolution。
This very small change had； in fact； prodigiously reduced the cost of the raw material； which had rendered it possible in the first place； to raise the price of manufacture； a benefit to the country； in the second place； to improve the workmanship； an advantage to the consumer； in the third place； to sell at a lower price； while trebling the profit； which was a benefit to the manufacturer。
Thus three results ensued from one idea。
In less than three years the inventor of this process had bee rich； which is good； and had made every one about him rich； which is better。
He was a stranger in the Department。
Of his origin； nothing was known； of the beginning of his career； very little。 It was rumored that he had e to town with very little money； a few hundred francs at the most。
It was from this slender capital； enlisted in the service of an ingenious idea； developed by method and thought； that he had drawn his own fortune； and the fortune of the whole countryside。
On his arrival at M。 sur M。 he had only the garments； the appearance； and the language of a workingman。
It appears that on the very day when he made his obscure entry into the little town of M。 sur M。； just at nightfall； on a December evening； knapsack on back and thorn club in hand； a large fire had broken out in the town…hall。 This man had rushed into the flames and saved； at the risk of his own life； two children who belonged to the captain of the gendarmerie； this is why they had forgotten to ask him for his passport。
Afterwards they had learned his name。 He was called Father Madeleine。
BOOK FIFTH。THE DESCENT
CHAPTER II
MADELEINE
He was a man about fifty years of age； who had a preoccupied air； and who was good。
That was all that could be said about him。
Thanks to the rapid progress of the industry which he had so admirably re…constructed； M。 sur M。 had bee a rather important centre of trade。
Spain； which consumes a good deal of black jet； made enormous purchases there each year。
M。 sur M。 almost rivalled London and Berlin in this branch of merce。
Father Madeleine's profits were such； that at the end of the second year he was able to erect a large factory； in which there were two vast workrooms； one for the men； and the other for women。
Any one who was hungry could present himself there； and was sure of finding employment and bread。
Father Madeleine required of the men good will； of the women pure morals； and of all； probity。
He had separated the work…rooms in order to separate the sexes； and so that the women and girls might remain discreet。
On this point he was inflexible。 It was the only thing in which he was in a manner intolerant。 He was all the more firmly set on this severity； since M。 sur M。； being a garrison town； opportunities for corruption abounded。 However； his ing had been a boon； and his presence was a godsend。 Before Father Madeleine's arrival； everything had languished in the country； now everything lived with a healthy life of toil。 A strong circulation warmed everything and penetrated everywhere。 Slack seasons and wretchedness were unknown。
There was no pocket so obscure that it had not a little money in it； no dwelling so lowly that there was not some little joy within it。
Father Madeleine gave employment to every one。
He exacted but one thing：
Be an honest man。
Be an honest woman。
As we have said； in the midst of this activity of which he was the cause and the pivot； Father Madeleine made his fortune； but a singular thing in a simple man of business； it did not seem as though that were his chief care。
He appeared to be thinking much of others； and little of himself。
In 1820 he was known to have a sum of six hundred and thirty thousand francs lodged in his name with Laffitte； but before reserving these six hundred and thirty thousand francs； he had spent more than a million for the town and its poor。
The hospital was badly endowed； he founded six beds there。
M。 sur M。 is divided into the upper and the lower town。
The lower town； in which he lived； had but one school； a miserable hovel； which was falling to ruin：
he constructed two； one for girls； the other for boys。 He allotted a salary from his own funds to the two instructors； a salary twice as large as their meagre official salary； and one day he said to some one who expressed surprise； 〃The two prime functionaries of the state are the nurse and the schoolmaster。〃 He created at his own expense an infant school； a thing then almost unknown in France； and a fund for aiding old and infirm workmen。 As his factory was a centre； a new quarter； in which there were a good many indigent families； rose rapidly around him； he established there a free dispensary。
At first； when they watched his beginnings； the good souls said； 〃He's a jolly fellow who means to get rich。〃
When they saw him enriching the country before he enriched himself； the good souls said； 〃He is an ambitious man。〃
This seemed all the more probable since the man was religious； and even practised his religion to a certain degree； a thing which was very favorably viewed at that epoch。
He went regularly to low mass every Sunday。 The local deputy； who nosed out all rivalry everywhere； soon began to grow uneasy over this religion。
This deputy had been a member of the legislative body of the Empire； and shared the religious ideas of a father of the Oratoire； known under the name of Fouche； Duc d'Otrante； whose creature and friend he had b