Les Misérables

Victor Hugo

VIII The Torn Coattail In the midst of this prostration, a hand was laid on his shoulder, and a low voice said to him: “Half shares.” Some person in that gloom? Nothing so closely resembles a dream as despair. Jean Valjean thought that he was dreaming. He had heard no footsteps. Was it possible? He raised his eyes. A man stood before him. This man was clad in a blouse; his feet were bare; he held his shoes in his left hand; he had evidently removed them in order to reach Jean …