[Masterpiece Les Miserables] Paris Sparks

On the afternoon of the previous day, Coronne had knocked on the door and entered Jean Valjean's room.

"Monsieur Jean, I have one thing to ask of you," she said straight to the point.

Jean Valjean put down his book and looked up. "Just say it." He replied without hesitation.

Corona held the small box containing the documents in front of him, opened the lock on it with a small delicate key, and took out the documents one after another.

"As you already know, only about [-]% of the property my father bequeathed to me is public, and the other [-]% is hidden in other people's names, with twists and turns associated with me. This is because I was young and suddenly My father is afraid that too much property will bring me trouble.” She explained, and at the same time separated some documents from it and spread them out on the table, “Over the years, I have slowly settled these property relations. , roughly divided into three parts: Among them, I have handed over the two manors in the south, several vineyards, and a forest of [-] hectares to Fantine and Cosette. Over the years, they have gradually learned about these things. The persons in charge are also honest and trustworthy people. I have gone through the formalities and found a notary. If I die, these properties will belong to their names from now on. Here is the will, and here is the gift document of these properties and bonds In this way, in the future they should each have a pension of twenty thousand francs, enough to live comfortably."

Jean Valjean just listened. After all, these were not related to himself, but just a gift of property between Coronne, Fantine, and Cosette, and he didn't intervene.But his brows gradually wrinkled.In the end, he couldn't help but ask, "Do they know?"

"I'll tell you about this later." Corona replied.She moved this part of the documents aside, took out another part of the document from the small box, and spread it out on the table: "There is also this part of property, which is the last third of the property my father left to me, and it is still in existence. My name. You know, I have been paid quite well for painting these years, and I have also bought some land and manors with the accumulated property. It also caught up with the sudden rise and fall of bond prices a few years ago, when I sold my father’s estate. This part of the property, depending on the quality of the year, can always provide an annual annuity of [-] to [-] francs, which is enough to cover the expenses of schools and literacy classes for women workers. This part I have entrusted to Competent property agent, you don't have to worry about it, here are just the files for backup.

"Finally, what is left of my personal property. I'm afraid it's nothing compared to the previous ones, but my unsold paintings, my jewellery, the cash in the bank, combined, I have About [-] francs. There is another manor in the south, which benefits several thousand francs every year. I have made a will. If I die, all this part of the property will belong to you. I only have one request to you: If I don’t Death, or if France wins the people's victory, that's all; but if the situation in Paris is not good, if Fantine and Cosette have any signs of being implicated, please take them away, go south, It doesn't matter if you go to England, in short, please ensure the safety of the two of them."

Jean Valjean rose slowly, without taking the will which had been thrust before him. "You are going to revolution," he said.

"I know, if you want to dissuade me, you will definitely object." Corona said, "You don't have to worry about it."

"I know, I don't have the power to discipline you. But haven't you done enough for the revolution? Haven't you done enough for the poor? You've run literacy classes, you've opened schools, you've helped countless people, All the women workers in Paris know your name. You support the revolutionaries, you give them money, you connect them with officers who sympathize with the people, you scout them, you bail out arrested Republicans, you give money to wanted men. A hiding place, a doctor for the wounded. You've done so much, why do you have to go into battle yourself? Don't you think it's enough to give your life? Don't you think that by protecting yourself, you can help the future More people? I can't take your place. One, I'm a man. Two, they don't trust me. The women workers trust you, and only you. Besides, don't you think only of the revolution, and forget Do you have relatives around you? You are the only relatives of Fantine and Cosette, which cannot be replaced by money. Even if you have settled for them a stable life for the rest of their lives, the loss of relatives will be a lifetime of pain. Do you really have the heart?"

"I thank you for your advice, but you know we are not committing suicide - we are fully expecting victory. We believe that the moment has come once again for the people of Paris to stand up, and if this victory is won, everyone will have a better life." A bright future. I have arranged property in advance, written a will, and entrusted it to you. I am just planning for the worst and just in case. Don’t think that I am seeking death because of this! I You don't go into battle to die."

"But you know as well as I do that the danger of death is everywhere. Why do you have to take such a risk? You have wealth, fame, status. Isn't there a better way to help the revolution?"

"Of course I did, as a matter of fact, I know very well that perhaps in the long run, my life would be more beneficial to the revolution—but I didn't go entirely for the revolution, Monsieur Jean. I went for myself and went."

She smiled wryly.She reached out to put the documents on the table back together, and the paper fanned the flame of the candle, and the reflection of the fire in her eyes flickered for a moment, almost like a tear was flickering.

"You are a man, and you may not understand—no, you certainly will not understand that many things are your birthright and freedom for you, but are out of reach for me. You take it for granted You can not get married, you can set up your own factory and business, you can be an upright person based on your own ability, you can make friends with others on an equal footing, and respect each other. As long as you have money, you can learn anything you want.― ―It is not the case for me, Monsieur Jean, it is not the case for all the women in the world! We will be looked down upon and ridiculed by others if we don’t get married, and we will be suspected of being disrespectful to seduce men when we associate with the opposite sex. Want to study, so many "scholars" shouted loudly: women should not study, should not be proficient in all kinds of knowledge, it will only destroy their docile nature, and make them unsettled in their duty of taking care of the family! As for doing Factory, business? Don’t even think about it! You must have read the "Declaration of Human Rights", haven't you? It never occurred to you that the rights declared in the "Declaration of Human Rights" do not apply to women alone—we do not Cannot be a national representative, cannot determine public taxes, cannot participate in political debate. 'All men are born free and equal', except for women!"

She raised her hand to stop Jean Valjean who was about to speak.

"I know that in many ways, I am not subject to the constraints that ordinary women are subject to. You see, I am not married, I have my own business, I have friends who interact with me on an equal footing and respect me as a normal friend, I I can travel by myself and manage everything at home. I know there are many things you don't agree with, but you don't interfere with my behavior, and I thank you for that. -- but do you think that makes me free? No, no I can only travel alone in men's clothing; I have to win the respect of my friends as a man before I dare to appear in front of them as a woman; when I show my talent, people marvel not at my ability, but at "A woman" can have such an achievement--"a woman"! No, Mr. Jean, I have never, not for a moment, truly escaped from the cage of society. I have suffered from birth that should not be imposed on anyone. The injustice is just because I can't choose my gender. All my rights are bought through compromise on the other side. I have never had real freedom!

"Only this moment, Monsieur Jean, only this moment. I can participate in this revolution. I don't need to say anything against my will, I don't need to do any affectation, and I don't need to be looked at by others. Everyone on the barricades Brothers and sisters, everyone is equal at gunpoint. I can be a woman, wear a dress, do what I really want with my real face! I have missed the revolution of [-] , this time may be the only chance for me in my life. Whether we win or lose, there will never be a second chance like this. Even if there is a next revolution, I am afraid I will not find another group of people who can Friends who accept me for who I am!"

Jean Valjean was speechless.Corona raised her head and looked straight into his eyes. Her chest heaved violently, her lips trembled, as if she was about to cry, but her eyes were dry, without a single tear, and there was only a fire burning.

"Please don't stop me, please don't stop me! This will be my freest moment, the only time I will be out of prison! If I never have such a chance in my life, if I escape from this Revolution, live in peace, what kind of life would that be? For the rest of my life I would regret missing this opportunity, I would indulge in imagining what it was like to have this untasted freedom, it would only destroy me. I want Freedom, Mr. Jean, even if it’s only this time, even if I’m going to go back to compromise and struggle after we succeed, at least I know what it’s like to do what I want without restraint!”

Jean Valjean was speechless.

There is one thing he can understand her—that is, he also knows in his heart that sometimes people would rather choose death and misfortune than bury their heads and choose another life of ease and evasion of responsibility.It is for this reason that when another unfortunate man was mistaken for Jean Valjean, he would rather abandon his respected mayor status and drive there to explain the truth.

"You want me to watch you die!" he said, his voice mournful.

"I'm not going to die! We'll succeed," said Corona, laughing, already aware of her victory. "I assure you, I have no interest in death. Will manage to survive! It's my fault for saying such serious things to you in advance, which may make you overestimate the risk, but that's not the case. With all of Paris standing behind us, we won't fall so easily down!"

"What people expect is not violence, but peace!"

"But people will realize that peace can only be won through revolution. The path of the mean has been proven unworkable!"

At this time, she didn't know that she had committed the mistake that passionate young people are prone to make: they are too optimistic and think too well of the world.They always ignore some perfunctory and deception in their eyes, and are easily influenced by friends around them, thinking that the enthusiasm of a small group of people is the enthusiasm of the whole Paris.Because Corona is among the female workers, she has contact with a wider group of people and bears heavier responsibilities. In fact, she is already the most cautious and conservative person among her friends, but even she cannot avoid Infected by the revolutionary atmosphere around him, he overestimated the form.

It's not the fault of any of them.Not to mention young students, even older and wise scholars often inevitably miscalculate human nature and social situations, and fantasize about the world too beautifully.Unfortunately, in the midst of revolutions, such optimism can sometimes have deadly, tragic consequences.

But at this time, no one could have imagined the tragic consequences. Everyone, including Corona, was immersed in the bright future.Jean Valjean stopped persuading her: he knew that he could not persuade her anymore, and if he wanted to use other methods, such as imprisoning her at home and prohibiting her from participating in the revolution, it was absolutely impossible for him to do.But he still wanted to make a last-ditch effort. "Is there no way to prevent you from going to this thing?" he asked. "If there is any way, please tell me, I can do anything! You want me to watch you go to the battlefield-- How do you want me to face Mr. Carton in the future?"

Corona bowed her head apologetically.

"Please give me your blessing," she said, pushing the little box containing the will and deeds to Jean Valjean with smooth but firm motion.After a short pause, she added: "I know you will take care of them. Please also take care of yourself."

Jean Valjean said no more.Corona gave him a deep salute, and quickly walked out of the room without giving him a chance to return the salute.

The author has something to say: I used to write "the heroine is a staunch revolutionary" in the introduction of the article, and as I wrote it, I quietly removed the "firm"...

That's it.She couldn't be as reckless and firm as Enjolras, and she had to compromise if she wanted to live well.

It's really difficult_(:з」∠)_