[50] A packet of Victor Hugo’s love-letters to Madame B. was treacherously forwarded to her by the lady in question. They extended over a period of seven years, 1844 to 1851. Victor Hugo had carried on his secret intrigue with Madame B. while he was daily visiting and corresponding with Juliette. The discovery of his duplicity almost broke her heart.—Translator’s Note.
[51] Victor Hugo, Correspondance, letter to Émile Deschanel, December 11th, 1853.
[52] January 23rd, 1853.
[53] It was signed by Félix Pyat, Rougée, and Jourdain.
[54] Victor Hugo had disposed of the bulk of his furniture in June 1852, but he had stored the things he specially valued at Juliette’s apartment, Cité Rodier.
[55] These remarks may be verified by the series of photographs of the poet taken by his sons during his exile and preserved in the Musée Victor Hugo. Some of the snapshots, as we should call them nowadays, are an indication of the distress of the great outlaw.
[56] Victor Hugo Intime, by Madame Juana Lesclide.
[57] A young girl in bad circumstances, to whom Juliette had given shelter under her own roof, and who thus requited the charity of her benefactress.—Translator’s Note.
[58] Juliette Drouet was buried on May 12th, 1883, in the cemetery of Saint Mandé, near her daughter Claire, under a marble stone she had selected for herself in 1881. Her funeral was attended by a large body of journalists. The speech was delivered by Auguste Vacquerie. According to a letter she wrote to Victor Hugo on November 1st, 1881, she wished for an epitaph taken from one of the “sublime poems” he had addressed to her. Her desire was not gratified; the tomb does not even bear the name of our heroine.
[59] Juliette Drouet occasionally acted as the poet’s secretary.