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He had caught the old man's deep glances returning constantly to the child。 Who was this man？
Why this interest？
Why this hideous costume； when he had so much money in his purse？
Questions which he put to himself without being able to solve them； and which irritated him。 He had pondered it all night long。
He could not be Cosette's father。 Was he her grandfather？
Then why not make himself known at once？ When one has a right； one asserts it。
This man evidently had no right over Cosette。
What was it； then？
Thenardier lost himself in conjectures。
He caught glimpses of everything； but he saw nothing。 Be that as it may； on entering into conversation with the man； sure that there was some secret in the case； that the latter had some interest in remaining in the shadow； he felt himself strong； when he perceived from the stranger's clear and firm retort； that this mysterious personage was mysterious in so simple a way； he became conscious that he was weak。
He had expected nothing of the sort。
His conjectures were put to the rout。
He rallied his ideas。
He weighed everything in the space of a second。 Thenardier was one of those men who take in a situation at a glance。 He decided that the moment had arrived for proceeding straightforward； and quickly at that。
He did as great leaders do at the decisive moment； which they know that they alone recognize； he abruptly unmasked his batteries。
〃Sir；〃 said he； 〃I am in need of fifteen hundred francs。〃
The stranger took from his side pocket an old pocketbook of black leather； opened it； drew out three bank…bills； which he laid on the table。 Then he placed his large thumb on the notes and said to the inn…keeper：
〃Go and fetch Cosette。〃
While this was taking place； what had Cosette been doing？
On waking up； Cosette had run to get her shoe。
In it she had found the gold piece。
It was not a Napoleon； it was one of those perfectly new twenty…franc pieces of the Restoration； on whose effigy the little Prussian queue had replaced the laurel wreath。 Cosette was dazzled。
Her destiny began to intoxicate her。 She did not know what a gold piece was； she had never seen one； she hid it quickly in her pocket； as though she had stolen it。 Still； she felt that it really was hers； she guessed whence her gift had e； but the joy which she experienced was full of fear。 She was happy； above all she was stupefied。
Such magnificent and beautiful things did not appear real。
The doll frightened her； the gold piece frightened her。
She trembled vaguely in the presence of this magnificence。
The stranger alone did not frighten her。 On the contrary； he reassured her。
Ever since the preceding evening； amid all her amazement； even in her sleep； she had been thinking in her little childish mind of that man who seemed to be so poor and so sad； and who was so rich and so kind。
Everything had changed for her since she had met that good man in the forest。 Cosette； less happy than the most insignificant swallow of heaven； had never known what it was to take refuge under a mother's shadow and under a wing。
For the last five years； that is to say； as far back as her memory ran； the poor child had shivered and trembled。 She had always been exposed pletely naked to the sharp wind of adversity； now it seemed to her she was clothed。
Formerly her soul had seemed cold； now it was warm。
Cosette was no longer afraid of the Thenardier。
She was no longer alone； there was some one there。
She hastily set about her regular morning duties。
That louis； which she had about her； in the very apron pocket whence the fifteen…sou piece had fallen on the night before； distracted her thoughts。 She dared not touch it； but she spent five minutes in gazing at it； with her tongue hanging out； if the truth must be told。
As she swept the staircase； she paused； remained standing there motionless； forgetful of her broom and of the entire universe； occupied in gazing at that star which was blazing at the bottom of her pocket。
It was during one of these periods of contemplation that the Thenardier joined her。
She had gone in search of Cosette at her husband's orders。
What was quite unprecedented； she neither struck her nor said an insulting word to her。
〃Cosette；〃 she said； almost gently； 〃e immediately。〃
An instant later Cosette entered the public room。
The stranger took up the bundle which he had brought and untied it。 This bundle contained a little woollen gown； an apron； a fustian bodice； a kerchief； a petticoat； woollen stockings； shoesa plete outfit for a girl of seven years。
All was black。
〃My child；〃 said the man； 〃take these； and go and dress yourself quickly。〃
Daylight was appearing when those of the inhabitants of Montfermeil who had begun to open their doors beheld a poorly clad old man leading a little girl dressed in mourning； and carrying a pink doll in her arms； pass along the road to Paris。
They were going in the direction of Livry。
It was our man and Cosette。
No one knew the man； as Cosette was no longer in rags； many did not recognize her。
Cosette was going away。
With whom？
She did not know。
Whither？
She knew not。
All that she understood was that she was leaving the Thenardier tavern behind her。
No one had thought of bidding her farewell； nor had she thought of taking leave of any one。
She was leaving that hated and hating house。
Poor； gentle creature； whose heart had been repressed up to that hour！
Cosette walked along gravely； with her large eyes wide open； and gazing at the sky。
She had put her louis in the pocket of her new apron。
From time to time； she bent down and glanced at it； then she looked at the good man。
She felt something as though she were beside the good God。
BOOK THIRD。ACPLISHMENT OF THE PROMISE MADE TO THE DEAD WOMAN
CHAPTER X
HE WHO SEEKS TO BETTER HIMSELF MAY RENDER HIS SITUATION WORSE
Madame Thenardier had allowed her husband to have his own way； as was her wont。
She had expected great results。
When the man and Cosette had taken their departure； Thenardier allowed a full quarter of an hour to elapse； then he took her aside and showed her the fifteen hundred francs。
〃Is that all？〃 said she。
It was the first time since they had set up housekeeping that she had dared to criticise one of the master's acts。
The blow told。
〃You are right； in sooth；〃 said he； 〃I am a fool。
Give me my hat。〃
He folded up the three bank…bills； thrust them into his pocket； and ran out in all haste； but he made a mistake and turned to the right first。 Some neighbors； of whom he made inquiries； put him on the track again； the Lark and the man had been seen going in the direction of Livry。 He followed these hints； walking with great strides； and talking to himself the while：
〃That man is evidently a million dressed in yellow； and I am an animal。 First he gave twenty sous； then five francs； then fifty francs； then fifteen hundred francs； all with equal readiness。
He would have given fifteen thousand francs。
But I shall overtake him。〃
And then； that bundle of clothes prepared beforehand for the child； all that was singular； many mysteries lay concealed under it。 One does not let mysteries out of one's hand when one has once grasped them。
The secrets of the wealthy are sponges of gold； one must know how to subject them to pressure。
All these thoughts whirled through his brain。
〃I am an animal；〃 said he。
When one leaves Montfermeil and reaches the turn which the road takes that runs to Livry； it can be seen stretching out before one to a great distance across the plateau。
On arriving there； he calculated that he ought to be able to see the old man and the child。
He looked as far as his vision reached； and saw nothing。 He made fresh inquiries； but he had wasted time。
Some passers…by informed him that the man and child of whom he was in search had gone towards the forest in the direction of Gagny。
He hastened in that direction。
They were far in advance of him； but a child walks slowly； and he walked fast； and then； he was well acquainted with the country。
All at once he paused and dealt himself a blow on his forehead like a man who has forgotten some essential point and who is ready to retrace his steps。
〃I ought to have taken my gun；〃 said he to himself。
Thenardier was one of those double natures which sometimes pass through our midst without our being aware of the fact； and who disappear without our finding them out； because destiny has only exhibited one side of them。
It is the fate of many men to live thus half submerged。
In a calm and even situation； Thenardier possessed all that is required to makewe will not say to be what people have agreed to call an honest trader； a good bourgeois。 At the same time certain circumstances being given； certain shocks arriving to bring his under…nature to the surface； he had all the requisites for a blackguard。
He was a shopkeeper in whom there was some taint of the monster。
Satan must have occasionally crouched down in some corner of the hovel in which Thenardier dwelt； and have fallen a…dreaming in the presence of this hideous masterpiece。
After a momentary hesitation：
〃Bah！〃 he thought； 〃they will have time to make their escape。〃
And he pursued his road； walking rapidly straight ahead； and with almost an air of certainty； with the sagacity of a fox scenting a covey of partridges。
In truth； when he had passed the ponds and had traversed in an oblique direction the large clearing which lies on the right of the Avenue de Bellevue； and reached that turf alley which nearly makes the circuit of the hill； and covers the arch of the ancient aqueduct of the Abbey of Chelles； he caught sight； over the top of the brushwood； of the hat on which he had already erected so many conjectures； it was that man's hat。
The brushwood was not high。
Thenardier recognized the fact that the man and Cosette were sitting there。
The child could not be seen on account of her small size； but the head of her doll was visible。
Thenardier was not mistaken。
The man was sitting there； and letting Cosette get somewhat rested。
The inn…keeper walked round the brushwood and presented himself abruptly to the eyes of those whom he was in search of。
〃Pardon； excuse me； sir；〃 he said； quite breathless； 〃but here are your fifteen hundred francs。〃
So saying； he handed the stranger the three bank…bills。
The man raised his eyes。
〃What is the meaning of this？〃
Thenardier replied respectfully：
〃It means； sir； that I shall take back Cosette。〃
Cosette shuddered； and pressed close to the old man。
He replied； gazing to the very bottom of Thenardier's eyes the while； and enunciating every syllable distinctly：
〃You are go…ing to take back Co…sette？〃
〃Yes； sir； I am。
I will tell you； I have considered the matter。 In fact； I have not the right to give her to you。
I am an honest man； you see； this child does not belong to me； she belongs to her mother。 It was her mother who confided her to me； I can only resign her to her mother。
You will say to me； ‘But her mother is dead。' Good； in that case I can only give the child up to the person who shall bring me a writing； signed by her mother； to the effect that I am to hand the child over to the person therein mentioned； that is clear。〃
The man； without making any reply； fumbled in his pocket； and Thenardier beheld the pocket…book of bank…bills make its appearance once more。
The tavern…keeper shivered with joy。
〃Good！〃 thought he； 〃let us hold firm； he is going to bribe me！〃
Before opening the pocket…book； the traveller cast a glance about him： the spot was absolutely deserted； there was not a soul either in the woods or in the valley。
The man opened his pocket…book once more and drew from it； not the handful of bills which Thenardier expected； but a simple little paper； which he unfolded and presented fully open to the inn…keeper； saying：
〃You are right； read！〃
Thenardier took the paper and read：
〃M。 SUR M。； March 25； 1823。
〃MONSIEUR THENARDIER：
You will deliver Cosette to this person。
You will be paid for all the little things。
I have the honor to salute you with respect；
FANTINE。〃
〃You know that signature？〃 resumed the man。
It certainly was Fantine's signature； Thenardier recognized it。
There was no reply to make； he experienced two violent vexations； the vexation of renouncing the bribery which he had hoped for； and the vexation of being beaten； the man added：
〃You may keep this paper as your receipt。〃
Thenardier retreated in tolerably good order。
〃This signature is fairly well imitated；〃 he growled between his teeth； 〃however； let it go！〃
Then he essayed a desperate effort。
〃It is well； sir；〃 he said； 〃since you are the person； but I must be paid for all those little things。
A great deal is owing to me。〃
The man rose to his feet； filliping the dust from his thread…bare sle