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Their great stature and their vast fists rendered them no less alarming than did their sinister stride through the darkness。 One would have pronounced them four spectres disguised as bourgeois。
They halted in the middle of the space and formed a group； like men in consultation。
They had an air of indecision。
The one who appeared to be their leader turned round and pointed hastily with his right hand in the direction which Jean Valjean had taken； another seemed to indicate the contrary direction with considerable obstinacy。 At the moment when the first man wheeled round； the moon fell full in his face。
Jean Valjean recognized Javert perfectly。
BOOK FIFTH。FOR A BLACK HUNT； A MUTE PACK
CHAPTER II
IT IS LUCKY THAT THE PONT D'AUSTERLITZ BEARS CARRIAGES
Uncertainty was at an end for Jean Valjean：
fortunately it still lasted for the men。
He took advantage of their hesitation。 It was time lost for them； but gained for him。
He slipped from under the gate where he had concealed himself； and went down the Rue des Postes； towards the region of the Jardin des Plantes。
Cosette was beginning to be tired。
He took her in his arms and carried her。 There were no passers…by； and the street lanterns had not been lighted on account of there being a moon。
He redoubled his pace。
In a few strides he had reached the Goblet potteries； on the front of which the moonlight rendered distinctly legible the ancient inscription：
De Goblet fils c'est ici la fabrique；＇14＇
Venez choisir des cruches et des broos；
Des pots a fleurs； des tuyaux； de la brique。
A tout venant le Coeur vend des Carreaux。
＇14＇
This is the factory of Goblet Junior：
e choose your jugs and crocks；
Flower…pots； pipes； bricks。
The Heart sells Diamonds to every er。He left behind him the Rue de la Clef； then the Fountain Saint…Victor； skirted the Jardin des Plantes by the lower streets； and reached the quay。
There he turned round。
The quay was deserted。
The streets were deserted。
There was no one behind him。
He drew a long breath。
He gained the Pont d'Austerlitz。
Tolls were still collected there at that epoch。
He presented himself at the toll office and handed over a sou。
〃It is two sous；〃 said the old soldier in charge of the bridge。 〃You are carrying a child who can walk。
Pay for two。〃
He paid； vexed that his passage should have aroused remark。 Every flight should be an imperceptible slipping away。
A heavy cart was crossing the Seine at the same time as himself； and on its way； like him； to the right bank。
This was of use to him。 He could traverse the bridge in the shadow of the cart。
Towards the middle of the Bridge； Cosette； whose feet were benumbed； wanted to walk。
He set her on the ground and took her hand again。
The bridge once crossed； he perceived some timber…yards on his right。 He directed his course thither。
In order to reach them； it was necessary to risk himself in a tolerably large unsheltered and illuminated space。
He did not hesitate。
Those who were on his track had evidently lost the scent； and Jean Valjean believed himself to be out of danger。
Hunted； yes； followed； no。
A little street； the Rue du Chemin…Vert…Saint…Antoine； opened out between two timber…yards enclosed in walls。
This street was dark and narrow and seemed made expressly for him。
Before entering it he cast a glance behind him；
From the point where he stood he could see the whole extent of the Pont d'Austerlitz。
Four shadows were just entering on the bridge。
These shadows had their backs turned to the Jardin des Plantes and were on their way to the right bank。
These four shadows were the four men。
Jean Valjean shuddered like the wild beast which is recaptured。
One hope remained to him； it was； that the men had not； perhaps； stepped on the bridge； and had not caught sight of him while he was crossing the large illuminated space； holding Cosette by the hand。
In that case； by plunging into the little street before him； he might escape； if he could reach the timber…yards； the marshes； the market…gardens； the uninhabited ground which was not built upon。
It seemed to him that he might mit himself to that silent little street。
He entered it。
BOOK FIFTH。FOR A BLACK HUNT； A MUTE PACK
CHAPTER III
TO WIT； THE PLAN OF PARIS IN 1727
Three hundred paces further on； he arrived at a point where the street forked。
It separated into two streets； which ran in a slanting line； one to the right； and the other to the left。
Jean Valjean had before him what resembled the two branches of a Y。 Which should he choose？
He did not hesitate； but took the one on the right。
Why？
Because that to the left ran towards a suburb； that is to say； towards inhabited regions； and the right branch towards the open country； that is to say； towards deserted regions。
However； they no longer walked very fast。
Cosette's pace retarded Jean Valjean's。
He took her up and carried her again。
Cosette laid her head on the shoulder of the good man and said not a word。
He turned round from time to time and looked behind him。 He took care to keep always on the dark side of the street。 The street was straight in his rear。
The first two or three times that he turned round he saw nothing； the silence was profound； and he continued his march somewhat reassured。
All at once； on turning round； he thought he perceived in the portion of the street which he had just passed through； far off in the obscurity； something which was moving。
He rushed forward precipitately rather than walked； hoping to find some side…street； to make his escape through it； and thus to break his scent once more。
He arrived at a wall。
This wall； however； did not absolutely prevent further progress； it was a wall which bordered a transverse street； in which the one he had taken ended。
Here again； he was obliged to e to a decision； should he go to the right or to the left。
He glanced to the right。
The fragmentary lane was prolonged between buildings which were either sheds or barns； then ended at a blind alley。
The extremity of the cul…de…sac was distinctly visible； a lofty white wall。
He glanced to the left。
On that side the lane was open； and about two hundred paces further on； ran into a street of which it was the affluent。
On that side lay safety。
At the moment when Jean Valjean was meditating a turn to the left； in an effort to reach the street which he saw at the end of the lane； he perceived a sort of motionless； black statue at the corner of the lane and the street towards which he was on the point of directing his steps。
It was some one； a man； who had evidently just been posted there； and who was barring the passage and waiting。
Jean Valjean recoiled。
The point of Paris where Jean Valjean found himself； situated between the Faubourg Saint…Antoine and la Rapee； is one of those which recent improvements have transformed from top to bottom； resulting in disfigurement according to some； and in a transfiguration according to others。
The market…gardens； the timber…yards； and the old buildings have been effaced。
To…day； there are brand…new； wide streets； arenas； circuses； hippodromes； railway stations； and a prison； Mazas； there； progress； as the reader sees； with its antidote。
Half a century ago； in that ordinary； popular tongue； which is all pounded of traditions； which persists in calling the Institut les Quatre…Nations； and the Opera…ique Feydeau； the precise spot whither Jean Valjean had arrived was called le Petit Picpus。 The Porte Saint…Jacques； the Porte Paris； the Barriere des Sergents； the Porcherons； la Galiote； les Celestins； les Capucins； le Mail； la Bourbe； l'Arbre de Cracovie； la Petite…Polognethese are the names of old Paris which survive amid the new。
The memory of the populace hovers over these relics of the past。
Le Petit…Picpus； which； moreover； hardly ever had any existence； and never was more than the outline of a quarter； had nearly the monkish aspect of a Spanish town。
The roads were not much paved； the streets were not much built up。
With the exception of the two or three streets； of which we shall presently speak； all was wall and solitude there。
Not a shop； not a vehicle； hardly a candle lighted here and there in the windows； all lights extinguished after ten o'clock。 Gardens； convents； timber…yards； marshes； occasional lowly dwellings and great walls as high as the houses。
Such was this quarter in the last century。
The Revolution snubbed it soundly。
The republican government demolished and cut through it。 Rubbish shoots were established there。
Thirty years ago； this quarter was disappearing under the erasing process of new buildings。 To…day； it has been utterly blotted out。
The Petit…Picpus； of which no existing plan has preserved a trace； is indicated with sufficient clearness in the plan of 1727； published at Paris by Denis Thierry； Rue Saint…Jacques； opposite the Rue du Platre； and at Lyons； by Jean Girin； Rue Merciere； at the sign of Prudence。 Petit…Picpus had； as we have just mentioned； a Y of streets； formed by the Rue du Chemin…Vert…Saint…Antoine； which spread out in two branches； taking on the left the name of Little Picpus Street； and on the right the name of the Rue Polonceau。 The two limbs of the Y were connected at the apex as by a bar； this bar was called Rue Droit…Mur。 The Rue Polonceau ended there； Rue Petit…Picpus passed on； and ascended towards the Lenoir market。 A person ing from the Seine reached the extremity of the Rue Polonceau； and had on his right the Rue Droit…Mur； turning abruptly at a right angle； in front of him the wall of that street； and on his right a truncated prolongation of the Rue Droit…Mur； which had no issue and was called the Cul…de…Sac Genrot。
It was here that Jean Valjean stood。
As we have just said； on catching sight of that black silhouette standing on guard at the angle of the Rue Droit…Mur and the Rue Petit…Picpus； he recoiled。
There could be no doubt of it。 That phantom was lying in wait for him。
What was he to do？
The time for retreating was passed。
That which he had perceived in movement an instant before； in the distant darkness； was Javert and his squad without a doubt。
Javert was probably already at the mencement of the street at whose end Jean Valjean stood。 Javert； to all appearances； was acquainted with this little labyrinth； and had taken his precautions by sending one of his men to guard the exit。
These surmises； which so closely resembled proofs； whirled suddenly； like a handful of dust caught up by an unexpected gust of wind； through Jean Valjean's mournful brain。 He examined the Cul…de…Sac Genrot； there he was cut off。 He examined the Rue Petit…Picpus； there stood a sentinel。
He saw that black form standing out in relief against the white pavement； illuminated by the moon； to advance was to fall into this man's hands； to retreat was to fling himself into Javert's arms。
Jean Valjean felt himself caught； as in a net； which was slowly contracting； he gazed heavenward in despair。
BOOK FIFTH。FOR A BLACK HUNT； A MUTE PACK
CHAPTER IV
THE GROPINGS OF FLIGHT
In order to understand what follows； it is requisite to form an exact idea of the Droit…Mur lane； and； in particular； of the angle which one leaves on the left when one emerges from the Rue Polonceau into this lane。
Droit…Mur lane was almost entirely bordered on the right； as far as the Rue Petit…Picpus； by houses of mean aspect； on the left by a solitary building of severe outlines； posed of numerous parts which grew gradually higher by a story or two as they approached the Rue Petit…Picpus side； so that this building； which was very lofty on the Rue Petit…Picpus side； was tolerably low on the side adjoining the Rue Polonceau。
There； at the angle of which we have spoken； it descended to such a degree that it consisted of merely a wall。
This wall did not abut directly on the Street； it formed a deeply retreating niche； concealed by its two corners
from two observers who might have been； one in the Rue Polonceau； the other in the Rue Droit…Mur。
Beginning with these angles of the niche； the wall extended along the Rue Polonceau as far as a house which bore the number 49； and along the Rue Droit…Mur； where the fragment was much shorter； as far as the gloomy building which we have mentioned and whose gable it intersected； thus forming another retreating angle in the street。 This gable was sombre of aspect； only one window was visible； or； to speak more correctly； two shutters covered with a sheet of zinc and kept constantly closed。
The state of the places of which we are here giving a description is rigorously exact； and will certainly awaken a very precise memory in the mind of old inhabitants of the quarter。
The niche was entirely filled by a thing which resembled a colossal and wretched door； it was a vast； formless assemblage of perpendicular planks； the upper ones being broader than the lower； b