第31章

Thisoldman，whowassofirmandsobraveinthepresenceofsuchadanger，seemedtopossessoneofthosenatureswhichareascourageousastheyarekind，botheasilyandsimply。

Thefatherofawomanwhomweloveisneverastrangertous。

Mariusfeltproudofthatunknownman。

Threeofthemen，ofwhomJondrettehadsaid:"Theyarechimney—builders，"hadarmedthemselvesfromthepileofoldiron，onewithaheavypairofshears，thesecondwithweighing—tongs，thethirdwithahammer，andhadplacedthemselvesacrosstheentrancewithoututteringasyllable。Theoldmanhadremainedonthebed，andhadmerelyopenedhiseyes。TheJondrettewomanhadseatedherselfbesidehim。

Mariusdecidedthatinafewsecondsmorethemomentforinterventionwouldarrive，andheraisedhisrighthandtowardstheceiling，inthedirectionofthecorridor，inreadinesstodischargehispistol。

Jondrettehavingterminatedhiscolloquywiththemanwiththecudgel，turnedoncemoretoM。Leblanc，andrepeatedhisquestion，accompanyingitwiththatlow，repressed，andterriblelaughwhichwaspeculiartohim:——

"Soyoudonotrecognizeme？"

M。Leblanclookedhimfullintheface，andreplied:——

"No。"

ThenJondretteadvancedtothetable。Heleanedacrossthecandle，crossinghisarms，puttinghisangularandferociousjawclosetoM。Leblanc’scalmface，andadvancingasfaraspossiblewithoutforcingM。Leblanctoretreat，and，inthispostureofawildbeastwhoisabouttobite，heexclaimed:——

"MynameisnotFabantou，mynameisnotJondrette，mynameisThenardier。Iamtheinn—keeperofMontfermeil！

Doyouunderstand？Thenardier！Nowdoyouknowme？"

AnalmostimperceptibleflushcrossedM。Leblanc’sbrow，andherepliedwithavoicewhichneithertremblednorroseaboveitsordinarylevel，withhisaccustomedplacidity:——

"Nomorethanbefore。"

Mariusdidnothearthisreply。Anyonewhohadseenhimatthatmomentthroughthedarknesswouldhaveperceivedthathewashaggard，stupid，thunder—struck。AtthemomentwhenJondrettesaid:

"MynameisThenardier，"Mariushadtrembledineverylimb，andhadleanedagainstthewall，asthoughhefeltthecoldofasteelbladethroughhisheart。Thenhisrightarm，allreadytodischargethesignalshot，droppedslowly，andatthemomentwhenJondretterepeated，"Thenardier，doyouunderstand？"

Marius’sfalteringfingershadcomenearlettingthepistolfall。

Jondrette，byrevealinghisidentity，hadnotmovedM。Leblanc，buthehadquiteupsetMarius。ThatnameofThenardier，withwhichM。Leblancdidnotseemtobeacquainted，Mariusknewwell。

Letthereaderrecallwhatthatnamemeanttohim！Thatnamehehadwornonhisheart，inscribedinhisfather’stestament！

Heboreitatthebottomofhismind，inthedepthsofhismemory，inthatsacredinjunction:"AcertainThenardiersavedmylife。

Ifmysonencountershim，hewilldohimallthegoodthatliesinhispower。"Thatname，itwillberemembered，wasoneofthepietiesofhissoul；hemingleditwiththenameofhisfatherinhisworship。What！ThismanwasthatThenardier，thatinn—keeperofMontfermeilwhomhehadsolongandsovainlysought！Hehadfoundhimatlast，andhow？Hisfather’ssaviourwasaruffian！

Thatman，towhoseserviceMariuswasburningtodevotehimself，wasamonster！ThatliberatorofColonelPontmercywasonthepointofcommittingacrimewhosescopeMariusdidnot，asyet，clearlycomprehend，butwhichresembledanassassination！

Andagainstwhom，greatGod！whatafatality！Whatabittermockeryoffate！HisfatherhadcommandedhimfromthedepthsofhiscoffintodoallthegoodinhispowertothisThenardier，andforfouryearsMariushadcherishednootherthoughtthantoacquitthisdebtofhisfather’s，andatthemomentwhenhewasontheeveofhavingabrigandseizedintheveryactofcrimebyjustice，destinycriedtohim:"ThisisThenardier！"Hecouldatlastrepaythismanforhisfather’slife，savedamidahail—stormofgrape—shotontheheroicfieldofWaterloo，andrepayitwiththescaffold！

HehadsworntohimselfthatifeverhefoundthatThenardier，hewouldaddresshimonlybythrowinghimselfathisfeet；andnowheactuallyhadfoundhim，butitwasonlytodeliverhimovertotheexecutioner！Hisfathersaidtohim:"SuccorThenardier！"

AndherepliedtothatadoredandsaintedvoicebycrushingThenardier！

Hewasabouttooffertohisfatherinhisgravethespectacleofthatmanwhohadtornhimfromdeathattheperilofhisownlife，executedonthePlaceSaint—Jacquesthroughthemeansofhisson，ofthatMariustowhomhehadentrustedthatmanbyhiswill！

Andwhatamockerytohavesolongwornonhisbreasthisfather’slastcommands，writteninhisownhand，onlytoactinsohorriblycontraryasense！But，ontheotherhand，nowlookonthattrapandnotpreventit！Condemnthevictimandtosparetheassassin！

Couldonebeheldtoanygratitudetowardssomiserableawretch？

AlltheideaswhichMariushadcherishedforthelastfouryearswerepiercedthroughandthrough，asitwere，bythisunforeseenblow。

Heshuddered。Everythingdependedonhim。Unknowntothemselves，heheldinhishandallthosebeingswhoweremovingabouttherebeforehiseyes。Ifhefiredhispistol，M。Leblancwassaved，andThenardierlost；ifhedidnotfire，M。Leblancwouldbesacrificed，and，whoknows？Thenardierwouldescape。Shouldhedashdowntheoneorallowtheothertofall？Remorseawaitedhimineithercase。

Whatwashetodo？Whatshouldhechoose？Befalsetothemostimperioussouvenirs，toallthosesolemnvowstohimself，tothemostsacredduty，tothemostveneratedtext！Shouldheignorehisfather’stestament，orallowtheperpetrationofacrime！

Ontheonehand，itseemedtohimthatheheard"hisUrsule"

supplicatingforherfatherandontheother，thecolonelcommendingThenardiertohiscare。Hefeltthathewasgoingmad。Hiskneesgavewaybeneathhim。Andhehadnoteventhetimefordeliberation，sogreatwasthefurywithwhichthescenebeforehiseyeswashasteningtoitscatastrophe。Itwaslikeawhirlwindofwhichhehadthoughthimselfthemaster，andwhichwasnowsweepinghimaway。

Hewasonthevergeofswooning。

Inthemeantime，Thenardier，whomweshallhenceforthcallbynoothername，waspacingupanddowninfrontofthetableinasortoffrenzyandwildtriumph。

Heseizedthecandleinhisfist，andsetitonthechimney—piecewithsoviolentabangthatthewickcamenearbeingextinguished，andthetallowbespatteredthewall。

ThenheturnedtoM。Leblancwithahorriblelook，andspitoutthesewords:——

"Donefor！Smokedbrown！Cooked！Spitchcocked！"

Andagainhebegantomarchbackandforth，infulleruption。

"Ah！"hecried，"soI’vefoundyouagainatlast，Misterphilanthropist！

Misterthreadbaremillionnaire！Mistergiverofdolls！youoldninny！

Ah！soyoudon’trecognizeme！No，itwasn’tyouwhocametoMontfermeil，tomyinn，eightyearsago，onChristmaseve，1823！

Itwasn’tyouwhocarriedoffthatFantine’schildfromme！

TheLark！Itwasn’tyouwhohadayellowgreat—coat！No！

Norapackageofdudsinyourhand，asyouhadthismorninghere！

Say，wife，itseemstobehismaniatocarrypacketsofwoollenstockingsintohouses！Oldcharitymonger，getoutwithyou！

Areyouahosier，Mistermillionnaire？Yougiveawayyourstockintradetothepoor，holyman！Whatbosh！merryAndrew！

Ah！andyoudon’trecognizeme？Well，Irecognizeyou，thatIdo！

Irecognizedyoutheverymomentyoupokedyoursnoutinhere。

Ah！you’llfindoutpresently，thatitisn’tallrosestothrustyourselfinthatfashionintopeople’shouses，underthepretextthattheyaretaverns，inwretchedclothes，withtheairofapoorman，towhomonewouldgiveasou，todeceivepersons，toplaythegenerous，totakeawaytheirmeansoflivelihood，andtomakethreatsinthewoods，andyoucan’tcallthingsquitsbecauseafterwards，whenpeopleareruined，youbringacoatthatistoolarge，andtwomiserablehospitalblankets，youoldblackguard，youchild—stealer！"

Hepaused，andseemedtobetalkingtohimselfforamoment。

Onewouldhavesaidthathiswrathhadfallenintosomehole，liketheRhone；then，asthoughhewereconcludingaloudthethingswhichhehadbeensayingtohimselfinawhisper，hesmotethetablewithhisfist，andshouted:——

"Andwithhisgoody—goodyair！"

And，apostrophizingM。Leblanc:——

"Parbleu！Youmadegameofmeinthepast！Youarethecauseofallmymisfortunes！ForfifteenhundredfrancsyougotagirlwhomIhad，andwhocertainlybelongedtorichpeople，andwhohadalreadybroughtinagreatdealofmoney，andfromwhomImighthaveextractedenoughtoliveonallmylife！AgirlwhowouldhavemadeuptomeforeverythingthatIlostinthatvilecook—shop，wheretherewasnothingbutonecontinualrow，andwhere，likeafool，Iateupmylastfarthing！Oh！Iwishallthewinefolksdrankinmyhousehadbeenpoisontothosewhodrankit！

Well，nevermind！Say，now！YoumusthavethoughtmeridiculouswhenyouwentoffwiththeLark！Youhadyourcudgelintheforest。

Youwerethestronger。Revenge。I’mtheonetoholdthetrumpsto—day！You’reinasorrycase，mygoodfellow！Oh，butI

canlaugh！Really，Ilaugh！Didn’thefallintothetrap！

ItoldhimthatIwasanactor，thatmynamewasFabantou，thatIhadplayedcomedywithMamselleMars，withMamselleMuche，thatmylandlordinsistedonbeingpaidtomorrow，the4thofFebruary，andhedidn’tevennoticethatthe8thofJanuary，andnotthe4thofFebruaryisthetimewhenthequarterrunsout！Absurdidiot！

AndthefourmiserablePhilippeswhichhehasbroughtme！Scoundrel！

Hehadn’tthehearteventogoashighasahundredfrancs！Andhowheswallowedmyplatitudes！Thatdidamuseme。Isaidtomyself:

`Blockhead！Come，I’vegotyou！Ilickyourpawsthismorning，butI’llgnawyourheartthisevening！’"

Thenardierpaused。Hewasoutofbreath。Hislittle，narrowchestpantedlikeaforgebellows。Hiseyeswerefulloftheignoblehappinessofafeeble，cruel，andcowardlycreature，whichfindsthatitcan，atlast，harasswhatithasfeared，andinsultwhatithasflattered，thejoyofadwarfwhoshouldbeabletosethisheelontheheadofGoliath，thejoyofajackalwhichisbeginningtorendasickbull，sonearlydeadthathecannolongerdefendhimself，butsufficientlyalivetosufferstill。

M。Leblancdidnotinterrupthim，butsaidtohimwhenhepaused:——

"Idonotknowwhatyoumeantosay。Youaremistakeninme。Iamaverypoorman，andanythingbutamillionnaire。Idonotknowyou。

Youaremistakingmeforsomeotherperson。"

"Ah！"roaredThenardierhoarsely，"aprettylie！Yousticktothatpleasantry，doyou！You’refloundering，myoldbuck！

Ah！Youdon’tremember！Youdon’tseewhoIam？"

"Excuseme，sir，"saidM。Leblancwithapolitenessofaccent，whichatthatmomentseemedpeculiarlystrangeandpowerful，"Iseethatyouareavillain！"

Whohasnotremarkedthefactthatodiouscreaturespossessasusceptibilityoftheirown，thatmonstersareticklish！Atthisword"villain，"thefemaleThenardiersprangfromthebed，Thenardiergraspedhischairasthoughhewereabouttocrushitinhishands。

"Don’tyoustir！"heshoutedtohiswife；and，turningtoM。Leblanc:——

"Villain！Yes，Iknowthatyoucallusthat，yourichgentlemen！

Stop！it’struethatIbecamebankrupt，thatIaminhiding，thatI

havenobread，thatIhavenotasinglesou，thatIamavillain！

It’sthreedayssinceIhavehadanythingtoeat，soI’mavillain！

Ah！youfolkswarmyourfeet，youhaveSakoskiboots，youhavewaddedgreat—coats，likearchbishops，youlodgeonthefirstfloorinhousesthathaveporters，youeattruffles，youeatasparagusatfortyfrancsthebunchinthemonthofJanuary，andgreenpeas，yougorgeyourselves，andwhenyouwanttoknowwhetheritiscold，youlookinthepaperstoseewhattheengineerChevalier’sthermometersaysaboutit。We，itiswewhoarethermometers。

Wedon’tneedtogooutandlookonthequayatthecorneroftheTourdel’Horologe，tofindoutthenumberofdegreesofcold；

wefeelourbloodcongealinginourveins，andtheiceformingroundourhearts，andwesay:`ThereisnoGod！’Andyoucometoourcaverns，yesourcaverns，forthepurposeofcallingusvillains！

Butwe’lldevouryou！Butwe’lldevouryou，poorlittlethings！

Justseehere，Mistermillionnaire:Ihavebeenasolidman，Ihaveheldalicense，Ihavebeenanelector，Iamabourgeois，thatIam！Andit’squitepossiblethatyouarenot！"

HereThenardiertookasteptowardsthemenwhostoodnearthedoor，andaddedwithashudder:——

"WhenIthinkthathehasdaredtocomehereandtalktomelikeacobbler！"

ThenaddressingM。Leblancwithafreshoutburstoffrenzy:——

"Andlistentothisalso，Misterphilanthropist！I’mnotasuspiciouscharacter，notabitofit！I’mnotamanwhosenamenobodyknows，andwhocomesandabductschildrenfromhouses！

I’manoldFrenchsoldier，Ioughttohavebeendecorated！

IwasatWaterloo，soIwas！AndinthebattleIsavedageneralcalledtheComteofIdon’tknowwhat。Hetoldmehisname，buthisbeastlyvoicewassoweakthatIdidn’thear。AllIcaughtwasMerci[thanks]。I’dratherhavehadhisnamethanhisthanks。

Thatwouldhavehelpedmetofindhimagain。Thepicturethatyouseehere，andwhichwaspaintedbyDavidatBruqueselles，——doyouknowwhatitrepresents？Itrepresentsme。Davidwishedtoimmortalizethatfeatofprowess。Ihavethatgeneralonmyback，andIamcarryinghimthroughthegrape—shot。There’sthehistoryofit！

Thatgeneralneverdidasinglethingforme；hewasnobetterthantherest！Butnonetheless，Isavedhislifeattheriskofmyown，andIhavethecertificateofthefactinmypocket！

IamasoldierofWaterloo，byallthefuries！AndnowthatIhavehadthegoodnesstotellyouallthis，let’shaveanendofit。

Iwantmoney，Iwantadealofmoney，Imusthaveanenormouslotofmoney，orI’llexterminateyou，bythethunderofthegoodGod！"

Mariushadregainedsomemeasureofcontroloverhisanguish，andwaslistening。Thelastpossibilityofdoubthadjustvanished。

ItcertainlywastheThenardierofthewill。Mariusshudderedatthatreproachofingratitudedirectedagainsthisfather，andwhichhewasonthepointofsofatallyjustifying。Hisperplexitywasredoubled。

Moreover，therewasinallthesewordsofThenardier，inhisaccent，inhisgesture，inhisglancewhichdartedflamesateveryword，therewas，inthisexplosionofanevilnaturedisclosingeverything，inthatmixtureofbraggadocioandabjectness，ofprideandpettiness，ofrageandfolly，inthatchaosofrealgriefsandfalsesentiments，inthatimmodestyofamaliciousmantastingthevoluptuousdelightsofviolence，inthatshamelessnudityofarepulsivesoul，inthatconflagrationofallsufferingscombinedwithallhatreds，somethingwhichwasashideousasevil，andasheart—rendingasthetruth。

Thepictureofthemaster，thepaintingbyDavidwhichhehadproposedthatM。Leblancshouldpurchase，wasnothingelse，asthereaderhasdivined，thanthesignofhistavernpainted，asitwillberemembered，byhimself，theonlyrelicwhichhehadpreservedfromhisshipwreckatMontfermeil。

AshehadceasedtointerceptMarius’visualray，Mariuscouldexaminethisthing，andinthedaub，heactuallydidrecognizeabattle，abackgroundofsmoke，andamancarryinganotherman。

ItwasthegroupcomposedofPontmercyandThenardier；thesergeanttherescuer，thecolonelrescued。Mariuswaslikeadrunkenman；

thispicturerestoredhisfathertolifeinsomesort；itwasnolongerthesignboardofthewine—shopatMontfermeil，itwasaresurrection；

atombhadyawned，aphantomhadrisenthere。Mariusheardhisheartbeatinginhistemples，hehadthecannonofWaterlooinhisears，hisbleedingfather，vaguelydepictedonthatsinisterpanelterrifiedhim，anditseemedtohimthatthemisshapenspectrewasgazingintentlyathim。

WhenThenardierhadrecoveredhisbreath，heturnedhisbloodshoteyesonM。Leblanc，andsaidtohiminalow，curtvoice:——

"Whathaveyoutosaybeforeweputthehandcuffsonyou？"

M。Leblancheldhispeace。

Inthemidstofthissilence，acrackedvoicelaunchedthislugubrioussarcasmfromthecorridor:——

"Ifthere’sanywoodtobesplit，I’mthere！"

Itwasthemanwiththeaxe，whowasgrowingmerry。

Atthesamemoment，anenormous，bristling，andclayeyfacemadeitsappearanceatthedoor，withahideouslaughwhichexhibitednotteeth，butfangs。

Itwasthefaceofthemanwiththebutcher’saxe。

"Whyhaveyoutakenoffyourmask？"criedThenardierinarage。

"Forfun，"retortedtheman。

ForthelastfewminutesM。LeblanchadappearedtobewatchingandfollowingallthemovementsofThenardier，who，blindedanddazzledbyhisownrage，wasstalkingtoandfrointhedenwithfullconfidencethatthedoorwasguarded，andofholdinganunarmedmanfast，hebeingarmedhimself，ofbeingnineagainstone，supposingthatthefemaleThenardiercountedforbutoneman。

Duringhisaddresstothemanwiththepole—axe，hehadturnedhisbacktoM。Leblanc。

M。Leblancseizedthismoment，overturnedthechairwithhisfootandthetablewithhisfist，andwithonebound，withprodigiousagility，beforeThenardierhadtimetoturnround，hehadreachedthewindow。

Toopenit，toscaletheframe，tobestrideit，wastheworkofasecondonly。Hewashalfoutwhensixrobustfistsseizedhimanddraggedhimbackenergeticallyintothehovel。Thesewerethethree"

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