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After a moment he inquired：
〃Where do you live； little one？〃
〃At Montfermeil； if you know where that is。〃
〃That is where we are going？〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
He paused； then began again：
〃Who sent you at such an hour to get water in the forest？〃
〃It was Madame Thenardier。〃
The man resumed； in a voice which he strove to render indifferent； but in which there was； nevertheless； a singular tremor：
〃What does your Madame Thenardier do？〃
〃She is my mistress；〃 said the child。
〃She keeps the inn。〃
〃The inn？〃 said the man。
〃Well； I am going to lodge there to…night。 Show me the way。〃
〃We are on the way there；〃 said the child。
The man walked tolerably fast。
Cosette followed him without difficulty。 She no longer felt any fatigue。
From time to time she raised her eyes towards the man； with a sort of tranquillity and an indescribable confidence。
She had never been taught to turn to Providence and to pray； nevertheless； she felt within her something which resembled hope and joy； and which mounted towards heaven。
Several minutes elapsed。
The man resumed：
〃Is there no servant in Madame Thenardier's house？〃
〃No； sir。〃
〃Are you alone there？〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
Another pause ensued。
Cosette lifted up her voice：
〃That is to say； there are two little girls。〃
〃What little girls？〃
〃Ponine and Zelma。〃
This was the way the child simplified the romantic names so dear to the female Thenardier。
〃Who are Ponine and Zelma？〃
〃They are Madame Thenardier's young ladies； her daughters； as you would say。〃
〃And what do those girls do？〃
〃Oh！〃 said the child； 〃they have beautiful dolls； things with gold in them； all full of affairs。
They play； they amuse themselves。〃
〃All day long？〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃And you？〃
〃I？
I work。〃
〃All day long？〃
The child raised her great eyes； in which hung a tear； which was not visible because of the darkness； and replied gently：
〃Yes； sir。〃
After an interval of silence she went on：
〃Sometimes； when I have finished my work and they let me； I amuse myself； too。〃
〃How do you amuse yourself？〃
〃In the best way I can。
They let me alone； but I have not many playthings。
Ponine and Zelma will not let me play with their dolls。
I have only a little lead sword； no longer than that。〃
The child held up her tiny finger。
〃And it will not cut？〃
〃Yes； sir；〃 said the child； 〃it cuts salad and the heads of flies。〃
They reached the village。
Cosette guided the stranger through the streets。
They passed the bakeshop； but Cosette did not think of the bread which she had been ordered to fetch。
The man had ceased to ply her with questions； and now preserved a gloomy silence。
When they had left the church behind them； the man； on perceiving all the open…air booths； asked Cosette：
〃So there is a fair going on here？〃
〃No； sir； it is Christmas。〃
As they approached the tavern； Cosette timidly touched his arm：
〃Monsieur？〃
〃What； my child？〃
〃We are quite near the house。〃
〃Well？〃
〃Will you let me take my bucket now？〃
〃Why？〃
〃If Madame sees that some one has carried it for me； she will beat me。〃
The man handed her the bucket。
An instant later they were at the tavern door。
BOOK THIRD。ACPLISHMENT OF THE PROMISE MADE TO THE DEAD WOMAN
CHAPTER VIII
THE UNPLEASANTNESS OF RECEIVING INTO ONE'S HOUSE A POOR MAN WHO MAY BE A RICH MAN
Cosette could not refrain from casting a sidelong glance at the big doll； which was still displayed at the toy…merchant's； then she knocked。 The door opened。
The Thenardier appeared with a candle in her hand。
〃Ah！ so it's you； you little wretch！ good mercy； but you've taken your time！
The hussy has been amusing herself！〃
〃Madame；〃 said Cosette； trembling all over； 〃here's a gentleman who wants a lodging。〃
The Thenardier speedily replaced her gruff air by her amiable grimace； a change of aspect mon to tavern…keepers； and eagerly sought the new…er with her eyes。
〃This is the gentleman？〃 said she。
〃Yes； Madame；〃 replied the man； raising his hand to his hat。
Wealthy travellers are not so polite。
This gesture； and an inspection of the stranger's costume and baggage； which the Thenardier passed in review with one glance； caused the amiable grimace to vanish； and the gruff mien to reappear。
She resumed dryly：
〃Enter； my good man。〃
The 〃good man〃 entered。
The Thenardier cast a second glance at him； paid particular attention to his frock…coat； which was absolutely threadbare； and to his hat； which was a little battered； and； tossing her head； wrinkling her nose； and screwing up her eyes； she consulted her husband； who was still drinking with the carters。 The husband replied by that imperceptible movement of the forefinger； which； backed up by an inflation of the lips； signifies in such cases： A regular beggar。
Thereupon； the Thenardier exclaimed：
〃Ah！ see here； my good man； I am very sorry； but I have no room left。〃
〃Put me where you like；〃 said the man； 〃in the attic； in the stable。 I will pay as though I occupied a room。〃
〃Forty sous。〃
〃Forty sous； agreed。〃
〃Very well； then！〃
〃Forty sous！〃 said a carter； in a low tone； to the Thenardier woman； 〃why； the charge is only twenty sous！〃
〃It is forty in his case；〃 retorted the Thenardier； in the same tone。 〃I don't lodge poor folks for less。〃
〃That's true；〃 added her husband； gently； 〃it ruins a house to have such people in it。〃
In the meantime； the man； laying his bundle and his cudgel on a bench； had seated himself at a table； on which Cosette made haste to place a bottle of wine and a glass。
The merchant who had demanded the bucket of water took it to his horse himself。 Cosette resumed her place under the kitchen table； and her knitting。
The man； who had barely moistened his lips in the wine which he had poured out for himself； observed the child with peculiar attention。
Cosette was ugly。
If she had been happy； she might have been pretty。 We have already given a sketch of that sombre little figure。 Cosette was thin and pale； she was nearly eight years old； but she seemed to be hardly six。
Her large eyes； sunken in a sort of shadow； were almost put out with weeping。
The corners of her mouth had that curve of habitual anguish which is seen in condemned persons and desperately sick people。
Her hands were； as her mother had divined； 〃ruined with chilblains。〃
The fire which illuminated her at that moment brought into relief all the angles of her bones； and rendered her thinness frightfully apparent。
As she was always shivering； she had acquired the habit of pressing her knees one against the other。 Her entire clothing was but a rag which would have inspired pity in summer； and which inspired horror in winter。
All she had on was hole…ridden linen； not a scrap of woollen。
Her skin was visible here and there and everywhere black and blue spots could be descried； which marked the places where the Thenardier woman had touched her。 Her naked legs were thin and red。
The hollows in her neck were enough to make one weep。
This child's whole person； her mien； her attitude； the sound of her voice； the intervals which she allowed to elapse between one word and the next； her glance； her silence； her slightest gesture； expressed and betrayed one sole idea；fear。
Fear was diffused all over her； she was covered with it； so to speak； fear drew her elbows close to her hips； withdrew her heels under her petticoat； made her occupy as little space as possible； allowed her only the breath that was absolutely necessary； and had bee what might be called the habit of her body； admitting of no possible variation except an increase。
In the depths of her eyes there was an astonished nook where terror lurked。
Her fear was such； that on her arrival； wet as she was； Cosette did not dare to approach the fire and dry herself； but sat silently down to her work again。
The expression in the glance of that child of eight years was habitually so gloomy； and at times so tragic； that it seemed at certain moments as though she were on the verge of being an idiot or a demon。
As we have stated； she had never known what it is to pray； she had never set foot in a church。
〃Have I the time？〃 said the Thenardier。
The man in the yellow coat never took his eyes from Cosette。
All at once； the Thenardier exclaimed：
〃By the way； where's that bread？〃
Cosette； according to her custom whenever the Thenardier uplifted her voice； emerged with great haste from beneath the table。
She had pletely forgotten the bread。
She had recourse to the expedient of children who live in a constant state of fear。 She lied。
〃Madame； the baker's shop was shut。〃
〃You should have knocked。〃
〃I did knock； Madame。〃
〃Well？〃
〃He did not open the door。〃
〃I'll find out to…morrow whether that is true；〃 said the Thenardier； 〃and if you are telling me a lie； I'll lead you a pretty dance。 In the meantime； give me back my fifteen…sou piece。〃
Cosette plunged her hand into the pocket of her apron； and turned green。 The fifteen…sou piece was not there。
〃Ah； e now；〃 said Madame Thenardier； 〃did you hear me？〃
Cosette turned her pocket inside out； there was nothing in it。 What could have bee of that money？
The unhappy little creature could not find a word to say。
She was petrified。
〃Have you lost that fifteen…sou piece？〃 screamed the Thenardier； hoarsely； 〃or do you want to rob me of it？〃
At the same time； she stretched out her arm towards the cat…o'…nine…tails which hung on a nail in the chimney…corner。
This formidable gesture restored to Cosette sufficient strength to shriek：
〃Mercy； Madame； Madame！
I will not do so any more！〃
The Thenardier took down the whip。
In the meantime； the man in the yellow coat had been fumbling in the fob of his waistcoat； without any one having noticed his movements。 Besides； the other travellers were drinking or playing cards； and were not paying attention to anything。
Cosette contracted herself into a ball； with anguish； within the angle of the chimney； endeavoring to gather up and conceal her poor half…nude limbs。
The Thenardier raised her arm。
〃Pardon me； Madame；〃 said the man； 〃but just now I caught sight of something which had fallen from this little one's apron pocket； and rolled aside。
Perhaps this is it。〃
At the same time he bent down and seemed to be searching on the floor for a moment。
〃Exactly； here it is；〃 he went on； straightening himself up。
And he held out a silver coin to the Thenardier。
〃Yes； that's it；〃 said she。
It was not it； for it was a twenty…sou piece； but the Thenardier found it to her advantage。
She put the coin in her pocket； and confined herself to casting a fierce glance at the child； acpanied with the remark； 〃Don't let this ever happen again！〃
Cosette returned to what the Thenardier called 〃her kennel；〃 and her large eyes； which were riveted on the traveller； began to take on an expression such as they had never worn before。 Thus far it was only an innocent amazement； but a sort of stupefied confidence was mingled with it。
〃By the way； would you like some supper？〃 the Thenardier inquired of the traveller。
He made no reply。
He appeared to be absorbed in thought。
〃What sort of a man is that？〃 she muttered between her teeth。 〃He's some frightfully poor wretch。
He hasn't a sou to pay for a supper。
Will he even pay me for his lodging？
It's very lucky； all the same； that it did not occur to him to steal the money that was on the floor。〃
In the meantime； a door had opened； and Eponine and Azelma entered。
They were two really pretty little girls； more bourgeois than peasant in looks； and very charming； the one with shining chestnut tresses； the other with long black braids hanging down her back； both vivacious； neat； plump； rosy； and healthy； and a delight to the eye。
They were warmly clad； but with so much mat