Page 1710 - les-miserables

‘Your daughter.’
It was, in fact, Eponine, who had addressed Thenardier.
At the apparition of Eponine, the other five, that is to say,
Claquesous, Guelemer, Babet, Brujon, and Montparnasse
had noiselessly drawn near, without precipitation, without
uttering a word, with the sinister slowness peculiar to these
men of the night.
Some indescribable but hideous tools were visible in their
hands. Guelemer held one of those pairs of curved pincers
which prowlers call fanchons.
‘Ah, see here, what are you about there? What do you
want with us? Are you crazy?’ exclaimed Thenardier, as
loudly as one can exclaim and still speak low; ‘what have
you come here to hinder our work for?’
Eponine burst out laughing, and threw herself on his
neck.
‘I am here, little father, because I am here. Isn’t a person
allowed to sit on the stones nowadays? It’s you who ought
not to be here. What have you come here for, since it’s a bis-
cuit? I told Magnon so. There’s nothing to be done here. But
embrace me, my good little father! It’s a long time since I’ve
seen you! So you’re out?’
Thenardier tried to disentangle himself from Eponine’s
arms, and grumbled:—
‘That’s good. You’ve embraced me. Yes, I’m out. I’m not
in. Now, get away with you.’
But Eponine did not release her hold, and redoubled her
caresses.
‘But how did you manage it, little pa? You must have

1710 Les Miserables