Page 1716 - les-miserables

check by a girl, retreated beneath the shadow cast by the lan-
tern, and held counsel with furious and humiliated shrugs.
In the meantime she stared at them with a stern but
peaceful air.
‘There’s something the matter with her,’ said Babet. ‘A
reason. Is she in love with the dog? It’s a shame to miss this,
anyway. Two women, an old fellow who lodges in the back-
yard, and curtains that ain’t so bad at the windows. The old
cove must be a Jew. I think the job’s a good one.’
‘Well, go in, then, the rest of you,’ exclaimed Montpar-
nasse. ‘Do the job. I’ll stay here with the girl, and if she fails
us—‘
He flashed the knife, which he held open in his hand, in
the light of the lantern.
Thenardier said not a word, and seemed ready for what-
ever the rest pleased.
Brujon, who was somewhat of an oracle, and who had, as
the reader knows, ‘put up the job,’ had not as yet spoken. He
seemed thoughtful. He had the reputation of not sticking at
anything, and it was known that he had plundered a police
post simply out of bravado. Besides this he made verses and
songs, which gave him great authority.
Babet interrogated him:—
‘You say nothing, Brujon?’
Brujon remained silent an instant longer, then he shook
his head in various ways, and finally concluded to speak:—
‘See here; this morning I came across two sparrows fight-
ing, this evening I jostled a woman who was quarrelling. All
that’s bad. Let’s quit.’

1716 Les Miserables