Page 2146 - les-miserables

the river.
This Jean Valjean instantly comprehended.
He said to himself that he was probably in the sewer
des Halles; that if he were to choose the path to the left and
follow the slope, he would arrive, in less than a quarter of
an hour, at some mouth on the Seine between the Pont au
Change and the Pont-Neuf, that is to say, he would make his
appearance in broad daylight on the most densely peopled
spot in Paris. Perhaps he would come out on some man-hole
at the intersection of streets. Amazement of the passers-by
at beholding two bleeding men emerge from the earth at
their feet. Arrival of the police, a call to arms of the neigh-
boring post of guards. Thus they would be seized before
they had even got out. It would be better to plunge into that
labyrinth, to confide themselves to that black gloom, and to
trust to Providence for the outcome.
He ascended the incline, and turned to the right.
When he had turned the angle of the gallery, the distant
glimmer of an air-hole disappeared, the curtain of obscu-
rity fell upon him once more, and he became blind again.
Nevertheless, he advanced as rapidly as possible. Marius’
two arms were passed round his neck, and the former’s
feet dragged behind him. He held both these arms with
one hand, and groped along the wall with the other. Mar-
ius’ cheek touched his, and clung there, bleeding. He felt
a warm stream which came from Marius trickling down
upon him and making its way under his clothes. But a hu-
mid warmth near his ear, which the mouth of the wounded
man touched, indicated respiration, and consequently, life.

2146 Les Miserables