Page 215 - les-miserables

in good order, bursting with laughter, and no one saw any-
thing but fire. He had had a piece rejected at the Vaudeville.
He made a few verses now and then. In addition to this he
doubted everything to the last degree, which is a vast force
in the eyes of the weak. Being thus ironical and bald, he was
the leader. Iron is an English word. Is it possible that irony
is derived from it?
One day Tholomyes took the three others aside, with the
gesture of an oracle, and said to them:—
‘Fantine, Dahlia, Zephine, and Favourite have been teas-
ing us for nearly a year to give them a surprise. We have
promised them solemnly that we would. They are forever
talking about it to us, to me in particular, just as the old
women in Naples cry to Saint Januarius, ‘Faccia gialluta, fa
o miracolo, Yellow face, perform thy miracle,’ so our beau-
ties say to me incessantly, ‘Tholomyes, when will you bring
forth your surprise?’ At the same time our parents keep
writing to us. Pressure on both sides. The moment has ar-
rived, it seems to me; let us discuss the question.’
Thereupon, Tholomyes lowered his voice and articulat-
ed something so mirthful, that a vast and enthusiastic grin
broke out upon the four mouths simultaneously, and Blach-
evelle exclaimed, ‘That is an idea.’
A smoky tap-room presented itself; they entered, and the
remainder of their confidential colloquy was lost in shad-
ow.
The result of these shades was a dazzling pleasure party
which took place on the following Sunday, the four young
men inviting the four young girls.

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