Page 2405 - les-miserables

said that amazement has its lightning flashes.
Marius was, as it were, illuminated by one of these flash-
es.
The sense of smell, that mysterious aid to memory, had
just revived a whole world within him. This was certainly
the paper, the fashion of folding, the dull tint of ink; it was
certainly the well-known handwriting, especially was it the
same tobacco.
The Jondrette garret rose before his mind.
Thus, strange freak of chance! one of the two scents
which he had so diligently sought, the one in connection
with which he had lately again exerted so many efforts and
which he supposed to be forever lost, had come and present-
ed itself to him of its own accord.
He eagerly broke the seal, and read:
‘Monsieur le Baron:—If the Supreme Being had given me
the talents, I might have been baron Thenard, member of
the Institute [academy of ciences], but I am not. I only bear
the same as him, happy if this memory recommends me to
the eccellence of your kindnesses. The benefit with which
you will honor me will be reciprocle. I am in possession
of a secret concerning an individual. This individual con-
cerns you. I hold the secret at your disposal desiring to have
the honor to be huseful to you. I will furnish you with the
simple means of driving from your honorabel family that
individual who has no right there, madame la baronne be-
ing of lofty birth. The sanctuary of virtue cannot cohabit
longer with crime without abdicating.
I awate in the entichamber the orders of monsieur le baron.

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