Page 700 - les-miserables

seemed to say, ‘There really was a time, then, when that
monster was a maiden?’
Thenardier lied, however. When he had leased this pal-
try building for the purpose of converting it into a tavern,
he had found this chamber decorated in just this manner,
and had purchased the furniture and obtained the orange
flowers at second hand, with the idea that this would cast a
graceful shadow on ‘his spouse,’ and would result in what
the English call respectability for his house.
When the traveller turned round, the host had disap-
peared. Thenardier had withdrawn discreetly, without
venturing to wish him a good night, as he did not wish to
treat with disrespectful cordiality a man whom he proposed
to fleece royally the following morning.
The inn-keeper retired to his room. His wife was in bed,
but she was not asleep. When she heard her husband’s step
she turned over and said to him:—
‘Do you know, I’m going to turn Cosette out of doors to-
morrow.’
Thenardier replied coldly:—
‘How you do go on!’
They exchanged no further words, and a few moments
later their candle was extinguished.
As for the traveller, he had deposited his cudgel and his
bundle in a corner. The landlord once gone, he threw him-
self into an arm-chair and remained for some time buried
in thought. Then he removed his shoes, took one of the two
candles, blew out the other, opened the door, and quitted
the room, gazing about him like a person who is in search of

700 Les Miserables