Page 1219 - les-miserables

ing, and had seen them disappear through the carriage gate,
he entered in their train and said boldly to the porter:—
‘Is that the gentleman who lives on the first floor, who
has just come in?’
‘No,’ replied the porter. ‘He is the gentleman on the third
floor.’
Another step gained. This success emboldened Marius.
‘On the front?’ he asked.
‘Parbleu!’ said the porter, ‘the house is only built on the
street.’
‘And what is that gentleman’s business?’ began Marius
again.
‘He is a gentleman of property, sir. A very kind man who
does good to the unfortunate, though not rich himself.’
‘What is his name?’ resumed Marius.
The porter raised his head and said:—
‘Are you a police spy, sir?’
Marius went off quite abashed, but delighted. He was
getting on.
‘Good,’ thought he, ‘I know that her name is Ursule, that
she is the daughter of a gentleman who lives on his income,
and that she lives there, on the third floor, in the Rue de
l’Ouest.’
On the following day, M. Leblanc and his daughter made
only a very brief stay in the Luxembourg; they went away
while it was still broad daylight. Marius followed them
to the Rue de l’Ouest, as he had taken up the habit of do-
ing. On arriving at the carriage entrance M. Leblanc made
his daughter pass in first, then paused, before crossing the

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