Page 1292 - les-miserables

given ten years of his life to hear it, in order that he might
bear away in his soul a little of that music. But everything
was drowned in the lamentable exclamations and trumpet
bursts of Jondrette. This added a touch of genuine wrath to
Marius’ ecstasy. He devoured her with his eyes. He could
not believe that it really was that divine creature whom he
saw in the midst of those vile creatures in that monstrous
lair. It seemed to him that he beheld a humming-bird in the
midst of toads.
When she took her departure, he had but one thought,
to follow her, to cling to her trace, not to quit her until he
learned where she lived, not to lose her again, at least, after
having so miraculously re-discovered her. He leaped down
from the commode and seized his hat. As he laid his hand
on the lock of the door, and was on the point of opening it,
a sudden reflection caused him to pause. The corridor was
long, the staircase steep, Jondrette was talkative, M. Leblanc
had, no doubt, not yet regained his carriage; if, on turning
round in the corridor, or on the staircase, he were to catch
sight of him, Marius, in that house, he would, evidently,
take the alarm, and find means to escape from him again,
and this time it would be final. What was he to do? Should
he wait a little? But while he was waiting, the carriage might
drive off. Marius was perplexed. At last he accepted the risk
and quitted his room.
There was no one in the corridor. He hastened to the
stairs. There was no one on the staircase. He descended in
all haste, and reached the boulevard in time to see a fiacre
turning the corner of the Rue du Petit-Banquier, on its way

1292 Les Miserables