Page 1322 - les-miserables

ter one of the most terrible hovels in the Rue Gracieuse; he
remained there about a quarter of an hour, then returned
to the Rue Mouffetard. He halted at an ironmonger’s shop,
which then stood at the corner of the Rue Pierre-Lombard,
and a few minutes later Marius saw him emerge from the
shop, holding in his hand a huge cold chisel with a white
wood handle, which he concealed beneath his great-coat.
At the top of the Rue Petit-Gentilly he turned to the left and
proceeded rapidly to the Rue du Petit-Banquier. The day
was declining; the snow, which had ceased for a moment,
had just begun again. Marius posted himself on the watch
at the very corner of the Rue du Petit-Banquier, which was
deserted, as usual, and did not follow Jondrette into it. It
was lucky that he did so, for, on arriving in the vicinity of
the wall where Marius had heard the long-haired man and
the bearded man conversing, Jondrette turned round, made
sure that no one was following him, did not see him, then
sprang across the wall and disappeared.
The waste land bordered by this wall communicated with
the back yard of an ex-livery stable-keeper of bad repute,
who had failed and who still kept a few old single-seated
berlins under his sheds.
Marius thought that it would be wise to profit by Jon-
drette’s absence to return home; moreover, it was growing
late; every evening, Ma’am Bougon when she set out for
her dish-washing in town, had a habit of locking the door,
which was always closed at dusk. Marius had given his key
to the inspector of police; it was important, therefore, that
he should make haste.

1322 Les Miserables