Page 1379 - les-miserables

the senses when subjected to physical suffering cause the
soul to spring forth, and make it appear on the brow, just
as rebellions among the soldiery force the captain to show
himself.
‘Wretches!’ said he, ‘have no more fear of me than I have
for you!’
And, tearing the chisel from the wound, he hurled it
through the window, which had been left open; the horrible,
glowing tool disappeared into the night, whirling as it flew,
and fell far away on the snow.
The prisoner resumed:—
‘Do what you please with me.’ He was disarmed.
‘Seize him!’ said Thenardier.
Two of the ruffians laid their hands on his shoulder, and
the masked man with the ventriloquist’s voice took up his
station in front of him, ready to smash his skull at the slight-
est movement.
At the same time, Marius heard below him, at the base
of the partition, but so near that he could not see who was
speaking, this colloquy conducted in a low tone:—
‘There is only one thing left to do.’
‘Cut his throat.’
‘That’s it.’
It was the husband and wife taking counsel together.
Thenardier walked slowly towards the table, opened
the drawer, and took out the knife. Marius fretted with
the handle of his pistol. Unprecedented perplexity! For the
last hour he had had two voices in his conscience, the one
enjoining him to respect his father’s testament, the other

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