Page 1609 - les-miserables

Kekcaa signifies: Quest que c’est que cela a? [What’s the
matter with that?]
The urchin’s profound remark recalled Montparnasse to
calmness and good sense. He appeared to return to better
sentiments with regard to Gavroche’s lodging.
‘Of course,’ said he, ‘yes, the elephant. Is it comfortable
there?’
‘Very,’ said Gavroche. ‘It’s really bully there. There ain’t
any draughts, as there are under the bridges.’
‘How do you get in?’
‘Oh, I get in.’
‘So there is a hole?’ demanded Montparnasse.
‘Parbleu! I should say so. But you mustn’t tell. It’s be-
tween the fore legs. The bobbies haven’t seen it.’
‘And you climb up? Yes, I understand.’
‘A turn of the hand, cric, crac, and it’s all over, no one
there.’
After a pause, Gavroche added:—
‘I shall have a ladder for these children.’
Montparnasse burst out laughing:—
‘Where the devil did you pick up those young ‘uns?’
Gavroche replied with great simplicity:—
‘They are some brats that a wig-maker made me a pres-
ent of.’
Meanwhile, Montparnasse had fallen to thinking:—
‘You recognized me very readily,’ he muttered.
He took from his pocket two small objects which were
nothing more than two quills wrapped in cotton, and thrust
one up each of his nostrils. This gave him a different nose.

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