Page 1646 - les-miserables

‘Only fasten the rope to the wall.’
‘I can’t.’
‘Then one of us must climb up,’ said Montparnasse.
‘Three stories!’ ejaculated Brujon.
An ancient plaster flue, which had served for a stove that
had been used in the shanty in former times, ran along the
wall and mounted almost to the very spot where they could
see Thenardier. This flue, then much damaged and full of
cracks, has since fallen, but the marks of it are still visible.
It was very narrow.
‘One might get up by the help of that,’ said Montpar-
nasse.
‘By that flue?’ exclaimed Babet, ‘a grown-up cove, never!
it would take a brat.’
‘A brat must be got,’ resumed Brujon.
‘Where are we to find a young ‘un?’ said Guelemer.
‘Wait,’ said Montparnasse. ‘I’ve got the very article.’
He opened the gate of the fence very softly, made sure that
no one was passing along the street, stepped out cautiously,
shut the gate behind him, and set off at a run in the direction
of the Bastille.
Seven or eight minutes elapsed, eight thousand centuries
to Thenardier; Babet, Brujon, and Guelemer did not open
their lips; at last the gate opened once more, and Montpar-
nasse appeared, breathless, and followed by Gavroche. The
rain still rendered the street completely deserted.
Little Gavroche entered the enclosure and gazed at the
forms of these ruffians with a tranquil air. The water was
dripping from his hair. Guelemer addressed him:—

1646 Les Miserables