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The candle； on which a large 〃stranger〃 had formed； cast but a dim light in the immense hovel； the brazier had grown dull； and all those monstrous heads cast misshapen shadows on the walls and ceiling。
No sound was audible except the quiet breathing of the old drunken man； who was fast asleep。
Marius waited in a state of anxiety that was augmented by every trifle。 The enigma was more impenetrable than ever。
Who was this 〃little one〃 whom Thenardier had called the Lark？ Was she his 〃Ursule〃？ The prisoner had not seemed to be affected by that word； 〃the Lark；〃 and had replied in the most natural manner in the world：
〃I do not know what you mean。〃
On the other hand； the two letters U。 F。 were explained； they meant Urbain Fabre； and Ursule was no longer named Ursule。
This was what Marius perceived most clearly of all。
A sort of horrible fascination held him nailed to his post； from which he was observing and manding this whole scene。 There he stood； almost incapable of movement or reflection； as though annihilated by the abominable things viewed at such close quarters。 He waited； in the hope of some incident； no matter of what nature； since he could not collect his thoughts and did not know upon what course to decide。
〃In any case；〃 he said； 〃if she is the Lark； I shall see her； for the Thenardier woman is to bring her hither。
That will be the end； and then I will give my life and my blood if necessary； but I will deliver her！
Nothing shall stop me。〃
Nearly half an hour passed in this manner。
Thenardier seemed to be absorbed in gloomy reflections； the prisoner did not stir。 Still； Marius fancied that at intervals； and for the last few moments； he had heard a faint； dull noise in the direction of the prisoner。
All at once； Thenardier addressed the prisoner：
〃By the way； Monsieur Fabre； I might as well say it to you at once。〃
These few words appeared to be the beginning of an explanation。 Marius strained his ears。
〃My wife will be back shortly； don't get impatient。
I think that the Lark really is your daughter； and it seems to me quite natural that you should keep her。
Only； listen to me a bit。
My wife will go and hunt her up with your letter。
I told my wife to dress herself in the way she did； so that your young lady might make no difficulty about following her。
They will both enter the carriage with my rade behind。
Somewhere； outside the barrier； there is a trap harnessed to two very good horses。
Your young lady will be taken to it。 She will alight from the fiacre。
My rade will enter the other vehicle with her； and my wife will e back here to tell us： ‘It's done。'
As for the young lady； no harm will be done to her； the trap will conduct her to a place where she will be quiet； and just as soon as you have handed over to me those little two hundred thousand francs； she will be returned to you。
If you have me arrested； my rade will give a turn of his thumb to the Lark； that's all。〃
The prisoner uttered not a syllable。
After a pause； Thenardier continued：
〃It's very simple； as you see。
There'll be no harm done unless you wish that there should be harm done。
I'm telling you how things stand。 I warn you so that you may be prepared。〃
He paused：
the prisoner did not break the silence； and Thenardier resumed：
〃As soon as my wife returns and says to me：
‘The Lark is on the way；' we will release you； and you will be free to go and sleep at home。 You see that our intentions are not evil。〃
Terrible images passed through Marius' mind。
What！
That young girl whom they were abducting was not to be brought back？ One of those monsters was to bear her off into the darkness？ Whither？
And what if it were she！
It was clear that it was she。
Marius felt his heart stop beating。
What was he to do？
Discharge the pistol？
Place all those scoundrels in the hands of justice？
But the horrible man with the meat…axe would； none the less； be out of reach with the young girl； and Marius reflected on Thenardier's words； of which he perceived the bloody significance：
〃If you have me arrested； my rade will give a turn of his thumb to the Lark。〃
Now； it was not alone by the colonel's testament； it was by his own love； it was by the peril of the one he loved； that he felt himself restrained。
This frightful situation； which had already lasted above half an hour； was changing its aspect every moment。
Marius had sufficient strength of mind to review in succession all the most heart…breaking conjectures； seeking hope and finding none。
The tumult of his thoughts contrasted with the funereal silence of the den。
In the midst of this silence； the door at the bottom of the staircase was heard to open and shut again。
The prisoner made a movement in his bonds。
〃Here's the bourgeoise；〃 said Thenardier。
He had hardly uttered the words； when the Thenardier woman did in fact rush hastily into the room； red； panting； breathless； with flaming eyes； and cried； as she smote her huge hands on her thighs simultaneously：
〃False address！〃
The ruffian who had gone with her made his appearance behind her and picked up his axe again。
She resumed：
〃Nobody there！
Rue Saint…Dominique； No。 17； no Monsieur Urbain Fabre！ They know not what it means！〃
She paused； choking； then went on：
〃Monsieur Thenardier！
That old fellow has duped you！
You are too good； you see！
If it had been me； I'd have chopped the beast in four quarters to begin with！
And if he had acted ugly； I'd have boiled him alive！
He would have been obliged to speak； and say where the girl is； and where he keeps his shiners！
That's the way I should have managed matters！
People are perfectly right when they say that men are a deal stupider than women！
Nobody at No。 17。 It's nothing but a big carriage gate！
No Monsieur Fabre in the Rue Saint…Dominique！ And after all that racing and fee to the coachman and all！
I spoke to both the porter and the portress； a fine； stout woman； and they know nothing about him！〃
Marius breathed freely once more。
She； Ursule or the Lark； he no longer knew what to call her； was safe。
While his exasperated wife vociferated； Thenardier had seated himself on the table。
For several minutes he uttered not a word； but swung his right foot； which hung down； and stared at the brazier with an air of savage revery。
Finally； he said to the prisoner； with a slow and singularly ferocious tone：
〃A false address？
What did you expect to gain by that？〃
〃To gain time！〃 cried the prisoner in a thundering voice； and at the same instant he shook off his bonds； they were cut。 The prisoner was only attached to the bed now by one leg。
Before the seven men had time to collect their senses and dash forward； he had bent down into the fireplace； had stretched out his hand to the brazier； and had then straightened himself up again； and now Thenardier； the female Thenardier； and the ruffians； huddled in amazement at the extremity of the hovel； stared at