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l； stared at him in stupefaction； as almost free and in a formidable attitude； he brandished above his head the red…hot chisel； which emitted a threatening glow。
The judicial examination to which the ambush in the Gorbeau house eventually gave rise； established the fact that a large sou piece； cut and worked in a peculiar fashion； was found in the garret； when the police made their descent on it。
This sou piece was one of those marvels of industry； which are engendered by the patience of the galleys in the shadows and for the shadows； marvels which are nothing else than instruments of escape。 These hideous and delicate products of wonderful art are to jewellers' work what the metaphors of slang are to poetry。
There are Benvenuto Cellinis in the galleys； just as there are Villons in language。 The unhappy wretch who aspires to deliverance finds means sometimes without tools； sometimes with a mon wooden…handled knife； to saw a sou into two thin plates； to hollow out these plates without affecting the coinage stamp； and to make a furrow on the edge of the sou in such a manner that the plates will adhere again。 This can be screwed together and unscrewed at will； it is a box。 In this box he hides a watch…spring； and this watch…spring； properly handled； cuts good…sized chains and bars of iron。 The unfortunate convict is supposed to possess merely a sou； not at all； he possesses liberty。
It was a large sou of this sort which； during the subsequent search of the police； was found under the bed near the window。
They also found a tiny saw of blue steel which would fit the sou。
It is probable that the prisoner had this sou piece on his person at the moment when the ruffians searched him； that he contrived to conceal it in his hand； and that afterward； having his right hand free； he unscrewed it； and used it as a saw to cut the cords which fastened him； which would explain the faint noise and almost imperceptible movements which Marius had observed。
As he had not been able to bend down； for fear of betraying himself； he had not cut the bonds of his left leg。
The ruffians had recovered from their first surprise。
〃Be easy；〃 said Bigrenaille to Thenardier。
〃He still holds by one leg； and he can't get away。
I'll answer for that。
I tied that paw for him。〃
In the meanwhile； the prisoner had begun to speak：
〃You are wretches； but my life is not worth the trouble of defending it。
When you think that you can make me speak； that you can make me write what I do not choose to write； that you can make me say what I do not choose to say〃
He stripped up his left sleeve； and added：
〃See here。〃
At the same moment he extended his arm； and laid the glowing chisel which he held in his left hand by its wooden handle on his bare flesh。
The crackling of the burning flesh became audible； and the odor peculiar to chambers of torture filled the hovel。
Marius reeled in utter horror； the very ruffians shuddered； hardly a muscle of the old man's face contracted； and while the red…hot iron sank into the smoking wound； impassive and almost august； he fixed on Thenardier his beautiful glance； in which there was no hatred； and where suffering vanished in serene majesty。
With grand and lofty natures； the revolts of the flesh and 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 slightest 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 crying to him to rescue the prisoner。 These two voices continued uninterruptedly that struggle which tormented him to agony。
Up to that moment he had cherished a vague hope that he should find some means of reconciling these two duties； but nothing within the limits of possibility had presented itself。
However； the peril was urgent； the last bounds of delay had been reached； Thenardier was standing thoughtfully a few paces distant from the prisoner。
Marius cast a wild glance about him； the last mechanical resource of despair。
All at once a shudder ran through him。
At his feet； on the table； a bright ray of light from the full moon illuminated and seemed to point out to him a sheet of paper。 On this paper he read the following line written that very morning； in large letters； by the eldest of the Thenardier girls：
〃THE BOBBIES ARE HERE。〃
An idea； a flash； crossed Marius' mind； this was the expedient of which he was in search； the solution of that frightful problem which was torturing him； of sparing the assassin and saving the victim。
He knelt down on his mode； stretched out his arm； seized the sheet of paper； softly detached a bit of plaster from the wall； wrapped the paper round it； and tossed the whole through the crevice into the middle of the den。
It was high time。
Thenardier had conquered his last fears or his last scruples； and was advancing on the prisoner。
〃Something is falling！〃 cried the Thenardier woman。
〃What is it？〃 asked her husband。
The woman darted forward and picked up the bit of plaster。 She handed it to her husband。
〃Where did this e from？〃 demanded Thenardier。
〃Pardie！〃 ejaculated his wife； 〃where do you suppose it came from？ Through the window； of course。〃
〃I saw it pass；〃 said Bigrenaille。
Thenardier rapidly unfolded the paper and held it close to the candle。
〃It's in Eponine's handwriting。
The devil！〃
He made a sign to his wife； who hastily drew near； and showed her the line written on the sheet of paper； then he added in a subdued voice：
〃Quick！
The ladder！
Let's leave the bacon in the mousetrap and decamp！〃
〃Without cutting that man's throat？〃 asked； the Thenardier woman。
〃We haven't the time。〃
〃Through what？〃 resumed Bigrenaille。
〃Through the window；〃 replied Thenardier。
〃Since Ponine has thrown the stone through the window； it indicates that the house is not watched on that side。〃
The mask with the ventriloquist