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What bosh！ merry Andrew！ Ah！ and you don't recognize me？
Well； I recognize you； that I do！ I recognized you the very moment you poked your snout in here。 Ah！ you'll find out presently； that it isn't all roses to thrust yourself in that fashion into people's houses； under the pretext that they are taverns； in wretched clothes； with the air of a poor man； to whom one would give a sou； to deceive persons； to play the generous； to take away their means of livelihood； and to make threats in the woods； and you can't call things quits because afterwards； when people are ruined； you bring a coat that is too large； and two miserable hospital blankets； you old blackguard； you child…stealer！〃
He paused； and seemed to be talking to himself for a moment。 One would have said that his wrath had fallen into some hole； like the Rhone； then； as though he were concluding aloud the things which he had been saying to himself in a whisper； he smote the table with his fist； and shouted：
〃And with his goody…goody air！〃
And； apostrophizing M。 Leblanc：
〃Parbleu！
You made game of me in the past！
You are the cause of all my misfortunes！
For fifteen hundred francs you got a girl whom I had； and who certainly belonged to rich people； and who had already brought in a great deal of money； and from whom I might have extracted enough to live on all my life！
A girl who would have made up to me for everything that I lost in that vile cook…shop； where there was nothing but one continual row； and where； like a fool； I ate up my last farthing！
Oh！
I wish all the wine folks drank in my house had been poison to those who drank it！ Well； never mind！
Say； now！
You must have thought me ridiculous when you went off with the Lark！
You had your cudgel in the forest。 You were the stronger。
Revenge。
I'm the one to hold the trumps to…day！ You're in a sorry case； my good fellow！
Oh； but I can laugh！
Really； I laugh！
Didn't he fall into the trap！ I told him that I was an actor； that my name was Fabantou； that I had played edy with Mamselle Mars； with Mamselle Muche； that my landlord insisted on being paid tomorrow； the 4th of February； and he didn't even notice that the 8th of January； and not the 4th of February is the time when the quarter runs out！
Absurd idiot！ And the four miserable Philippes which he has brought me！
Scoundrel！ He hadn't the heart even to go as high as a hundred francs！
And how he swallowed my platitudes！
That did amuse me。
I said to myself： ‘Blockhead！ e； I've got you！
I lick your paws this morning； but I'll gnaw your heart this evening！'〃
Thenardier paused。
He was out of breath。
His little； narrow chest panted like a forge bellows。
His eyes were full of the ignoble happiness of a feeble； cruel； and cowardly creature； which finds that it can； at last； harass what it has feared； and insult what it has flattered； the joy of a dwarf who should be able to set his heel on the head of Goliath； the joy of a jackal which is beginning to rend a sick bull； so nearly dead that he can no longer defend himself； but sufficiently alive to suffer still。
M。 Leblanc did not interrupt him； but said to him when he paused：
〃I do not know what you mean to say。
You are mistaken in me。
I am a very poor man； and anything but a millionnaire。
I do not know you。 You are mistaking me for some other person。〃
〃Ah！〃 roared Thenardier hoarsely； 〃a pretty lie！
You stick to that pleasantry； do you！
You're floundering； my old buck！ Ah！
You don't remember！
You don't see who I am？〃
〃Excuse me； sir；〃 said M。 Leblanc with a politeness of accent； which at that moment seemed peculiarly strange and powerful； 〃I see that you are a villain！〃
Who has not remarked the fact that odious creatures possess a susceptibility of their own； that monsters are ticklish！
At this word 〃villain；〃 the female Thenardier sprang from the bed； Thenardier grasped his chair as though he were about to crush it in his hands。 〃Don't you stir！〃 he shouted to his wife； and； turning to M。 Leblanc：
〃Villain！
Yes； I know that you call us that； you rich gentlemen！ Stop！ it's true that I became bankrupt； that I am in hiding； that I have no bread； that I have not a single sou； that I am a villain！ It's three days since I have had anything to eat； so I'm a villain！ Ah！ you folks warm your feet； you have Sakoski boots； you have wadded great…coats； like archbishops； you lodge on the first floor in houses that have porters； you eat truffles； you eat asparagus at forty francs the bunch in the month of January； and green peas； you gorge yourselves； and when you want to know whether it is cold； you look in the papers to see what the engineer Chevalier's thermometer says about it。
We； it is we who are thermometers。 We don't need to go out and look on the quay at the corner of the Tour de l'Horologe； to find out the number of degrees of cold； we feel our blood congealing in our veins； and the ice forming round our hearts； and we say：
‘There is no God！'
And you e to our caverns； yes our caverns； for the purpose of calling us villains！ But we'll devour you！
But we'll devour you； poor little things！ Just see here； Mister millionnaire：
I have been a solid man； I have held a license； I have been an elector； I am a bourgeois； that I am！
And it's quite possible that you are not！〃
Here Thenardier took a step towards the men who stood near the door； and added with a shudder：
〃When I think that he has dared to e here and talk to me like a cobbler！〃
Then addressing M。 Leblanc with a fresh outburst of frenzy：
〃And listen to this also； Mister philanthropist！
I'm not a suspicious character； not a bit of it！
I'm not a man whose name nobody knows； and who es and abducts children from houses！ I'm an old French soldier； I ought to have been decorated！ I was at Waterloo； so I was！
And in the battle I saved a general called the te of I don't know what。
He told me his name； but his beastly voice was so weak that I didn't hear。
All I caught was Merci ＇thanks＇。 I'd rather have had his name than his thanks。 That would have helped me to find him again。
The picture that you see here； and which was painted by David at Bruqueselles；do you know what it represents？
It represents me。
David wished to immortalize that feat of prowess。
I have that general on my back； and I am carrying him through the grape…shot。 There's the history of it！ That general never did a single thing for me； he was no better than the rest！
But none the less； I saved his life at the risk of my own； and I have the certificate of the fact in my pocket！ I am a soldier of Waterloo； by all the furies！
And now that I have had the goodness to tell you all this； let's have an end of it。 I want money； I want a deal of money； I must have an enormous lot of money； or I'll exterminate you； by the thunder of the good God！〃
Marius had regained some measure of control over his anguish； and was listening。
The last possibility of doubt had just vanished。 It certainly was the Thenardier o