按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
The last possibility of doubt had just vanished。 It certainly was the Thenardier of the will。
Marius shuddered at that reproach of ingratitude directed against his father； and which he was on the point of so fatally justifying。
His perplexity was redoubled。
Moreover； there was in all these words of Thenardier； in his accent； in his gesture； in his glance which darted flames at every word； there was； in this explosion of an evil nature disclosing everything； in that mixture of braggadocio and abjectness； of pride and pettiness； of rage and folly； in that chaos of real griefs and false sentiments； in that immodesty of a malicious man tasting the voluptuous delights of violence； in that shameless nudity of a repulsive soul； in that conflagration of all sufferings bined with all hatreds； something which was as hideous as evil； and as heart…rending as the truth。
The picture of the master； the painting by David which he had proposed that M。 Leblanc should purchase； was nothing else； as the reader has divined； than the sign of his tavern painted； as it will be remembered； by himself； the only relic which he had preserved from his shipwreck at Montfermeil。
As he had ceased to intercept Marius' visual ray； Marius could examine this thing； and in the daub； he actually did recognize a battle； a background of smoke； and a man carrying another man。 It was the group posed of Pontmercy and Thenardier； the sergeant the rescuer； the colonel rescued。
Marius was like a drunken man； this picture restored his father to life in some sort； it was no longer the signboard of the wine…shop at Montfermeil； it was a resurrection； a tomb had yawned； a phantom had risen there。
Marius heard his heart beating in his temples； he had the cannon of Waterloo in his ears； his bleeding father； vaguely depicted on that sinister panel terrified him； and it seemed to him that the misshapen spectre was gazing intently at him。
When Thenardier had recovered his breath； he turned his bloodshot eyes on M。 Leblanc； and said to him in a low； curt voice：
〃What have you to say before we put the handcuffs on you？〃
M。 Leblanc held his peace。
In the midst of this silence； a cracked voice launched this lugubrious sarcasm from the corridor：
〃If there's any wood to be split； I'm there！〃
It was the man with the axe； who was growing merry。
At the same moment； an enormous； bristling； and clayey face made its appearance at the door； with a hideous laugh which exhibited not teeth； but fangs。
It was the face of the man with the butcher's axe。
〃Why have you taken off your mask？〃 cried Thenardier in a rage。
〃For fun；〃 retorted the man。
For the last few minutes M。 Leblanc had appeared to be watching and following all the movements of Thenardier； who； blinded and dazzled by his own rage； was stalking to and fro in the den with full confidence that the door was guarded； and of holding an unarmed man fast； he being armed himself； of being nine against one； supposing that the female Thenardier counted for but one man。
During his address to the man with the pole…axe； he had turned his back to M。 Leblanc。
M。 Leblanc seized this moment； overturned the chair with his foot and the table with his fist； and with one bound； with prodigious agility； before Thenardier had time to turn round； he had reached the window。 To open it； to scale the frame； to bestride it； was the work of a second only。
He was half out when six robust fists seized him and dragged him back energetically into the hovel。
These were the three 〃chimney…builders；〃 who had flung themselves upon him。 At the same time the Thenardier woman had wound her hands in his hair。
At the trampling which ensued； the other ruffians rushed up from the corridor。
The old man on the bed； who seemed under the influence of wine； descended from the pallet and came reeling up； with a stone…breaker's hammer in his hand。
One of the 〃chimney…builders；〃 whose smirched face was lighted up by the candle； and in whom Marius recognized； in spite of his daubing； Panchaud； alias Printanier； alias Bigrenaille； lifted above M。 Leblanc's head a sort of bludgeon made of two balls of lead； at the two ends of a bar of iron。
Marius could not resist this sight。
〃My father；〃 he thought； 〃forgive me！〃
And his finger sought the trigger of his pistol。
The shot was on the point of being discharged when Thenardier's voice shouted：
〃Don't harm him！〃
This desperate attempt of the victim； far from exasperating Thenardier； had calmed him。
There existed in him two men； the ferocious man and the adroit man。
Up to that moment； in the excess of his triumph in the presence of the prey which had been brought down； and which did not stir； the ferocious man had prevailed； when the victim struggled and tried to resist； the adroit man reappeared and took the upper hand。
〃Don't hurt him！〃 he repeated； and without suspecting it； his first success was to arrest the pistol in the act of being discharged； and to paralyze Marius； in whose opinion the urgency of the case disappeared； and who； in the face of this new phase； saw no inconvenience in waiting a while longer。
Who knows whether some chance would not arise which would deliver him from the horrible alternative of allowing Ursule's father to perish； or of destroying the colonel's saviour？
A herculean struggle had begun。
With one blow full in the chest； M。 Leblanc had sent the old man tumbling； rolling in the middle of the room； then with two backward sweeps of his hand he had overthrown two more assailants； and he held one under each of his knees； the wretches were rattling in the throat beneath this pressure as under a granite millstone； but the other four had seized the formidable old man by both arms and the back of his neck； and were holding him doubled up over the two 〃chimney…builders〃 on the floor。
Thus； the master of some and mastered by the rest； crushing those beneath him and stifling under those on top of him； endeavoring in vain to shake off all the efforts which were heaped upon him； M。 Leblanc disappeared under the horrible group of ruffians like the wild boar beneath a howling pile of dogs and hounds。
They succeeded in overthrowing him upon the bed nearest the window； and there they held him in awe。
The Thenardier woman had not released her clutch on his hair。
〃Don't you mix yourself up in this affair；〃 said Thenardier。 〃You'll tear your shawl。〃
The Thenardier obeyed； as the female wolf obeys the male wolf； with a growl。
〃Now；〃 said Thenardier； 〃search him； you other fellows！〃
M。 Leblanc seemed to have renounced the idea of resistance。
They searched him。
He had nothing on his person except a leather purse containing six francs； and his handkerchief。
Thenardier put the handkerchief into his own pocket。
〃What！
No pocket…book？〃 he demanded。
〃No； nor watch；〃 replied one of the 〃chimney…builders。〃
〃Never mind；〃 murmured the masked man who carried the big key； in the voice of a ventriloquist； 〃he's a tough old fellow。〃
Thenardier went to the corner near the door； picked up a bundl