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Thenardier went to the corner near the door； picked up a bundle of ropes and threw them at the men。
〃Tie him to the leg of the bed；〃 said he。
And； catching sight of the old man who had been stretched across the room by the blow from M。 Leblanc's fist； and who made no movement； he added：
〃Is Boulatruelle dead？〃
〃No；〃 replied Bigrenaille； 〃he's drunk。〃
〃Sweep him into a corner；〃 said Thenardier。
Two of the 〃chimney…builders〃 pushed the drunken man into the corner near the heap of old iron with their feet。
〃Babet；〃 said Thenardier in a low tone to the man with the cudgel； 〃why did you bring so many； they were not needed。〃
〃What can you do？〃 replied the man with the cudgel； 〃they all wanted to be in it。
This is a bad season。
There's no business going on。〃
The pallet on which M。 Leblanc had been thrown was a sort of hospital bed； elevated on four coarse wooden legs； roughly hewn。
M。 Leblanc let them take their own course。
The ruffians bound him securely； in an upright attitude； with his feet on the ground at the head of the bed； the end which was most remote from the window； and nearest to the fireplace。
When the last knot had been tied； Thenardier took a chair and seated himself almost facing M。 Leblanc。
Thenardier no longer looked like himself； in the course of a few moments his face had passed from unbridled violence to tranquil and cunning sweetness。
Marius found it difficult to recognize in that polished smile of a man in official life the almost bestial mouth which had been foaming but a moment before； he gazed with amazement on that fantastic and alarming metamorphosis； and he felt as a man might feel who should behold a tiger converted into a lawyer。
〃Monsieur〃 said Thenardier。
And dismissing with a gesture the ruffians who still kept their hands on M。 Leblanc：
〃Stand off a little； and let me have a talk with the gentleman。〃
All retired towards the door。
He went on：
〃Monsieur； you did wrong to try to jump out of the window。 You might have broken your leg。
Now； if you will permit me； we will converse quietly。
In the first place； I must municate to you an observation which I have made which is； that you have not uttered the faintest cry。〃
Thenardier was right； this detail was correct； although it had escaped Marius in his agitation。
M。 Leblanc had barely pronounced a few words； without raising his voice； and even during his struggle with the six ruffians near the window he had preserved the most profound and singular silence。
Thenardier continued：
〃Mon Dieu！
You might have shouted ‘stop thief' a bit； and I should not have thought it improper。
‘Murder！' That； too； is said occasionally； and； so far as I am concerned； I should not have taken it in bad part。
It is very natural that you should make a little row when you find yourself with persons who don't inspire you with sufficient confidence。
You might have done that； and no one would have troubled you on that account。
You would not even have been gagged。
And I will tell you why。
This room is very private。 That's its only remendation； but it has that in its favor。 You might fire off a mortar and it would produce about as much noise at the nearest police station as the snores of a drunken man。 Here a cannon would make a boum； and the thunder would make a pouf。 It's a handy lodging。
But； in short； you did not shout； and it is better so。
I present you my pliments； and I will tell you the conclusion that I draw from that fact：
My dear sir； when a man shouts； who es？
The police。
And after the police？ Justice。
Well！
You have not made an outcry； that is because you don't care to have the police and the courts e in any more than we do。 It is because；I have long suspected it；you have some interest in hiding something。
On our side we have the same interest。 So we can e to an understanding。〃
As he spoke thus； it seemed as though Thenardier； who kept his eyes fixed on M。 Leblanc； were trying to plunge the sharp points which darted from the pupils into the very conscience of his prisoner。 Moreover； his language； which was stamped with a sort of moderated； subdued insolence and crafty insolence； was reserved and almost choice； and in that rascal； who had been nothing but a robber a short time previously； one now felt 〃the man who had studied for the priesthood。〃
The silence preserved by the prisoner； that precaution which had been carried to the point of forgetting all anxiety for his own life； that resistance opposed to the first impulse of nature； which is to utter a cry； all this； it must be confessed； now that his attention had been called to it； troubled Marius； and affected him with painful astonishment。
Thenardier's well…grounded observation still further obscured for Marius the dense mystery which enveloped that grave and singular person on whom Courfeyrac had bestowed the sobriquet of Monsieur Leblanc。
But whoever he was； bound with ropes； surrounded with executioners； half plunged； so to speak； in a grave which was closing in upon him to the extent of a degree with every moment that passed； in the presence of Thenardier's wrath； as in the presence of his sweetness； this man remained impassive； and Marius could not refrain from admiring at such a moment the superbly melancholy visage。
Here； evidently； was a soul which was inaccessible to terror； and which did not know the meaning of despair。
Here was one of those men who mand amazement in desperate circumstances。 Extreme as was the crisis； inevitable as was the catastrophe； there was nothing here of the agony of the drowning man； who opens his horror…filled eyes under the water。
Thenardier rose in an unpretending manner； went to the fireplace； shoved aside the screen； which he leaned against the neighboring pallet； and thus unmasked the brazier full of glowing coals； in which the prisoner could plainly see the chisel white…hot and spotted here and there with tiny scarlet stars。
Then Thenardier returned to his seat beside M。 Leblanc。
〃I continue；〃 said he。
〃We can e to an understanding。 Let us arrange this matter in an amicable way。
I was wrong to lose my temper just now； I don't know what I was thinking of； I went a great deal too far； I said extravagant things。
For example； because you are a millionnaire； I told you that I exacted money； a lot of money； a deal of money。
That would not be reasonable。 Mon Dieu； in spite of your riches； you have expenses of your own who has not？
I don't want to ruin you； I am not a greedy fellow； after all。
I am not one of those people who； because they have the advantage of the position； profit by the fact to make themselves ridiculous。
Why； I'm taking things into consideration and making a sacrifice on my side。
I only want two hundred thousand francs。〃
BOOK EIGHTH。THE WICKED POOR MAN
CHAPTER XX （2）
M。 Leblanc uttered not a word。
Thenardier went on：
〃You see that I put not a little water in my wine； I'm very moderate。 I don't know the state of your fortune； but I do know that you don'