Chapter 112 2. Luckily there is traffic on the Austerlitz bridge

Jean Valjean no longer doubted, but luckily the men were still hesitating, and he took advantage of their hesitation, which was wasting their time and gaining him time.He came out of the doorway where he had hidden himself, turned into Coach Street, and walked towards the Botanic Gardens.Cosette was beginning to feel tired.He took her in his arms.There is no pedestrian on the road, and the street lamps are not lit because of the moon. He took two steps forward. After a few moments, he stepped into the Copperley pottery shop, and the moonlight was clearly illuminating a few lines of old-fashioned advertisements on the outer wall of the shop:

. He crossed Key Street, then St. Victor's Fountain, and followed the downhill road next to the Botanic Gardens to the river.When he got there, he looked back.The riverside is empty.The streets are also empty.No one followed.He gasped. He reached the Austerlitz Bridge. At that time, bridge tax had to be paid when crossing the bridge. He went to the tax office and paid a sou. "Two sous," said the wounded soldier guarding the bridge. "You are carrying a child who can walk by itself. Two sous." He paid as he did, murmuring that someone might spot him crossing the bridge from here.Escape should always leave no trace.

It so happened that a cart, like his, was going to cross the bridge at that time to the right bank of the Seine.This is to his advantage.He could hide in the shadow of the cart and pass together. Near the middle of the bridge, Cosette's feet felt numb, and she wanted to come down.He put her on the ground and took her by the hand. After crossing the bridge, he found some workshops a little ahead of him to the right, and he went towards them.It must be reached by venturing across a fairly wide clearing in the moonlight.He doesn't hesitate.Those who searched for him were evidently lost, and Jean Valjean thought he was out of danger.Chasing, even chasing, following, but not keeping up.

Between the two walled workshops emerged a small street, St. Anthony's Green Lane.The street was narrow and dark, as if it had been specially built for him.He glanced back again before entering the street. From where he was, he could see the entire length of the Austerlitz Bridge. There are four figures who have just stepped onto the bridge. Those figures are walking towards the right bank with the botanical garden behind their backs. These four shadows are those four people. Jean Valjean's hair stood on end like a wild animal that has been caught in a snare. He still had a glimmer of hope that when he was leading Cosette through the large clearing in the moonlight, those people might not have been on the bridge, so they would not have seen him.

That being the case, go into that side street, and if he can get to those workshops, swales, gardens, and clearings, he will be saved. It seemed to him that he could entrust himself to that quiet little street.He went in.