Chapter 338 Eight torn off a corner of the skirt

He was in the midst of despair, when suddenly a hand was placed on his shoulder, and a soft voice said to him: "The two share equally." Is there anyone in the dark?Nothing is more like a dream than despair.Jean Valjean thought he was dreaming, for he heard no step.is it possible?He looked up. A person stood in front of him. This man wore a smock, was barefoot, and held a shoe in his left hand, which he must have taken off in order to get closer to Jean Valjean without being heard walking. Jean Valjean did not hesitate for a moment, for although the encounter was so sudden, he recognized the man.This is Thenardier.

It may be said that although Jean Valjean was awakened, he was already accustomed to panic. He had experienced unexpected blows that required a quick response, and he immediately regained his sobriety.What's more, the situation couldn't be worse, the predicament has reached a certain level and can no longer be escalated, and Thenardier himself can't make the night darker. A split second of waiting. Thenardier raised his right hand to his brow to shade him, then frowned and winked, a gesture which, combined with a slightly closed lips, shows a shrewd man trying to recognize another.But he didn't recognize it.We just said that Jean Valjean was facing the sun with his back, and he has become so unrecognizable, with mud and blood all over his face, that even in the daytime, he may not be recognized by people.On the contrary, the light of the grating—the light of the crypt—shone Thenardier head on, it was true, he was bleak, but he could see clearly, as the saying goes, and it was true. Jean Valjean recognized Thenardier at a glance.The difference of the circumstances made this secret duel between the two positions and the two persons about to begin to be in Jean Valjean's favor.When the two meet, one is Jean Valjean, whose face cannot be seen clearly, and the other is Thenardier, who has revealed the truth.

Jean Valjean found at once that Thenardier did not recognize him. They observed each other in the half-darkness, as if in a contest, and Thenardier was the first to break the silence: "How are you going to get out?" Jean Valjean made no answer. Thenardier continued: "Can't pick the lock with the hook, but you must get out." "Yes," said Jean Valjean. "Then it's 50/50." "What did you say?" "You killed someone, all right, and I have the key." Thenardier, pointing to Marius, continued: "I don't know you, but I am willing to help you, you have to be friends."

Jean Valjean began to understand, and Thenardier thought he was a murderer. Thenardier added: "Listen, buddy, you don't kill people without looking in your pockets. Give me half and I'll open the door for you." He peeped out half of a large key from under his smock with numerous holes, and added: "Would you like to see what a field key looks like? Here it is." Jean Valjean "was stunned", as the old Corneille said, and he even doubted whether what he saw was reality.This is God, who looks terrible on the outside, a kind angel who emerges from the ground in the form of Thenardier.

Thénardier thrust his fist into one of the large pockets of his blouse, drew out a cord, and handed it to Jean Valjean. "Here," he said, "I'll spare you the rope." "What's the use of a rope?" "You'll need another rock, but you'll find it outside, where there's a pile of rubbish." "What use is it, a stone?" "Idiot, since you want to throw this fool into the river, you must have a stone and a rope, otherwise he will float." Jean Valjean took the rope, and everyone accepts things in such a mechanical way.

Thenardier snapped his fingers, as if he suddenly remembered something: "Hey, buddy, what do you do to get out of the hollow there! I didn't dare venture there. Pooh! You smell bad." After a pause, he continued: "I asked you something, and you were right not to answer it. This is learning how to deal with the embarrassing quarter of an hour before the pre-trial judge. Also, if you don't say anything, you won't be afraid to speak too loudly. I can't see your face clearly, Don't know your name, though, don't you think I don't know who you are and what you want to do. I know everything. You knocked on this gentleman, now you're going to hide him somewhere, you need It's the river, and it's the place where disasters lie. I'm here to help you out of trouble. It's my pleasure to help a good man in trouble."

Although he approved of Jean Valjean's silence, it was evident that he was also trying to make him speak.He pushed his shoulder, wanting to observe him from the side, and shouted in the same voice he had kept: "You're such a queer fellow, speaking of hollows, why don't you throw this man in?" Jean Valjean remained silent. Thénardier added, at the same time holding up to the Adam's apple a small piece of cloth that was used as a bow-tie, a gesture that showed the wisdom of a serious man: "To be honest, you may be smart to do this. Tomorrow when the workers come to mend the hole, they will definitely find the Parisians who have been forgotten here. They may follow the clues, bit by bit, find your footprints, and catch you. Someone passed by The gutter. Who? Where did he get out? Has anyone seen him? The police are very alert. The gutter is dangerous and can tell you. Finding something like this is rare and attracts attention. Few people use the gutter for business. , as for the river, it is for all. The river is the real grave. A month later, the man was caught in the nets of Santa Cruz. Well, what does it matter? It's just a rotting corpse , Who killed this man? Paris. In this way, the court will not ask at all, and you are right."

The more talkative Thenardier became, the more silent Jean Valjean became.Thenardier shook his shoulders again. "Now, close the business and split it equally. You saw my key. Let me see your money!" Dana's first savage look was like a beast, suspicious in shape, slightly menacing, and yet friendly. There was one curious thing about Thenardier's unnatural attitude, his air of uneasiness, and though he did not pretend to be very mysterious, he spoke in a low voice, and now and then he put his finger to his mouth and whispered, "Hush!" It's hard to guess why.There was no one else here but the two of them.Jean Valjean suspected that there might be other thieves hiding in the near corner and that Thenardier had no intention of sharing the spoils with them.

Thenardier added: "Let's end it! How much money does that fool have in his pocket?" Jean Valjean searched in his pocket. We remember that it was his habit to always have some money with him.He lived a shadowy life, ready to meet the difficulties that compelled him to do so.This time, however, he was caught off guard, for he had been so dispirited when he put on his National Guard uniform the night before that he forgot to take his wallet.He had only a few small change in his waistcoat pocket, about thirty francs in all.He turned the pocket, which was full of mud, and put a louis d'or, two five-franc pieces, and five or six coppers on the bench in the gutter.

Thenardier stretched his lower lip and twisted his neck meaningfully. "You didn't get much money for killing him," he said. He began to feel wantonly in the pockets of Jean Valjean and Marius.Jean Valjean mainly paid attention to keeping his back from the light, and he did whatever he wanted.While turning over Marius's clothes, Thenardier managed, with a conjurer's dexterity, to tear off a corner of the skirt and hide it under his blouse without being seen by Jean Valjean, presumably thinking that the rag might later be lost. Help him identify the victim and the killer.He found nothing more than thirty francs.

"That's right," he said, "that's all you have for the two of you together." He took it all, forgetting what he meant by "equal split". He hesitated a little bit about the copper coin, and after thinking about it, he also took it with a mutter: "It doesn't matter! It's too little money for killing people." After he finished speaking, he pulled out the big key under his blouse again: "Now you must go out, my friend. It's like a fair here, and you have to pay to go out. Now that you have paid, go out." So he laughed. Does he use the key to help a stranger by letting someone else out through the door, does he save a murderer from a completely disinterested purpose?This is doubtful. Thenardier helped Jean Valjean to put Marius on his back, and afterwards he went on tiptoe barefoot to the gate of the iron bars, while beckoning to Jean Valjean to follow.He looked out, put his finger to his lips, and paused for a few seconds; after observing, he put the key in the lock.The bar slid open and the door swung.There was no creaking or creaking, and the movement was light. Obviously, the iron grille door and hinges were carefully oiled and opened more times than people imagined. This lightness is eerie.This lightness makes one feel the stealthy comings and goings, the silent footsteps of nocturnal travelers and murderous jackals.The sewer must be an accomplice of some secret group.This silent iron fence door is the owner of the nest. Thénardier half opened the door, allowing Jean Valjean's body to pass, closed it again, the key turned twice in the lock, and slipped into the darkness again without making a sound louder than breathing.He seemed to be walking on the furry paws of a tiger.Not long after, this dreadful Providence was out of sight. Jean Valjean went outside.