1298 Les Miserables
not ask for your secrets, you need not tell them to me, but I
may be of use, nevertheless. I may be able to help you, since I
help my father. When it is necessary to carry letters, to go to
houses, to inquire from door to door, to find out an address,
to follow any one, I am of service. Well, you may assuredly
tell me what is the matter with you, and I will go and speak
to the persons; sometimes it is enough if some one speaks
to the persons, that suffices to let them understand matters,
and everything comes right. Make use of me.’
An idea flashed across Marius’ mind. What branch does
one disdain when one feels that one is falling?
He drew near to the Jondrette girl.
‘Listen—‘ he said to her.
She interrupted him with a gleam of joy in her eyes.
‘Oh yes, do call me thou! I like that better.’
‘Well,’ he resumed, ‘thou hast brought hither that old
gentleman and his daughter!’
‘ Ye s .’
‘Dost thou know their address?’
‘No.’
‘Find it for me.’
The Jondrette’s dull eyes had grown joyous, and they
now became gloomy.
‘Is that what you want?’ she demanded.
‘ Ye s .’
‘Do you know them?’
‘No.’
‘That is to say,’ she resumed quickly, ‘you do not know
her, but you wish to know her.’