Free eBooks at Planet eBook.com 1337
CHAPTER XVIII
MARIUS’ TWO CHAIRS
FORM A VIS-A-VIS
Suddenly, the distant and melancholy vibration of a
clock shook the panes. Six o’clock was striking from Saint-
Medard.
Jondrette marked off each stroke with a toss of his head.
When the sixth had struck, he snuffed the candle with his
fingers.
Then he began to pace up and down the room, listened at
the corridor, walked on again, then listened once more.
‘Provided only that he comes!’ he muttered, then he re-
turned to his chair.
He had hardly reseated himself when the door opened.
Mother Jondrette had opened it, and now remained in
the corridor making a horrible, amiable grimace, which one
of the holes of the dark-lantern illuminated from below.
‘Enter, sir,’ she said.
‘Enter, my benefactor,’ repeated Jondrette, rising hastily.
M. Leblanc made his appearance.
He wore an air of serenity which rendered him singu-