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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 vio-
lence 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 metamor-
phosis, 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 gentle-
ma n.’
All retired towards the door.
He went on:—
‘Monsieur, you did wrong to try to jump out of the win-
dow. You might have broken your leg. Now, if you will permit
me, we will converse quietly. In the first place, I must com-
municate to you an observation which I have made which
is, that you have not uttered the faintest cry.’