174 2 Les Miserables
him w it h his eyes, a nd at t he moment when t he door opened,
and Marius was on the point of going out, he advanced four
paces, with the senile vivacity of impetuous and spoiled old
gentlemen, seized Marius by the collar, brought him back
energetically into the room, flung him into an armchair and
said to him:—
‘Tell me all about it!’
‘It was that single word ‘father’ which had effected this
revolution.
Marius stared at him in bewilderment. M. Gillenor-
mand’s mobile face was no longer expressive of anything but
rough and ineffable good-nature. The grandsire had given
way before the grandfather.
‘Come, see here, speak, tell me about your love affairs,
jabber, tell me everything! Sapristi! how stupid young folks
are!’
‘Father—‘ repeated Marius.
The old man’s entire countenance lighted up with inde-
scribable radiance.
‘Yes, that’s right, call me father, and you’ll see!’
There was now something so kind, so gentle, so open-
hearted, and so paternal in this brusqueness, that Marius,
in the sudden transition from discouragement to hope, was
stunned and intoxicated by it, as it were. He was seated near
the table, the light from the candles brought out the dilapi-
dation of his costume, which Father Gillenormand regarded
with amazement.
‘Well, father—‘ said Marius.
‘Ah, by the way,’ interrupted M. Gillenormand, ‘you really