1958 Les Miserables
CHAPTER IV
GAVROCHE’S
EXCESS OF ZEAL
In the meantime, Gavroche had had an adventure.
Gavroche, after having conscientiously stoned the
lantern in the Rue du Chaume, entered the Rue des Vielles-
Haudriettes, and not seeing ‘even a cat’ there, he thought
the opportunity a good one to strike up all the song of which
he was capable. His march, far from being retarded by his
singing, was accelerated by it. He began to sow along the
sleeping or terrified houses these incendiary couplets:—“L’oiseau medit dans les charmilles,
Et pretend qu’ hier Atala
Avec un Russe s’en alla.
Ou vont les belles filles,
Lon la.‘Mon ami Pierrot, tu babilles,
Parce que l’autre jour Mila
Cogna sa vitre et m’appela,