2256 Les Miserables
aroused. When M. Fauchelevent arrived with Cosette, the
porter had not been able to refrain from communicating to
his wife this aside: ‘I don’t know why it is, but I can’t help
fancying that I’ve seen that face before.’
M. Fauchelevent in Marius’ chamber, remained apart
near the door. He had under his arm, a package which bore
considerable resemblance to an octavo volume enveloped in
paper. The enveloping paper was of a greenish hue, and ap-
peared to be mouldy.
‘Does the gentleman always have books like that under
his arm?’ Mademoiselle Gillenormand, who did not like
books, demanded in a low tone of Nicolette.
‘Well,’ retorted M. Gillenormand, who had overheard
her, in the same tone, ‘he’s a learned man. What then? Is
that his fault? Monsieur Boulard, one of my acquaintanc-
es, never walked out without a book under his arm either,
and he always had some old volume hugged to his heart like
t hat.’
And, with a bow, he said aloud:
‘Monsieur Tranchelevent ...’
Father Gillenormand did not do it intentionally, but in-
attention to proper names was an aristocratic habit of his.
‘Monsieur Tranchelevent, I have the honor of asking you,
on behalf of my grandson, Baron Marius Pontmercy, for the
hand of Mademoiselle.’
Monsieur Tranchelevent bowed.
‘That’s settled,’ said the grandfather.
And, turning to Marius and Cosette, with both arms ex-
tended in blessing, he cried: