2406 Les Miserables
‘With respect.’
The letter was signed ‘Thenard.’
This signature was not false. It was merely a trifle
abridged.
Moreover, the rigmarole and the orthography completed
the revelation. The certificate of origin was complete.
Marius’ emotion was profound. After a start of surprise,
he underwent a feeling of happiness. If he could now but
find that other man of whom he was in search, the man who
had saved him, Marius, there would be nothing left for him
to desire.
He opened the drawer of his secretary, took out sever-
al bank-notes, put them in his pocket, closed the secretary
again, and rang the bell. Basque half opened the door.
‘Show the man in,’ said Marius.
Basque announced:
‘Monsieur Thenard.’
A man entered.
A fresh surprise for Marius. The man who entered was
an utter stranger to him.
This man, who was old, moreover, had a thick nose, his
chin swathed in a cravat, green spectacles with a double
screen of green taffeta over his eyes, and his hair was plas-
tered and flattened down on his brow on a level with his
eyebrows like the wigs of English coachmen in ‘high life.’
His hair was gray. He was dressed in black from head to
foot, in garments that were very threadbare but clean; a
bunch of seals depending from his fob suggested the idea of
a watch. He held in his hand an old hat! He walked in a bent