420 Les Miserables
He paid what was asked, left the tilbury with the wheel-
wright to be repaired, intending to reclaim it on his return,
had the white horse put to the cart, climbed into it, and
resumed the road which he had been travelling since morn-
ing.
At the moment when the cart moved off, he admitted
that he had felt, a moment previously, a certain joy in the
thought that he should not go whither he was now proceed-
ing. He examined this joy with a sort of wrath, and found
it absurd. Why should he feel joy at turning back? After all,
he was taking this trip of his own free will. No one was forc-
ing him to it.
And assuredly nothing would happen except what he
should choose.
As he left Hesdin, he heard a voice shouting to him:
‘Stop! Stop!’ He halted the cart with a vigorous movement
which contained a feverish and convulsive element resem-
bling hope.
It was the old woman’s little boy.
‘Monsieur,’ said the latter, ‘it was I who got the cart for
you.’
‘Wel l? ’
‘You have not given me anything.’
He who gave to all so readily thought this demand exor-
bitant and almost odious.
‘Ah! it’s you, you scamp?’ said he; ‘you shall have noth-
ing.’
He whipped up his horse and set off at full speed.
He had lost a great deal of time at Hesdin. He wanted to