722 Les Miserables
The stranger said tranquilly:—
‘Come, Cosette.’
He took Cosette by his left hand, and with his right he
picked up his cudgel, which was lying on the ground.
Thenardier noted the enormous size of the cudgel and
the solitude of the spot.
The man plunged into the forest with the child, leaving
the inn-keeper motionless and speechless.
While they were walking away, Thenardier scrutinized
his huge shoulders, which were a little rounded, and his
great fists.
Then, bringing his eyes back to his own person, they fell
upon his feeble arms and his thin hands. ‘I really must have
been exceedingly stupid not to have thought to bring my
gun,’ he said to himself, ‘since I was going hunting!’
However, the inn-keeper did not give up.
‘I want to know where he is going,’ said he, and he set
out to follow them at a distance. Two things were left on his
hands, an irony in the shape of the paper signed Fantine,
and a consolation, the fifteen hundred francs.
The man led Cosette off in the direction of Livry and
Bondy. He walked slowly, with drooping head, in an at-
titude of reflection and sadness. The winter had thinned
out the forest, so that Thenardier did not lose them from
sight, although he kept at a good distance. The man turned
round from time to time, and looked to see if he was be-
ing followed. All at once he caught sight of Thenardier. He
plunged suddenly into the brushwood with Cosette, where
they could both hide themselves. ‘The deuce!’ said Thenar-