1316 Les Miserables
quainted with that house?’
The inspector remained silent for a moment, then re-
plied, as he warmed the heel of his boot at the door of the
stove:—
‘Apparently.’
He went on, muttering between his teeth, and not
addressing Marius so much as his cravat:—
‘Patron-Minette must have had a hand in this.’
This word struck Marius.
‘Patron-Minette,’ said he, ‘I did hear that word pro-
nounced, in fact.’
And he repeated to the inspector the dialogue between
the long-haired man and the bearded man in the snow be-
hind the wall of the Rue du Petit-Banquier.
The inspector muttered:—
‘The long-haired man must be Brujon, and the bearded
one Demi-Liard, alias Deux-Milliards.’
He had dropped his eyelids again, and became absorbed
in thought.
‘As for Father What’s-his-name, I think I recognize him.
Here, I’ve burned my coat. They always have too much fire
in these cursed stoves. Number 50-52. Former property of
Gorbeau.’
Then he glanced at Marius.
‘You saw only that bearded and that long-haired man?’
‘And Panchaud.’
‘You didn’t see a little imp of a dandy prowling about the
premises?’
‘No.’