2190 Les Miserables
ease; while affecting an air of mystery, he spoke low; from
time to time he laid his finger on his mouth, and muttered,
‘hush!’ It was difficult to divine why. There was no one there
except themselves. Jean Valjean thought that other ruffians
might possibly be concealed in some nook, not very far off,
and that Thenardier did not care to share with them.
Thenardier resumed:
‘Let’s settle up. How much did the stiff have in his bags?’
Jean Valjean searched his pockets.
It was his habit, as the reader will remember, to always
have some money about him. The mournful life of expedi-
ents to which he had been condemned imposed this as a law
upon him. On this occasion, however, he had been caught
unprepared. When donning his uniform of a National
Guardsman on the preceding evening, he had forgotten,
dolefully absorbed as he was, to take his pocket-book. He
had only some small change in his fob. He turned out his
pocket, all soaked with ooze, and spread out on the ban-
quette of the vault one louis d’or, two five-franc pieces, and
five or six large sous.
Thenardier thrust out his lower lip with a significant
twist of the neck.
‘You knocked him over cheap,’ said he.
He set to feeling the pockets of Jean Valjean and Marius,
with the greatest familiarity. Jean Valjean, who was chiefly
concerned in keeping his back to the light, let him have his
way.
While handling Marius’ coat, Thenardier, with the skill
of a pickpocket, and without being noticed by Jean Valjean,