Les miserables (Abridged) - Victor Hugo [175]
“Come, child!” said he to Cosette, and he made haste to get out of the Rue de Pontoise.
He made a circuit, went round the arcade des Patriarches, which was closed on account of the lateness of the hour, walked rapidly through the Rue de l‘Epée-de-Bois and the Rue de l’Arbalète, and plunged into the Rue des Postes.
There was a square there, where the College Rollin now is, and from which branches off the Rue Neuve-Sainte-Geneviève.
The moon lighted up this square brightly. Jean Valjean concealed himself in a doorway, calculating that if these men were still following him, he could not fail to get a good view of them when they crossed this lighted space.
In fact, three minutes had not elapsed when the men appeared. There were now four of them; all were tall, dressed in long brown coats, with bowler hats, and great clubs in their hands. They were not less fearfully forbidding by their size and their large fists than by their stealthy tread in the darkness. One would have taken them for four spectres in civilian dress.
They stopped in the centre of the square and formed a group like people consulting. They appeared undecided. The man who seemed to be the leader turned and energetically pointed in the direction in which Jean Valjean was; one of the others seemed to insist with some obstinacy on the contrary direction. At the instant when the leader turned, the moon shone full in his face. Jean Valjean recognised Javert perfectly.
2
IT IS FORTUNATE THAT VEHICLES CAN CROSS THE BRIDGE OF AUSTERLITZ
UNCERTAINTY was at an end for Jean Valjean; happily, it still continued with these men. He took advantage of their hesitation; it was time lost for them, gained for him. He came out from the doorway in which he was concealed, and made his way into the Rue des Postes towards the region of the Jardin des Plantes. Cosette began to be tired; he took her in his arms, and carried her. There was nobody in the streets, and the lamps had not been lighted on account of the moon.
He doubled his pace.
He arrived at the bridge of Austerlitz.
It was still a toll-bridge at this period.
He presented himself at the toll-house and gave a sou.
“It is two sous,” said the toll-keeper. “You are carrying a child who can walk. Pay for two.”
He paid, annoyed that his passage should have attracted observation. All flight should be gliding.
A large cart was passing the Seine at the same time, and like him was going towards the right bank. This could be made of use. He could go the whole length of the bridge in the shadow of this cart.
Towards the middle of the bridge, Cosette, her feet becoming numb, desired to walk. He put her down and took her by the hand.
The bridge passed, he perceived some wood-yards a little to the right and walked in that direction. To get there, he must venture into a large clear open space. He did not hesitate. Those who followed him were evidently thrown off his track, and Jean Valjean believed himself out of danger. Sought for, he might be, but followed he was not.
A little street, the Rue de Chemin Vert Saint Antoine, opened between two wood-yards inclosed by walls. This street was narrow, obscure, and seemed made expressly for him. Before entering it, he looked back.
From the point where he was, he could see the whole length of the bridge of Austerlitz.
Four shadows, at that moment, entered upon the bridge.
These shadows were coming from the Jardin des Plantes towards the right bank.
These four shadows were the four men.
Jean Valjean felt a shudder like that of the deer when he sees the hounds again upon his track.
One hope was left him; it was that these men had not entered upon the bridge, and had not perceived him when he crossed the large square clear space leading Cosette by the hand.
In that case, by plunging into the little street before him, if he could succeed in reaching the wood-yards, the marshes, the fields, the open ground, he