Les miserables (Abridged) - Victor Hugo [290]
The prisoner paid no attention to what was passing about him. He seemed to be dreaming or praying.
As soon as the ladder was fixed, Thénardier cried:
“Come, old lady!”
And he rushed towards the window.
But as he was stepping out, Bigrenaille seized him roughly by the collar.
“No way, old joker! after us.”
“After us!” howled the bandits.
“You are children,” said Thénardier. “We are losing time. The fuzz is at our heels.”
“Well,” said one of the bandits, “let us draw lots who shall go out first.”
Thénardier exclaimed:
“Are you fools? are you cracked? You are a mess of bunglers! Losing time, isn’t it? drawing lots, isn’t it? with a wet finger! for the short straw! write our names! put them in a cap!—”
“Would you like my hat?” cried a voice from the door.
They all turned round. It was Javert.
He had his hat in his hand, and was holding it out smiling.
20 (21)
THE VICTIMS SHOULD ALWAYS BE ARRESTED FIRST
JAVERT, at nightfall, had posted his men and hid himself behind the trees on the Rue de la Barrière des Gobelins, which fronts the Gorbeau tenement on the other side of the boulevard. He commenced by opening “his pocket,” to put into it the two young girls, who were charged with watching the approaches to the den. But he only “bagged” Azelma. As for Eponine, she was not at her post; she had disappeared and he could not take her. Then Javert held off, and listened for the signal agreed upon. The going and coming of the fiacre made him very anxious. At last, he became impatient, and, sure that there was a nest there, sure of being “in good luck,” having recognised several of the bandits who had gone in, he finally decided to go up without waiting for the pistol shot.
It will be remembered that he had Marius’ pass-key.
He had come at the right time.
The frightened bandits rushed for the weapons which they had thrown down anywhere when they had attempted to escape. In less than a second, these seven men, terrible to look upon, were grouped in a posture of defence; one with his pole-axe, another with his key, a third with his club, the others with the shears, the pincers, and the hammers, Thénardier grasping his knife. The Thénardiess seized a huge paving-stone which was in the corner of the window, and which served her daughters for a stool.
Javert put on his hat again, and stepped into the room, his arms folded, his cane under his arm, his sword in its sheath.
“Halt there,” said he. “You will not pass out through the window, you will pass out through the door. It is less unwholesome. There are seven of you, fifteen of us. Don’t let us collar you like peasants. Let’s be nice.”
Bigrenaille took a pistol which he had concealed under his smock, and put it into Thénardier’s hand, whispering in his ear:
“It is Javert. I dare not fire at that man. Dare you?”
“Damn right!” answered Thénardier.
“Well, fire.”
Thénardier took the pistol, and aimed at Javert.
Javert, who was within three paces, looked at him steadily, and contented himself with saying:
“Don’t fire, now! It will flash in the pan.”
Thénardier pulled the trigger. The pistol flashed in the pan.
“I told you so!” said Javert.
Bigrenaille threw his tomahawk at Javert’s feet.
“You are the emperor of the devils! I surrender.”
“And you?” asked Javert of the other bandits.
They answered:
“We, too.”
Javert replied calmly:
“That is it, that is well, I said so, we’re being nice.”
“I only ask one thing,” said Bigrenaille, “that is, that I shan’t be refused tobacco while I am in solitary.”
“Granted,” said Javert.
And turning round and calling behind him: “Come in now!”
A squad of sergents de ville with drawn swords, and officers armed with axes and clubs, rushed in at Javert’s call. They bound the bandits. This crowd of men, dimly lighted by a candle, filled the den with shadow.
“Handcuffs on all!” cried Javert.
“Come on, then!” cried a voice which was not a man’s voice, but of which nobody could have said: