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Marius related the adventure to him: That a person with whom he was not acquainted otherwise than by sight, was to be inveigled into a trap that very evening; that, as he occupied the room adjoining the den, he, Marius Pontmercy, a lawyer, had heard the whole plot through the partition; that the wretch who had planned the trap was a certain Jondrette; that there would be accomplices, probably some prowlers of the barriers, among others a certain Panchaud, alias Printanier, alias Bigrenaille; that Jondrette's daughters were to lie in wait; that there was no way of warning the threatened man, since he did not even know his name; and that, finally, all this was to be carried out at six o'clock that evening, at the most deserted point of the Boulevard de l'Hopital, in house No. 50-52.
Still, in spite of his mournful preoccupation, he could not refrain from saying to himself that this prowler of the barriers with whom Jondrette was talking resembled a certain Panchaud, alias Printanier, alias Bigrenaille, whom Courfeyrac had once pointed out to him as a very dangerous nocturnal roamer. This man's name the reader has learned in the preceding book.
This Panchaud, alias Printanier, alias Bigrenaille, figured later on in many criminal trials, and became a notorious rascal. He was at that time only a famous rascal. To-day he exists in the state of tradition among ruffians and assassins. He was at the head of a school towards the end of the last reign.
There are seven of you, there are fifteen of us. Don't let's fall to collaring each other like men of Auvergne." Bigrenaille drew out a pistol which he had kept concealed under his blouse, and put it in Thenardier's hand, whispering in the latter's ear: "It's Javert. I don't dare fire at that man. Do you dare?" "Parbleu!" replied Thenardier. "Well, then, fire."
"It's in Eponine's handwriting. The devil!" He made a sign to his wife, who hastily drew near, and showed her the line written on the sheet of paper, then he added in a subdued voice: "Quick! The ladder! Let's leave the bacon in the mousetrap and decamp!" "Without cutting that man's throat?" asked, the Thenardier woman. "We haven't the time." "Through what?" resumed Bigrenaille.
Thenardier took the pistol and aimed at Javert. Javert, who was only three paces from him, stared intently at him and contented himself with saying: "Come now, don't fire. You'll miss fire." Thenardier pulled the trigger. The pistol missed fire. "Didn't I tell you so!" ejaculated Javert. Bigrenaille flung his bludgeon at Javert's feet. "You're the emperor of the fiends! I surrender." "And you?"
And, catching sight of the old man who had been stretched across the room by the blow from M. Leblanc's fist, and who made no movement, he added: "Is Boulatruelle dead?" "No," replied Bigrenaille, "he's drunk." "Sweep him into a corner," said Thenardier. Two of the "chimney-builders" pushed the drunken man into the corner near the heap of old iron with their feet.
"That's true, excuse me!" ejaculated Thenardier, "you are quite right." And turning to Bigrenaille: "Untie the gentleman's right arm." Panchaud, alias Printanier, alias Bigrenaille, executed Thenardier's order. When the prisoner's right arm was free, Thenardier dipped the pen in the ink and presented it to him.
Here are the appellations to which the principal members of Patron-Minette answered, for the names have survived in special memoirs. Panchaud, alias Printanier, alias Bigrenaille. Boulatruelle, the road-mender already introduced. Laveuve. Finistere. Homere-Hogu, a negro. Mardisoir. Depeche. Glorieux, a discharged convict. L'Esplanade-du-Sud. Poussagrive. Carmagnolet. Kruideniers, called Bizarro.
As soon as the ladder was arranged, Thenardier cried: "Come! the bourgeoise first!" And he rushed headlong to the window. But just as he was about to throw his leg over, Bigrenaille seized him roughly by the collar. "Not much, come now, you old dog, after us!" "After us!" yelled the ruffians. "You are children," said Thenardier, "we are losing time. The police are on our heels."
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