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Updated: May 5, 2025
Some time after his moving in, which had borne a singular resemblance to the entrance of nothing at all, to borrow the memorable expression of the principal tenant, this Jondrette had said to the woman, who, like her predecessor, was at the same time portress and stair-sweeper: "Mother So-and-So, if any one should chance to come and inquire for a Pole or an Italian, or even a Spaniard, perchance, it is I."
The eldest Jondrette girl had retired behind the door, and was staring with sombre eyes at that velvet bonnet, that silk mantle, and that charming, happy face. The hovel was so dark, that people coming from without felt on entering it the effect produced on entering a cellar.
"P'pa," cried a voice, "he is not in here." He recognized the voice of the eldest daughter. "Did you go in?" demanded her father. "No," replied the girl, "but as his key is in the door, he must be out." The father exclaimed: "Go in, nevertheless." The door opened, and Marius saw the tall Jondrette come in with a candle in her hand.
"No," said she, "it would embarrass me, I have the two chairs to carry. There is moonlight." Marius heard Mother Jondrette's heavy hand fumbling at his lock in the dark. The door opened. He remained nailed to the spot with the shock and with horror. The Jondrette entered. The dormer window permitted the entrance of a ray of moonlight between two blocks of shadow.
She's not a woman, she's an ox." The Jondrette, touched by his compliment, deprecated it with the affected airs of a flattered monster. "You are always too good to me, Monsieur Jondrette!" "Jondrette!" said M. Leblanc, "I thought your name was Fabantou?" "Fabantou, alias Jondrette!" replied the husband hurriedly. "An artistic sobriquet!"
You shall dine like Charles the Tenth; all is going well!" Then he added: "The mouse-trap is open. The cats are there." He lowered his voice still further, and said: "Put this in the fire." Marius heard a sound of charcoal being knocked with the tongs or some iron utensil, and Jondrette continued: "Have you greased the hinges of the door so that they will not squeak?" "Yes," replied the mother.
Cosette often accompanied Jean Valjean on these visits to the poor, on which they recovered some remnants of their former free intercourse; and sometimes, when the day had been a good one, and they had assisted many in distress, and cheered and warmed many little children, Cosette was rather merry in the evening. It was at this epoch that they paid their visit to the Jondrette den.
"Have you your pocket-book with you? I should be satisfied with a thousand crowns." M. Leblanc sprang up, placed his back against the wall, and cast a rapid glance around the room. He had Jondrette on his left, on the side next the window, and the Jondrette woman and the four men on his right, on the side next the door. The four men did not stir, and did not even seem to be looking on.
His happiness was so great that the horrible discovery of the Thenardiers made in the Jondrette hovel, unexpected as it was, had, after a fashion, glided over him unnoticed. He had succeeded in making his escape; all trace of him was lost what more did he care for! he only thought of those wretched beings to pity them.
A breath of air which made its way in through the open pane, helped to dissipate the smell of the charcoal and to conceal the presence of the brazier. The Jondrette lair was, if the reader recalls what we have said of the Gorbeau building, admirably chosen to serve as the theatre of a violent and sombre deed, and as the envelope for a crime.
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