The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-01-21
CHAPTER IX.

CHAPIEk IN.
When the man and Cosette had left,
Thenardier let n good quarter OF an hour
go by and then took his wife 10 one side
and let her see the fifteen hundred francs.
els that ALP" she said
"You are right" ne said, land l am n
fool. Give me my hat"
lie thrust tho three bank notes into his
pocket and went out; he walked along
verv fast and he thought TO himself:
THE man is evidently a millionaire;
he gave away first 20 sous, then francs,
then 80 francs, then 300 francs, and all
with equal ease. There must be some
mystery in il for there was the bundle OF
clothes he had with him looks as though
IL was all prepared before hand. But
shall catch him yet"
And he continued his walk, going rap
idly ahead and when he had passed the
ponds and cut across the old waterway,
he saw under bush the very people he
was after. The child could not be seen,
but the dolls head was visible. Thenar-
der was not mistaken; the man had sat
down there TO let the child rest n little
while, and the tavern-keeper lodged
around the bush and suddenly appeared
before them.
Excuse me, sir, he said. painting, "but
ltIt dio Ooul LOW AidiNcs
The man raised his eyes.
"What is the meaning OF this?"
Thenardier answered respectfully:
at means, SIT. that l am going TO take
Cosette back"
The child started, and chung to the
man. lie answered, looking straight at
Thenardier, and leaving a space between
each word:
You-take-C osette-back?"
ayes, sir. do; the truth is that have
no right 10 give her 90 you. The little
one does not belong 10 me, but TO her
mother, who entrusted her to me, and
can only give her back to her mother.
You will then say 10 me. Her mother is
dead Very we'll. In that case | can
only surrender Cosette to n person who
brings me written authority from her
mother. Isn't that clear enough"
The man, without answering, felt in his
pocket, and Thenardier saw the old pocket
book appear. lie gave start OF Joy and
thought 10 himself, "Good; he is going TO
bride me-"
Before opening the pocket-book the
traveller looked around him; the place
was utterly deserted. The man opened
his pocket-book and took out, not the
handful of bank notes that Thenardier
expected. but simple sheet OF paper,
which he unfolded and handed to the
landlord, saying
"You are right; read"
Thenardier took the paper and read:
an. THENARDIER-You will hand over CO.
settle 10 the bearer. who will pay up all little
matters. Yours. FANTINE"
"Do YOU know the signature?" the man
continued.
After moments silence during which
Thenardier looked crest-fallen, the man
added:
"You can keep that paper as your dis
charge. Come, Cosette."
He took the child by his left hand and
with the right picked up his stick; and
they walked on slowly. Winter had
stripped the trees and shrubs OF all foliage
and 80 Thenardier could see them for
some time. lie could hardly make up
his mind to tho fact that he had received
all the money that he could extort from
the good hearted stranger.
On the evening OF the same day our
travellers entered Paris. The day had
| been a strange one for Cosette; they had
eaten their bread and cheese behind
hedges and had gone some distance on
foot. She did not complain, but she was
very tired and her companion soon
noticed it, lie took her on his back. and
| Cosette. without once letting 60 of Cath
crime, laid her head on his shoulder and
| fell asleep.