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

francs
Bed............... 10 francs
Candles...... francs
francs
Attendance....... franc
70 francs
"Twenty-three francesw the wife ex-
claimed in admiration and some doubt.
"He certainly owes it" and thinking of
the doll being given to Cosette instead of
her children. she added, "it Is nothing
but fair that we should have something
out OF him for that, but the bill is too
much; he will not pay it,"
Thenardier laughed and said, "He will
pay it, he lit his pipe and continued be-
tween the puffs-"You may hand that
man his bill"
Then he went out, and had scarcely left
the room when the traveller entered; The
nardier came up behind him and stood in
the half open door where only his vile
could see him. The ''yellow-coated' man
carried his stick aud bundle in his hand.
Cup so soon?" the landady said, ''are
you going 10 leave us already. sir?"
While saying this, she turned the bill
i'm her hands, folding and unfolding it it
seemed difficult 10 her 10 present such
bill 10 a man who looked 80 poor. The
traveller seemed absent-minded, as he re-
piled;
Eyes, madame, | am going"
"Then YOU had no business to transact
in Mont ermeil, sir2' she continued.
mo. | am merely passing through the
town, that is all. What do owe you,
madame?"
The landlady, without replying, hand
ed him the folded paper; he opened it
and looked at it, but he evidently was
thinking OF other matters.
'.Do you do good business here?" he
asked.
Just only tolerable sir. Oh, sir, times
are very bad and then there are so few
people in this part Of the country that
have any wealth. Ii is lucky il We have
now and then, generous and rich travellers
like Yourself, sir, for the expenses are very
high. Why, that little girl costs US nearly
halfwe make"
"What little girl?"
"Why, you know! Cosette, the lark
as they call her around here"
"OhW said the man.
She continued: "What fools these
country people are with their nicknames
She looks more like n bat than lark.
You see, sir, We don't ask for charity, but
we can't giveit; our earnings are small and
our expenses great. You know, sir, that
the government claims terrible lot of
money. And, then, have my own daugh-
tiers, and do not care 10 support another
persons child"
The man replied, in voice which he
tried To make careless, but which slightly
trembled, as he spoke:
"And suppose you were made free OF
herr"
"Of whom? OF Cosette?"
The landlady's red face lighted up with
"A hideous smile. "Ah, my good sir, you
may take her, keep her, carry her of and
eat her and drink her If you want TO, and
may all the saints in Paradise bless you
for it,"
"Itis settled then"
"You really will take her away at once?"
"At once; call her"
,"Cosettew the landlady went TO the
door and shouted.
"In the meanwhile" the man continued.
81 will pay my bill how much is il ~
He took glance nc the bill and could
not restrain start OF surprise. lie looked
at the landlsdy and said slowly, Twenty
three francs?"
Madame Thenardier replied with assur-
ance. ayes, sir; twenty-three francs"
The stranger laid five five-franc pieces on
the table. "Well, bring the girl" he
said.
At this moment Thenardier walked into
the middle OF the room and said:
"This gentleman and | must have some
talk about this girl Cosette. Leave me,
my wife"
As soon as they were alone Thenardier
offered the traveller chair; he sat down,
| but Thenardier remained standing and
| his face assumed an expression of kindli-
ness and simplicity
"I must tell you, sir" he said, "that /
| adore the child"
The stranger looked at him fixedly.
| "What child?"
Thenardier continued, GLOW strange it
il. but YOU do grow attached to them
| What is the meaning of all that money!
Put it back in your pocket tell you
adore the child"
"What child?' the stranger asked
again.
"Why, our little Cosette Don't you
wish to take her from us? Well, | speak
frankly, and, as true as you are an honest
man. / cannot consent. i should miss the
child, for / have known her ever since
she was baby. IL is true that she costs
us money and that she has her faults, too ,
we are not rich, but paid more than four
| hundred francs for medicine for a spell of
| sickness that she had not long ago. She
has neither father nor mother, and / have
brought her up. and / still have bread,
both for her and for me. Look you, / am
fond OF the child she is like our own chill
dren, and l want to hear her prattle in the
| house"
The stranger still looked at him steadily
ms he continued: Excuse me, sir. but a
child cannot be given like that to the first
passer-by. You will allow that / am
right? don't say that you are not rich
and look like very worthy man, but |
am bound to know all that for certain. /
should wish to know where she is and 60
and see her now and then. that the child
might know that was still watching over
her. / don't even know your name"
The stranger said in grave. firm voice !:
Monsieur Thenardier, a man does not
require passport to go four leagues from
Paris; and if / take Cosette away, l take
her away, that is all. You will not know
my name, my residence, or where she is,
and it is my intention that she shall never
see you again. / break the string which
she has around her foot, and away she
flies. Doesn't that suit you? Yes or no?''
''Sir," he said, after thinking and study
| ing for some time, II want 800 francs