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There was an unknown quantity about Thenardier； hence the absolute empire of the man over that woman。
At certain moments she beheld him like a lighted candle； at others she felt him like a claw。
This woman was a formidable creature who loved no one except her children； and who did not fear any one except her husband。 She was a mother because she was mammiferous。
But her maternity stopped short with her daughters； and； as we shall see； did not extend to boys。
The man had but one thought；how to enrich himself。
He did not succeed in this。
A theatre worthy of this great talent was lacking。
Thenardier was ruining himself at Montfermeil； if ruin is possible to zero； in Switzerland or in the Pyrenees this penniless scamp would have bee a millionaire； but an inn…keeper must browse where fate has hitched him。
It will be understood that the word inn…keeper is here employed in a restricted sense； and does not extend to an entire class。
In this same year； 1823； Thenardier was burdened with about fifteen hundred francs' worth of petty debts； and this rendered him anxious。
Whatever may have been the obstinate injustice of destiny in this case； Thenardier was one of those men who understand best； with the most profundity and in the most modern fashion； that thing which is a virtue among barbarous peoples and an object of merchandise among civilized peoples；hospitality。
Besides； he was an admirable poacher； and quoted for his skill in shooting。
He had a certain cold and tranquil laugh； which was particularly dangerous。
His theories as a landlord sometimes burst forth in lightning flashes。 He had professional aphorisms； which he inserted into his wife's mind。 〃The duty of the inn…keeper；〃 he said to her one day； violently； and in a low voice； 〃is to sell to the first er； stews； repose； light； fire； dirty sheets； a servant； lice； and a smile； to stop passers…by； to empty small purses； and to honestly lighten heavy ones； to shelter travelling families respectfully：
to shave the man； to pluck the woman； to pick the child clean； to quote the window open； the window shut； the chimney…corner； the arm…chair； the chair； the ottoman； the stool； the feather…bed； the mattress and the truss of straw； to know how much the shadow uses up the mirror； and to put a price on it； and； by five hundred thousand devils； to make the traveller pay for everything； even for the flies which his dog eats！〃
This man and this woman were ruse and rage weddeda hideous and terrible team。
While the husband pondered and bined； Madame Thenardier thought not of absent creditors； took no heed of yesterday nor of to…morrow； and lived in a fit of anger； all in a minute。
Such were these two beings。
Cosette was between them； subjected to their double pressure； like a creature who is at the same time being ground up in a mill and pulled to pieces with pincers。
The man and the woman each had a different method：
Cosette was overwhelmed with blowsthis was the woman's； she went barefooted in winter that was the man's doing。
Cosette ran up stairs and down； washed； swept； rubbed； dusted； ran； fluttered about； panted； moved heavy articles； and weak as she was； did the coarse work。
There was no mercy for her； a fierce mistress and venomous master。
The Thenardier hostelry was like a spider's web； in which Cosette had been caught； and where she lay trembling。 The ideal of oppression was realized by this sinister household。 It was something like the fly serving the spiders。
The poor child passively held her peace。
What takes place within these souls when they have but just quitted God； find themselves thus； at the very dawn of life； very small and in the midst of men all naked！
BOOK THIRD。ACPLISHMENT OF THE PROMISE MADE TO THE DEAD WOMAN
CHAPTER III
MEN MUST HAVE WINE； AND HORSES MUST HAVE WATER
Four new travellers had arrived。
Cosette was meditating sadly； for； although she was only eight years old； she had already suffered so much that she reflected with the lugubrious air of an old woman。
Her eye was black in consequence of a blow from Madame Thenardier's fist； which caused the latter to remark from time to time； 〃How ugly she is with her fist…blow on her eye！〃
Cosette was thinking that it was dark； very dark； that the pitchers and caraffes in the chambers of the travellers who had arrived must have been filled and that there was no more water in the cistern。
She was somewhat reassured because no one in the Thenardier establishment drank much water。
Thirsty people were never lacking there； but their thirst was of the sort which applies to the jug rather than to the pitcher。
Any one who had asked for a glass of water among all those glasses of wine would have appeared a savage to all these men。
But there came a moment when the child trembled； Madame Thenardier raised the cover of a stew…pan which was boiling on the stove； then seized a glass and briskly approached the cistern。 She turned the faucet； the child had raised her head and was following all the woman's movements。
A thin stream of water trickled from the faucet； and half filled the glass。
〃Well；〃 said she； 〃there is no more water！〃
A momentary silence ensued。
The child did not breathe。
〃Bah！〃 resumed Madame Thenardier； examining the half…filled glass； 〃this will be enough。〃
Cosette applied herself to her work once more； but for a quarter of an hour she felt her heart leaping in her bosom like a big snow…flake。
She counted the minutes that passed in this manner； and wished it were the next morning。
From time to time one of the drinkers looked into the street； and exclaimed； 〃It's as black as an oven！〃 or； 〃One must needs be a cat to go about the streets without a lantern at this hour！〃 And Cosette trembled。
All at once one of the pedlers who lodged in the hostelry entered； and said in a harsh voice：
〃My horse has not been watered。〃
〃Yes； it has；〃 said Madame Thenardier。
〃I tell you that it has not；〃 retorted the pedler。
Cosette had emerged from under the table。
〃Oh； yes； sir！〃 said she； 〃t