按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
he Rue Droit…Mur and the Rue Petit…Picpus； he recoiled。
There could be no doubt of it。 That phantom was lying in wait for him。
What was he to do？
The time for retreating was passed。
That which he had perceived in movement an instant before； in the distant darkness； was Javert and his squad without a doubt。
Javert was probably already at the mencement of the street at whose end Jean Valjean stood。 Javert； to all appearances； was acquainted with this little labyrinth； and had taken his precautions by sending one of his men to guard the exit。
These surmises； which so closely resembled proofs； whirled suddenly； like a handful of dust caught up by an unexpected gust of wind； through Jean Valjean's mournful brain。 He examined the Cul…de…Sac Genrot； there he was cut off。 He examined the Rue Petit…Picpus； there stood a sentinel。
He saw that black form standing out in relief against the white pavement； illuminated by the moon； to advance was to fall into this man's hands； to retreat was to fling himself into Javert's arms。
Jean Valjean felt himself caught； as in a net； which was slowly contracting； he gazed heavenward in despair。
BOOK FIFTH。FOR A BLACK HUNT； A MUTE PACK
CHAPTER IV
THE GROPINGS OF FLIGHT
In order to understand what follows； it is requisite to form an exact idea of the Droit…Mur lane； and； in particular； of the angle which one leaves on the left when one emerges from the Rue Polonceau into this lane。
Droit…Mur lane was almost entirely bordered on the right； as far as the Rue Petit…Picpus； by houses of mean aspect； on the left by a solitary building of severe outlines； posed of numerous parts which grew gradually higher by a story or two as they approached the Rue Petit…Picpus side； so that this building； which was very lofty on the Rue Petit…Picpus side； was tolerably low on the side adjoining the Rue Polonceau。
There； at the angle of which we have spoken； it descended to such a degree that it consisted of merely a wall。
This wall did not abut directly on the Street； it formed a deeply retreating niche； concealed by its two corners
from two observers who might have been； one in the Rue Polonceau； the other in the Rue Droit…Mur。
Beginning with these angles of the niche； the wall extended along the Rue Polonceau as far as a house which bore the number 49； and along the Rue Droit…Mur； where the fragment was much shorter； as far as the gloomy building which we have mentioned and whose gable it intersected； thus forming another retreating angle in the street。 This gable was sombre of aspect； only one window was visible； or； to speak more correctly； two shutters covered with a sheet of zinc and kept constantly closed。
The state of the places of which we are here giving a description is rigorously exact； and will certainly awaken a very precise memory in the mind of old inhabitants of the quarter。
The niche was entirely filled by a thing which resembled a colossal and wretched door； it was a vast； formless assemblage of perpendicular planks； the upper ones being broader than the lower； bound together by long transverse strips of iron。 At one side there was a carriage gate of the ordinary dimensions； and which had evidently not been cut more than fifty years previously。
A linden…tree showed its crest above the niche； and the wall was covered with ivy on the side of the Rue Polonceau。
In the imminent peril in which Jean Valjean found himself； this sombre building had about it a solitary and uninhabited look which tempted him。
He ran his eyes rapidly over it； he said to himself； that if he could contrive to get inside it； he might save himself。 First he conceived an idea； then a hope。
In the central portion of the front of this building； on the Rue Droit…Mur side； there were at all the windows of the different stories ancient cistern pipes of lead。
The various branches of the pipes which led from one central pipe to all these little basins sketched out a sort of tree on the front。
These ramifications of pipes with their hundred elbows imitated those old leafless vine…stocks which writhe over the fronts of old farm…houses。
This odd espalier； with its branches of lead and iron； was the first thing that struck Jean Valjean。
He seated Cosette with her back against a stone post； with an injunction to be silent； and ran to the spot where the conduit touched the pavement。 Perhaps there was some way of climbing up by it and entering the house。 But the pipe was dilapidated and past service； and hardly hung to its fastenings。
Moreover； all the windows of this silent dwelling were grated with heavy iron bars； even the attic windows in the roof。 And then； the moon fell full upon that facade； and the man who was watching at the corner of the street would have seen Jean Valjean in the act of climbing。
And finally； what was to be done with Cosette？ How was she to be drawn up to the top of a three…story house？
He gave up all idea of climbing by means of the drain…pipe； and crawled along the wall to get back into the Rue Polonceau。
When he reached the slant of the wall where he had left Cosette； he noticed that no one could see him there。
As we have just explained； he was concealed from all eyes； no matter from which direction they were approaching； besides this； he was in the shadow。 Finally； there were two doors； perhaps they might be forced。 The wall above which he saw the linden…tree and the ivy evidently abutted on a garden where he could； at least； hide himself； although there were as yet no leaves on the trees； and spend the remainder of the night。
Time was passing； he must act quickly。
He felt over the carriage door； and immediately recognized the fact that it was impracticable outside and in。
He approached the other door with more hope； it was frightfully decrepit； its very immensity rendered it less solid； the planks were rotten； the iron bandsthere were only three of themwere rusted。
It seemed as though it might be possible to pierce this worm…eaten barrier。
On examining it he found that the door was not a door； it had neither hinges； cross…bars； lock； nor fi