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and bent down as though to examine something。 Marius then recognized the fact； that what he had taken for a shapeless mass was a very well…made rope…ladder； with wooden rungs and two hooks with which to attach it。
This ladder； and some large tools； veritable masses of iron； which were mingled with the old iron piled up behind the door； had not been in the Jondrette hovel in the morning； and had evidently been brought thither in the afternoon； during Marius' absence。
〃Those are the utensils of an edge…tool maker；〃 thought Marius。
Had Marius been a little more learned in this line； he would have recognized in what he took for the engines of an edge…tool maker； certain instruments which will force a lock or pick a lock； and others which will cut or slice； the two families of tools which burglars call cadets and fauchants。
The fireplace and the two chairs were exactly opposite Marius。 The brazier being concealed； the only light in the room was now furnished by the candle； the smallest bit of crockery on the table or on the chimney…piece cast a large shadow。
There was something indescribably calm； threatening； and hideous about this chamber。 One felt that there existed in it the anticipation of something terrible。
Jondrette had allowed his pipe to go out； a serious sign of preoccupation； and had again seated himself。
The candle brought out the fierce and the fine angles of his countenance。
He indulged in scowls and in abrupt unfoldings of the right hand； as though he were responding to the last counsels of a sombre inward monologue。
In the course of one of these dark replies which he was making to himself； he pulled the table drawer rapidly towards him； took out a long kitchen knife which was concealed there； and tried the edge of its blade on his nail。
That done； he put the knife back in the drawer and shut it。
Marius； on his side； grasped the pistol in his right pocket； drew it out and cocked it。
The pistol emitted a sharp； clear click； as he cocked it。
Jondrette started； half rose； listened a moment； then began to laugh and said：
〃What a fool I am！
It's the partition cracking！〃
Marius kept the pistol in his hand。
BOOK EIGHTH。THE WICKED POOR MAN
CHAPTER XVIII
MARIUS' TWO CHAIRS FORM A VIS…A…VIS
Suddenly； the distant and melancholy vibration of a clock shook the panes。
Six o'clock was striking from Saint…Medard。
Jondrette marked off each stroke with a toss of his head。 When the sixth had struck； he snuffed the candle with his fingers。
Then he began to pace up and down the room； listened at the corridor； walked on again； then listened once more。
〃Provided only that he es！〃 he muttered； then he returned to his chair。
He had hardly reseated himself when the door opened。
Mother Jondrette had opened it； and now remained in the corridor making a horrible； amiable grimace； which one of the holes of the dark…lantern illuminated from below。
〃Enter； sir；〃 she said。
〃Enter； my benefactor；〃 repeated Jondrette； rising hastily。
M。 Leblanc made his appearance。
He wore an air of serenity which rendered him singularly venerable。
He laid four louis on the table。
〃Monsieur Fabantou；〃 said he； 〃this is for your rent and your most pressing necessities。
We will attend to the rest hereafter。〃
〃May God requite it to you； my generous benefactor！〃 said Jondrette。
And rapidly approaching his wife：
〃Dismiss the carriage！〃
She slipped out while her husband was lavishing salutes and offering M。 Leblanc a chair。
An instant later she returned and whispered in his ear：
〃'Tis done。〃
The snow； which had not ceased falling since the morning； was so deep that the arrival of the fiacre had not been audible； and they did not now hear its departure。
Meanwhile； M。 Leblanc had seated himself。
Jondrette had taken possession of the other chair； facing M。 Leblanc。
Now； in order to form an idea of the scene which is to follow； let the reader picture to himself in his own mind； a cold night； the solitudes of the Salpetriere covered with snow and white as winding…sheets in the moonlight； the taper…like lights of the street lanterns which shone redly here and there along those tragic boulevards； and the long rows of black elms； not a passer…by for perhaps a quarter of a league around； the Gorbeau hovel； at its highest pitch of silence； of horror； and of darkness； in that building； in the midst of those solitudes； in the midst of that darkness； the vast Jondrette garret lighted by a single candle； and in that den two men seated at a table； M。 Leblanc tranquil； Jondrette smiling and alarming； the Jondrette woman； the female wolf； in one corner； and； behind the partition； Marius； invisible； erect； not losing a word； not missing a single movement； his eye on the watch； and pistol in hand。
However； Marius experienced only an emotion of horror； but no fear。 He clasped the stock of the pistol firmly and felt reassured。 〃I shall be able to stop that wretch whenever I please；〃 he thought。
He felt that the police were there somewhere in ambuscade； waiting for the signal agreed upon and ready to stretch out their arm。
Moreover； he was in hopes； that this violent encounter between Jondrette and M。 Leblanc would cast some light on all the things which he was interested in learning。
BOOK EIGHTH。THE WICKED POOR MAN
CHAPTER XIX
OCCUPYING ONE'S SELF WITH OBSCURE DEPTHS
Hardly was M。 Leblanc seated； when he turned his eyes towards the pallets； which were empty。
〃How is the poor little wounded girl？〃 he inquired。
〃Bad；〃 replied Jondrette with a heart…broken and grateful smile； 〃very bad； my worthy sir。
Her elder sister has taken her to the Bourbe to have her hurt dressed。
You will see them presently； they will be back immediately。〃
〃Madame Fabantou seems to me to be better；〃 went on M。 Leblanc； casting his eyes on the eccentric costume of the Jondrette woman； as she stood between him and the door； as though already guarding the exit； and gazed at him in an attitude of menace and almost of bat。
〃She is dying；〃 said Jondrette。
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