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M。 Mabeuf had set himself to turning over and reading； with the aid of his glasses； two books of which he was passionately fond and in which； a serious thing at his age； he was interested。 His natural timidity rendered him accessible to the acceptance of superstitions in a certain degree。
The first of these books was the famous treatise of President Delancre； De l'inconstance des Demons； the other was a quarto by Mutor de la Rubaudiere； Sur les Diables de Vauvert et les Gobelins de la Bievre。
This last…mentioned old volume interested him all the more； because his garden had been one of the spots haunted by goblins in former times。
The twilight had begun to whiten what was on high and to blacken all below。 As he read； over the top of the book which he held in his hand； Father Mabeuf was surveying his plants； and among others a magnificent rhododendron which was one of his consolations； four days of heat； wind； and sun without a drop of rain； had passed； the stalks were bending； the buds drooping； the leaves falling； all this needed water； the rhododendron was particularly sad。 Father Mabeuf was one of those persons for whom plants have souls。 The old man had toiled all day over his indigo plot； he was worn out with fatigue； but he rose； laid his books on the bench； and walked； all bent over and with tottering footsteps； to the well； but when he had grasped the chain； he could not even draw it sufficiently to unhook it。
Then he turned round and cast a glance of anguish toward heaven which was being studded with stars。
The evening had that serenity which overwhelms the troubles of man beneath an indescribably mournful and eternal joy。
The night promised to be as arid as the day had been。
〃Stars everywhere！〃 thought the old man； 〃not the tiniest cloud！ Not a drop of water！〃
And his head； which had been upraised for a moment； fell back upon his breast。
He raised it again； and once more looked at the sky； murmuring：
〃A tear of dew！
A little pity！〃
He tried again to unhook the chain of the well； and could not。
At that moment； he heard a voice saying：
〃Father Mabeuf； would you like to have me water your garden for you？〃
At the same time； a noise as of a wild animal passing became audible in the hedge； and he beheld emerging from the shrubbery a sort of tall； slender girl； who drew herself up in front of him and stared boldly at him。
She had less the air of a human being than of a form which had just blossomed forth from the twilight。
Before Father Mabeuf； who was easily terrified； and who was； as we have said； quick to take alarm； was able to reply by a single syllable； this being； whose movements had a sort of odd abruptness in the darkness； had unhooked the chain； plunged in and withdrawn the bucket； and filled the watering…pot； and the goodman beheld this apparition； which had bare feet and a tattered petticoat； running about among the flower…beds distributing life around her。
The sound of the watering…pot on the leaves filled Father Mabeuf's soul with ecstasy。 It seemed to him that the rhododendron was happy now。
The first bucketful emptied； the girl drew a second； then a third。 She watered the whole garden。
There was something about her； as she thus ran about among paths； where her outline appeared perfectly black； waving her angular arms； and with her fichu all in rags； that resembled a bat。
When she had finished； Father Mabeuf approached her with tears in his eyes； and laid his hand on her brow。
〃God will bless you；〃 said he； 〃you are an angel since you take care of the flowers。〃
〃No；〃 she replied。
〃I am the devil； but that's all the same to me。〃
The old man exclaimed； without either waiting for or hearing her response：
〃What a pity that I am so unhappy and so poor； and that I can
do nothing for you！〃
〃You can do something；〃 said she。
〃What？〃
〃Tell me where M。 Marius lives。〃
The old man did not understand。
〃What Monsieur Marius？〃
He raised his glassy eyes and seemed to be seeking something that had vanished。
〃A young man who used to e here。〃
In the meantime； M。 Mabeuf had searched his memory。
〃Ah！ yes〃 he exclaimed。
〃I know what you mean。
Wait！ Monsieur Mariusthe Baron Marius Pontmercy； parbleu！
He lives； or rather； he no longer lives；ah well； I don't know。〃
As he spoke； he had bent over to train a branch of rhododendron； and he continued：
〃Hold； I know now。
He very often passes along the boulevard； and goes in the direction of the Glaciere； Rue Croulebarbe。 The meadow of the Lark。
Go there。
It is not hard to meet him。〃
When M。 Mabeuf straightened himself up； there was no longer any one there； the girl had disappeared。
He was decidedly terrified。
〃Really；〃 he thought； 〃if my garden had not been watered； I should think that she was a spirit。〃
An hour later； when he was in bed； it came back to him； and as he fell asleep； at that confused moment when thought； like that fabulous bird which changes itself into a fish in order to cross the sea； little by little assumes the form of a dream in order to traverse slumber； he said to himself in a bewildered way：
〃In sooth； that greatly resembles what Rubaudiere narrates of the goblins。
Could it have been a goblin？〃
BOOK SECOND。EPONINE
CHAPTER IV
AN APPARITION TO MARIUS
Some days after this visit of a 〃spirit〃 to Farmer Mabeuf； one morning； it was on a Monday； the day when Marius borrowed the hundred…sou piece from Courfeyrac for ThenardierMarius had put this coin in his pocket； and before carrying it to the clerk's office； he had gone 〃to take a little stroll；〃 in the hope that this would make him work on his return。
It was always thus； however。
As soon as he rose； he seated himself before a book and a sheet of paper in order to scribble some translation； his task at that epoch consisted in turning into French a celebrated quarrel between Germans； the Gans and Savigny controversy； he took Savigny； he took Gans； read four lines； tried to write one； could not； saw a star between him and his paper； and rose from his c