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ely one stride。
The day was declining； there was not even a cat in the lane； the hour was propitious。 Gavroche began the operation of scaling the hedge； then suddenly paused。 Some one was talking in the garden。
Gavroche peeped through one of the breaks in the hedge。
A couple of paces distant； at the foot of the hedge on the other side； exactly at the point where the gap which he was meditating would have been made； there was a sort of recumbent stone which formed a bench； and on this bench was seated the old man of the garden； while the old woman was standing in front of him。
The old woman was grumbling。
Gavroche； who was not very discreet； listened。
〃Monsieur Mabeuf！〃 said the old woman。
〃Mabeuf！〃 thought Gavroche； 〃that name is a perfect farce。〃
The old man who was thus addressed； did not stir。
The old woman repeated：
〃Monsieur Mabeuf！〃
The old man； without raising his eyes from the ground； made up his mind to answer：
〃What is it； Mother Plutarque？〃
〃Mother Plutarque！〃 thought Gavroche； 〃another farcical name。〃
Mother Plutarque began again； and the old man was forced to accept the conversation：
〃The landlord is not pleased。〃
〃Why？〃
〃We owe three quarters rent。〃
〃In three months； we shall owe him for four quarters。〃
〃He says that he will turn you out to sleep。〃
〃I will go。〃
〃The green…grocer insists on being paid。
She will no longer leave her fagots。
What will you warm yourself with this winter？ We shall have no wood。〃
〃There is the sun。〃
〃The butcher refuses to give credit； he will not let us have any more meat。〃
〃That is quite right。
I do not digest meat well。
It is too heavy。〃
〃What shall we have for dinner？〃
〃Bread。〃
〃The baker demands a settlement； and says； ‘no money； no bread。'〃
〃That is well。〃
〃What will you eat？〃
〃We have apples in the apple…room。〃
〃But； Monsieur； we can't live like that without money。〃
〃I have none。〃
The old woman went away； the old man remained alone。
He fell into thought。
Gavroche became thoughtful also。
It was almost dark。
The first result of Gavroche's meditation was； that instead of scaling the hedge； he crouched down under it。
The branches stood apart a little at the foot of the thicket。
〃e；〃 exclaimed Gavroche mentally； 〃here's a nook！〃 and he curled up in it。
His back was almost in contact with Father Mabeuf's bench。 He could hear the octogenarian breathe。
Then； by way of dinner； he tried to sleep。
It was a cat…nap； with one eye open。
While he dozed； Gavroche kept on the watch。
The twilight pallor of the sky blanched the earth； and the lane formed a livid line between two rows of dark bushes。
All at once； in this whitish band； two figures made their appearance。 One was in front； the other some distance in the rear。
〃There e two creatures；〃 muttered Gavroche。
The first form seemed to be some elderly bourgeois； who was bent and thoughtful； dressed more than plainly； and who was walking slowly because of his age； and strolling about in the open evening air。
The second was straight； firm； slender。
It regulated its pace by that of the first； but in the voluntary slowness of its gait； suppleness and agility were discernible。
This figure had also something fierce and disquieting about it； the whole shape was that of what was then called an elegant； the hat was of good shape； the coat black； well cut； probably of fine cloth； and well fitted in at the waist。
The head was held erect with a sort of robust grace； and beneath the hat the pale profile of a young man could be made out in the dim light。
The profile had a rose in its mouth。 This second form was well known to Gavroche； it was Montparnasse。
He could have told nothing about the other； except that he was a respectable old man。
Gavroche immediately began to take observations。
One of these two pedestrians evidently had a project connected with the other。
Gavroche was well placed to watch the course of events。 The bedroom had turned into a hiding…place at a very opportune moment。
Montparnasse on the hunt at such an hour； in such a place； betokened something threatening。
Gavroche felt his gamin's heart moved with passion for the old man。
What was he to do？
Interfere？
One weakness ing to the aid of another！
It would be merely a laughing matter for Montparnasse。 Gavroche did not shut his eyes to the fact that the old man； in the first place； and the child in the second； would make but two mouthfuls for that redoubtable ruffian eighteen years of age。
While Gavroche was deliberating； the attack took place； abruptly and hideously。
The attack of the tiger on the wild ass； the attack of the spider on the fly。
Montparnasse suddenly tossed away his rose； bounded upon the old man； seized him by the collar； grasped and clung to him； and Gavroche with difficulty restrained a scream。
A moment later one of these men was underneath the other； groaning； struggling； with a knee of marble upon his breast。
Only； it was not just what Gavroche had expected。 The one who lay on the earth was Montparnasse； the one who was on top was the old man。
All this took place a few paces distant from Gavroche。
The old man had received the shock； had returned it； and that in such a terrible fashion； that in a twinkling； the assailant and the assailed had exchanged roles。
〃Here's a hearty veteran！〃 thought Gavroche。
He could not refrain from clapping his hands。
But it was applause wasted。
It did not reach the batants； absorbed and deafened as they were； each by the other； as their breath mingled in the struggle。
Silence ensued。
Montparnasse ceased his struggles。
Gavroche indulged in this aside：
〃Can he be dead！〃
The goodman had not uttered a word； nor given vent to a cry。 He rose to his feet； and Gavroche heard him say to Montparnasse：
〃Get up。〃
Montparnasse rose； but the goodman held him fast。 Montparnasse's attitude was the humiliated and furious attitude of the wolf who