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〃Never mind！〃 and ate a bit of bread。
He did not go to bed until he had brushed his coat and folded it up with great care。
BOOK SIXTH。THE CONJUNCTION OF TWO STARS
CHAPTER V
DIVRS CLAPS OF THUNDER FALL ON MA'AM BOUGON
On the following day； Ma'am Bougon； as Courfeyrac styled the old portress…principal…tenant； housekeeper of the Gorbeau hovel； Ma'am Bougon； whose name was； in reality； Madame Burgon； as we have found out； but this iconoclast； Courfeyrac； respected nothing； Ma'am Bougon observed； with stupefaction； that M。 Marius was going out again in his new coat。
He went to the Luxembourg again； but he did not proceed further than his bench midway of the alley。
He seated himself there； as on the preceding day； surveying from a distance； and clearly making out； the white bonnet； the black dress； and above all； that blue light。 He did not stir from it； and only went home when the gates of the Luxembourg closed。
He did not see M。 Leblanc and his daughter retire。 He concluded that they had quitted the garden by the gate on the Rue de l'Ouest。 Later on； several weeks afterwards； when he came to think it over； he could never recall where he had dined that evening。
On the following day； which was the third； Ma'am Bougon was thunderstruck。
Marius went out in his new coat。 〃Three days in succession！〃 she exclaimed。
She tried to follow him； but Marius walked briskly； and with immense strides； it was a hippopotamus undertaking the pursuit of a chamois。 She lost sight of him in two minutes； and returned breathless； three…quarters choked with asthma； and furious。
〃If there is any sense；〃 she growled； 〃in putting on one's best clothes every day； and making people run like this！〃
Marius betook himself to the Luxembourg。
The young girl was there with M。 Leblanc。
Marius approached as near as he could； pretending to be busy reading a book； but he halted afar off； then returned and seated himself on his bench； where he spent four hours in watching the house…sparrows who were skipping about the walk； and who produced on him the impression that they were making sport of him。
A fortnight passed thus。
Marius went to the Luxembourg no longer for the sake of strolling there； but to seat himself always in the same spot； and that without knowing why。
Once arrived there； he did not stir。
He put on his new coat every morning； for the purpose of not showing himself； and he began all over again on the morrow。
She was decidedly a marvellous beauty。
The only remark approaching a criticism； that could be made； was； that the contradiction between her gaze； which was melancholy； and her smile； which was merry； gave a rather wild effect to her face； which sometimes caused this sweet countenance to bee strange without ceasing to be charming。
BOOK SIXTH。THE CONJUNCTION OF TWO STARS
CHAPTER VI
TAKEN PRISONER
On one of the last days of the second week； Marius was seated on his bench； as usual； holding in his hand an open book； of which he had not turned a page for the last two hours。
All at once he started。 An event was taking place at the other extremity of the walk。 Leblanc and his daughter had just left their seat； and the daughter had taken her father's arm； and both were advancing slowly； towards the middle of the alley where Marius was。
Marius closed his book； then opened it again； then forced himself to read； he trembled； the aureole was ing straight towards him。
〃Ah！ good Heavens！〃 thought he； 〃I shall not have time to strike an attitude。〃 Still the white…haired man and the girl advanced。
It seemed to him that this lasted for a century； and that it was but a second。 〃What are they ing in this direction for？〃 he asked himself。 〃What！
She will pass here？
Her feet will tread this sand； this walk； two paces from me？〃
He was utterly upset； he would have liked to be very handsome； he would have liked to own the cross。 He heard the soft and measured sound of their approaching footsteps。 He imagined that M。 Leblanc was darting angry glances at him。 〃Is that gentleman going to address me？〃 he thought to himself。 He dropped his head； when he raised it again； they were very near him。 The young girl passed； and as she passed； she glanced at him。 She gazed steadily at him； with a pensive sweetness which thrilled Marius from head to foot。
It seemed to him that she was reproaching him for having allowed so long a time to elapse without ing as far as her； and that she was saying to him：
〃I am ing myself。〃
Marius was dazzled by those eyes fraught with rays and abysses。
He felt his brain on fire。
She had e to him； what joy！ And then； how she had looked at him！
She appeared to him more beautiful than he had ever seen her yet。
Beautiful with a beauty which was wholly feminine and angelic； with a plete beauty which would have made Petrarch sing and Dante kneel。
It seemed to him that he was floating free in the azure heavens。
At the same time； he was horribly vexed because there was dust on his boots。
He thought he felt sure that she had looked at his boots too。
He followed her with his eyes until she disappeared。
Then he started up and walked about the Luxembourg garden like a madman。 It is possible that； at times； he laughed to himself and talked aloud。 He was so dreamy when he came near the children's nurses； that each one of them thought him in love with her。
He quitted the Luxembourg； hoping to find her again in the street。
He encountered Courfeyrac under the arcades of the Odeon； and said to him：
〃e and dine with me。〃
They went off to Rousseau's and spent six francs。
Marius ate like an ogre。
He gave the waiter six sous。 At dessert； he said to Courfeyrac。
〃Have you read the paper？ What a fine discourse Audry de Puyraveau delivered！〃
He was desperately in love。
After dinner； he said to Courfeyrac：
〃I will treat you to the play。〃 They went to the Porte…Sainte…Martin to see Frederick in l'Auberge des Adrets。
Marius was enormously amused。
At the same time； he had a redoubled attack of shyness。 On emerging fr