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me。
〃Ursule！〃 he thought； 〃what a delicious name！〃
He kissed the handkerchief； drank it in； placed it on his heart； on his flesh； during the day； and at night； laid it beneath his lips that he might fall asleep on it。
〃I feel that her whole soul lies within it！〃 he exclaimed。
This handkerchief belonged to the old gentleman； who had simply let it fall from his pocket。
In the days which followed the finding of this treasure； he only displayed himself at the Luxembourg in the act of kissing the handkerchief and laying it on his heart。
The beautiful child understood nothing of all this； and signified it to him by imperceptible signs。
〃O modesty！〃 said Marius。
BOOK SIXTH。THE CONJUNCTION OF TWO STARS
CHAPTER VIII
THE VETERANS THEMSELVES CAN BE HAPPY
Since we have pronounced the word modesty； and since we conceal nothing； we ought to say that once； nevertheless； in spite of his ecstasies； 〃his Ursule〃 caused him very serious grief。
It was on one of the days when she persuaded M。 Leblanc to leave the bench and stroll along the walk。
A brisk May breeze was blowing； which swayed the crests of the plaintain…trees。 The father and daughter； arm in arm； had just passed Marius' bench。
Marius had risen to his feet behind them； and was following them with his eyes； as was fitting in the desperate situation of his soul。
All at once； a gust of wind； more merry than the rest； and probably charged with performing the affairs of Springtime； swept down from the nursery； flung itself on the alley； enveloped the young girl in a delicious shiver； worthy of Virgil's nymphs； and the fawns of Theocritus； and lifted her dress； the robe more sacred than that of Isis； almost to the height of her garter。
A leg of exquisite shape appeared。
Marius saw it。
He was exasperated and furious。
The young girl had hastily thrust down her dress； with a divinely troubled motion； but he was none the less angry for all that。
He was alone in the alley； it is true。
But there might have been some one there。 And what if there had been some one there！
Can any one prehend such a thing？
What she had just done is horrible！Alas； the poor child had done nothing； there had been but one culprit； the wind； but Marius； in whom quivered the Bartholo who exists in Cherubin； was determined to be vexed； and was jealous of his own shadow。 It is thus； in fact； that the harsh and capricious jealousy of the flesh awakens in the human heart； and takes possession of it； even without any right。
Moreover； setting aside even that jealousy； the sight of that charming leg had contained nothing agreeable for him； the white stocking of the first woman he chanced to meet would have afforded him more pleasure。
When 〃his Ursule；〃 after having reached the end of the walk； retraced her steps with M。 Leblanc； and passed in front of the bench on which Marius had seated himself once more； Marius darted a sullen and ferocious glance at her。
The young girl gave way to that slight straightening up with a backward movement； acpanied by a raising of the eyelids； which signifies：
〃Well； what is the matter？〃
This was 〃their first quarrel。〃
Marius had hardly made this scene at her with his eyes； when some one crossed the walk。
It was a veteran； very much bent； extremely wrinkled； and pale； in a uniform of the Louis XV。 pattern； bearing on his breast the little oval plaque of red cloth； with the crossed swords； the soldier's cross of Saint…Louis； and adorned； in addition； with a coat…sleeve； which had no arm within it； with a silver chin and a wooden leg。
Marius thought he perceived that this man had an extremely well satisfied air。 It even struck him that the aged cynic； as he hobbled along past him； addressed to him a very fraternal and very merry wink； as though some chance had created an understanding between them； and as though they had shared some piece of good luck together。 What did that relic of Mars mean by being so contented？
What had passed between that wooden leg and the other？
Marius reached a paroxysm of jealousy。〃Perhaps he was there！〃 he said to himself； 〃perhaps he saw！〃And he felt a desire to exterminate the veteran。
With the aid of time； all points grow dull。
Marius' wrath against 〃Ursule；〃 just and legitimate as it was； passed off。
He finally pardoned her； but this cost him a great effort； he sulked for three days。
Nevertheless； in spite of all this； and because of all this； his passion augmented and grew to madness。
BOOK SIXTH。THE CONJUNCTION OF TWO STARS
CHAPTER IX
ECLIPSE
The reader has just seen how Marius discovered； or thought that he discovered； that She was named Ursule。
Appetite grows with loving。
To know that her name was Ursule was a great deal； it was very little。
In three or four weeks； Marius had devoured this bliss。
He wanted another。
He wanted to know where she lived。
He had mitted his first blunder； by falling into the ambush of the bench by the Gladiator。
He had mitted a second； by not remaining at the Luxembourg when M。 Leblanc came thither alone。 He now mitted a third； and an immense one。
He followed 〃Ursule。〃
She lived in the Rue de l'Ouest； in the most unfrequented spot； in a new； three…story house； of modest appearance。
From that moment forth； Marius added to his happiness of seeing her at the Luxembourg the happiness of following her home。
His hunger was increasing。
He knew her first name； at least； a charming name； a genuine woman's name； he knew where she lived； he wanted to know who she was。
One evening； after he had followed them to their dwelling； and had seen them disappear through the carriage gate； he entered in their train and said boldly to the porter：
〃Is that the gentleman who lives on the first floor； who has just e in？〃
〃No；〃 replied the porter。
〃He is the gentleman on the third floor。〃
Another step gained。
This success emboldened Marius。
〃On the front？〃 he asked。
〃Parbleu！〃 said the porter； 〃the house is only built on the street。〃
〃And what is that gentleman's bus