These miners'' candlesticks are of massive iron, terminated at the lower extremity by a point, by means of which they are stuck into the rock.
He took the candlestick in his right hand; holding his breath and trying to deaden the sound of his tread, he directed his steps to the door of the adjoining room, occupied by the Bishop, as we already know.
On arriving at this door, he found it ajar.
The Bishop had not closed it.
BOOK SECOND--THE FALL
CHAPTER XI
WHAT HE DOES
Jean Valjean listened.
Not a sound.
He gave the door a push.
He pushed it gently with the tip of his finger, lightly, with the furtive and uneasy gentleness of a cat which is desirous of entering.
The door yielded to this pressure, and made an imperceptible and silent movement, which enlarged the opening a little.
He waited a moment; then gave the door a second and a bolder push.
It continued to yield in silence.
The opening was now large enough to allow him to pass.
But near the door there stood a little table, which formed an embarrassing angle with it, and barred the entrance.
Jean Valjean recognized the difficulty.⑧本⑧作⑧品⑧由⑧思⑧兔⑧在⑧線⑧閱⑧讀⑧網⑧友⑧整⑧理⑧上⑧傳⑧
It was necessary, at any cost, to enlarge the aperture still further.
He decided on his course of action, and gave the door a third push, more energetic than the two preceding.