pon you!"
"Agreed."
"Really!
You will take her away?"
"I will take her away."
"Immediately?"
"Immediately.
Call the child."
"Cosette!" screamed the Thenardier.
"In the meantime," pursued the man, "I will pay you what I owe you. How much is it?"
He cast a glance on the bill, and could not restrain a start of surprise:--
"Twenty-three francs!"
He looked at the landlady, and repeated:--
"Twenty-three francs?"
There was in the enunciation of these words, thus repeated, an accent between an exclamation and an interrogation point.
The Thenardier had had time to prepare herself for the shock. She replied, with assurance:--
"Good gracious, yes, sir, it is twenty-three francs."
The stranger laid five five-franc pieces on the table.
"Go and get the child," said he.
At that moment Thenardier advanced to the middle of the room, and said:--
"Monsieur owes twenty-six sous."
"Twenty-six sous!" exclaimed his wife.
"Twenty sous for the chamber," resumed Thenardier, coldly, "and six sous for his supper.
As for the child, I must discuss that matter a little with the gentleman.
Leave us, wife."
Madame Thenardier was dazzled as with the shock caused by unexpected lightning flashes of talent.
She was conscious that a great actor was making his entrance on the stage, uttered not a word in reply, and left the room.