At that moment, wonderful and unprecedented good luck, Marius perceived an empty cab passing along the boulevard.
There was but one thing to be done, to jump into this cab and follow the fiacre.
That was sure, efficacious, and free from danger.
Marius made the driver a sign to halt, and called to him:--
"By the hour?"
Marius wore no cravat, he had on his working-coat, which was destitute of buttons, his shirt was torn along one of the plaits on the bosom.
The driver halted, winked, and held out his left hand to Marius, rubbing his forefinger gently with his thumb.
"What is it?" said Marius.
"Pay in advance," said the coachman.
Marius recollected that he had but sixteen sous about him.
"How much?" he demanded.
"Forty sous."⊿⊿
"I will pay on my return."
The driver''s only reply was to whistle the air of La Palisse and to whip up his horse.
Marius stared at the retreating cabriolet with a bewildered air. For the lack of four and twenty sous, he was losing his joy, his happiness, his love!