e from door to door, to find out an address, to follow any one, I am of service.
Well, you may assuredly tell me what is the matter with you, and I will go and speak to the persons; sometimes it is enough if some one speaks to the persons, that suffices to let them understand matters, and everything comes right. Make use of me."
An idea flashed across Marius'' mind.
What branch does one disdain when one feels that one is falling?
He drew near to the Jondrette girl.
"Listen--" he said to her.
She interrupted him with a gleam of joy in her eyes.
"Oh yes, do call me thou!
I like that better."
"Well," he resumed, "thou hast brought hither that old gentleman and his daughter!"
"Yes."
"Dost thou know their address?"
"No."
"Find it for me."
The Jondrette''s dull eyes had grown joyous, and they now became gloomy.
"Is that what you want?" she demanded.
"Yes."
"Do you know them?"
"No."
"That is to say," she resumed quickly, "you do not know her, but you wish to know her."
This them which had turned into her had something indescribably significant and bitter about it.
"Well, can you do it?" said Marius.
"You shall have the beautiful lady''s address."
There was still a shade in the words "the beautiful lady" which troubled Marius.
He resumed:--
"Never mind, after all, the address of the father and daughter. Their address, indeed!"