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on''t find it comic any more, I''ve had enough of puns, good God! no more farces, Eternal Father! I want to eat till I am full, I want to drink my fill! to gormandize! to sleep! to do nothing!

I want to have my turn, so I do, come now! before I die!

I want to be a bit of a millionnaire!"

He took a turn round the hovel, and added:--

"Like other people."

"What do you mean by that?" asked the woman.

He shook his head, winked, screwed up one eye, and raised his voice like a medical professor who is about to make a demonstration:--

"What do I mean by that?

Listen!"

"Hush!" muttered the woman, "not so loud!

These are matters which must not be overheard."

"Bah!

Who''s here?

Our neighbor?

I saw him go out a little while ago.

Besides, he doesn''t listen, the big booby. And I tell you that I saw him go out."

Nevertheless, by a sort of instinct, Jondrette lowered his voice, although not sufficiently to prevent Marius hearing his words. One favorable circumstance, which enabled Marius not to lose a word of this conversation was the falling snow which deadened the sound of vehicles on the boulevard.

This is what Marius heard:--

"Listen carefully.

The Croesus is caught, or as good as caught! That''s all settled already.

Everything is arranged.

I have seen some people.

He will come here this evening at six o''clock. To bring sixty francs, the rascal!