Thenardier said not a word, and seemed ready for whatever the rest pleased.
Brujon, who was somewhat of an oracle, and who had, as the reader knows, "put up the job," had not as yet spoken.
He seemed thoughtful. He had the reputation of not sticking at anything, and it was known that he had plundered a police post simply out of bravado. Besides this he made verses and songs, which gave him great authority.
Babet interrogated him:--
"You say nothing, Brujon?"
Brujon remained silent an instant longer, then he shook his head in various ways, and finally concluded to speak:--
"See here; this morning I came across two sparrows fighting, this evening I jostled a woman who was quarrelling.
All that''s bad. Let''s quit."
They went away.
As they went, Montparnasse muttered:--
"Never mind! if they had wanted, I''d have cut her throat."
Babet responded
"I wouldn''t. I don''t hit a lady."
At the corner of the street they halted and exchanged the following enigmatical dialogue in a low tone:--
"Where shall we go to sleep to-night?"
"Under Pantin [Paris]."
"Have you the key to the gate, Thenardier?"
"Pardi."~~
Eponine, who never took her eyes off of them, saw them retreat by the road by which they had come.