The thundering voice of Javert was audible：
〃Search the blind alley！
The Rue Droit…Mur is guarded！ so is the Rue Petit…Picpus。 I'll answer for it that he is in the blind alley。〃
The soldiers rushed into the Genrot alley。
Jean Valjean allowed himself to slide down the roof； still holding fast to Cosette； reached the linden…tree； and leaped to the ground。 Whether from terror or courage； Cosette had not breathed a sound； though her hands were a little abraded。
BOOK FIFTH。FOR A BLACK HUNT； A MUTE PACK
CHAPTER VI
THE BEGINNING OF AN ENIGMA
Jean Valjean found himself in a sort of garden which was very vast and of singular aspect； one of those melancholy gardens which seem made to be looked at in winter and at night。
This garden was oblong in shape； with an alley of large poplars at the further end； tolerably tall forest trees in the corners； and an unshaded space in the centre； where could be seen a very large； solitary tree； then several fruit…trees； gnarled and bristling like bushes； beds of vegetables； a melon patch； whose glass frames sparkled in the moonlight； and an old well。 Here and there stood stone benches which seemed black with moss。 The alleys were bordered with gloomy and very erect little shrubs。 The grass had half taken possession of them； and a green mould covered the rest。
Jean Valjean had beside him the building whose roof had served him as a means of descent； a pile of fagots； and； behind the fagots； directly against the wall； a stone statue； whose mutilated face was no longer anything more than a shapeless mask which loomed vaguely through the gloom。
The building was a sort of ruin； where dismantled chambers were distinguishable； one of which； much encumbered； seemed to serve as a shed。
The large building of the Rue Droit…Mur； which had a wing on the Rue Petit…Picpus； turned two facades； at right angles； towards this garden。 These interior facades were even more tragic than the exterior。 All the windows were grated。
Not a gleam of light was visible at any one of them。
The upper story had scuttles like prisons。 One of those facades cast its shadow on the other； which fell over the garden like an immense black pall。
No other house was visible。
The bottom of the garden was lost in mist and darkness。
Nevertheless； walls could be confusedly made out； which intersected as though there were more cultivated land beyond； and the low roofs of the Rue Polonceau。
Nothing more wild and solitary than this garden could be imagined。 There was no one in it； which was quite natural in view of the hour； but it did not seem as though this spot were made for any one to walk in； even in broad daylight。
Jean Valjean's first care had been to get hold of his shoes and put them on again； then to step under the shed with Cosette。 A man who is fleeing never thinks himself sufficiently hidden。 The child； whose thoughts were still on the Thenardier； shared his instinct for withdrawing from sight as much as possible。
Cosette trembled and pressed close to him。
They heard the tumultuous noise of the patrol searching the blind alley and the streets； the blows of their gun…stocks against the stones； Javert's appeals to the police spies whom he had posted； and his imprecations mingled with words which could not be distinguished。
At the expiration of a quarter of an hour it seemed as though that species of stormy roar were being more distant。
Jean Valjean held his breath。
He had laid his hand lightly on Cosette's mouth。
However； the solitude in which he stood was so strangely calm； that this frightful uproar； close and furious as it was； did not disturb him by so much as the shadow of a misgiving。 It seemed as though those walls had been built of the deaf stones of which the Scriptures speak。
All at once； in the midst of this profound calm； a fresh sound arose； a sound as celestial； divine； ineffable； ravishing； as the other had been horrible。
It was a hymn which issued from the gloom； a dazzling burst of prayer and harmony in the obscure and alarming silence of the night； women's voices； but voices posed at one and the same time of the pure accents of virgins and the innocent accents of children； voices which are not of the earth； and which resemble those that the newborn infant still hears； and which the dying man hears already。 This song proceeded from the gloomy edifice which towered above the garden。
At the moment when the hubbub of demons retreated； one would have said that a choir of angels was approaching through the gloom。
Cosette and Jean Valjean fell on their knees。
They knew not what it was； they knew not where they were； but both of them； the man and the child； the penitent and the innocent； felt that they must kneel。
These voices had this strange characteristic； that they did not prevent the building from seeming to be deserted。 It was a supernatural chant in an uninhabited house。
While these voices were singing； Jean Valjean thought of nothing。 He no longer beheld the night； he beheld a blue sky。
It seemed to him that he felt those wings which we all have within us； unfolding。
The song died away。
It may have lasted a long time。
Jean Valjean could not have told。
Hours of ecstasy are never more than a moment。
All fell silent again。
There was no longer anything in the street； there was nothing in the garden。
That which had menaced； that which had reassured him；all had vanished。
The breeze swayed a few dry weeds on the crest of the wall； and they gave out a faint； sweet； melancholy sound。
BOOK FIFTH。FOR A BLACK HUNT； A MUTE PACK
CHAPTER VII
CONTINUATION OF THE ENIGMA
The night wind had risen； which indicated that it must be between one and two o'clock in the morning。
Poor Cosette said nothing。 As she had seated herself beside him and leaned her head against him； Jean Valjean had fancied that she was asleep。
He bent down and looked at her。
Cosette's eyes were wide open； and her thoughtful air pained Jean Valjean。
She was still trembling。
〃Are you sleepy？〃 said Jean Valjean。
〃I am very cold；〃 she replied。
A moment later she resumed：
〃Is she still there？〃
〃Who？〃 said Jean Valjean。
〃Madame Thenardier。〃
Jean Valjean had already forgotten the means which he had employed to make Cosette keep silent。
〃Ah！〃 said he； 〃she is gone。
You need fear nothing further。〃
The child sighed as though a load had been lifted from her breast。
The ground was damp； the shed open on all sides； the breeze grew more keen every instant。
The goodman took off his coat and wrapped it round Cosette。
〃Are you less cold now？〃 said he。
〃Oh； yes； father。〃
〃Well； wait for me a moment。
I will soon be back。〃
He quitted the ruin and crept along the large building； seeking a better shelter。
He came across doors； but they were closed。 There were bars at all the windows of the ground floor。
Just after he had turned the inner angle of the edifice； he observed that he was ing to some arched windows； where he perceived a light。 He stood on tiptoe and pee