Thenardier went on：
〃You see that I put not a little water in my wine； I'm very moderate。 I don't know the state of your fortune； but I do know that you don't stick at money； and a benevolent man like yourself can certainly give two hundred thousand francs to the father of a family who is out of luck。
Certainly； you are reasonable； too； you haven't imagined that I should take all the trouble I have to…day and organized this affair this evening； which has been labor well bestowed； in the opinion of these gentlemen； merely to wind up by asking you for enough to go and drink red wine at fifteen sous and eat veal at Desnoyer's。 Two hundred thousand francsit's surely worth all that。 This trifle once out of your pocket； I guarantee you that that's the end of the matter； and that you have no further demands to fear。 You will say to me：
‘But I haven't two hundred thousand francs about me。'
Oh！
I'm not extortionate。
I don't demand that。 I only ask one thing of you。
Have the goodness to write what I am about to dictate to you。〃
Here Thenardier paused； then he added； emphasizing his words； and casting a smile in the direction of the brazier：
〃I warn you that I shall not admit that you don't know how to write。〃
A grand inquisitor might have envied that smile。
Thenardier pushed the table close to M。 Leblanc； and took an inkstand； a pen； and a sheet of paper from the drawer which he left half open； and in which gleamed the long blade of the knife。
He placed the sheet of paper before M。 Leblanc。
〃Write；〃 said he。
The prisoner spoke at last。
〃How do you expect me to write？
I am bound。〃
〃That's true； excuse me！〃 ejaculated Thenardier； 〃you are quite right。〃
And turning to Bigrenaille：
〃Untie the gentleman's right arm。〃
Panchaud； alias Printanier； alias Bigrenaille； executed Thenardier's order。
When the prisoner's right arm was free； Thenardier dipped the pen in the ink and presented it to him。
〃Understand thoroughly； sir； that you are in our power； at our discretion； that no human power can get you out of this； and that we shall be really grieved if we are forced to proceed to disagreeable extremities。 I know neither your name； nor your address； but I warn you； that you will remain bound until the person charged with carrying the letter which you are about to write shall have returned。
Now； be so good as to write。〃
〃What？〃 demanded the prisoner。
〃I will dictate。〃
M。 Leblanc took the pen。
Thenardier began to dictate：
〃My daughter〃
The prisoner shuddered； and raised his eyes to Thenardier。
〃Put down ‘My dear daughter'〃 said Thenardier。
M。 Leblanc obeyed。
Thenardier continued：
〃e instantly〃
He paused：
〃You address her as thou； do you not？〃
〃Who？〃 asked M。 Leblanc。
〃Parbleu！〃 cried Thenardier； 〃the little one； the Lark。〃
M。 Leblanc replied without the slightest apparent emotion：
〃I do not know what you mean。〃
〃Go on； nevertheless；〃 ejaculated Thenardier； and he continued to dictate：
〃e immediately； I am in absolute need of thee。
The person who will deliver this note to thee is instructed to conduct thee to me。 I am waiting for thee。
e with confidence。〃
M。 Leblanc had written the whole of this。
Thenardier resumed：
〃Ah！ erase ‘e with confidence'； that might lead her to suppose that everything was not as it should be； and that distrust is possible。〃
M。 Leblanc erased the three words。
〃Now；〃 pursued Thenardier； 〃sign it。
What's your name？〃
The prisoner laid down the pen and demanded：
〃For whom is this letter？〃
〃You know well；〃 retorted Thenardier； 〃for the little one I just told you so。〃
It was evident that Thenardier avoided naming the young girl in question。
He said 〃the Lark；〃 he said 〃the little one；〃 but he did not pronounce her namethe precaution of a clever man guarding his secret from his acplices。
To mention the name was to deliver the whole 〃affair〃 into their hands； and to tell them more about it than there was any need of their knowing。
He went on：
〃Sign。
What is your name？〃
〃Urbain Fabre；〃 said the prisoner。
Thenardier； with the movement of a cat； dashed his hand into his pocket and drew out the handkerchief which had been seized on M。 Leblanc。 He looked for the mark on it； and held it close to the candle。
〃U。 F。 That's it。
Urbain Fabre。
Well； sign it U。 F。〃
The prisoner signed。
〃As two hands are required to fold the letter； give it to me； I will fold it。〃
That done； Thenardier resumed：
〃Address it； ‘Mademoiselle Fabre；' at your house。
I know that you live a long distance from here； near Saint…Jacquesdu…Haut…Pas； because you go to mass there every day； but I don't know in what street。 I see that you understand your situation。
As you have not lied about your name； you will not lie about your address。
Write it yourself。〃
The prisoner paused thoughtfully for a moment； then he took the pen and wrote：
〃Mademoiselle Fabre； at M。 Urbain Fabre's； Rue Saint…Dominique…D'Enfer； No。 17。〃
Thenardier seized the letter with a sort of feverish convulsion。
〃Wife！〃 he cried。
The Thenardier woman hastened to him。
〃Here's the letter。
You know what you have to do。
There is a carriage at the door。
Set out at once； and return ditto。〃
And addressing the man with the meat…axe：
〃Since you have taken off your nose…screen； acpany the mistress。 You will get up behind the fiacre。
You know where you left the team？〃
〃Yes；〃 said the man。
And depositing his axe in a corner； he followed Madame Thenardier。
As they set off； Thenardier thrust his head through the half…open door； and shouted into the corridor：
〃Above all things； don't lose the letter！ remember that you carry two hundred thousand francs with you！〃
The Thenardier's hoarse voice replied：
〃Be easy。
I have it in my bosom。〃
A minute had not elapsed； when the sound of the cracking of a whip was heard； which rapidly retreated and died away。
〃Good！〃 growled Thenardier。
〃They're going at a fine pace。 At such a gallop； the bourgeoise will be back inside three…quarters of an hour。〃
He drew a chair close to the fireplace； folding his arms； and presenting his muddy boots to the brazier。
〃My feet are cold！〃 said he。
Only five ruffians now remained in the den with Thenardier and the prisoner。
These men； through the black masks or paste which covered their faces； and made of them； at fear's pleasure； charcoal…burners； negroes； or demons； had a stupid and gloomy air； and it could be felt that they perpetrated a crime like a bit of work； tranquilly； without either wrath or mercy； with a sort of ennui。
They were crowded together in one corner like brutes； and remained silent。
Thenardier warmed his feet。
The prisoner had relapsed into his taciturnity。
A sombre calm had succeeded to the wild uproar which had filled the garret but a few moments before。
The candle； on which a large 〃stranger〃 had formed； cast but a dim light in the immens