The young girl gave way to that slight straightening up with a backward movement； acpanied by a raising of the eyelids； which signifies：
〃Well； what is the matter？〃
This was 〃their first quarrel。〃
Marius had hardly made this scene at her with his eyes； when some one crossed the walk。
It was a veteran； very much bent； extremely wrinkled； and pale； in a uniform of the Louis XV。 pattern； bearing on his breast the little oval plaque of red cloth； with the crossed swords； the soldier's cross of Saint…Louis； and adorned； in addition； with a coat…sleeve； which had no arm within it； with a silver chin and a wooden leg。
Marius thought he perceived that this man had an extremely well satisfied air。 It even struck him that the aged cynic； as he hobbled along past him； addressed to him a very fraternal and very merry wink； as though some chance had created an understanding between them； and as though they had shared some piece of good luck together。 What did that relic of Mars mean by being so contented？
What had passed between that wooden leg and the other？
Marius reached a paroxysm of jealousy。〃Perhaps he was there！〃 he said to himself； 〃perhaps he saw！〃And he felt a desire to exterminate the veteran。
With the aid of time； all points grow dull。
Marius' wrath against 〃Ursule；〃 just and legitimate as it was； passed off。
He finally pardoned her； but this cost him a great effort； he sulked for three days。
Nevertheless； in spite of all this； and because of all this； his passion augmented and grew to madness。
BOOK SIXTH。THE CONJUNCTION OF TWO STARS
CHAPTER IX
ECLIPSE
The reader has just seen how Marius discovered； or thought that he discovered； that She was named Ursule。
Appetite grows with loving。
To know that her name was Ursule was a great deal； it was very little。
In three or four weeks； Marius had devoured this bliss。
He wanted another。
He wanted to know where she lived。
He had mitted his first blunder； by falling into the ambush of the bench by the Gladiator。
He had mitted a second； by not remaining at the Luxembourg when M。 Leblanc came thither alone。 He now mitted a third； and an immense one。
He followed 〃Ursule。〃
She lived in the Rue de l'Ouest； in the most unfrequented spot； in a new； three…story house； of modest appearance。
From that moment forth； Marius added to his happiness of seeing her at the Luxembourg the happiness of following her home。
His hunger was increasing。
He knew her first name； at least； a charming name； a genuine woman's name； he knew where she lived； he wanted to know who she was。
One evening； after he had followed them to their dwelling； and had seen them disappear through the carriage gate； he entered in their train and said boldly to the porter：
〃Is that the gentleman who lives on the first floor； who has just e in？〃
〃No；〃 replied the porter。
〃He is the gentleman on the third floor。〃
Another step gained。
This success emboldened Marius。
〃On the front？〃 he asked。
〃Parbleu！〃 said the porter； 〃the house is only built on the street。〃
〃And what is that gentleman's business？〃 began Marius again。
〃He is a gentleman of property； sir。
A very kind man who does good to the unfortunate； though not rich himself。〃
〃What is his name？〃 resumed Marius。
The porter raised his head and said：
〃Are you a police spy； sir？〃
Marius went off quite abashed； but delighted。
He was getting on。
〃Good；〃 thought he； 〃I know that her name is Ursule； that she is the daughter of a gentleman who lives on his ine； and that she lives there； on the third floor； in the Rue de l'Ouest。〃
On the following day； M。 Leblanc and his daughter made only a very brief stay in the Luxembourg； they went away while it was still broad daylight。
Marius followed them to the Rue de l'Ouest； as he had taken up the habit of doing。
On arriving at the carriage entrance M。 Leblanc made his daughter pass in first； then paused； before crossing the threshold； and stared intently at Marius。
On the next day they did not e to the Luxembourg。
Marius waited for them all day in vain。
At nightfall； he went to the Rue de l'Ouest； and saw a light in the windows of the third story。
He walked about beneath the windows until the light was extinguished。
The next day； no one at the Luxembourg。
Marius waited all day； then went and did sentinel duty under their windows。
This carried him on to ten o'clock in the evening。
His dinner took care of itself。
Fever nourishes the sick man； and love the lover。
He spent a week in this manner。
M。 Leblanc no longer appeared at the Luxembourg。
Marius indulged in melancholy conjectures； he dared not watch the porte cochere during the day； he contented himself with going at night to gaze upon the red light of the windows。
At times he saw shadows flit across them； and his heart began to beat。
On the eighth day； when he arrived under the windows； there was no light in them。
〃Hello！〃 he said； 〃the lamp is not lighted yet。
But it is dark。 Can they have gone out？〃
He waited until ten o'clock。 Until midnight。 Until one in the morning。
Not a light appeared in the windows of the third story； and no one entered the house。
He went away in a very gloomy frame of mind。
On the morrow；for he only existed from morrow to morrow； there was； so to speak； no to…day for him；on the morrow； he found no one at the Luxembourg； he had expected this。
At dusk； he went to the house。
No light in the windows； the shades were drawn； the third floor was totally dark。
Marius rapped at the porte cochere； entered； and said to the porter：
〃The gentleman on the third floor？〃
〃Has moved away；〃 replied the porter。
Marius reeled and said feebly：
〃How long ago？〃
〃Yesterday。〃
〃Where is he living now？〃
〃I don't know anything about it。〃
〃So he has not left his new address？〃
〃No。〃
And the porter； raising his eyes； recognized Marius。
〃e！
So it's you！〃 said he； 〃but you are decidedly a spy then？〃
BOOK SEVENTH。PATRON MINETTE
CHAPTER I
MINES AND MINERS
Human societies all have what is called in theatrical parlance； a third lower floor。
The social soil is everywhere undermined； sometimes for good； sometimes for evil。
These works are superposed one upon the other。
There are superior mines and inferior mines。 There is a top and a bottom in this obscure sub…soil； which sometimes gives way beneath civilization； and which our indifference and heedlessness trample under foot。
The Encyclopedia； in the last century； was a mine that was almost open to the sky。
The shades； those sombre hatchers of primitive Christianity； only awaited an opportunity to bring about an explosion under the Caesars and to inundate the human race with light。
For in the sacred shadows there lies latent light。 Volcanoes are full of a shadow that is capable of flashing forth。 Every form begins by being night。
The catabs； in which the first mass was said； were not alone the cellar of Rome； they