Part 193 (2/2)

Then, becoming thoughtful, he muttered between his teeth:--

”All the same, if I had charge of the babes I'd lock 'em up better than that.”

Just as they were finis.h.i.+ng their morsel of bread, and had reached the angle of that gloomy Rue des Ballets, at the other end of which the low and threatening wicket of La Force was visible:--

”Hullo, is that you, Gavroche?” said some one.

”Hullo, is that you, Montparna.s.se?” said Gavroche.

A man had just accosted the street urchin, and the man was no other than Montparna.s.se in disguise, with blue spectacles, but recognizable to Gavroche.

”The bow-wows!” went on Gavroche, ”you've got a hide the color of a linseed plaster, and blue specs like a doctor. You're putting on style, 'pon my word!”

”Hus.h.!.+” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Montparna.s.se, ”not so loud.”

And he drew Gavroche hastily out of range of the lighted shops.

The two little ones followed mechanically, holding each other by the hand.

When they were ensconced under the arch of a portecochere, sheltered from the rain and from all eyes:--

”Do you know where I'm going?” demanded Montparna.s.se.

”To the Abbey of Ascend-with-Regret,”[36] replied Gavroche.

”Joker!”

And Montparna.s.se went on:--

”I'm going to find Babet.”

”Ah!” exclaimed Gavroche, ”so her name is Babet.”

Montparna.s.se lowered his voice:--

”Not she, he.”

”Ah! Babet.”

”Yes, Babet.”

”I thought he was buckled.”

”He has undone the buckle,” replied Montparna.s.se.

And he rapidly related to the gamin how, on the morning of that very day, Babet, having been transferred to La Conciergerie, had made his escape, by turning to the left instead of to the right in ”the police office.”

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