Part 238 (2/2)
He gazed at it for several minutes in ecstasy; then, turning to Jean Valjean, he held out the coin to him, and said majestically to him:--
”Bourgeois, I prefer to smash lanterns. Take back your ferocious beast.
You can't bribe me. That has got five claws; but it doesn't scratch me.”
”Have you a mother?” asked Jean Valjean.
Gavroche replied:--
”More than you have, perhaps.”
”Well,” returned Jean Valjean, ”keep the money for your mother!”
Gavroche was touched. Moreover, he had just noticed that the man who was addressing him had no hat, and this inspired him with confidence.
”Truly,” said he, ”so it wasn't to keep me from breaking the lanterns?”
”Break whatever you please.”
”You're a fine man,” said Gavroche.
And he put the five-franc piece into one of his pockets.
His confidence having increased, he added:--
”Do you belong in this street?”
”Yes, why?”
”Can you tell me where No. 7 is?”
”What do you want with No. 7?”
Here the child paused, he feared that he had said too much; he thrust his nails energetically into his hair and contented himself with replying:--
”Ah! Here it is.”
An idea flashed through Jean Valjean's mind. Anguish does have these gleams. He said to the lad:--
”Are you the person who is bringing a letter that I am expecting?”
”You?” said Gavroche. ”You are not a woman.”
”The letter is for Mademoiselle Cosette, is it not?”
”Cosette,” muttered Gavroche. ”Yes, I believe that is the queer name.”
”Well,” resumed Jean Valjean, ”I am the person to whom you are to deliver the letter. Give it here.”
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