Les Misérables, page 118
CHAPTER II--IT IS LUCKY THAT THE PONT D'AUSTERLITZ BEARS CARRIAGES
Uncertainty was at an end for Jean Valjean: fortunately it still lastedfor the men. He took advantage of their hesitation. It was time lost forthem, but gained for him. He slipped from under the gate where he hadconcealed himself, and went down the Rue des Postes, towards the regionof the Jardin des Plantes. Cosette was beginning to be tired. He tookher in his arms and carried her. There were no passers-by, and thestreet lanterns had not been lighted on account of there being a moon.
He redoubled his pace.
In a few strides he had reached the Goblet potteries, on the frontof which the moonlight rendered distinctly legible the ancientinscription:--
De Goblet fils c'est ici la fabrique; Venez choisir des cruches et des brocs, Des pots à fleurs, des tuyaux, de la brique. A tout venant le Cour vend des Carreaux.14
He left behind him the Rue de la Clef, then the Fountain Saint-Victor,skirted the Jardin des Plantes by the lower streets, and reached thequay. There he turned round. The quay was deserted. The streets weredeserted. There was no one behind him. He drew a long breath.
He gained the Pont d'Austerlitz.
Tolls were still collected there at that epoch.
He presented himself at the toll office and handed over a sou.
"It is two sous," said the old soldier in charge of the bridge. "You arecarrying a child who can walk. Pay for two."
He paid, vexed that his passage should have aroused remark. Every flightshould be an imperceptible slipping away.
A heavy cart was crossing the Seine at the same time as himself, and onits way, like him, to the right bank. This was of use to him. He couldtraverse the bridge in the shadow of the cart.
Towards the middle of the Bridge, Cosette, whose feet were benumbed,wanted to walk. He set her on the ground and took her hand again.
The bridge once crossed, he perceived some timber-yards on his right. Hedirected his course thither. In order to reach them, it was necessary torisk himself in a tolerably large unsheltered and illuminated space.He did not hesitate. Those who were on his track had evidently lost thescent, and Jean Valjean believed himself to be out of danger. Hunted,yes; followed, no.
A little street, the Rue du Chemin-Vert-Saint-Antoine, opened outbetween two timber-yards enclosed in walls. This street was dark andnarrow and seemed made expressly for him. Before entering it he cast aglance behind him.
From the point where he stood he could see the whole extent of the Pontd'Austerlitz.
Four shadows were just entering on the bridge.
These shadows had their backs turned to the Jardin des Plantes and wereon their way to the right bank.
These four shadows were the four men.
Jean Valjean shuddered like the wild beast which is recaptured.
One hope remained to him; it was, that the men had not, perhaps, steppedon the bridge, and had not caught sight of him while he was crossing thelarge illuminated space, holding Cosette by the hand.
In that case, by plunging into the little street before him, hemight escape, if he could reach the timber-yards, the marshes, themarket-gardens, the uninhabited ground which was not built upon.
It seemed to him that he might commit himself to that silent littlestreet. He entered it.
