'Sir，'said he，'I am in need of fifteen hundred francs.'
The stranger took from his side pocket an old pocketbook of black leather，opened it，drew out three bank-bills，which he laid on the table.Then he placed his large thumb on the notes and said to the inn-keeper：——
'Go and fetch Cosette.'
While this was taking place，what had Cosette been doing？
On waking up，Cosette had run to get her shoe.
In it she had found the gold piece.
It was not a Napoleon；it was one of those perfectly new twenty-franc pieces of the Restoration，on whose effigy the little Prussian queue had replaced the laurel wreath.Cosette was dazzled.
Her destiny began to intoxicate her.She did not know what a gold piece was；she had never seen one；she hid it quickly in her pocket，as though she had stolen it.Still，she felt that it really was hers；she guessed whence her gift had come，but the joy which she experienced was full of fear.She was happy；above all she was stupefied.
Such magnificent and beautiful things did not appear real.
The doll frightened her，the gold piece frightened her.
She trembled vaguely in the presence of this magnificence.
The stranger alone did not frighten her.On the contrary，he reassured her.
Ever since the preceding evening，amid all her amazement，even in her sleep，she had been thinking in her little childish mind of that man who seemed to be so poor and so sad，and who was so rich and so kind.
Everything had changed for her since she had met that good man in the forest.Cosette，less happy than the most insignificant swallow of heaven，had never known what it was to take refuge under a mother's shadow and under a wing.
For the last five years，that is to say，as far back as her memory ran，the poor child had shivered and trembled.She had always been exposed completely naked to the sharp wind of adversity；now it seemed to her she was clothed.
Formerly her soul had seemed cold，now it was warm.
Cosette was no longer afraid of the Thenardier.
She was no longer alone；there was some one there.
She hastily set about her regular morning duties.
That louis，which she had about her，in the very apron pocket whence the fifteen-sou piece had fallen on the night before，distracted her thoughts.She dared not touch it，but she spent five minutes in gazing at it，with her tongue hanging out，if the truth must be told.
As she swept the staircase，she paused，remained standing there motionless，forgetful of her broom and of the entire universe，occupied in gazing at that star which was blazing at the bottom of her pocket.
It was during one of these periods of contemplation that the Thenardier joined her.
She had gone in search of Cosette at her husband's orders.
What was quite unprecedented，she neither struck her nor said an insulting word to her.
'Cosette，'she said，almost gently，'come immediately.'
An instant later Cosette entered the public room.
The stranger took up the bundle which he had brought and untied it.This bundle contained a little woollen gown，an apron，a fustian bodice，a kerchief，a petticoat，woollen stockings，shoes——a complete outfit for a girl of seven years.
All was black.
'My child，'said the man，'take these，and go and dress yourself quickly.'
Daylight was appearing when those of the inhabitants of Montfermeil who had begun to open their doors beheld a poorly clad old man leading a little girl dressed in mourning，and carrying a pink doll in her arms，pass along the road to Paris.
They were going in the direction of Livry.
It was our man and Cosette.
No one knew the man；as Cosette was no longer in rags，many did not recognize her.
Cosette was going away.
With whom？
She did not know.
Whither？
She knew not.
All that she understood was that she was leaving the Thenardier tavern behind her.
No one had thought of bidding her farewell，nor had she thought of taking leave of any one.
She was leaving that hated and hating house.
Poor，gentle creature，whose heart had been repressed up to that hour！
Cosette walked along gravely，with her large eyes wide open，and gazing at the sky.
She had put her louis in the pocket of her new apron.
From time to time，she bent down and glanced at it；then she looked at the good man.
She felt something as though she were beside the good God.
BOOK THIRD.——ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THE PROMISE MADE TO THE DEAD WOMAN
Ⅹ HE WHO SEEKS TO BETTER HIMSELF MAY RENDER HIS SITUATION WORSE
Madame Thenardier had allowed her husband to have his own way，as was her wont.
She had expected great results.
When the man and Cosette had taken their departure，Thenardier allowed a full quarter of an hour to elapse；then he took her aside and showed her the fifteen hundred francs.
'Is that all？'said she.
It was the first time since they had set up housekeeping that she had dared to criticise one of the master's acts.
The blow told.
'You are right，in sooth，'said he；'I am a fool.
Give me my hat.'
He folded up the three bank-bills，thrust them into his pocket，and ran out in all haste；but he made a mistake and turned to the right first.Some neighbors，of whom he made inquiries，put him on the track again；the Lark and the man had been seen going in the direction of Livry.He followed these hints，walking with great strides，and talking to himself the while：——
'That man is evidently a million dressed in yellow，and I am an animal.First he gave twenty sous，then five francs，then fifty francs，then fifteen hundred francs，all with equal readiness.
He would have given fifteen thousand francs.
But I shall overtake him.'
And then，that bundle of clothes prepared beforehand for the child；all that was singular；many mysteries lay concealed under it.One does not let mysteries out of one's hand when one has once grasped them.
The secrets of the wealthy are sponges of gold；one must know how to subject them to pressure.
All these thoughts whirled through his brain.
'I am an animal，'said he.
When one leaves Montfermeil and reaches the turn which the road takes that runs to Livry，it can be seen stretching out before one to a great distance across the plateau.
