Marius sat down on his bed: it might be about half-past five, and only half an hour separated him from what was about to happen. He heard his arteries beat as you hear the ticking of a clock in the darkness, and he thought of the double march which was taking place at this moment in the shadows,--crime advancing on one side, and justice coming up on the other. He was not frightened, but he could not think without a certain tremor of the things that were going to happen, like all those who are suddenly assailed by a surprising adventure. This whole day produced on him the effect of a dream, and in order not to believe himself the prey of a nightmare he was obliged to feel in his pockets the cold barrels of the pistols. It no longer snowed; the moon, now very bright, dissipated the mist, and its rays, mingled with the white reflection from the fallen snow, imparted a twilight appearance to the room. There was a light in Jondrette's room, and Marius could see the hole in the partition glowing with a ruddy brilliancy that appeared to him the color of blood. It was evident that this light could not be produced by a candle. There was no movement in the den, no one stirred there, no one spoke, there was not a breath; the silence was chilling and profound, and had it not been for the light, Marius might have fancied himself close to a grave. He gently took off his boots and thrust them under the bed. Several minutes elapsed, and then Marius heard the house-gate creaking on its hinges, a heavy quick step ran up the stairs and along the passage, the hasp of the door was noisily raised; it was Jondrette returned home. All at once several voices were raised, and it was plain that the whole family were at home. They were merely silent in the master's absence, like the whelps in the absence of the wolves. "It is I," he said. "Good evening, pappy," the girls yelped. "Well?" the wife asked. "All is well," Jondrette answered, "but I am cold as a starved dog. That's right, I am glad to see that you are dressed, for it inspires confidence." "All ready to go out." "You will not forget anything that I told you? You will do it all right." "Of course." "Because--" Jondrette began, but did not complete the sentence. Marius heard him lay something heavy on the table, probably the chisel which he had bought. "Well," Jondrette continued, "have you been eating here?" "Yes," said the mother; "I bought three large potatoes and some salt. I took advantage of the fire to roast them." "Good!" Jondrette remarked; "to-morrow you will dine with me: we will have a duck and trimmings, and you will feed like Charles the Tenth." Then he added, lowering his voice,-- "The mousetrap is open, and the cats are here." He again lowered his voice and said,-- "Put this in the fire." Marius heard a clicking of coals stirred with pincers or some iron tool, and Jondrette ask,-- "Have you tallowed the hinges of the door, so that they may make no noise?"