The mask with the ventriloquist voice laid his key on the ground, raised his arms in the air, and opened and shut his hands thrice rapidly, without saying a word. This was like the signal for clearing for action aboard ship; the brigands who held the prisoner let him go, and in a twinkling the rope-ladder was dropped out of window and securely fastened to the sill by the two iron hooks. The prisoner paid no attention to what was going on around him; he seemed to be thinking or praying. So soon as the ladder was fixed, Thénardier cried,-- "The lady first." And he dashed at the window; but as he was stepping out, Bigrenaille roughly seized him by the collar. "No, no, my old joker, after us!" he said. "After us!" the bandits yelled. "You are children," said Thénardier; "we are losing time, and the police are at our heels." "Very well, then," said one of the bandits, "let us draw lots as to who shall go first." Thénardier exclaimed,-- "Are you mad? are you drunk? Why, what a set of humbugs; lose time, I suppose, draw lots, eh,--with a wet finger, a short straw, write our names and put them in a cap--" "Would you like my hat?" a voice said at the door. All turned; it was Javert, who held his hat in his hand and offered it smilingly. CHAPTER XXI. ALWAYS BEGIN BY ARRESTING THE VICTIMS. Javert posted his men at nightfall, and ambushed himself behind the trees of the Rue de la Barrière des Gobelins, which joins No. 50-52 on the other side of the boulevard. He had begun by opening his "pocket," in order to thrust into it the two girls ordered to watch the approaches to the den, but he had only "nailed" Azelma. As for Éponine, she was not at her post; she had disappeared, and he had not been able to seize her. Then Javert took up his post, and listened for the appointed signal. The departure and return of the hackney coach greatly perplexed him; at length he grew impatient, and feeling sure that there "was a nest there," and of being in "luck's way," and having recognized several of the bandits who went in, he resolved to enter without waiting for the pistol-shot. It will be remembered that he had Marius's latch-key. He arrived just in time. The startled bandits dashed at the weapons, which they had thrown into corners at the moment of their attempted escape; and in less than a second these seven men, formidable to look at, were grouped in a posture of defence,--one with his pole-axe, another with his key, a third with his life-preserver, the others with crowbar, shears, and hammer, and Thénardier with his knife in his fist. The woman picked up an enormous paving-stone which lay in the angle of the room and served her daughter as a footstool. Javert restored his hat to his head, and walked into the room with folded arms, his cane hanging from his wrist, and his sword in his scabbard.