Montparnasse resisted but feebly; the truth is, that these four men, with the fidelity which bandits have of never deserting each other, had prowled the whole night around La Force, in spite of the peril they incurred, in the hope of seeing Thénardier appear on the top of some wall. But the night, which became really too favorable, for the rain rendered all the streets deserted, the cold which attacked them, their dripping clothes, their worn-out shoes, the alarming noises which had broken out in the prison, the hours which had elapsed, the patrols they had met, the hope which departed, and the fear that returned,--all this urged them to retreat. Montparnasse himself, who was perhaps Thénardier's son-in-law in a certain sense, yielded, and in a moment they would be gone. Thénardier gasped on his wall as the shipwrecked crew of the "Méduse" did on their raft, when they watched the ship which they had sighted fade away on the horizon. He did not dare call to them, for a cry overheard might ruin everything; but he had an idea, a last idea, an inspiration,--he took from his pocket the end of Brujon's rope which he had detached from the chimney of the Bâtiment Neuf, and threw it at their feet. "A cord!" said Babet "My cord!" said Brujon. "The landlord is there," said Montparnasse. They raised their eyes and Thénardier thrust out his head a little. "Quiet," said Montparnasse. "Have you the other end of the rope, Brujon?" "Yes." "Fasten the two ends together. We will throw the rope to him; he will attach it to the wall, and it will be long enough for him to come down." Thénardier ventured to raise his voice,-- "I am wet through." "We'll warm you." "I cannot stir." "You will slip down, and we will catch you." "My hands are swollen." "Only just fasten the rope to the wall." "I can't." "One of us must go up," said Montparnasse. "Three stories!" Brujon ejaculated. An old plaster conduit pipe, which had served for a stove formerly, lit in the hut, ran along the wall almost to the spot where Thénardier was lying. This pipe, which at that day was full of cracks and holes, has since fallen down, but its traces may be seen. It was very narrow. "It would be possible to mount by that," said Montparnasse. "By that pipe?" Babet exclaimed. "A man? Oh no, a boy is required." "Yes, a boy," Brujon said in affirmative. "Where can we find one?" Gueulemer said. "Wait a minute," Montparnasse said; "I have it."