‘But I haven’t two hundred thousand francs about me.’
Oh! I’m not extortionate.
I don’t demand that.
I only ask one thing of you. Have the goodness to write what I am about to dictate to you.”
Here Thenardier paused; then he added, emphasizing his words, and casting a smile in the direction of the brazier:—
“I warn you that I shall not admit that you don’t know how to write.”
A grand inquisitor might have envied that smile.
Thenardier pushed the table close to M. Leblanc, and took an inkstand, a pen, and a sheet of paper from the drawer which he left half open, and in which gleamed the long blade of the knife.
He placed the sheet of paper before M. Leblanc.
“Write,” said he.
The prisoner spoke at last.
“How do you expect me to write?
I am bound.”
“That’s true, excuse me!” ejaculated Thenardier, “you are quite right.”
And turning to Bigrenaille:—
“Untie the gentleman’s right arm.”
Panchaud, alias Printanier, alias Bigrenaille, executed Thenardier’s order.
When the prisoner’s right arm was free, Thenardier dipped the pen in the ink and presented it to him.
“Understand thoroughly, sir, that you are in our power, at our discretion, that no human power can get you out of this, and that we shall be really grieved if we are forced to proceed to disagreeable extremities.
I know neither your name, nor your address, but I warn you, that you will remain bound until the person charged with carrying the letter which you are about to write shall have returned.
Now, be so good as to write.”
“What?” demanded the prisoner.
“I will dictate.”
M. Leblanc took the pen.
Thenardier began to dictate:—
“My daughter—”
The prisoner shuddered, and raised his eyes to Thenardier.
“Put down
‘My dear daughter’—” said Thenardier.
M. Leblanc obeyed.
Thenardier continued:— “Come instantly—”
He paused:—
“You address her as thou, do you not?”
“Who?” asked M. Leblanc.
“Parbleu!” cried Thenardier, “the little one, the Lark.”
M. Leblanc replied without the slightest apparent emotion:— “I do not know what you mean.”
“Go on, nevertheless,” ejaculated Thenardier, and he continued to dictate:—
“Come immediately, I am in absolute need of thee.
The person who will deliver this note to thee is instructed to conduct thee to me.
I am waiting for thee.
Come with confidence.”
M. Leblanc had written the whole of this.
Thenardier resumed:—
“Ah! erase ‘come with confidence’; that might lead her to suppose that everything was not as it should be, and that distrust is possible.”
M. Leblanc erased the three words.
“Now,” pursued Thenardier, “sign it.
What’s your name?”
The prisoner laid down the pen and demanded:—
“For whom is this letter?”
“You know well,” retorted Thenardier, “for the little one I just told you so.”