The band augmented every moment. Near the Rue des Billettes, a man of lofty stature, whose hair was turning gray, and whose bold and daring mien was remarked by Courfeyrac, Enjolras, and Combeferre, but whom none of them knew, joined them.
Gavroche, who was occupied in singing, whistling, humming, running on ahead and pounding on the shutters of the shops with the butt of his triggerless pistol; paid no attention to this man. It chanced that in the Rue de la Verrerie, they passed in front of Courfeyrac’s door.
'This happens just right,' said Courfeyrac, 'I have forgotten my purse, and I have lost my hat. ' He quitted the mob and ran up to his quarters at full speed. He seized an old hat and his purse.
He also seized a large square coffer, of the dimensions of a large valise, which was concealed under his soiled linen. As he descended again at a run, the portress hailed him:— 'Monsieur de Courfeyrac! ' 'What’s your name, portress? ' The portress stood bewildered.
'Why, you know perfectly well, I’m the concierge; my name is Mother Veuvain. ' 'Well, if you call me Monsieur de Courfeyrac again, I shall call you Mother de Veuvain. Now speak, what’s the matter? What do you want? ' 'There is some one who wants to speak with you.
' 'Who is it? ' 'I don’t know. ' 'Where is he? ' 'In my lodge. ' 'The devil! ' ejaculated Courfeyrac. 'But the person has been waiting your return for over an hour,' said the portress.
At the same time, a sort of pale, thin, small, freckled, and youthful artisan, clad in a tattered blouse and patched trousers of ribbed velvet, and who had rather the air of a girl accoutred as a man than of a man, emerged from the lodge and said to Courfeyrac in