“And would you like to have me tell you something? The young lady⁠—”

“Well, what?” retorted his wife, “the young lady?”

Marius could not doubt that it was really she of whom they were speaking. He listened with ardent anxiety. His whole life was in his ears.

But Jondrette had bent over and spoke to his wife in a whisper. Then he straightened himself up and concluded aloud:⁠—

“It is she!”

“That one?” said his wife.

“That very one,” said the husband.