The dialogue between him and Gavroche began again for the fourth time:⁠—

“Monsieur?”

“Hey?”

“Who was it that was eaten?”

“The cat.”

“And who ate the cat?”

“The rats.”

“The mice?”

“Yes, the rats.”

The child, in consternation, dismayed at the thought of mice which ate cats, pursued:⁠—

“Sir, would those mice eat us?”