Once only, did Marius make the attempt. He introduced into the conversation the Rue de la Chanvrerie, and, turning to M. Fauchelevent, he said to him:
“Of course, you are acquainted with that street?”
“What street?”
“The Rue de la Chanvrerie.”
“I have no idea of the name of that street,” replied M. Fauchelevent, in the most natural manner in the world.
The response which bore upon the name of the street and not upon the street itself, appeared to Marius to be more conclusive than it really was.
“Decidedly,” thought he, “I have been dreaming. I have been subject to a hallucination. It was someone who resembled him. M. Fauchelevent was not there.”
VIII
Two Men Impossible to Find
Marius’ enchantment, great as it was, could not efface from his mind other preoccupations.
While the wedding was in preparation, and while awaiting the date fixed upon, he caused difficult and scrupulous retrospective researches to be made.
He owed gratitude in various quarters; he owed it on his father’s account, he owed it on his own.
There was Thénardier; there was the unknown man who had brought him, Marius, back to M. Gillenormand.