Nothing is so exquisite as an ogle which passes over the good God's head."
On arriving at the church, Marius did not enter it, but skirted the apse.
He disappeared behind one of the angles of the apse.
"The rendezvous is appointed outside," said Theodule.
"Let's have a look at the lass."
And he advanced on the tips of his boots towards the corner which Marius had turned.
On arriving there, he halted in amazement.
Marius, with his forehead clasped in his hands, was kneeling upon the grass on a grave.
He had strewn his bouquet there.
At the extremity of the grave, on a little swelling which marked the head, there stood a cross of black wood with this name in white letters: COLONEL BARON PONTMERCY.
Marius' sobs were audible.
The "lass" was a grave.
BOOK THIRD.--THE GRANDFATHER AND THE GRANDSON
CHAPTER VIII
MARBLE AGAINST GRANITE
It was hither that Marius had come on the first occasion of his absenting himself from Paris.
It was hither that he had come every time that M. Gillenormand had said:
"He is sleeping out."