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The second way is to watch him； to wait until he has dug his hole； until he has filled it and has gone away； then to run with great speed to the trench； to open it once more and to seize the 〃treasure〃 which the black man has necessarily placed there。
In this case one dies within the month。
Finally； the last method is not to speak to the black man； not to look at him； and to flee at the best speed of one's legs。 One then dies within the year。
As all three methods are attended with their special inconveniences； the second； which at all events； presents some advantages； among others that of possessing a treasure； if only for a month； is the one most generally adopted。
So bold men； who are tempted by every chance； have quite frequently； as we are assured； opened the holes excavated by the black man； and tried to rob the devil。 The success of the operation appears to be but moderate。
At least； if the tradition is to be believed； and in particular the two enigmatical lines in barbarous Latin； which an evil Norman monk； a bit of a sorcerer； named Tryphon has left on this subject。 This Tryphon is buried at the Abbey of Saint…Georges de Bocherville； near Rouen； and toads spawn on his grave。
Accordingly； enormous efforts are made。
Such trenches are ordinarily extremely deep； a man sweats； digs； toils all night for it must be done at night； he wets his shirt； burns out his candle； breaks his mattock； and when he arrives at the bottom of the hole； when he lays his hand on the 〃treasure；〃 what does he find？ What is the devil's treasure？
A sou； sometimes a crown…piece； a stone； a skeleton； a bleeding body； sometimes a spectre folded in four like a sheet of paper in a portfolio； sometimes nothing。 This is what Tryphon's verses seem to announce to the indiscreet and curious：〃Fodit； et in fossa thesauros condit opaca；
As； nummas； lapides； cadaver； simulacra； nihilque。〃
It seems that in our day there is sometimes found a powder…horn with bullets； sometimes an old pack of cards greasy and worn； which has evidently served the devil。
Tryphon does not record these two finds； since Tryphon lived in the twelfth century； and since the devil does not appear to have had the wit to invent powder before Roger Bacon's time； and cards before the time of Charles VI。
Moreover； if one plays at cards； one is sure to lose all that one possesses！ and as for the powder in the horn； it possesses the property of making your gun burst in your face。
Now； a very short time after the epoch when it seemed to the prosecuting attorney that the liberated convict Jean Valjean during his flight of several days had been prowling around Montfermeil； it was remarked in that village that a certain old road…laborer； named Boulatruelle； had 〃peculiar ways〃 in the forest。
People thereabouts thought they knew that this Boulatruelle had been in the galleys。 He was subjected to certain police supervision； and； as he could find work nowhere； the administration employed him at reduced rates as a road…mender on the cross…road from Gagny to Lagny。
This Boulatruelle was a man who was viewed with disfavor by the inhabitants of the district as too respectful； too humble； too prompt in removing his cap to every one； and trembling and smiling in the presence of the gendarmes；probably affiliated to robber bands； they said； suspected of lying in ambush at verge of copses at nightfall。 The only thing in his favor was that he was a drunkard。
This is what people thought they had noticed：
Of late； Boulatruelle had taken to quitting his task of stone…breaking and care of the road at a very early hour； and to betaking himself to the forest with his pickaxe。
He was encountered towards evening in the most deserted clearings； in the wildest thickets； and he had the appearance of being in search of something； and sometimes he was digging holes。
The goodwives who passed took him at first for Beelzebub； then they recognized Boulatruelle； and were not in the least reassured thereby。
These encounters seemed to cause Boulatruelle a lively displeasure。
It was evident that he sought to hide； and that there was some mystery in what he was doing。
It was said in the village：
〃It is clear that the devil has appeared。 Boulatruelle has seen him； and is on the search。
In sooth； he is cunning enough to pocket Lucifer's hoard。〃
The Voltairians added； 〃Will Boulatruelle catch the devil； or will the devil catch Boulatruelle？〃
The old women made a great many signs of the cross。
In the meantime； Boulatruelle's manoeuvres in the forest ceased； and he resumed his regular occupation of roadmending； and people gossiped of something else。
Some persons； however； were still curious； surmising that in all this there was probably no fabulous treasure of the legends； but some fine windfall of a more serious and palpable sort than the devil's bank…bills； and that the road…mender had half discovered the secret。
The most 〃puzzled〃 were the school…master and Thenardier； the proprietor of the tavern； who was everybody's friend； and had not disdained to ally himself with Boulatruelle。
〃He has been in the galleys；〃 said Thenardier。
〃Eh！
Good God！ no one knows who has been there or will be there。〃
One evening the schoolmaster affirmed that in former times the law would have instituted an inquiry as to what Boulatruelle did in the forest； and that the latter would have been forced to speak； and that he would have been put to the torture in case of need； and that Boulatruelle would not have resisted the water test； for example。
〃Let us put him to the wine test；〃 said Thenardier。
They made an effort； and got the old road…mender to drinking。 Boulatruelle drank an enormous amount； but said very little。 He bined with admirable art； and in masterly proportions； the thirst of a gormandizer with the discretion of a judge。 Nevertheless； by dint of returning to the charge and of paring and putting together the few obscure words which he did allow to escape him； this is what Thenardier and the schoolmaster imagined that they had made out：
One morning； when Boulatruelle was