第25章

theusurper，——thetyrant，——themonsterwhowastheloverofhisownsisters，——theactorwhotooklessonsofTalma，——thepoisonerofJaffa，——thetiger，——Buonaparte，——allthisvanished，andgaveplaceinhismindtoavagueandbrilliantradianceinwhichshone，ataninaccessibleheight，thepalemarblephantomofCaesar。

TheEmperorhadbeenforhisfatheronlythewell—belovedcaptainwhomoneadmires，forwhomonesacrificesone’sself；hewassomethingmoretoMarius。HewasthepredestinedconstructoroftheFrenchgroup，succeedingtheRomangroupinthedominationoftheuniverse。

Hewasaprodigiousarchitect，ofadestruction，thecontinuerofCharlemagne，ofLouisXI。，ofHenryIV。，ofRichelieu，ofLouisXIV。，andoftheCommitteeofPublicSafety，havinghisspots，nodoubt，hisfaults，hiscrimeseven，beingaman，thatistosay；

butaugustinhisfaults，brilliantinhisspots，powerfulinhiscrime。

Hewasthepredestinedman，whohadforcedallnationstosay:

"Thegreatnation！"Hewasbetterthanthat，hewastheveryincarnationofFrance，conqueringEuropebytheswordwhichhegrasped，andtheworldbythelightwhichheshed。MariussawinBonapartethedazzlingspectrewhichwillalwaysriseuponthefrontier，andwhichwillguardthefuture。Despotbutdictator；

adespotresultingfromarepublicandsumminguparevolution。

Napoleonbecameforhimtheman—peopleasJesusChrististheman—God。

Itwillbeperceived，thatlikeallnewconvertstoareligion，hisconversionintoxicatedhim，hehurledhimselfheadlongintoadhesionandhewenttoofar。Hisnaturewassoconstructed；

onceonthedownwardslope，itwasalmostimpossibleforhimtoputonthedrag。Fanaticismfortheswordtookpossessionofhim，andcomplicatedinhismindhisenthusiasmfortheidea。

Hedidnotperceivethat，alongwithgenius，andpell—mell，hewasadmittingforce，thatistosay，thathewasinstallingintwocompartmentsofhisidolatry，ontheonehandthatwhichisdivine，ontheotherthatwhichisbrutal。Inmanyrespects，hehadsetaboutdeceivinghimselfotherwise。Headmittedeverything。

Thereisawayofencounteringerrorwhileonone’swaytothetruth。

Hehadaviolentsortofgoodfaithwhichtookeverythinginthelump。

Inthenewpathwhichhehadenteredon，injudgingthemistakesoftheoldregime，asinmeasuringthegloryofNapoleon，heneglectedtheattenuatingcircumstances。

Atallevents，atremendousstephadbeentaken。Wherehehadformerlybeheldthefallofthemonarchy，henowsawtheadventofFrance。

Hisorientationhadchanged。WhathadbeenhisEastbecametheWest。

Hehadturnedsquarelyround。

Alltheserevolutionswereaccomplishedwithinhim，withouthisfamilyobtaininganinklingofthecase。

When，duringthismysteriouslabor，hehadentirelyshedhisoldBourbonandultraskin，whenhehadcastoffthearistocrat，theJacobiteandtheRoyalist，whenhehadbecomethoroughlyarevolutionist，profoundlydemocraticandrepublican，hewenttoanengraverontheQuaidesOrfevresandorderedahundredcardsbearingthisname:

LeBaronMariusPontmercy。

Thiswasonlythestrictlylogicalconsequenceofthechangewhichhadtakenplaceinhim，achangeinwhicheverythinggravitatedroundhisfather。

Only，ashedidnotknowanyoneandcouldnotsowhiscardswithanyporter，heputtheminhispocket。

Byanothernaturalconsequence，inproportionashedrewnearertohisfather，tothelatter’smemory，andtothethingsforwhichthecolonelhadfoughtfiveandtwentyyearsbefore，herecededfromhisgrandfather。Wehavelongagosaid，thatM。Gillenormand’stemperdidnotpleasehim。Therealreadyexistedbetweenthemallthedissonancesofthegraveyoungmanandthefrivolousoldman。

ThegayetyofGeronteshocksandexasperatesthemelancholyofWerther。Solongasthesamepoliticalopinionsandthesameideashadbeencommontothemboth，MariushadmetM。Gillenormandthereasonabridge。Whenthebridgefell，anabysswasformed。

Andthen，overandaboveall，Mariusexperiencedunutterableimpulsestorevolt，whenhereflectedthatitwasM。Gillenormandwhohad，fromstupidmotives，tornhimruthlesslyfromthecolonel，thusdeprivingthefatherofthechild，andthechildofthefather。

Bydintofpityforhisfather，Mariushadnearlyarrivedataversionforhisgrandfather。

Nothingofthissort，however，wasbetrayedontheexterior，aswehavealreadysaid。Onlyhegrewcolderandcolder；

laconicatmeals，andrareinthehouse。Whenhisauntscoldedhimforit，hewasverygentleandallegedhisstudies，hislectures，theexaminations，etc。，asapretext。Hisgrandfatherneverdepartedfromhisinfalliblediagnosis:"Inlove！Iknowallaboutit。"

FromtimetotimeMariusabsentedhimself。

"Whereisitthathegoesofflikethis？"saidhisaunt。

Ononeofthesetrips，whichwerealwaysverybrief，hewenttoMontfermeil，inordertoobeytheinjunctionwhichhisfatherhadlefthim，andhesoughttheoldsergeanttoWaterloo，theinn—keeperThenardier。Thenardierhadfailed，theinnwasclosed，andnooneknewwhathadbecomeofhim。

Mariuswasawayfromthehouseforfourdaysonthisquest。

"Heisgettingdecidedlywild，"saidhisgrandfather。

Theythoughttheyhadnoticedthatheworesomethingonhisbreast，underhisshirt，whichwasattachedtohisneckbyablackribbon。

CHAPTERVII

SOMEPETTICOAT

Wehavementionedalancer。

Hewasagreat—grand—nephewofM。Gillenormand，onthepaternalside，wholedagarrisonlife，outsidethefamilyandfarfromthedomestichearth。LieutenantTheoduleGillenormandfulfilledalltheconditionsrequiredtomakewhatiscalledafineofficer。

Hehad"alady’swaist，"avictoriousmanneroftrailinghisswordandoftwirlinghismustacheinahook。HevisitedParisveryrarely，andsorarelythatMariushadneverseenhim。

Thecousinskneweachotheronlybyname。WethinkwehavesaidthatTheodulewasthefavoriteofAuntGillenormand，whopreferredhimbecauseshedidnotseehim。Notseeingpeoplepermitsonetoattributetothemallpossibleperfections。

Onemorning，MademoiselleGillenormandtheelderreturnedtoherapartmentasmuchdisturbedasherplaciditywascapableofallowing。

Mariushadjustaskedhisgrandfather’spermissiontotakealittletrip，addingthathemeanttosetoutthatveryevening。

"Go！"hadbeenhisgrandfather’sreply，andM。Gillenormandhadaddedinanaside，asheraisedhiseyebrowstothetopofhisforehead:"Hereheispassingthenightoutagain。"

MademoiselleGillenormandhadascendedtoherchambergreatlypuzzled，andonthestaircasehaddroppedthisexclamation:"Thisistoomuch！"——andthisinterrogation:"Butwhereisitthathegoes？"

Sheespiedsomeadventureoftheheart，moreorlessillicit，awomanintheshadow，arendezvous，amystery，andshewouldnothavebeensorrytothrustherspectaclesintotheaffair。

Tastingamysteryresemblesgettingthefirstflavorofascandal；

saintedsoulsdonotdetestthis。Thereissomecuriosityaboutscandalinthesecretcompartmentsofbigotry。

Soshewasthepreyofavagueappetiteforlearningahistory。

Inordertogetridofthiscuriositywhichagitatedheralittlebeyondherwont，shetookrefugeinhertalents，andsetaboutscalloping，withonelayerofcottonafteranother，oneofthoseembroideriesoftheEmpireandtheRestoration，inwhichtherearenumerouscart—wheels。Theworkwasclumsy，theworkercross。Shehadbeenseatedatthisforseveralhourswhenthedooropened。MademoiselleGillenormandraisedhernose。

LieutenantTheodulestoodbeforeher，makingtheregulationsalute。

Sheutteredacryofdelight。Onemaybeold，onemaybeaprude，onemaybepious，onemaybeanaunt，butitisalwaysagreeabletoseealancerenterone’schamber。

"Youhere，Theodule！"sheexclaimed。

"Onmywaythroughtown，aunt。"

"Embraceme。"

"Heregoes！"saidTheodule。

Andhekissedher。AuntGillenormandwenttoherwriting—deskandopenedit。

"Youwillremainwithusaweekatleast？"

"Ileavethisveryevening，aunt。"

"Itisnotpossible！"

"Mathematically！"

"Remain，mylittleTheodule，Ibeseechyou。"

"Myheartsays`yes，’butmyorderssay`no。’Thematterissimple。

Theyarechangingourgarrison；wehavebeenatMelun，wearebeingtransferredtoGaillon。ItisnecessarytopassthroughParisinordertogetfromtheoldposttothenewone。Isaid:`Iamgoingtoseemyaunt。’"

"Hereissomethingforyourtrouble。"

Andsheputtenlouisintohishand。

"Formypleasure，youmeantosay，mydearaunt。"

Theodulekissedheragain，andsheexperiencedthejoyofhavingsomeoftheskinscratchedfromherneckbythebraidingsonhisuniform。

"Areyoumakingthejourneyonhorseback，withyourregiment？"

sheaskedhim。

"No，aunt。Iwantedtoseeyou。Ihavespecialpermission。

Myservantistakingmyhorse；Iamtravellingbydiligence。

And，bytheway，Iwanttoaskyousomething。"

"Whatisit？"

"IsmycousinMariusPontmercytravellingso，too？"

"Howdoyouknowthat？"saidhisaunt，suddenlyprickedtothequickwithalivelycuriosity。

"Onmyarrival，Iwenttothediligencetoengagemyseatinthecoupe。"

"Well？"

"Atravellerhadalreadycometoengageaseatintheimperial。

Isawhisnameonthecard。"

"Whatname？"

"MariusPontmercy。"

"Thewickedfellow！"exclaimedhisaunt。"Ah！yourcousinisnotasteadyladlikeyourself。Tothinkthatheistopassthenightinadiligence！"

"JustasIamgoingtodo。"

"Butyou——itisyourduty；inhiscase，itiswildness。"

"Bosh！"saidTheodule。

HereaneventoccurredtoMademoiselleGillenormandtheelder，——

anideastruckher。Ifshehadbeenaman，shewouldhaveslappedherbrow。SheapostrophizedTheodule:——

"Areyouawarewhetheryourcousinknowsyou？"

"No。Ihaveseenhim；buthehasneverdeignedtonoticeme。"

"Soyouaregoingtotraveltogether？"

"Heintheimperial，Iinthecoupe。"

"Wheredoesthisdiligencerun？"

"ToAndelys。"

"ThenthatiswhereMariusisgoing？"

"Unless，likemyself，heshouldstopontheway。IgetdownatVernon，inordertotakethebranchcoachforGaillon。IknownothingofMarius’planoftravel。"

"Marius！whatanuglyname！whatpossessedthemtonamehimMarius？

Whileyou，atleast，arecalledTheodule。"

"IwouldratherbecalledAlfred，"saidtheofficer。

"Listen，Theodule。"

"Iamlistening，aunt。"

"Payattention。"

"Iampayingattention。"

"Youunderstand？"

"Yes。"

"Well，Mariusabsentshimself！"

"Eh！eh！"

"Hetravels。"

"Ah！ah！"

"Hespendsthenightout。"

"Oh！oh！"

"Weshouldliketoknowwhatthereisbehindallthis。"

Theodulerepliedwiththecomposureofamanofbronze:——

"Somepetticoatorother。"

Andwiththatinwardlaughwhichdenotescertainty，headded:——

"Alass。"

"Thatisevident，"exclaimedhisaunt，whothoughtsheheardM。Gillenormandspeaking，andwhofeltherconvictionbecomeirresistibleatthatwordfillette，accentuatedinalmosttheverysamefashionbythegranduncleandthegrandnephew。Sheresumed:——

"Dousafavor。FollowMariusalittle。Hedoesnotknowyou，itwillbeeasy。Sincealassthereis，trytogetasightofher。

Youmustwriteusthetale。Itwillamusehisgrandfather。"

Theodulehadnoexcessivetasteforthissortofspying；buthewasmuchtouchedbythetenlouis，andhethoughthesawachanceforapossiblesequel。Heacceptedthecommissionandsaid:

"Asyouplease，aunt。"

Andheaddedinanaside，tohimself:"HereIamaduenna。"

MademoiselleGillenormandembracedhim。

"Youarenotthemantoplaysuchpranks，Theodule。Youobeydiscipline，youaretheslaveoforders，youareamanofscruplesandduty，andyouwouldnotquityourfamilytogoandseeacreature。"

ThelancermadethepleasedgrimaceofCartouchewhenpraisedforhisprobity。

Marius，ontheeveningfollowingthisdialogue，mountedthediligencewithoutsuspectingthathewaswatched。Asforthewatcher，thefirstthinghedidwastofallasleep。Hisslumberwascompleteandconscientious。Argussnoredallnightlong。

Atdaybreak，theconductorofthediligenceshouted:"Vernon！relayofVernon！TravellersforVernon！"AndLieutenantTheodulewoke。

"Good，"hegrowled，stillhalfasleep，"thisiswhereIgetout。"

Then，ashismemoryclearedbydegrees，theeffectofwaking，herecalledhisaunt，thetenlouis，andtheaccountwhichhehadundertakentorenderofthedeedsandproceedingsofMarius。

Thissethimtolaughing。

"Perhapsheisnolongerinthecoach，"hethought，asherebuttonedthewaistcoatofhisundressuniform。"HemayhavestoppedatPoissy；

hemayhavestoppedatTriel；ifhedidnotgetoutatMeulan，hemayhavegotoutatMantes，unlesshegotoutatRolleboise，orifhedidnotgoonasfarasPacy，withthechoiceofturningtotheleftatEvreus，ortotherightatLaroche—Guyon。Runafterhim，aunty。WhatthedevilamItowritetothatgoodoldsoul？"

Atthatmomentapairofblacktrousersdescendingfromtheimperial，madeitsappearanceatthewindowofthecoupe。

"CanthatbeMarius？"saidthelieutenant。

ItwasMarius。

Alittlepeasantgirl，allentangledwiththehorsesandthepostilionsattheendofthevehicle，wasofferingflowerstothetravellers。

"Giveyourladiesflowers！"shecried。

Mariusapproachedherandpurchasedthefinestflowersinherflatbasket。

"Comenow，"saidTheodule，leapingdownfromthecoupe，"thispiquesmycuriosity。Whothedeuceishegoingtocarrythoseflowersto？

Shemustbeasplendidlyhandsomewomanforsofineabouquet。

Iwanttoseeher。"

Andnolongerinpursuanceoforders，butfrompersonalcuriosity，likedogswhohuntontheirownaccount，hesetouttofollowMarius。

MariuspaidnoattentiontoTheodule。Elegantwomendescendedfromthediligence；hedidnotglanceatthem。Heseemedtoseenothingaroundhim。

"Heisprettydeeplyinlove！"thoughtTheodule。

Mariusdirectedhisstepstowardsthechurch。

"Capital，"saidTheoduletohimself。"Rendezvousseasonedwithabitofmassarethebestsort。NothingissoexquisiteasanoglewhichpassesoverthegoodGod’shead。"

Onarrivingatthechurch，Mariusdidnotenterit，butskirtedtheapse。Hedisappearedbehindoneoftheanglesoftheapse。

"Therendezvousisappointedoutside，"saidTheodule。"Let’shavealookatthelass。"

AndheadvancedonthetipsofhisbootstowardsthecornerwhichMariushadturned。

Onarrivingthere，hehaltedinamazement。

Marius，withhisforeheadclaspedinhishands，waskneelinguponthegrassonagrave。Hehadstrewnhisbouquetthere。Attheextremityofthegrave，onalittleswellingwhichmarkedthehead，therestoodacrossofblackwoodwiththisnameinwhiteletters:

COLONELBARONPONTMERCY。Marius’sobswereaudible。

The"lass"wasagrave。

CHAPTERVIII

MARBLEAGAINSTGRANITE

ItwashitherthatMariushadcomeonthefirstoccasionofhisabsentinghimselffromParis。ItwashitherthathehadcomeeverytimethatM。Gillenormandhadsaid:"Heissleepingout。"

LieutenantTheodulewasabsolutelyputoutofcountenancebythisunexpectedencounterwithasepulchre；heexperiencedasingularanddisagreeablesensationwhichhewasincapableofanalyzing，andwhichwascomposedofrespectforthetomb，mingledwithrespectforthecolonel。Heretreated，leavingMariusaloneinthecemetery，andtherewasdisciplineinthisretreat。Deathappearedtohimwithlargeepaulets，andhealmostmadethemilitarysalutetohim。

Notknowingwhattowritetohisaunt，hedecidednottowriteatall；

anditisprobablethatnothingwouldhaveresultedfromthediscoverymadebyTheoduleastotheloveaffairsofMarius，if，byoneofthosemysteriousarrangementswhicharesofrequentinchance，thesceneatVernonhadnothadanalmostimmediatecounter—shockatParis。

MariusreturnedfromVernononthethirdday，inthemiddleofthemorning，descendedathisgrandfather’sdoor，and，weariedbythetwonightsspentinthediligence，andfeelingtheneedofrepairinghislossofsleepbyanhourattheswimming—school，hemountedrapidlytohischamber，tookmerelytimeenoughtothrowoffhistravelling—coat，andtheblackribbonwhichheworeroundhisneck，andwentofftothebath。

M。Gillenormand，whohadrisenbetimeslikealloldmeningoodhealth，hadheardhisentrance，andhadmadehastetoclimb，asquicklyashisoldlegspermitted，thestairstotheupperstorywhereMariuslived，inordertoembracehim，andtoquestionhimwhilesodoing，andtofindoutwherehehadbeen。

Buttheyouthhadtakenlesstimetodescendthantheoldmanhadtoascend，andwhenFatherGillenormandenteredtheattic，Mariuswasnolongerthere。

Thebedhadnotbeendisturbed，andonthebedlay，outspread，butnotdefiantlythegreat—coatandtheblackribbon。

"Ilikethisbetter，"saidM。Gillenormand。

Andamomentlater，hemadehisentranceintothesalon，whereMademoiselleGillenormandwasalreadyseated，busilyembroideringhercart—wheels。

Theentrancewasatriumphantone。

M。Gillenormandheldinonehandthegreat—coat，andintheothertheneck—ribbon，andexclaimed:——

"Victory！Weareabouttopenetratethemystery！Wearegoingtolearnthemostminutedetails；wearegoingtolayourfingeronthedebaucheriesofourslyfriend！Herewehavetheromanceitself。

Ihavetheportrait！"

Infact，acaseofblackshagreen，resemblingamedallionportrait，wassuspendedfromtheribbon。

Theoldmantookthiscaseandgazedatitforsometimewithoutopeningit，withthatairofenjoyment，rapture，andwrath，withwhichapoorhungryfellowbeholdsanadmirabledinnerwhichisnotforhim，passunderhisverynose。

"Forthisevidentlyisaportrait。Iknowallaboutsuchthings。

Thatisworntenderlyontheheart。Howstupidtheyare！

Someabominablefrightthatwillmakeusshudder，probably！Youngmenhavesuchbadtastenowadays！"

"Letussee，father，"saidtheoldspinster。

Thecaseopenedbythepressureofaspring。Theyfoundinitnothingbutacarefullyfoldedpaper。

"Fromthesametothesame，"saidM。Gillenormand，burstingwithlaughter。"Iknowwhatitis。Abillet—doux。"

"Ah！letusreadit！"saidtheaunt。

Andsheputonherspectacles。Theyunfoldedthepaperandreadasfollows:——

"Formyson。——TheEmperormademeaBarononthebattlefieldofWaterloo。SincetheRestorationdisputesmyrighttothistitlewhichIpurchasedwithmyblood，mysonshalltakeitandbearit。

Thathewillbeworthyofitisamatterofcourse。"

Thefeelingsoffatheranddaughtercannotbedescribed。Theyfeltchilledasbythebreathofadeath’s—head。Theydidnotexchangeaword。

Only，M。Gillenormandsaidinalowvoiceandasthoughspeakingtohimself:——

"Itistheslasher’shandwriting。"

Theauntexaminedthepaper，turneditaboutinalldirections，thenputitbackinitscase。

Atthesamemomentalittleoblongpacket，envelopedinbluepaper，fellfromoneofthepocketsofthegreat—coat。MademoiselleGillenormandpickeditupandunfoldedthebluepaper。

ItcontainedMarius’hundredcards。ShehandedoneofthemtoM。Gillenormand，whoread:LeBaronMariusPontmercy。

Theoldmanrangthebell。Nicolettecame。M。Gillenormandtooktheribbon，thecase，andthecoat，flungthemallonthefloorinthemiddleoftheroom，andsaid:——

"Carrythosedudsaway。"

Afullhourpassedinthemostprofoundsilence。Theoldmanandtheoldspinsterhadseatedthemselveswiththeirbackstoeachother，andwerethinking，eachonhisownaccount，thesamethings，inallprobability。

Attheexpirationofthishour，AuntGillenormandsaid:——"Aprettystateofthings！"

Afewmomentslater，Mariusmadehisappearance。Heentered。

Evenbeforehehadcrossedthethreshold，hesawhisgrandfatherholdingoneofhisowncardsinhishand，andoncatchingsightofhim，thelatterexclaimedwithhisairofbourgeoisandgrinningsuperioritywhichwassomethingcrushing:——

"Well！well！well！well！well！soyouareabaronnow。Ipresentyoumycompliments。Whatisthemeaningofthis？"

Mariusreddenedslightlyandrepl

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