第28章

When"hisUrsule，"afterhavingreachedtheendofthewalk，retracedherstepswithM。Leblanc，andpassedinfrontofthebenchonwhichMariushadseatedhimselfoncemore，Mariusdartedasullenandferociousglanceather。Theyounggirlgavewaytothatslightstraighteningupwithabackwardmovement，accompaniedbyaraisingoftheeyelids，whichsignifies:"Well，whatisthematter？"

Thiswas"theirfirstquarrel。"

Mariushadhardlymadethissceneatherwithhiseyes，whensomeonecrossedthewalk。Itwasaveteran，verymuchbent，extremelywrinkled，andpale，inauniformoftheLouisXV。

pattern，bearingonhisbreastthelittleovalplaqueofredcloth，withthecrossedswords，thesoldier’scrossofSaint—Louis，andadorned，inaddition，withacoat—sleeve，whichhadnoarmwithinit，withasilverchinandawoodenleg。Mariusthoughtheperceivedthatthismanhadanextremelywellsatisfiedair。

Itevenstruckhimthattheagedcynic，ashehobbledalongpasthim，addressedtohimaveryfraternalandverymerrywink，asthoughsomechancehadcreatedanunderstandingbetweenthem，andasthoughtheyhadsharedsomepieceofgoodlucktogether。

WhatdidthatrelicofMarsmeanbybeingsocontented？Whathadpassedbetweenthatwoodenlegandtheother？Mariusreachedaparoxysmofjealousy。——"Perhapshewasthere！"hesaidtohimself；

"perhapshesaw！"——Andhefeltadesiretoexterminatetheveteran。

Withtheaidoftime，allpointsgrowdull。Marius’wrathagainst"Ursule，"justandlegitimateasitwas，passedoff。Hefinallypardonedher；butthiscosthimagreateffort；hesulkedforthreedays。

Nevertheless，inspiteofallthis，andbecauseofallthis，hispassionaugmentedandgrewtomadness。

CHAPTERIX

ECLIPSE

ThereaderhasjustseenhowMariusdiscovered，orthoughtthathediscovered，thatShewasnamedUrsule。

Appetitegrowswithloving。ToknowthathernamewasUrsulewasagreatdeal；itwasverylittle。Inthreeorfourweeks，Mariushaddevouredthisbliss。Hewantedanother。Hewantedtoknowwhereshelived。

Hehadcommittedhisfirstblunder，byfallingintotheambushofthebenchbytheGladiator。Hehadcommittedasecond，bynotremainingattheLuxembourgwhenM。Leblanccamethitheralone。

Henowcommittedathird，andanimmenseone。Hefollowed"Ursule。"

ShelivedintheRuedel’Ouest，inthemostunfrequentedspot，inanew，three—storyhouse，ofmodestappearance。

Fromthatmomentforth，MariusaddedtohishappinessofseeingherattheLuxembourgthehappinessoffollowingherhome。

Hishungerwasincreasing。Heknewherfirstname，atleast，acharmingname，agenuinewoman’sname；heknewwhereshelived；

hewantedtoknowwhoshewas。

Oneevening，afterhehadfollowedthemtotheirdwelling，andhadseenthemdisappearthroughthecarriagegate，heenteredintheirtrainandsaidboldlytotheporter:——

"Isthatthegentlemanwholivesonthefirstfloor，whohasjustcomein？"

"No，"repliedtheporter。"Heisthegentlemanonthethirdfloor。"

Anotherstepgained。ThissuccessemboldenedMarius。

"Onthefront？"heasked。

"Parbleu！"saidtheporter，"thehouseisonlybuiltonthestreet。"

"Andwhatisthatgentleman’sbusiness？"beganMariusagain。

"Heisagentlemanofproperty，sir。Averykindmanwhodoesgoodtotheunfortunate，thoughnotrichhimself。"

"Whatishisname？"resumedMarius。

Theporterraisedhisheadandsaid:——

"Areyouapolicespy，sir？"

Mariuswentoffquiteabashed，butdelighted。Hewasgettingon。

"Good，"thoughthe，"IknowthathernameisUrsule，thatsheisthedaughterofagentlemanwholivesonhisincome，andthatshelivesthere，onthethirdfloor，intheRuedel’Ouest。"

Onthefollowingday，M。LeblancandhisdaughtermadeonlyaverybriefstayintheLuxembourg；theywentawaywhileitwasstillbroaddaylight。MariusfollowedthemtotheRuedel’Ouest，ashehadtakenupthehabitofdoing。OnarrivingatthecarriageentranceM。Leblancmadehisdaughterpassinfirst，thenpaused，beforecrossingthethreshold，andstaredintentlyatMarius。

OnthenextdaytheydidnotcometotheLuxembourg。Mariuswaitedforthemalldayinvain。

Atnightfall，hewenttotheRuedel’Ouest，andsawalightinthewindowsofthethirdstory。

Hewalkedaboutbeneaththewindowsuntilthelightwasextinguished。

Thenextday，nooneattheLuxembourg。Mariuswaitedallday，thenwentanddidsentineldutyundertheirwindows。Thiscarriedhimontoteno’clockintheevening。

Hisdinnertookcareofitself。Fevernourishesthesickman，andlovethelover。

Hespentaweekinthismanner。M。LeblancnolongerappearedattheLuxembourg。

Mariusindulgedinmelancholyconjectures；hedarednotwatchtheportecochereduringtheday；hecontentedhimselfwithgoingatnighttogazeupontheredlightofthewindows。Attimeshesawshadowsflitacrossthem，andhisheartbegantobeat。

Ontheeighthday，whenhearrivedunderthewindows，therewasnolightinthem。

"Hello！"hesaid，"thelampisnotlightedyet。Butitisdark。

Cantheyhavegoneout？"Hewaiteduntilteno’clock。Untilmidnight。

Untiloneinthemorning。Notalightappearedinthewindowsofthethirdstory，andnooneenteredthehouse。

Hewentawayinaverygloomyframeofmind。

Onthemorrow，——forheonlyexistedfrommorrowtomorrow，therewas，sotospeak，noto—dayforhim，——onthemorrow，hefoundnooneattheLuxembourg；hehadexpectedthis。Atdusk，hewenttothehouse。

Nolightinthewindows；theshadesweredrawn；thethirdfloorwastotallydark。

Mariusrappedattheportecochere，entered，andsaidtotheporter:——

"Thegentlemanonthethirdfloor？"

"Hasmovedaway，"repliedtheporter。

Mariusreeledandsaidfeebly:——

"Howlongago？"

"Yesterday。"

"Whereishelivingnow？"

"Idon’tknowanythingaboutit。"

"Sohehasnotlefthisnewaddress？"

"No。"

Andtheporter，raisinghiseyes，recognizedMarius。

"Come！Soit’syou！"saidhe；"butyouaredecidedlyaspythen？"

BOOKSEVENTH。——PATRONMINETTE

CHAPTERI

MINESANDMINERS

Humansocietiesallhavewhatiscalledintheatricalparlance，athirdlowerfloor。Thesocialsoiliseverywhereundermined，sometimesforgood，sometimesforevil。Theseworksaresuperposedoneupontheother。Therearesuperiorminesandinferiormines。

Thereisatopandabottominthisobscuresub—soil，whichsometimesgiveswaybeneathcivilization，andwhichourindifferenceandheedlessnesstrampleunderfoot。TheEncyclopedia，inthelastcentury，wasaminethatwasalmostopentothesky。Theshades，thosesombrehatchersofprimitiveChristianity，onlyawaitedanopportunitytobringaboutanexplosionundertheCaesarsandtoinundatethehumanracewithlight。Forinthesacredshadowstherelieslatentlight。

Volcanoesarefullofashadowthatiscapableofflashingforth。

Everyformbeginsbybeingnight。Thecatacombs，inwhichthefirstmasswassaid，werenotalonethecellarofRome，theywerethevaultsoftheworld。

Beneaththesocialconstruction，thatcomplicatedmarvelofastructure，thereareexcavationsofallsorts。Thereisthereligiousmine，thephilosophicalmine，theeconomicmine，therevolutionarymine。

Suchandsuchapick—axewiththeidea，suchapickwithciphers。

Suchanotherwithwrath。Peoplehailandanswereachotherfromonecatacombtoanother。Utopiastravelaboutunderground，inthepipes。

Theretheybranchoutineverydirection。Theysometimesmeet，andfraternizethere。Jean—JacqueslendshispicktoDiogenes，wholendshimhislantern。Sometimestheyenterintocombatthere。

CalvinseizesSociniusbythehair。Butnothingarrestsnorinterruptsthetensionofalltheseenergiestowardthegoal，andthevast，simultaneousactivity，whichgoesandcomes，mounts，descends，andmountsagainintheseobscurities，andwhichimmenseunknownswarmingslowlytransformsthetopandthebottomandtheinsideandtheoutside。Societyhardlyevensuspectsthisdiggingwhichleavesitssurfaceintactandchangesitsbowels。Thereareasmanydifferentsubterraneanstagesastherearevaryingworks，asthereareextractions。Whatemergesfromthesedeepexcavations？

Thefuture。

Thedeeperonegoes，themoremysteriousarethetoilers。

Theworkisgood，uptoadegreewhichthesocialphilosophiesareabletorecognize；beyondthatdegreeitisdoubtfulandmixed；

lowerdown，itbecomesterrible。Atacertaindepth，theexcavationsarenolongerpenetrablebythespiritofcivilization，thelimitbreathablebymanhasbeenpassed；abeginningofmonstersispossible。

Thedescendingscaleisastrangeone；andeachoneoftherungsofthisladdercorrespondstoastagewherephilosophycanfindfoothold，andwhereoneencountersoneoftheseworkmen，sometimesdivine，sometimesmisshapen。BelowJohnHuss，thereisLuther；belowLuther，thereisDescartes；belowDescartes，thereisVoltaire；belowVoltaire，thereisCondorcet；belowCondorcet，thereisRobespierre；

belowRobespierre，thereisMarat；belowMaratthereisBabeuf。

Andsoitgoeson。Lowerdown，confusedly，atthelimitwhichseparatestheindistinctfromtheinvisible，oneperceivesothergloomymen，whoperhapsdonotexistasyet。Themenofyesterdayarespectres；

thoseofto—morrowareforms。Theeyeofthespiritdistinguishesthembutobscurely。Theembryonicworkofthefutureisoneofthevisionsofphilosophy。

Aworldinlimbo，inthestateoffoetus，whatanunheard—ofspectre！

Saint—Simon，Owen，Fourier，aretherealso，inlateralgalleries。

Surely，althoughadivineandinvisiblechainunknowntothemselves，bindstogetherallthesesubterraneanpioneerswho，almostalways，thinkthemselvesisolated，andwhoarenotso，theirworksvarygreatly，andthelightofsomecontrastswiththeblazeofothers。Thefirstareparadisiacal，thelastaretragic。Nevertheless，whatevermaybethecontrast，allthesetoilers，fromthehighesttothemostnocturnal，fromthewisesttothemostfoolish，possessonelikeness，andthisisit:disinterestedness。MaratforgetshimselflikeJesus。

Theythrowthemselvesononeside，theyomitthemselves，theythinknotofthemselves。Theyhaveaglance，andthatglanceseekstheabsolute。Thefirsthasthewholeheavensinhiseyes；thelast，enigmaticalthoughhemaybe，hasstill，beneathhiseyelids，thepalebeamoftheinfinite。Veneratetheman，whoeverhemaybe，whohasthissign——thestarryeye。

Theshadowyeyeistheothersign。

Withit，evilcommences。Reflectandtrembleinthepresenceofanyonewhohasnoglanceatall。Thesocialorderhasitsblackminers。

Thereisapointwheredepthistantamounttoburial，andwherelightbecomesextinct。

Belowallthesemineswhichwehavejustmentioned，belowallthesegalleries，belowthiswholeimmense，subterranean，venoussystemofprogressandutopia，muchfurtheronintheearth，muchlowerthanMarat，lowerthanBabeuf，lower，muchlower，andwithoutanyconnectionwiththeupperlevels，thereliesthelastmine。

Aformidablespot。Thisiswhatwehavedesignatedastheletroisiemedessous。Itisthegraveofshadows。Itisthecellaroftheblind。Inferi。

Thiscommunicateswiththeabyss。

CHAPTERII

THELOWESTDEPTHS

Theredisinterestednessvanishes。Thedemonisvaguelyoutlined；

eachoneisforhimself。The_I_intheeyeshowls，seeks，fumbles，andgnaws。ThesocialUgolinoisinthisgulf。

Thewildspectreswhoroaminthisgrave，almostbeasts，almostphantoms，arenotoccupiedwithuniversalprogress；theyareignorantbothoftheideaandoftheword；theytakenothoughtforanythingbutthesatisfactionoftheirindividualdesires。

Theyarealmostunconscious，andthereexistswithinthemasortofterribleobliteration。Theyhavetwomothers，bothstep—mothers，ignoranceandmisery。Theyhaveaguide，necessity；andforallformsofsatisfaction，appetite。Theyarebrutallyvoracious，thatistosay，ferocious，notafterthefashionofthetyrant，butafterthefashionofthetiger。Fromsufferingthesespectrespasstocrime；fatalaffiliation，dizzycreation，logicofdarkness。

Thatwhichcrawlsinthesocialthirdlowerlevelisnolongercomplaintstifledbytheabsolute；itistheprotestofmatter。

Mantherebecomesadragon。Tobehungry，tobethirsty——thatisthepointofdeparture；tobeSatan——thatisthepointreached。

FromthatvaultLacenaireemerges。

Wehavejustseen，inBookFourth，oneofthecompartmentsoftheuppermine，ofthegreatpolitical，revolutionary，andphilosophicalexcavation。There，aswehavejustsaid，allispure，noble，dignified，honest。There，assuredly，onemightbemisled；

buterrorisworthyofvenerationthere，sothoroughlydoesitimplyheroism。Theworkthereeffected，takenasawholehasaname:Progress。

Themomenthasnowcomewhenwemusttakealookatotherdepths，hideousdepths。Thereexistsbeneathsociety，weinsistuponthispoint，andtherewillexist，untilthatdaywhenignoranceshallbedissipated，thegreatcavernofevil。

Thiscavernisbelowall，andisthefoeofall。Itishatred，withoutexception。Thiscavernknowsnophilosophers；itsdaggerhasnevercutapen。Itsblacknesshasnoconnectionwiththesublimeblacknessoftheinkstand。Neverhavethefingersofnightwhichcontractbeneaththisstiflingceiling，turnedtheleavesofabooknorunfoldedanewspaper。BabeufisaspeculatortoCartouche；

MaratisanaristocrattoSchinderhannes。Thiscavernhasforitsobjectthedestructionofeverything。

Ofeverything。Includingtheuppersuperiormines，whichitexecrates。

Itnotonlyundermines，initshideousswarming，theactualsocialorder；

itunderminesphilosophy，itundermineshumanthought，itunderminescivilization，itunderminesrevolution，itunderminesprogress。

Itsnameissimplytheft，prostitution，murder，assassination。

Itisdarkness，anditdesireschaos。Itsvaultisformedofignorance。

Alltheothers，thoseaboveit，havebutoneobject——tosuppressit。

Itistothispointthatphilosophyandprogresstend，withalltheirorganssimultaneously，bytheirameliorationofthereal，aswellasbytheircontemplationoftheabsolute。DestroythecavernIgnoranceandyoudestroythelairCrime。

Letuscondense，inafewwords，apartofwhatwehavejustwritten。

Theonlysocialperilisdarkness。

Humanityisidentity。Allmenaremadeofthesameclay。

Thereisnodifference，herebelow，atleast，inpredestination。

Thesameshadowinfront，thesamefleshinthepresent，thesameashesafterwards。Butignorance，mingledwiththehumanpaste，blackensit。Thisincurableblacknesstakespossessionoftheinteriorofamanandisthereconvertedintoevil。

CHAPTERIII

BABET，GUEULEMER，CLAQUESOUS，ANDMONTPARNASSE

Aquartetteofruffians，Claquesous，Gueulemer，Babet，andMontparnassegovernedthethirdlowerfloorofParis，from1830to1835。

GueulemerwasaHerculesofnodefinedposition。ForhislairhehadtheseweroftheArche—Marion。Hewassixfeethigh，hispectoralmuscleswereofmarble，hisbicepsofbrass，hisbreathwasthatofacavern，historsothatofacolossus，hisheadthatofabird。OnethoughtonebeheldtheFarneseHerculescladinducktrousersandacottonvelvetwaistcoat。Gueulemer，builtafterthissculpturalfashion，mighthavesubduedmonsters；hehadfounditmoreexpeditioustobeone。Alowbrow，largetemples，lessthanfortyyearsofage，butwithcrow’s—feet，harsh，shorthair，cheekslikeabrush，abeardlikethatofawildboar；thereadercanseethemanbeforehim。

Hismusclescalledforwork，hisstupiditywouldhavenoneofit。

Hewasagreat，idleforce。Hewasanassassinthroughcoolness。

Hewasthoughttobeacreole。Hehad，probably，somewhattodowithMarshalBrune，havingbeenaporteratAvignonin1815。

Afterthisstage，hehadturnedruffian。

ThediaphaneityofBabetcontrastedwiththegrossnessofGueulemer。

Babetwasthinandlearned。Hewastransparentbutimpenetrable。

Daylightwasvisiblethroughhisbones，butnothingthroughhiseyes。

Hedeclaredthathewasachemist。Hehadbeenajackofalltrades。

HehadplayedinvaudevilleatSaint—Mihiel。Hewasamanofpurpose，afinetalker，whounderlinedhissmilesandaccentuatedhisgestures。

Hisoccupationconsistedinselling，intheopenair，plasterbustsandportraitsof"theheadoftheState。"Inadditiontothis，heextractedteeth。Hehadexhibitedphenomenaatfairs，andhehadownedaboothwithatrumpetandthisposter:

"Babet，DentalArtist，MemberoftheAcademies，makesphysicalexperimentsonmetalsandmetalloids，extractsteeth，undertakesstumpsabandonedbyhisbrotherpractitioners。Price:onetooth，onefranc，fiftycentimes；twoteeth，twofrancs；threeteeth，twofrancs，fifty。Takeadvantageofthisopportunity。"

ThisTakeadvantageofthisopportunitymeant:Haveasmanyteethextractedaspossible。Hehadbeenmarriedandhadhadchildren。

Hedidnotknowwhathadbecomeofhiswifeandchildren。Hehadlostthemasoneloseshishandkerchief。Babetreadthepapers，astrikingexceptionintheworldtowhichhebelonged。Oneday，attheperiodwhenhehadhisfamilywithhiminhisboothonwheels，hehadreadintheMessager，thatawomanhadjustgivenbirthtoachild，whowasdoingwell，andhadacalf’smuzzle，andheexclaimed:

"There’safortune！mywifehasnotthewittopresentmewithachildlikethat！"

Lateronhehadabandonedeverything，inorderto"undertakeParis。"

Thiswashisexpression。

WhowasClaquesous？Hewasnight。Hewaiteduntiltheskywasdaubedwithblack，beforeheshowedhimself。Atnightfallheemergedfromtheholewhitherhereturnedbeforedaylight。Wherewasthishole？

Nooneknew。Heonlyaddressedhisaccomplicesinthemostabsolutedarkness，andwithhisbackturnedtothem。WashisnameClaquesous？

Certainlynot。Ifacandlewasbrought，heputonamask。

Hewasaventriloquist。Babetsaid:"Claquesousisanocturnefortwovoices。"Claquesouswasvague，terrible，andaroamer。

Noonewassurewhetherhehadaname，Claquesousbeingasobriquet；

nonewassurethathehadavoice，ashisstomachspokemorefrequentlythanhisvoice；noonewassurethathehadaface，ashewasneverseenwithouthismask。Hedisappearedasthoughhehadvanishedintothinair；whenheappeared，itwasasthoughhesprangfromtheearth。

AlugubriousbeingwasMontparnasse。Montparnassewasachild；

lessthantwentyyearsofage，withahandsomeface，lipslikecherries，charmingblackhair，thebrilliantli

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