第32章

"Handcuffthemall！"shoutedJavert。

"Comeon！"criedavoicewhichwasnotthevoiceofaman，butofwhichnoonewouldeverhavesaid:"Itisawoman’svoice。"

TheThenardierwomanhadentrenchedherselfinoneoftheanglesofthewindow，anditwasshewhohadjustgivenventtothisroar。

Thepolicemenandagentsrecoiled。

Shehadthrownoffhershawl。butretainedherbonnet；

herhusband，whowascrouchingbehindher，wasalmosthiddenunderthediscardedshawl，andshewasshieldinghimwithherbody，assheelevatedthepaving—stoneaboveherheadwiththegestureofagiantessonthepointofhurlingarock。

"Beware！"sheshouted。

Allcrowdedbacktowardsthecorridor。Abroadopenspacewasclearedinthemiddleofthegarret。

TheThenardierwomancastaglanceattheruffianswhohadallowedthemselvestobepinioned，andmutteredinhoarseandgutturalaccents:——

"Thecowards！"

Javertsmiled，andadvancedacrosstheopenspacewhichtheThenardierwasdevouringwithhereyes。

"Don’tcomenearme，"shecried，"orI’llcrushyou。"

"Whatagrenadier！"ejaculatedJavert；"you’vegotabeardlikeaman，mother，butIhaveclawslikeawoman。"

Andhecontinuedtoadvance。

TheThenardier，dishevelledandterrible，setherfeetfarapart，threwherselfbackwards，andhurledthepaving—stoneatJavert’shead。

Javertducked，thestonepassedoverhim，struckthewallbehind，knockedoffahugepieceofplastering，and，reboundingfromangletoangleacrossthehovel，nowluckilyalmostempty，restedatJavert’sfeet。

Atthesamemoment，JavertreachedtheThenardiercouple。

Oneofhisbighandsdescendedonthewoman’sshoulder；theotheronthehusband’shead。

"Thehandcuffs！"heshouted。

Thepolicementroopedininforce，andinafewsecondsJavert’sorderhadbeenexecuted。

TheThenardierfemale，overwhelmed，staredatherpinionedhands，andatthoseofherhusband，whohaddroppedtothefloor，andexclaimed，weeping:——

"Mydaughters！"

"Theyareinthejug，"saidJavert。

Inthemeanwhile，theagentshadcaughtsightofthedrunkenmanasleepbehindthedoor，andwereshakinghim:——

Heawoke，stammering:——

"Isitallover，Jondrette？"

"Yes，"repliedJavert。

Thesixpinionedruffianswerestanding，andstillpreservedtheirspectralmien；allthreebesmearedwithblack，allthreemasked。

"Keeponyourmasks，"saidJavert。

AndpassingtheminreviewwithaglanceofaFrederickII。

ataPotsdamparade，hesaidtothethree"chimney—builders":——

"Goodday，Bigrenaille！goodday，Brujon！goodday，Deuxmilliards！"

Thenturningtothethreemaskedmen，hesaidtothemanwiththemeat—axe:——

"Goodday，Gueulemer！"

Andtothemanwiththecudgel:——

"Goodday，Babet！"

Andtotheventriloquist:——

"Yourhealth，Claquesous。"

Atthatmoment，hecaughtsightoftheruffians’prisoner。who，eversincetheentranceofthepolice，hadnotutteredaword，andhadheldhisheaddown。

"Untiethegentleman！"saidJavert，"andletnoonegoout！"

Thatsaid，heseatedhimselfwithsovereigndignitybeforethetable，wherethecandleandthewriting—materialsstillremained，drewastampedpaperfromhispocket，andbegantopreparehisreport。

Whenhehadwrittenthefirstlines，whichareformulasthatnevervary，heraisedhiseyes:——

"Letthegentlemanwhomthesegentlemenboundstepforward。"

Thepolicemenglancedroundthem。

"Well，"saidJavert，"whereishe？"

Theprisoneroftheruffians，M。Leblanc，M。UrbainFabre，thefatherofUrsuleortheLark，haddisappeared。

Thedoorwasguarded，butthewindowwasnot。Assoonashehadfoundhimselfreleasedfromhisbonds，andwhileJavertwasdrawinguphisreport，hehadtakenadvantageofconfusion，thecrowd，thedarkness，andofamomentwhenthegeneralattentionwasdivertedfromhim，todashoutofthewindow。

Anagentsprangtotheopeningandlookedout。Hesawnooneoutside。

Theropeladderwasstillshaking。

"Thedevil！"ejaculatedJavertbetweenhisteeth，"hemusthavebeenthemostvaluableofthelot。"

CHAPTERXXII

THELITTLEONEWHOWASCRYINGINVOLUMETWO

OnthedayfollowingthatonwhichtheseeventstookplaceinthehouseontheBoulevarddel’Hopital，achild，whoseemedtobecomingfromthedirectionofthebridgeofAusterlitz，wasascendingtheside—alleyontherightinthedirectionoftheBarrieredeFontainebleau。

Nighthadfullycome。

Thisladwaspale，thin，cladinrags，withlinentrousersinthemonthofFebruary，andwassingingatthetopofhisvoice。

AtthecorneroftheRueduPetit—Banquier，abentoldwomanwasrummaginginaheapofrefusebythelightofastreetlantern；

thechildjostledherashepassed，thenrecoiled，exclaiming:——

"Hello！AndItookitforanenormous，enormousdog！"

Hepronouncedthewordenormousthesecondtimewithajeeringswellofthevoicewhichmightbetolerablywellrepresentedbycapitals:

"anenormous，ENORMOUSdog。"

Theoldwomanstraightenedherselfupinafury。

"Nastybrat！"shegrumbled。"IfIhadn’tbeenbendingover，IknowwellwhereIwouldhaveplantedmyfootonyou。"

Theboywasalreadyfaraway。

"Kisss！kisss！"hecried。"Afterthat，Idon’tthinkIwasmistaken！"

Theoldwoman，chokingwithindignation，nowrosecompletelyupright，andtheredgleamofthelanternfullylightedupherlividface，allhollowedintoanglesandwrinkles，withcrow’s—feetmeetingthecornersofhermouth。

Herbodywaslostinthedarkness，andonlyherheadwasvisible。

OnewouldhavepronouncedheramaskofDecrepitudecarvedoutbyalightfromthenight。

Theboysurveyedher。

"Madame，"saidhe，"doesnotpossessthatstyleofbeautywhichpleasesme。"

Hethenpursuedhisroad，andresumedhissong:——

"LeroiCoupdesabotS’enallaitalachasse，Alachasseauxcorbeaux——"

Attheendofthesethreelineshepaused。HehadarrivedinfrontofNo。50—52，andfindingthedoorfastened，hebegantoassaultitwithresoundingandheroickicks，whichbetrayedrathertheman’sshoesthathewaswearingthanthechild’sfeetwhichheowned。

Inthemeanwhile，theveryoldwomanwhomhehadencounteredatthecorneroftheRueduPetit—Banquierhastenedupbehindhim，utteringclamorouscriesandindulginginlavishandexaggeratedgestures。

"What’sthis？What’sthis？LordGod！He’sbatteringthedoordown！

He’sknockingthehousedown。"

Thekickscontinued。

Theoldwomanstrainedherlungs。

"Isthatthewaybuildingsaretreatednowadays？"

Allatonceshepaused。

Shehadrecognizedthegamin。

"What！soit’sthatimp！"

"Why，it’stheoldlady，"saidthelad。"Goodday，Bougonmuche。

Ihavecometoseemyancestors。"

Theoldwomanretortedwithacompositegrimace，andawonderfulimprovisationofhatredtakingadvantageoffeeblenessandugliness，whichwas，unfortunately，wastedinthedark:——

"There’snoonehere。"

"Bah！"retortedtheboy，"where’smyfather？"

"AtLaForce。"

"Come，now！Andmymother？"

"AtSaint—Lazare。"

"Well！Andmysisters？"

"AttheMadelonettes。"

Theladscratchedhisheadbehindhisear，staredatMa’amBougon，andsaid:——

"Ah！"

Thenheexecutedapirouetteonhisheel；amomentlater，theoldwoman，whohadremainedonthedoor—step，heardhimsinginginhisclear，youngvoice，asheplungedundertheblackelm—trees，inthewintrywind:——

"LeroiCoupdesabot[31]

S’enallaitalachasse，Alachasseauxcorbeaux，Montesurdeuxechasses。

Quandonpassaitdessous，Onluipayaitdeuxsous。"

[31]KingBootkickwenta—huntingaftercrows，mountedontwostilts。

Whenonepassedbeneaththem，onepaidhimtwosous。

[TheendofVolumeIII。"Marius"]

VOLUMEIV。SAINT—DENIS。

THEIDYLINTHERUEPLUMETANDTHEEPICINTHERUESAINT—DENIS

BOOKFIRST。——AFEWPAGESOFHISTORY

CHAPTERI

WELLCUT

1831and1832，thetwoyearswhichareimmediatelyconnectedwiththeRevolutionofJuly，formoneofthemostpeculiarandstrikingmomentsofhistory。Thesetwoyearsriseliketwomountainsmidwaybetweenthosewhichprecedeandthosewhichfollowthem。Theyhavearevolutionarygrandeur。Precipicesaretobedistinguishedthere。

Thesocialmasses，theveryassizesofcivilization，thesolidgroupofsuperposedandadheringinterests，thecentury—oldprofilesoftheancientFrenchformation，appearanddisappearinthemeveryinstant，athwartthestormcloudsofsystems，ofpassions，andoftheories。

Theseappearancesanddisappearanceshavebeendesignatedasmovementandresistance。Atintervals，truth，thatdaylightofthehumansoul，canbedescriedshiningthere。

Thisremarkableepochisdecidedlycircumscribedandisbeginningtobesufficientlydistantfromustoallowofourgraspingtheprincipallinesevenatthepresentday。

Weshallmaketheattempt。

TheRestorationhadbeenoneofthoseintermediatephases，hardtodefine，inwhichthereisfatigue，buzzing，murmurs，sleep，tumult，andwhicharenothingelsethanthearrivalofagreatnationatahalting—place。

Theseepochsarepeculiarandmisleadthepoliticianswhodesiretoconvertthemtoprofit。Inthebeginning，thenationasksnothingbutrepose；itthirstsforbutonething，peace；ithasbutoneambition，tobesmall。Whichisthetranslationofremainingtranquil。

Ofgreatevents，greathazards，greatadventures，greatmen，thankGod，wehaveseenenough，wehavethemheapedhigherthanourheads。WewouldexchangeCaesarforPrusias，andNapoleonfortheKingofYvetot。

"Whatagoodlittlekingwashe！"Wehavemarchedsincedaybreak，wehavereachedtheeveningofalongandtoilsomeday；wehavemadeourfirstchangewithMirabeau，thesecondwithRobespierre，thethirdwithBonaparte；wearewornout。Eachonedemandsabed。

Devotionwhichisweary，heroismwhichhasgrownold，ambitionswhicharesated，fortuneswhicharemade，seek，demand，implore，solicit，what？Ashelter。Theyhaveit。Theytakepossessionofpeace，oftranquillity，ofleisure；behold，theyarecontent。But，atthesametimecertainfactsarise，compelrecognition，andknockatthedoorintheirturn。Thesefactsaretheproductsofrevolutionsandwars，theyare，theyexist，theyhavetherighttoinstallthemselvesinsociety，andtheydoinstallthemselvestherein；

andmostofthetime，factsarethestewardsofthehouseholdandfouriers[32]whodonothingbutpreparelodgingsforprinciples。

[32]Inoldentimes，fouriersweretheofficialswhoprecededtheCourtandallottedthelodgings。

This，then，iswhatappearstophilosophicalpoliticians:——

Atthesametimethatwearymendemandrepose，accomplishedfactsdemandguarantees。Guaranteesarethesametofactsthatreposeistomen。

ThisiswhatEnglanddemandedoftheStuartsaftertheProtector；

thisiswhatFrancedemandedoftheBourbonsaftertheEmpire。

Theseguaranteesareanecessityofthetimes。Theymustbeaccorded。

Princes"grant"them，butinreality，itistheforceofthingswhichgivesthem。Aprofoundtruth，andoneusefultoknow，whichtheStuartsdidnotsuspectin1662andwhichtheBourbonsdidnotevenobtainaglimpseofin1814。

Thepredestinedfamily，whichreturnedtoFrancewhenNapoleonfell，hadthefatalsimplicitytobelievethatitwasitselfwhichbestowed，andthatwhatithadbestoweditcouldtakebackagain；thattheHouseofBourbonpossessedtherightdivine，thatFrancepossessednothing，andthatthepoliticalrightconcededinthecharterofLouisXVIII。

wasmerelyabranchoftherightdivine，wasdetachedbytheHouseofBourbonandgraciouslygiventothepeopleuntilsuchdayasitshouldpleasetheKingtoreassumeit。Still，theHouseofBourbonshouldhavefelt，fromthedispleasurecreatedbythegift，thatitdidnotcomefromit。

Thishousewaschurlishtothenineteenthcentury。Itputonanill—temperedlookateverydevelopmentofthenation。Tomakeuseofatrivialword，thatistosay，ofapopularandatrueword，itlookedglum。Thepeoplesawthis。

ItthoughtitpossessedstrengthbecausetheEmpirehadbeencarriedawaybeforeitlikeatheatricalstage—setting。Itdidnotperceivethatithad，itself，beenbroughtininthesamefashion。ItdidnotperceivethatitalsolayinthathandwhichhadremovedNapoleon。

Itthoughtthatithadroots，becauseitwasthepast。Itwasmistaken；

itformedapartofthepast，butthewholepastwasFrance。

TherootsofFrenchsocietywerenotfixedintheBourbons，butinthenations。Theseobscureandlivelyrootsconstituted，nottherightofafamily，butthehistoryofapeople。

Theywereeverywhere，exceptunderthethrone。

TheHouseofBourbonwastoFrancetheillustriousandbleedingknotinherhistory，butwasnolongertheprincipalelementofherdestiny，andthenecessarybaseofherpolitics。ShecouldgetalongwithouttheBourbons；shehaddonewithoutthemfortwoandtwentyyears；

therehadbeenabreakofcontinuity；theydidnotsuspectthefact。

Andhowshouldtheyhavesuspectedit，theywhofanciedthatLouisXVII。

reignedonthe9thofThermidor，andthatLouisXVIII。wasreigningatthebattleofMarengo？Never，sincetheoriginofhistory，hadprincesbeensoblindinthepresenceoffactsandtheportionofdivineauthoritywhichfactscontainandpromulgate。Neverhadthatpretensionherebelowwhichiscalledtherightofkingsdeniedtosuchapointtherightfromonhigh。

Acapitalerrorwhichledthisfamilytolayitshandoncemoreontheguarantees"granted"in1814，ontheconcessions，asittermedthem。Sad。Asadthing！Whatittermeditsconcessionswereourconquests；whatittermedourencroachmentswereourrights。

Whenthehourseemedtoittohavecome，theRestoration，supposingitselfvictoriousoverBonaparteandwell—rootedinthecountry，thatistosay，believingitselftobestronganddeep，abruptlydecidedonitsplanofaction，andriskeditsstroke。

OnemorningitdrewitselfupbeforethefaceofFrance，and，elevatingitsvoice，itcontestedthecollectivetitleandtheindividualrightofthenationtosovereignty，ofthecitizentoliberty。

Inotherwords，itdeniedtothenationthatwhichmadeitanation，andtothecitizenthatwhichmadehimacitizen。

ThisisthefoundationofthosefamousactswhicharecalledtheordinancesofJuly。TheRestorationfell。

Itfelljustly。But，weadmit，ithadnotbeenabsolutelyhostiletoallformsofprogress。Greatthingshadbeenaccomplished，withitalongside。

UndertheRestoration，thenationhadgrownaccustomedtocalmdiscussion，whichhadbeenlackingundertheRepublic，andtograndeurinpeace，whichhadbeenwantingundertheEmpire。FrancefreeandstronghadofferedanencouragingspectacletotheotherpeoplesofEurope。

TheRevolutionhadhadthewordunderRobespierre；thecannonhadhadthewordunderBonaparte；itwasunderLouisXVIII。

andCharlesX。thatitwastheturnofintelligencetohavetheword。Thewindceased，thetorchwaslightedoncemore。

Ontheloftyheights，thepurelightofmindcouldbeseenflickering。

Amagnificent，useful，andcharmingspectacle。Foraspaceoffifteenyears，thosegreatprincipleswhicharesooldforthethinker，sonewforthestatesman，couldbeseenatworkinperfectpeace，onthepublicsquare；equalitybeforethelaw，libertyofconscience，libertyofspeech，libertyofthepress，theaccessibilityofallaptitudestoallfunctions。Thusitproceededuntil1830。

TheBourbonswereaninstrumentofcivilizationwhichbrokeinthehandsofProvidence。

ThefalloftheBourbonswasfullofgrandeur，notontheirside，butonthesideofthenation。Theyquittedthethronewithgravity，butwithoutauthority；theirdescentintothenightwasnotoneofthosesolemndisappearanceswhichleaveasombreemotioninhistory；

itwasneitherthespectralcalmofCharlesI。，northeeaglescreamofNapoleon。Theydeparted，thatisall。Theylaiddownthecrown，andretainednoaureole。Theywereworthy，buttheywerenotaugust。

Theylacked，inacertainmeasure，themajestyoftheirmisfortune。

CharlesX。duringthevoyagefromCherbourg，causingaroundtabletobecutoverintoasquaretable，appearedtobemoreanxiousaboutimperilledetiquettethanaboutthecrumblingmonarchy。

Thisdiminutionsaddeneddevotedmenwholovedtheirpersons，andseriousmenwhohonoredtheirrace。Thepopulacewasadmirable。Thenation，attackedonemorningwithweapons，byasortofroyalinsurrection，feltitselfinthepossessionofsomuchforcethatitdidnotgointoarage。Itdefendeditself，restraineditself，restoredthingstotheirplaces，thegovernmenttolaw，theBourbonstoexile，alas！andthenhalted！IttooktheoldkingCharlesX。frombeneaththatdaiswhichhadshelteredLouisXIV。andsethimgentlyontheground。

Ittouchedtheroyalpersonagesonlywithsadnessandprecaution。

Itwasnotoneman，itwasnotafewmen，itwasFrance，Franceentire，Francevictoriousandintoxicatedwithhervictory，whoseemedtobecomingtoherself，andwhoputintopractice，beforetheeyesofthewholeworld，thesegravewordsofGuillaumeduVairafterthedayoftheBarricades:——

"Itiseasyforthosewhoareaccustomedtoskimthefavorsofthegreat，andtospring，likeabirdfromboughtobough，fromanafflictedfortunetoaflourishingone，toshowthemselvesharshtowardstheirPrinceinhisadversity；butasforme，thefortuneofmyKingsandespeciallyofmyafflictedKings，willalwaysbevenerabletome。"

TheBourbonscarriedawaywiththemrespect，butnotregret。

Aswehavejuststated，theirmisfortunewasgreaterthantheywere。

Theyfadedoutinthehorizon。

TheRevolutionofJulyinstantlyhadfriendsandenemiesthroughouttheentireworld。Thefirstrushedtowardherwithjoyandenthusiasm，theothersturnedaway，eachaccordingtohisnature。Atthefirstblush，theprincesofEurope，theowlsofthisdawn，shuttheireyes，woundedandstupefied，andonlyopenedthemtothreaten。

Afrightwhichcanbecomprehended，awrathwhichcanbepardoned。

Thisstrangerevolutionhadhardlyproducedashock；ithadnotevenpaidtovanquishedroyaltythehonoroftreatingitasanenemy，andofsheddingitsblood。Intheeyesofdespoticgovernments，whoarealwaysinterestedinhavinglibertycalumniateitself，theRevolutionofJulycommittedthefaultofbeingformidableandofremaininggentle。Nothing，however，wasattemptedorplottedagainstit。Themostdiscontented，themostirritated，themosttrembling，salutedit；whateverouregotismandourrancormaybe，amysteriousrespectspringsfromeventsinwhichwearesensibleofthecollaborationofsomeonewhoisworkingaboveman。

TheRevolutionofJulyisthetriumphofrightoverthrowingthefact。

Athingwhichisfullofsplendor。

Rightoverthrowingthefact。HencethebrilliancyoftheRevolutionof1830，hence，also，itsmildness。Righttriumphanthasnoneedofbeingviolent。

Rightisthejustandthetrue。

Thepropertyofrightistoremaineternallybe

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