第43章

Enjolrashastilyquittedtheurchinandmurmuredafewwordsinaverylowtonetoalongshoremanfromthewinedockswhochancedtobeathand。Themanlefttheroom，andreturnedalmostimmediately，accompaniedbythreeothers。Thefourmen，fourporterswithbroadshoulders，wentandplacedthemselveswithoutdoinganythingtoattracthisattention，behindthetableonwhichthemanoftheRuedesBilletteswasleaningwithhiselbows。

Theywereevidentlyreadytohurlthemselvesuponhim。

ThenEnjolrasapproachedthemananddemandedofhim:——

"Whoareyou？"

Atthisabruptquery，themanstarted。HeplungedhisgazedeepintoEnjolras’cleareyesandappearedtograspthelatter’smeaning。

Hesmiledwithasmilethanwhichnothingmoredisdainful，moreenergetic，andmoreresolutecouldbeseenintheworld，andrepliedwithhaughtygravity:——

"Iseewhatitis。Well，yes！"

"Youareapolicespy？"

"Iamanagentoftheauthorities。"

"Andyourname？"

"Javert。"

Enjolrasmadeasigntothefourmen。Inthetwinklingofaneye，beforeJaverthadtimetoturnround，hewascollared，throwndown，pinionedandsearched。

Theyfoundonhimalittleroundcardpastedbetweentwopiecesofglass，andbearingononesidethearmsofFrance，engraved，andwiththismotto:Supervisionandvigilance，andontheotherthisnote:

"JAVERT，inspectorofpolice，agedfifty—two，"andthesignatureofthePrefectofPoliceofthatday，M。Gisquet。

Besidesthis，hehadhiswatchandhispurse，whichcontainedseveralgoldpieces。Theylefthimhispurseandhiswatch。Underthewatch，atthebottomofhisfob，theyfeltandseizedapaperinanenvelope，whichEnjolrasunfolded，andonwhichhereadthesefivelines，writtenintheveryhandofthePrefectofPolice:——

"Assoonashispoliticalmissionisaccomplished，InspectorJavertwillmakesure，byspecialsupervision，whetheritistruethatthemalefactorshaveinstitutedintriguesontherightbankoftheSeine，neartheJenabridge。"

Thesearchended，theyliftedJaverttohisfeet，boundhisarmsbehindhisback，andfastenedhimtothatcelebratedpostinthemiddleoftheroomwhichhadformerlygiventhewine—shopitsname。

Gavroche，whohadlookedonatthewholeofthissceneandhadapprovedofeverythingwithasilenttossofhishead，steppeduptoJavertandsaidtohim:——

"It’sthemousewhohascaughtthecat。"

Allthiswassorapidlyexecuted，thatitwasalloverwhenthoseaboutthewine—shopnoticedit。

Javerthadnotutteredasinglecry。

AtthesightofJavertboundtothepost，Courfeyrac，Bossuet，Joly，Combeferre，andthemenscatteredoverthetwobarricadescamerunningup。

Javert，withhisbacktothepost，andsosurroundedwithropesthathecouldnotmakeamovement，raisedhisheadwiththeintrepidserenityofthemanwhohasneverlied。

"Heisapolicespy，"saidEnjolras。

AndturningtoJavert:"Youwillbeshottenminutesbeforethebarricadeistaken。"

Javertrepliedinhismostimperioustone:——

"Whynotatonce？"

"Wearesavingourpowder。"

"Thenfinishthebusinesswithablowfromaknife。"

"Spy，"saidthehandsomeEnjolras，"wearejudgesandnotassassins。"

ThenhecalledGavroche:——

"Hereyou！goaboutyourbusiness！DowhatItoldyou！"

"I’mgoing！"criedGavroche。

Andhaltingashewasonthepointofsettingout:——

"Bytheway，youwillgivemehisgun！"andheadded:"Ileaveyouthemusician，butIwanttheclarionet。"

Thegaminmadethemilitarysaluteandpassedgaylythroughtheopeninginthelargebarricade。

CHAPTERVIII

MANYINTERROGATIONPOINTSWITHREGARDTOACERTAINLECABUCWHOSE

NAMEMAYNOTHAVEBEENLECABUC

Thetragicpicturewhichwehaveundertakenwouldnotbecomplete，thereaderwouldnotseethosegrandmomentsofsocialbirth—pangsinarevolutionarybirth，whichcontainconvulsionmingledwitheffort，intheirexactandrealrelief，werewetoomit，inthesketchhereoutlined，anincidentfullofepicandsavagehorrorwhichoccurredalmostimmediatelyafterGavroche’sdeparture。

Mobs，asthereaderknows，arelikeasnowball，andcollectastheyrollalong，athrongoftumultuousmen。Thesemendonotaskeachotherwhencetheycome。Amongthepassers—bywhohadjoinedtherabbleledbyEnjolras，Combeferre，andCourfeyrac，therehadbeenapersonwearingthejacketofastreetporter，whichwasverythreadbareontheshoulders，whogesticulatedandvociferated，andwhohadthelookofadrunkensavage。Thisman，whosenameornicknamewasLeCabuc，andwhowas，moreover，anutterstrangertothosewhopretendedtoknowhim，wasverydrunk，orassumedtheappearanceofbeingso，andhadseatedhimselfwithseveralothersatatablewhichtheyhaddraggedoutsideofthewine—shop。ThisCabuc，whilemakingthosewhoviedwithhimdrunkseemedtobeexaminingwithathoughtfulairthelargehouseattheextremityofthebarricade，whosefivestoriescommandedthewholestreetandfacedtheRueSaint—Denis。Allatonceheexclaimed:——

"Doyouknow，comrades，itisfromthathouseyonderthatwemustfire。

Whenweareatthewindows，thedeuceisinitifanyonecanadvanceintothestreet！"

"Yes，butthehouseisclosed，"saidoneofthedrinkers。

"Letusknock！"

"Theywillnotopen。"

"Letusbreakinthedoor！"

LeCabucrunstothedoor，whichhadaverymassiveknocker，andknocks。

Thedooropensnot。Hestrikesasecondblow。Nooneanswers。

Athirdstroke。Thesamesilence。

"Isthereanyonehere？"shoutsCabuc。

Nothingstirs。

Thenheseizesagunandbeginstobatterthedoorwiththebuttend。

Itwasanancientalleydoor，low，vaulted，narrow，solid，entirelyofoak，linedontheinsidewithasheetofironandironstays，agenuineprisonpostern。Theblowsfromthebuttendofthegunmadethehousetremble，butdidnotshakethedoor。

Nevertheless，itisprobablethattheinhabitantsweredisturbed，foratiny，squarewindowwasfinallyseentoopenonthethirdstory，andatthisapertureappearedthereverendandterrifiedfaceofagray—hairedoldman，whowastheporter，andwhoheldacandle。

Themanwhowasknockingpaused。

"Gentlemen，"saidtheporter，"whatdoyouwant？"

"Open！"saidCabuc。

"Thatcannotbe，gentlemen。"

"Open，nevertheless。"

"Impossible，gentlemen。"

LeCabuctookhisgunandaimedattheporter；butashewasbelow，andasitwasverydark，theporterdidnotseehim。

"Willyouopen，yesorno？"

"No，gentlemen。"

"Doyousayno？"

"Isayno，mygoo——"

Theporterdidnotfinish。Theshotwasfired；theballenteredunderhischinandcameoutatthenapeofhisneck，aftertraversingthejugularvein。

Theoldmanfellbackwithoutasigh。Thecandlefellandwasextinguished，andnothingmorewastobeseenexceptamotionlessheadlyingonthesillofthesmallwindow，andalittlewhitishsmokewhichfloatedofftowardstheroof。

"There！"saidLeCabuc，droppingthebuttendofhisguntothepavement。

Hehadhardlyutteredthisword，whenhefeltahandlaidonhisshoulderwiththeweightofaneagle’stalon，andheheardavoicesayingtohim:——

"Onyourknees。"

ThemurdererturnedroundandsawbeforehimEnjolras’cold，whiteface。

Enjolrasheldapistolinhishand。

Hehadhastenedupatthesoundofthedischarge。

HehadseizedCabuc’scollar，blouse，shirt，andsuspenderwithhislefthand。

"Onyourknees！"herepeated。

And，withanimperiousmotion，thefrailyoungmanoftwentyyearsbentthethicksetandsturdyporterlikeareed，andbroughthimtohiskneesinthemire。

LeCabucattemptedtoresist，butheseemedtohavebeenseizedbyasuperhumanhand。

Enjolras，pale，withbareneckanddishevelledhair，andhiswoman’sface，hadabouthimatthatmomentsomethingoftheantiqueThemis。

Hisdilatednostrils，hisdowncasteyes，gavetohisimplacableGreekprofilethatexpressionofwrathandthatexpressionofChastitywhich，astheancientworldviewedthematter，befitJustice。

Thewholebarricadehastenedup，thenallrangedthemselvesinacircleatadistance，feelingthatitwasimpossibletoutterawordinthepresenceofthethingwhichtheywereabouttobehold。

LeCabuc，vanquished，nolongertriedtostruggle，andtrembledineverylimb。

Enjolrasreleasedhimanddrewouthiswatch。

"Collectyourself，"saidhe。"Thinkorpray。Youhaveoneminute。"

"Mercy！"murmuredthemurderer；thenhedroppedhisheadandstammeredafewinarticulateoaths。

Enjolrasnevertookhiseyesoffofhim:heallowedaminutetopass，thenhereplacedhiswatchinhisfob。Thatdone，hegraspedLeCabucbythehair，asthelattercoiledhimselfintoaballathiskneesandshrieked，andplacedthemuzzleofthepistoltohisear。

Manyofthoseintrepidmen，whohadsotranquillyentereduponthemostterribleofadventures，turnedasidetheirheads。

Anexplosionwasheard，theassassinfelltothepavementfacedownwards。

Enjolrasstraightenedhimselfup，andcastaconvincedandsevereglancearoundhim。Thenhespurnedthecorpsewithhisfootandsaid:——

"Throwthatoutside。"

Threemenraisedthebodyoftheunhappywretch，whichwasstillagitatedbythelastmechanicalconvulsionsofthelifethathadfled，andflungitoverthelittlebarricadeintotheRueMondetour。

Enjolraswasthoughtful。Itisimpossibletosaywhatgrandioseshadowsslowlyspreadoverhisredoubtableserenity。Allatonceheraisedhisvoice。

Asilencefelluponthem。

"Citizens，"saidEnjolras，"whatthatmandidisfrightful，whatIhavedoneishorrible。Hekilled，thereforeIkilledhim。

Ihadtodoit，becauseinsurrectionmusthaveitsdiscipline。

Assassinationisevenmoreofacrimeherethanelsewhere；weareundertheeyesoftheRevolution，wearethepriestsoftheRepublic，wearethevictimsofduty，andmustnotbepossibletoslanderourcombat。

Ihave，therefore，triedthatman，andcondemnedhimtodeath。

Asformyself，constrainedasIamtodowhatIhavedone，andyetabhorringit，Ihavejudgedmyselfalso，andyoushallsoonseetowhatIhavecondemnedmyself。"

Thosewholistenedtohimshuddered。

"Wewillsharethyfate，"criedCombeferre。

"Sobeit，"repliedEnjolras。"Onewordmore。Inexecutingthisman，Ihaveobeyednecessity；butnecessityisamonsteroftheoldworld，necessity’snameisFatality。Now，thelawofprogressis，thatmonstersshalldisappearbeforetheangels，andthatFatalityshallvanishbeforeFraternity。Itisabadmomenttopronouncethewordlove。Nomatter，Idopronounceit。

AndIglorifyit。Love，thefutureisthine。Death，Imakeuseofthee，butIhatethee。Citizens，inthefuturetherewillbeneitherdarknessnorthunderbolts；neitherferociousignorance，norbloodyretaliation。AstherewillbenomoreSatan，therewillbenomoreMichael。Inthefuturenoonewillkillanyoneelse，theearthwillbeamwithradiance，thehumanracewilllove。

Thedaywillcome，citizens，whenallwillbeconcord，harmony，light，joyandlife；itwillcome，anditisinorderthatitmaycomethatweareabouttodie。"

Enjolrasceased。Hisvirginlipsclosed；andheremainedforsometimestandingonthespotwherehehadshedblood，inmarbleimmobility。

Hisstaringeyecausedthoseabouthimtospeakinlowtones。

JeanProuvaireandCombeferrepressedeachother’shandssilently，and，leaningagainsteachotherinanangleofthebarricade，theywatchedwithanadmirationinwhichtherewassomecompassion，thatgraveyoungman，executionerandpriest，composedoflight，likecrystal，andalsoofrock。

Letussayatoncethatlateron，aftertheaction，whenthebodiesweretakentothemorgueandsearched，apoliceagent’scardwasfoundonLeCabuc。Theauthorofthisbookhadinhishands，in1848，thespecialreportonthissubjectmadetothePrefectofPolicein1832。

Wewilladd，thatifwearetobelieveatraditionofthepolice，whichisstrangebutprobablywellfounded，LeCabucwasClaquesous。

Thefactis，thatdatingfromthedeathofLeCabuc，therewasnolongeranyquestionofClaquesous。Claquesoushadnowhereleftanytraceofhisdisappearance；hewouldseemtohaveamalgamatedhimselfwiththeinvisible。Hislifehadbeenallshadows，hisendwasnight。

Thewholeinsurgentgroupwasstillundertheinfluenceoftheemotionofthattragiccasewhichhadbeensoquicklytriedandsoquicklyterminated，whenCourfeyracagainbeheldonthebarricade，thesmallyoungmanwhohadinquiredofhimthatmorningforMarius。

Thislad，whohadaboldandrecklessair，hadcomebynighttojointheinsurgents。

BOOKTHIRTEENTH。——MARIUSENTERSTHESHADOW

CHAPTERI

FROMTHERUEPLUMETTOTHEQUARTIERSAINT—DENIS

ThevoicewhichhadsummonedMariusthroughthetwilighttothebarricadeoftheRuedelaChanvrerie，hadproducedonhimtheeffectofthevoiceofdestiny。Hewishedtodie；theopportunitypresenteditself；heknockedatthedoorofthetomb，ahandinthedarknessofferedhimthekey。Thesemelancholyopeningswhichtakeplaceinthegloombeforedespair，aretempting。

Mariusthrustasidethebarwhichhadsooftenallowedhimtopass，emergedfromthegarden，andsaid:"Iwillgo。"

Madwithgrief，nolongerconsciousofanythingfixedorsolidinhisbrain，incapableofacceptinganythingthenceforthoffateafterthosetwomonthspassedintheintoxicationofyouthandlove，overwhelmedatoncebyallthereveriesofdespair，hehadbutonedesireremaining，tomakeaspeedyendofall。

Hesetoutatrapidpace。Hefoundhimselfmostopportunelyarmed，ashehadJavert’spistolswithhim。

Theyoungmanofwhomhethoughtthathehadcaughtaglimpse，hadvanishedfromhissightinthestreet。

Marius，whohademergedfromtheRuePlumetbytheboulevard，traversedtheEsplanadeandthebridgeoftheInvalides，theChampsElysees，thePlaceLouisXV。，andreachedtheRuedeRivoli。

Theshopswereopenthere，thegaswasburningunderthearcades，womenweremakingtheirpurchasesinthestalls，peoplewereeatingicesintheCafeLaiter，andnibblingsmallcakesattheEnglishpastry—cook’sshop。Onlyafewposting—chaisesweresettingoutatagallopfromtheHoteldesPrincesandtheHotelMeurice。

MariusenteredtheRueSaint—HonorethroughthePassageDelorme。

Theretheshopswereclosed，themerchantswerechattinginfrontoftheirhalf—opendoors，peoplewerewalkingabout，thestreetlanternswerelighted，beginningwiththefirstfloor，allthewindowswerelightedasusual。TherewascavalryonthePlaceduPalais—Royal。

MariusfollowedtheRueSaint—Honore。InproportionasheleftthePalais—Royalbehindhim，therewerefewerlightedwindows，theshopswerefastshut，noonewaschattingonthethresholds，thestreetgrewsombre，and，atthesametime，thecrowdincreasedindensity。Forthepassers—bynowamountedtoacrowd。Noonecouldbeseentospeakinthisthrong，andyettherearosefromitadull，deepmurmur。

NearthefountainoftheArbre—Sec，therewere"assemblages"，motionlessandgloomygroupswhichweretothosewhowentandcameasstonesinthemidstofrunningwater。

AttheentrancetotheRuedesProuvaires，thecrowdnolongerwalked。

Itformedaresisting，massive，solid，compact，almostimpenetrableblockofpeoplewhowerehuddledtogether，andconversinginlowtones。Therewerehardlyanyblackcoatsorroundhatsnow，butsmockfrocks，blouses，caps，andbristlingandcadaverousheads。

Thismultitudeundulatedconfusedlyinthenocturnalgloom。

Itswhisperingshadthehoarseaccentofavibration。Althoughnotoneofthemwaswalking，adulltramplingwasaudibleinthemire。

Beyondthisdenseportionofthethrong，intheRueduRoule，intheRuedesProuvaires，andintheextensionoftheRueSaint—Honore，therewasnolongerasinglewindowinwhichacandlewasburning。

Onlythesolitaryanddiminishingrowsoflanternscouldbeseenvanishingintothestreetinthedistance。Thelanternsofthatdateresembledlargeredstars，hangingtoropes，andsheduponthepavementashadowwhichhadtheformofahugespider。

Thesestreetswerenotdeserted。Therecouldbedescriedpilesofguns，movingbayonets，andtroopsbivouacking。Nocuriousobserverpassedthatlimit。Therecirculationceased。Theretherabbleendedandthearmybegan。

Mariuswilledwiththewillofamanwhohopesnomore。Hehadbeensummoned，hemustgo。Hefoundameanstotraversethethrongandtopassthebivouacofthetroops，heshunnedthepatrols，heavoidedthesentinels。Hemadeacircuit，reachedtheRuedeBethisy，anddirectedhiscoursetowardstheHalles。AtthecorneroftheRuedesBourdonnais，therewerenolongeranylanterns。

Afterhavingpassedthezoneofthecrowd，hehadpassedthelimitsofthetroops；hefoundhimselfinsomethingstartling。Therewasnolongerapasser—by，nolongerasoldier，nolongeralight，therewasnoone；solitude，silence，night，Iknownotwhatchillwhichseizedholduponone。Enteringastreetwaslikeenteringacellar。

Hecontinuedtoadvance。

Hetookafewsteps。Someonepassedclosetohimatarun。Wasitaman？Orawoman？Weretheremanyofthem？hecouldnothavetold。

Ithadpassedandvanished。

Proceedingfromcircuittocircuit，hereachedalanewhichhejudgedtobetheRuedelaPoterie；nearthemiddleofthisstreet，hecameincontactwithanobstacle。Heextendedhishands。

Itwasanoverturnedwagon；hisfootrecognizedpoolsofwater，gullies，andpaving—stonesscatteredandpiledup。

Abarricadehadbeenbegunthereandabandoned。Heclimbedoverthestonesandfoundhimselfontheothersideofthebarrier。

Hewalkedverynearthestreet—posts，andguidedhimselfalongthewallsofthehouses。Alittlebeyondthebarricade，itseemedtohimthathecouldmakeoutsomethingwhiteinfrontofhim。

Heapproached，ittookonaform。Itwastwowhitehorses；

thehorsesoftheomnibusharnessedbyBossuetinthemorning，whohadbeenstrayingatrandomalldayfromstreettostreet，andhadfinallyhaltedthere，withthewearypatienceofbruteswhonomoreunderstandtheactionsofmen，thanmanunderstandstheactionsofProvidence。

Mariusleftthehorsesbehindhim。AshewasapproachingastreetwhichseemedtohimtobetheRueduContrat—Social，ashotcomingnooneknowswhence，andtraversingthedarknessatrandom，whistledclosebyhim，andthebulletpiercedabrassshaving—dishsuspendedabovehisheadoverahairdresser’sshop。

Thispiercedshaving—dishwasstilltobeseenin1848，intheRueduContrat—Social，atthecornerofthepillarsofthemarket。

Thisshotstillbetokenedlife。Fromthatinstantforthheencounterednothingmore。

Thewholeofthisitineraryresembledadescentofblacksteps。

Nevertheless，Mariuspressedforward。

CHAPTERII

ANOWL’SVIEWOFPARIS

AbeingwhocouldhavehoveredoverParisthatnightwiththewingofthebatortheowlwouldhavehadbeneathhiseyesagloomyspectacle。

AllthatoldquarteroftheHalles，whichislikeacitywithinacity，throughwhichruntheRuesSaint—DenisandSaint—Martin，whereathousandlanescross，andofwhichtheinsurgentshadmadetheirredoubtandtheirstronghold，wouldhaveappearedtohimlikeadarkandenormouscavityhollowedoutinthecentreofParis。

Theretheglancefellintoanabyss。Thankstothebrokenlanterns，thankstotheclosedwindows，thereallradiance，alllife，allsound，allmovementceased。Theinvisiblepoliceoftheinsurrectionwereonthewatcheverywhere，andmaintainedorder，thatistosay，night。Thenecessarytacticsofinsurrectionaretodrownsmallnumbersinavastobscurity，tomultiplyeverycombatantbythepossibilitieswhichthatobscuritycontains。

Atdusk，everywindowwhereacandlewasburningreceivedashot。

Thelightwasextinguished，sometimestheinhabitantwaskilled。

Hencenothingwasstirring。Therewasnothingbutfright，mourning，stupo

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