第44章

Apoignantemotioncloudedthejoyofthedisencumberedbarricade。

Therollwascalled。Oneoftheinsurgentswasmissing。Andwhowasit？

Oneofthedearest。Oneofthemostvaliant。JeanProuvaire。

Hewassoughtamongthewounded，hewasnotthere。Hewassoughtamongthedead，hewasnotthere。Hewasevidentlyaprisoner。

CombeferresaidtoEnjolras:——

"Theyhaveourfriend；wehavetheiragent。Areyousetonthedeathofthatspy？"

"Yes，"repliedEnjolras；"butlesssothanonthelifeofJeanProuvaire。"

Thistookplaceinthetap—roomnearJavert’spost。

"Well，"resumedCombeferre，"Iamgoingtofastenmyhandkerchieftomycane，andgoasaflagoftruce，tooffertoexchangeourmanfortheirs。"

"Listen，"saidEnjolras，layinghishandonCombeferre’sarm。

Attheendofthestreettherewasasignificantclashofarms。

Theyheardamanlyvoiceshout:——

"VivelaFrance！LongliveFrance！Longlivethefuture！"

TheyrecognizedthevoiceofProuvaire。

Aflashpassed，areportrangout。

Silencefellagain。

"Theyhavekilledhim，"exclaimedCombeferre。

EnjolrasglancedatJavert，andsaidtohim:——

"Yourfriendshavejustshotyou。"

CHAPTERVI

THEAGONYOFDEATHAFTERTHEAGONYOFLIFE

Apeculiarityofthisspeciesofwaris，thattheattackofthebarricadesisalmostalwaysmadefromthefront，andthattheassailantsgenerallyabstainfromturningtheposition，eitherbecausetheyfearambushes，orbecausetheyareafraidofgettingentangledinthetortuousstreets。Theinsurgents’wholeattentionhadbeendirected，therefore，tothegrandbarricade，whichwas，evidently，thespotalwaysmenaced，andtherethestrugglewouldinfalliblyrecommence。

ButMariusthoughtofthelittlebarricade，andwentthither。

Itwasdesertedandguardedonlybythefire—potwhichtrembledbetweenthepaving—stones。Moreover，theMondetouralley，andthebranchesoftheRuedelaPetiteTruanderieandtheRueduCygnewereprofoundlycalm。

AsMariuswaswithdrawing，afterconcludinghisinspection，heheardhisnamepronouncedfeeblyinthedarkness。

"MonsieurMarius！"

Hestarted，forherecognizedthevoicewhichhadcalledtohimtwohoursbeforethroughthegateintheRuePlumet。

Only，thevoicenowseemedtobenothingmorethanabreath。

Helookedabouthim，butsawnoone。

Mariusthoughthehadbeenmistaken，thatitwasanillusionaddedbyhismindtotheextraordinaryrealitieswhichwereclashingaroundhim。Headvancedastep，inordertoquitthedistantrecesswherethebarricadelay。

"MonsieurMarius！"repeatedthevoice。

Thistimehecouldnotdoubtthathehadhearditdistinctly；

helookedandsawnothing。

"Atyourfeet，"saidthevoice。

Hebentdown，andsawinthedarknessaformwhichwasdraggingitselftowardshim。

Itwascrawlingalongthepavement。Itwasthisthathadspokentohim。

Thefire—potallowedhimtodistinguishablouse，torntrousersofcoarsevelvet，barefeet，andsomethingwhichresembledapoolofblood。Mariusindistinctlymadeoutapaleheadwhichwasliftedtowardshimandwhichwassayingtohim:——

"Youdonotrecognizeme？"

"No。"

"Eponine。"

Mariusbenthastilydown。Itwas，infact，thatunhappychild。

Shewasdressedinmen’sclothes。

"Howcomeyouhere？Whatareyoudoinghere？"

"Iamdying，"saidshe。

Therearewordsandincidentswhicharousedejectedbeings。

Mariuscriedoutwithastart:——

"Youarewounded！Wait，Iwillcarryyouintotheroom！Theywillattendtoyouthere。Isitserious？HowmustItakeholdofyouinordernottohurtyou？Wheredoyousuffer？Help！MyGod！

Butwhydidyoucomehither？"

Andhetriedtopasshisarmunderher，inordertoraiseher。

Sheutteredafeeblecry。

"HaveIhurtyou？"askedMarius。

"Alittle。"

"ButIonlytouchedyourhand。"

SheraisedherhandtoMarius，andinthemiddleofthathandMariussawablackhole。

"Whatisthematterwithyourhand？"saidhe。

"Itispierced。"

"Pierced？"

"Yes。"

"Whatwith？"

"Abullet。"

"How？"

"Didyouseeagunaimedatyou？"

"Yes，andahandstoppingit。"

"Itwasmine。"

Mariuswasseizedwithashudder。

"Whatmadness！Poorchild！Butsomuchthebetter，ifthatisall，itisnothing，letmecarryyoutoabed。Theywilldressyourwound；

onedoesnotdieofapiercedhand。"

Shemurmured:——

"Thebullettraversedmyhand，butitcameoutthroughmyback。

Itisuselesstoremovemefromthisspot。Iwilltellyouhowyoucancareformebetterthananysurgeon。Sitdownnearmeonthisstone。"

Heobeyed；shelaidherheadonMarius’knees，and，withoutlookingathim，shesaid:——

"Oh！Howgoodthisis！Howcomfortablethisis！There；Inolongersuffer。"

Sheremainedsilentforamoment，thensheturnedherfacewithaneffort，andlookedatMarius。

"Doyouknowwhat，MonsieurMarius？Itpuzzledmebecauseyouenteredthatgarden；itwasstupid，becauseitwasIwhoshowedyouthathouse；andthen，Ioughttohavesaidtomyselfthatayoungmanlikeyou——"

Shepaused，andoversteppingthesombretransitionsthatundoubtedlyexistedinhermind，sheresumedwithaheartrendingsmile:——

"Youthoughtmeugly，didn’tyou？"

Shecontinued:——

"Yousee，youarelost！Now，noonecangetoutofthebarricade。

ItwasIwholedyouhere，bytheway！Youaregoingtodie，Icountuponthat。Andyet，whenIsawthemtakingaimatyou，Iputmyhandonthemuzzleofthegun。Howqueeritis！ButitwasbecauseIwantedtodiebeforeyou。WhenIreceivedthatbullet，Idraggedmyselfhere，noonesawme，noonepickedmeup，Iwaswaitingforyou，Isaid:`Soheisnotcoming！’Oh，ifyouonlyknew。Ibitmyblouse，Isufferedso！NowIamwell。

DoyourememberthedayIenteredyourchamberandwhenIlookedatmyselfinyourmirror，andthedaywhenIcametoyouontheboulevardnearthewasherwomen？Howthebirdssang！Thatwasalongtimeago。Yougavemeahundredsous，andIsaidtoyou:

`Idon’twantyourmoney。’Ihopeyoupickedupyourcoin？

Youarenotrich。Ididnotthinktotellyoutopickitup。

Thesunwasshiningbright，anditwasnotcold。Doyouremember，MonsieurMarius？Oh！HowhappyIam！Everyoneisgoingtodie。"

Shehadamad，grave，andheart—breakingair。Hertornblousedisclosedherbarethroat。

Asshetalked，shepressedherpiercedhandtoherbreast，wheretherewasanotherhole，andwhencetherespurtedfrommomenttomomentastreamofblood，likeajetofwinefromanopenbung—hole。

Mariusgazedatthisunfortunatecreaturewithprofoundcompassion。

"Oh！"sheresumed，"itiscomingagain，Iamstifling！"

Shecaughtupherblouseandbitit，andherlimbsstiffenedonthepavement。

Atthatmomenttheyoungcock’scrowexecutedbylittleGavrocheresoundedthroughthebarricade。

Thechildhadmountedatabletoloadhisgun，andwassinginggaylythesongthensopopular:——

"EnvoyantLafayette，"OnbeholdingLafayette，Legendarmerepete:——Thegendarmerepeats:——

Sauvonsnous！sauvonsnous！Letusflee！letusflee！

sauvonsnous！"letusflee！

Eponineraisedherselfandlistened；thenshemurmured:——

"Itishe。"

AndturningtoMarius:——

"Mybrotherishere。Hemustnotseeme。Hewouldscoldme。"

"Yourbrother？"inquiredMarius，whowasmeditatinginthemostbitterandsorrowfuldepthsofhisheartonthedutiestotheThenardierswhichhisfatherhadbequeathedtohim；"whoisyourbrother？"

"Thatlittlefellow。"

"Theonewhoissinging？"

"Yes。"

Mariusmadeamovement。

"Oh！don’tgoaway，"saidshe，"itwillnotbelongnow。"

Shewassittingalmostupright，buthervoicewasverylowandbrokenbyhiccoughs。

Atintervals，thedeathrattleinterruptedher。SheputherfaceasnearthatofMariusaspossible。Sheaddedwithastrangeexpression:——

"Listen，Idonotwishtoplayyouatrick。Ihavealetterinmypocketforyou。Iwastoldtoputitinthepost。Ikeptit。

Ididnotwanttohaveitreachyou。Butperhapsyouwillbeangrywithmeforitwhenwemeetagainpresently？Takeyourletter。"

ShegraspedMarius’handconvulsivelywithherpiercedhand，butshenolongerseemedtofeelhersufferings。SheputMarius’

handinthepocketofherblouse。There，infact，Mariusfeltapaper。

"Takeit，"saidshe。

Mariustooktheletter。

Shemadeasignofsatisfactionandcontentment。

"Now，formytrouble，promiseme——"

Andshestopped。

"What？"askedMarius。

"Promiseme！"

"Ipromise。"

"PromisetogivemeakissonmybrowwhenIamdead。——Ishallfeelit。"

ShedroppedherheadagainonMarius’knees，andhereyelidsclosed。

Hethoughtthepoorsoulhaddeparted。Eponineremainedmotionless。

Allatonce，attheverymomentwhenMariusfanciedherasleepforever，sheslowlyopenedhereyesinwhichappearedthesombreprofundityofdeath，andsaidtohiminatonewhosesweetnessseemedalreadytoproceedfromanotherworld:——

"Andbytheway，MonsieurMarius，IbelievethatIwasalittlebitinlovewithyou。"

Shetriedtosmileoncemoreandexpired。

CHAPTERVII

GAVROCHEASAPROFOUNDCALCULATOROFDISTANCES

Mariuskepthispromise。Hedroppedakissonthatlividbrow，wheretheicyperspirationstoodinbeads。

ThiswasnoinfidelitytoCosette；itwasagentleandpensivefarewelltoanunhappysoul。

ItwasnotwithoutatremorthathehadtakentheletterwhichEponinehadgivenhim。Hehadimmediatelyfeltthatitwasaneventofweight。Hewasimpatienttoreadit。

TheheartofmanissoconstitutedthattheunhappychildhadhardlyclosedhereyeswhenMariusbegantothinkofunfoldingthispaper。

Helaidhergentlyontheground，andwentaway。Somethingtoldhimthathecouldnotperusethatletterinthepresenceofthatbody。

Hedrewneartoacandleinthetap—room。Itwasasmallnote，foldedandsealedwithawoman’selegantcare。Theaddresswasinawoman’shandandran:——

"ToMonsieur，MonsieurMariusPontmercy，atM。Courfeyrac’s，RuedelaVerrerie，No。16。"

Hebrokethesealandread:——

"Mydearest，alas！myfatherinsistsonoursettingoutimmediately。

WeshallbethiseveningintheRuedel’HommeArme，No。7。

InaweekweshallbeinEngland。COSETTE。June4th。"

SuchwastheinnocenceoftheirlovethatMariuswasnotevenacquaintedwithCosette’shandwriting。

Whathadtakenplacemayberelatedinafewwords。Eponinehadbeenthecauseofeverything。Aftertheeveningofthe3dofJuneshehadcherishedadoubleidea，todefeattheprojectsofherfatherandtheruffiansonthehouseoftheRuePlumet，andtoseparateMariusandCosette。Shehadexchangedragswiththefirstyoungscampshecameacrosswhohadthoughtitamusingtodresslikeawoman，whileEponinedisguisedherselflikeaman。

ItwasshewhohadconveyedtoJeanValjeanintheChampdeMarstheexpressivewarning:"Leaveyourhouse。"JeanValjeanhad，infact，returnedhome，andhadsaidtoCosette:"WesetoutthiseveningandwegototheRuedel’HommeArmewithToussaint。

Nextweek，weshallbeinLondon。"Cosette，utterlyoverwhelmedbythisunexpectedblow，hadhastilypennedacoupleoflinestoMarius。Buthowwasshetogetthelettertothepost？

Sheneverwentoutalone，andToussaint，surprisedatsuchacommission，wouldcertainlyshowthelettertoM。Fauchelevent。

Inthisdilemma，CosettehadcaughtsightthroughthefenceofEponineinman’sclothes，whonowprowledincessantlyaroundthegarden。

Cosettehadcalledto"thisyoungworkman"andhadhandedhimfivefrancsandtheletter，saying:"Carrythisletterimmediatelytoitsaddress。"Eponinehadputtheletterinherpocket。Thenextday，onthe5thofJune，shewenttoCourfeyrac’squarterstoinquireforMarius，notforthepurposeofdeliveringtheletter，but，——athingwhicheveryjealousandlovingsoulwillcomprehend，——"tosee。"

ThereshehadwaitedforMarius，oratleastforCourfeyrac，stillforthepurposeofseeing。WhenCourfeyrachadtoldher:

"Wearegoingtothebarricades，"anideaflashedthroughhermind，toflingherselfintothatdeath，asshewouldhavedoneintoanyother，andtothrustMariusintoitalso。ShehadfollowedCourfeyrac，hadmadesureofthelocalitywherethebarricadewasinprocessofconstruction；and，quitecertain，sinceMariushadreceivednowarning，andsinceshehadinterceptedtheletter，thathewouldgoatdusktohistrystingplaceforeveryevening，shehadbetakenherselftotheRuePlumet，hadthereawaitedMarius，andhadsenthim，inthenameofhisfriends，theappealwhichwould，shethought，leadhimtothebarricade。ShereckonedonMarius’

despairwhenheshouldfailtofindCosette；shewasnotmistaken。

ShehadreturnedtotheRuedelaChanvrerieherself。Whatshedidtherethereaderhasjustseen。Shediedwiththetragicjoyofjealousheartswhodragthebelovedbeingintotheirowndeath，andwhosay:

"Nooneshallhavehim！"

MariuscoveredCosette’sletterwithkisses。Soshelovedhim！

Foronemomenttheideaoccurredtohimthatheoughtnottodienow。

Thenhesaidtohimself:"Sheisgoingaway。HerfatheristakinghertoEngland，andmygrandfatherrefuseshisconsenttothemarriage。

Nothingischangedinourfates。"DreamerslikeMariusaresubjecttosupremeattacksofdejection，anddesperateresolvesaretheresult。

Thefatigueoflivingisinsupportable；deathissooneroverwith。

Thenhereflectedthathehadstilltwodutiestofulfil:toinformCosetteofhisdeathandsendherafinalfarewell，andtosavefromtheimpendingcatastrophewhichwasinpreparation，thatpoorchild，Eponine’sbrotherandThenardier’sson。

Hehadapocket—bookabouthim；thesameonewhichhadcontainedthenote—bookinwhichhehadinscribedsomanythoughtsofloveforCosette。Hetoreoutaleafandwroteonitafewlinesinpencil:——

"Ourmarriagewasimpossible。Iaskedmygrandfather，herefused；

Ihavenofortune，neitherhastthou。Ihastenedtothee，thouwertnolongerthere。ThouknowestthepromisethatIgavethee，Ishallkeepit。Idie。Ilovethee。Whenthoureadestthis，mysoulwillbenearthee，andthouwiltsmile。"

Havingnothingwherewithtosealthisletter，hecontentedhimselfwithfoldingthepaperinfour，andaddedtheaddress:——

"ToMademoiselleCosetteFauchelevent，atM。Fauchelevent’s，Ruedel’HommeArme，No。7。"

Havingfoldedtheletter，hestoodinthoughtforamoment，drewouthispocket—bookagain，openedit，andwrote，withthesamepencil，thesefourlinesonthefirstpage:——

"MynameisMariusPontmercy。Carrymybodytomygrandfather，M。Gillenormand，RuedesFilles—du—Calvaire，No。6，intheMarais。"

Heputhispocketbookbackinhispocket，thenhecalledGavroche。

Thegamin，atthesoundofMarius’voice，ranuptohimwithhismerryanddevotedair。

"Willyoudosomethingforme？"

"Anything，"saidGavroche。"GoodGod！ifithadnotbeenforyou，Ishouldhavebeendonefor。"

"Doyouseethisletter？"

"Yes。"

"Takeit。Leavethebarricadeinstantly"（Gavrochebegantoscratchhisearuneasily）"andto—morrowmorning，youwilldeliveritatitsaddresstoMademoiselleCosette，atM。Fauchelevent’s，Ruedel’HommeArme，No。7。"

Theheroicchildreplied"Well，but！inthemeanwhilethebarricadewillbetaken，andI

shallnotbethere。"

"Thebarricadewillnotbeattackeduntildaybreak，accordingtoallappearances，andwillnotbetakenbeforeto—morrownoon。"

Thefreshrespitewhichtheassailantsweregrantingtothebarricadehad，infact，beenprolonged。Itwasoneofthoseintermissionswhichfrequentlyoccurinnocturnalcombats，whicharealwaysfollowedbyanincreaseofrage。

"Well，"saidGavroche，"whatifIweretogoandcarryyourletterto—morrow？"

"Itwillbetoolate。Thebarricadewillprobablybeblockaded，allthestreetswillbeguarded，andyouwillnotbeabletogetout。

Goatonce。"

Gavrochecouldthinkofnoreplytothis，andstoodthereinindecision，scratchinghisearsadly。

Allatonce，hetooktheletterwithoneofthosebirdlikemovementswhichwerecommonwithhim。

"Allright，"saidhe。

AndhestartedoffatarunthroughMondetourlane。

AnideahadoccurredtoGavrochewhichhadbroughthimtoadecision，buthehadnotmentioneditforfearthatMariusmightoffersomeobjectiontoit。

Thiswastheidea:——

"Itisbarelymidnight，theRuedel’HommeArmeisnotfaroff；

Iwillgoanddelivertheletteratonce，andIshallgetbackintime。"

BOOKFIFTEENTH。——THERUEDEL’HOMMEARME

CHAPTERI

ADRINKERISABABBLER

Whataretheconvulsionsofacityincomparisonwiththeinsurrectionsofthesoul？Manisadepthstillgreaterthanthepeople。

JeanValjeanatthatverymomentwasthepreyofaterribleupheaval。

Everysortofgulfhadopenedagainwithinhim。Healsowastrembling，likeParis，onthebrinkofanobscureandformidablerevolution。

Afewhourshadsufficedtobringthisabout。Hisdestinyandhisconsciencehadsuddenlybeencoveredwithgloom。Ofhimalso，aswellasofParis，itmighthavebeensaid:"Twoprinciplesarefacetoface。Thewhiteangelandtheblackangelareabouttoseizeeachotheronthebridgeoftheabyss。Whichofthetwowillhurltheotherover？Whowillcarrytheday？"

Ontheeveningprecedingthissame5thofJune，JeanValjean，accompaniedbyCosetteandToussainthadinstalledhimselfintheRuedel’HommeArme。Achangeawaitedhimthere。

CosettehadnotquittedtheRuePlumetwithoutmakinganeffortatresistance。Forthefirsttimesincetheyhadlivedsidebyside，Cose

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