Thedistressofthepeople，thelaborerswithoutbread，thelastPrincedeCondeengulfedintheshadows，BrusselsexpellingtheNassausasParisdidtheBourbons，BelgiumofferingherselftoaFrenchPrinceandgivingherselftoanEnglishPrince，theRussianhatredofNicolas，behindusthedemonsoftheSouth，FerdinandinSpain，MiguelinPortugal，theearthquakinginItaly，MetternichextendinghishandoverBologna，FrancetreatingAustriasharplyatAncona，attheNorthnooneknewwhatsinistersoundofthehammernailingupPolandinhercoffin，irritatedglanceswatchingFrancenarrowlyalloverEurope，England，asuspectedally，readytogiveapushtothatwhichwastotteringandtohurlherselfonthatwhichshouldfall，thepeerageshelteringitselfbehindBeccariatorefusefourheadstothelaw，thefleurs—de—lyserasedfromtheKing’scarriage，thecrosstornfromNotreDame，Lafayettelessened，Laffitteruined，BenjaminConstantdeadinindigence，CasimirPerierdeadintheexhaustionofhispower；politicalandsocialmaladybreakingoutsimultaneouslyinthetwocapitalsofthekingdom，theoneinthecityofthought，theotherinthecityoftoil；atPariscivilwar，atLyonsservilewar；inthetwocities，thesameglareofthefurnace；acrater—likecrimsononthebrowofthepeople；
　　theSouthrenderedfanatic，theWesttroubled，theDuchessedeBerryinlaVendee，plots，conspiracies，risings，cholera，addedthesombreroaroftumultofeventstothesombreroarofideas。
　　CHAPTERV
　　FACTSWHENCEHISTORYSPRINGSANDWHICHHISTORYIGNORES
　　TowardstheendofApril，everythinghadbecomeaggravated。
　　Thefermentationenteredtheboilingstate。Eversince1830，pettypartialrevoltshadbeengoingonhereandthere，whichwerequicklysuppressed，buteverburstingforthafresh，thesignofavastunderlyingconflagration。Somethingterriblewasinpreparation。Glimpsescouldbecaughtofthefeaturesstillindistinctandimperfectlylighted，ofapossiblerevolution。
　　FrancekeptaneyeonParis；PariskeptaneyeontheFaubourgSaint—Antoine。
　　TheFaubourgSaint—Antoine，whichwasinadullglow，wasbeginningitsebullition。
　　Thewine—shopsoftheRuedeCharonnewere，althoughtheunionofthetwoepithetsseemssingularwhenappliedtowine—shops，graveandstormy。
　　Thegovernmentwastherepurelyandsimplycalledinquestion。
　　Therepeoplepubliclydiscussedthequestionoffightingorofkeepingquiet。Therewerebackshopswhereworkingmenweremadetoswearthattheywouldhastenintothestreetatthefirstcryofalarm，and"thattheywouldfightwithoutcountingthenumberoftheenemy。"
　　Thisengagementonceenteredinto，amanseatedinthecornerofthewine—shop"assumedasonoroustone，"andsaid，"Youunderstand！
　　Youhavesworn！"
　　Sometimestheywentupstairs，toaprivateroomonthefirstfloor，andtherescenesthatwerealmostmasonicwereenacted。Theymadetheinitiatedtakeoathstorenderservicetohimselfaswellastothefathersoffamilies。Thatwastheformula。
　　Inthetap—rooms，"subversive"pamphletswereread。Theytreatedthegovernmentwithcontempt，saysasecretreportofthattime。
　　Wordslikethefollowingcouldbeheardthere:——
　　"Idon’tknowthenamesoftheleaders。Wefolksshallnotknowthedayuntiltwohoursbeforehand。"Oneworkmansaid:
　　"Therearethreehundredofus，leteachcontributetensous，thatwillmakeonehundredandfiftyfrancswithwhichtoprocurepowderandshot。"
　　Anothersaid:"Idon’taskforsixmonths，Idon’taskforeventwo。
　　Inlessthanafortnightweshallbeparallelwiththegovernment。
　　Withtwenty—fivethousandmenwecanfacethem。"Anothersaid:
　　"Idon’tsleepatnight，becauseImakecartridgesallnight。"
　　Fromtimetotime，men"ofbourgeoisappearance，andingoodcoats"
　　cameand"causedembarrassment，"andwiththeairof"command，"
　　shookhandswiththemostimportant，andthenwentaway。Theyneverstayedmorethantenminutes。Significantremarkswereexchangedinalowtone:"Theplotisripe，thematterisarranged。""Itwasmurmuredbyallwhowerethere，"toborrowtheveryexpressionofoneofthosewhowerepresent。Theexaltationwassuchthatoneday，aworkingmanexclaimed，eforethewholewine—shop:"Wehavenoarms！"
　　Oneofhiscomradesreplied:"Thesoldiershave！"thusparodyingwithoutbeingawareofthefact，Bonaparte’sproclamationtothearmyinItaly:"Whentheyhadanythingofamoresecretnatureonhand，"
　　addsonereport，"theydidnotcommunicateittoeachother。"
　　Itisnoteasytounderstandwhattheycouldconcealafterwhattheysaid。
　　Thesereunionsweresometimesperiodical。Atcertainonesofthem，therewerenevermorethaneightortenpersonspresent，andtheywerealwaysthesame。Inothers，anyoneenteredwhowished，andtheroomwassofullthattheywereforcedtostand。
　　Somewentthitherthroughenthusiasmandpassion；othersbecauseitwasontheirwaytotheirwork。AsduringtheRevolution，therewerepatrioticwomeninsomeofthesewine—shopswhoembracednew—comers。
　　Otherexpressivefactscametolight。
　　Amanwouldenterashop，drink，andgohiswaywiththeremark:
　　"Wine—merchant，therevolutionwillpaywhatisduetoyou。"
　　Revolutionaryagentswereappointedinawine—shopfacingtheRuedeCharonne。Theballotingwascarriedonintheircaps。
　　Workingmenmetatthehouseofafencing—masterwhogavelessonsintheRuedeCotte。Theretherewasatrophyofarmsformedofwoodenbroadswords，canes，clubs，andfoils。Oneday，thebuttonswereremovedfromthefoils。
　　Aworkmansaid:"Therearetwenty—fiveofus，buttheydon’tcountonme，becauseIamlookeduponasamachine。"Lateron，thatmachinebecameQuenisset。
　　Theindefinitethingswhichwerebrewinggraduallyacquiredastrangeandindescribablenotoriety。Awomansweepingoffherdoorstepssaidtoanotherwoman:"Foralongtime，therehasbeenastrongforcebusymakingcartridges。"Intheopenstreet，proclamationcouldbeseenaddressedtotheNationalGuardinthedepartments。
　　Oneoftheseproclamationswassigned:Burtot，wine—merchant。
　　OnedayamanwithhisbeardwornlikeacollarandwithanItalianaccentmountedastonepostatthedoorofaliquor—sellerintheMarcheLenoir，andreadaloudasingulardocument，whichseemedtoemanatefromanoccultpower。Groupsformedaroundhim，andapplauded。
　　Thepassageswhichtouchedthecrowdmostdeeplywerecollectedandnoteddown。"——Ourdoctrinesaretrammelled，ourproclamationstorn，ourbill—stickersarespieduponandthrownintoprison。"——"Thebreakdownwhichhasrecentlytakenplaceincottonshasconvertedtousmanymediums。"——"Thefutureofnationsisbeingworkedoutinourobscureranks。"——"Herearethefixedterms:actionorreaction，revolutionorcounter—revolution。For，atourepoch，wenolongerbelieveeitherininertiaorinimmobility。Forthepeopleagainstthepeople，thatisthequestion。Thereisnoother。"——"Onthedaywhenweceasetosuityou，breakus，butuptothatday，helpustomarchon。"Allthisinbroaddaylight。
　　Otherdeeds，moreaudaciousstill，weresuspiciousintheeyesofthepeoplebyreasonoftheirveryaudacity。Onthe4thofApril，1832，apasser—bymountedthepostonthecornerwhichformstheangleoftheRueSainte—Margueriteandshouted:"IamaBabouvist！"
　　ButbeneathBabeuf，thepeoplescentedGisquet。
　　Amongotherthings，thismansaid:——
　　"Downwithproperty！Theoppositionoftheleftiscowardlyandtreacherous。Whenitwantstobeontherightside，itpreachesrevolution，itisdemocraticinordertoescapebeingbeaten，androyalistsothatitmaynothavetofight。
　　Therepublicansarebeastswithfeathers。Distrusttherepublicans，citizensofthelaboringclasses。"
　　"Silence，citizenspy！"criedanartisan。
　　Thisshoutputanendtothediscourse。
　　Mysteriousincidentsoccurred。
　　Atnightfall，aworkingmanencounterednearthecanala"verywelldressedman，"whosaidtohim:"Whitherareyoubound，citizen？""Sir，"repliedtheworkingman，"Ihavenotthehonorofyouracquaintance。""Iknowyouverywell，however。"Andthemanadded:"Don’tbealarmed，Iamanagentofthecommittee。
　　Youaresuspectedofnotbeingquitefaithful。Youknowthatifyourevealanything，thereisaneyefixedonyou。"Thenheshookhandswiththeworkingmanandwentaway，saying:"Weshallmeetagainsoon。"
　　Thepolice，whowereonthealert，collectedsingulardialogues，notonlyinthewine—shops，butinthestreet。
　　"Getyourselfreceivedverysoon，"saidaweavertoacabinet—maker。
　　"Why？"
　　"Thereisgoingtobeashottofire。"
　　Tworaggedpedestriansexchangedtheseremarkablereplies，fraughtwithevidentJacquerie:——
　　"Whogovernsus？"
　　"M。Philippe。"
　　"No，itisthebourgeoisie。"
　　ThereaderismistakenifhethinksthatwetakethewordJacquerieinabadsense。TheJacqueswerethepoor。
　　Onanotheroccasiontwomenwereheardtosaytoeachotherastheypassedby:"Wehaveagoodplanofattack。"
　　OnlythefollowingwascaughtofaprivateconversationbetweenfourmenwhowerecrouchinginaditchofthecircleoftheBarriereduTrone:——
　　"EverythingpossiblewillbedonetopreventhiswalkingaboutParisanymore。"
　　Whowasthehe？Menacingobscurity。
　　"Theprincipalleaders，"astheysaidinthefaubourg，heldthemselvesapart。Itwassupposedthattheymetforconsultationinawine—shopnearthepointSaint—Eustache。AcertainAug——，chiefoftheSocietyaidfortailors，RueMondetour，hadthereputationofservingasintermediarycentralbetweentheleadersandtheFaubourgSaint—Antoine。
　　Nevertheless，therewasalwaysagreatdealofmysteryabouttheseleaders，andnocertainfactcaninvalidatethesingulararroganceofthisreplymadelateronbyamanaccusedbeforetheCourtofPeers:——
　　"Whowasyourleader？"
　　"IknewofnoneandIrecognizednone。"
　　Therewasnothingbutwords，transparentbutvague；sometimesidlereports，rumors，hearsay。Otherindicationscroppedup。
　　Acarpenter，occupiedinnailingboardstoafencearoundthegroundonwhichahousewasinprocessofconstruction，intheRuedeReuillyfoundonthatplotthetornfragmentofaletteronwhichwerestilllegiblethefollowinglines:——
　　Thecommitteemusttakemeasurestopreventrecruitinginthesectionsforthedifferentsocieties。
　　And，asapostscript:——
　　WehavelearnedthattherearegunsintheRueduFaubourg—Poissonniere，No。5[bis]，tothenumberoffiveorsixthousand，inthehouseofagunsmithinthatcourt。Thesectionownsnoarms。
　　Whatexcitedthecarpenterandcausedhimtoshowthisthingtohisneighborswasthefact，thatafewpacesfurtheronhepickedupanotherpaper，tornlikethefirst，andstillmoresignificant，ofwhichwereproduceafacsimile，becauseofthehistoricalinterestattachingtothesestrangedocuments:——
　　————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————Q
　　CDELearnthislistbyheart。Aftersodoing
　　youwilltearitup。Themenadmittedwilldothesamewhenyouhavetransmittedtheirorderstothem。
　　HealthandFraternity，uogafeL。
　　————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
　　Itwasonlylateronthatthepersonswhowereinthesecretofthisfindatthetime，learnedthesignificanceofthosefourcapitalletters:quinturions，centurions，decurions，eclaireurs[scouts]，andthesenseoftheletters:uogafe，whichwasadate，andmeantApril15th，1832。Undereachcapitalletterwereinscribednamesfollowedbyverycharacteristicnotes。Thus:Q。Bannerel。
　　8guns，83cartridges。Asafeman。——C。Boubiere。1pistol，40cartridges。——D。Rollet。1foil，1pistol，1poundofpowder。——
　　E。Tessier。1sword，1cartridge—box。Exact。——Terreur。8guns。
　　Brave，etc。
　　Finally，thiscarpenterfound，stillinthesameenclosure，athirdpaperonwhichwaswritteninpencil，butverylegibly，thissortofenigmaticallist:——
　　Unite:Blanchard:Arbre—Sec。6。
　　Barra。Soize。Salle—au—Comte。
　　Kosciusko。AubrytheButcher？
　　J。J。R。
　　CaiusGracchus。
　　Rightofrevision。Dufond。Four。
　　FalloftheGirondists。Derbac。Maubuee。
　　Washington。Pinson。1pistol，86cartridges。
　　Marseillaise。
　　Sovereigntyofthepeople。Michel。Quincampoix。Sword。
　　Hoche。
　　Marceau。Plato。Arbre—Sec。
　　Warsaw。Tilly，crierofthePopulaire。
　　Thehonestbourgeoisintowhosehandsthislistfellknewitssignificance。ItappearsthatthislistwasthecompletenomenclatureofthesectionsofthefourtharondissementoftheSocietyoftheRightsofMan，withthenamesanddwellingsofthechiefsofsections。
　　To—day，whenallthesefactswhichwereobscurearenothingmorethanhistory，wemaypublishthem。Itshouldbeadded，thatthefoundationoftheSocietyoftheRightsofManseemstohavebeenposteriortothedatewhenthispaperwasfound。Perhapsthiswasonlyaroughdraft。
　　Still，accordingtoalltheremarksandthewords，accordingtowrittennotes，materialfactsbegintomaketheirappearance。
　　IntheRuePopincourt，inthehouseofadealerinbric—abrac，therewereseizedsevensheetsofgraypaper，allfoldedalikelengthwiseandinfour；thesesheetsenclosedtwenty—sixsquaresofthissamegraypaperfoldedintheformofacartridge，andacard，onwhichwaswrittenthefollowing:——
　　Saltpetre……12ounces。
　　Sulphur……2ounces。
　　Charcoal……2ouncesandahalf。
　　Water……2ounces。
　　Thereportoftheseizurestatedthatthedrawerexhaledastrongsmellofpowder。
　　Amasonreturningfromhisday’swork，leftbehindhimalittlepackageonabenchnearthebridgeofAusterlitz。Thispackagewastakentothepolicestation。Itwasopened，andinitwerefoundtwoprinteddialogues，signedLahautiere，asongentitled:
　　"Workmen，bandtogether，"andatinboxfullofcartridges。
　　Oneartisandrinkingwithacomrademadethelatterfeelhimtoseehowwarmhewas；theothermanfeltapistolunderhiswaistcoat。
　　Inaditchontheboulevard，betweenPere—LachaiseandtheBarriereduTrone，atthemostdesertedspot，somechildren，whileplaying，discoveredbeneathamassofshavingsandrefusebitsofwood，abagcontainingabullet—mould，awoodenpunchforthepreparationofcartridges，awoodenbowl，inwhichthereweregrainsofhunting—powder，andalittlecast—ironpotwhoseinteriorpresentedevidenttracesofmeltedlead。
　　Policeagents，makingtheirwaysuddenlyandunexpectedlyatfiveo’clockinthemorning，intothedwellingofacertainPardon，whowasafterwardsamemberoftheBarricade—MerrysectionandgothimselfkilledintheinsurrectionofApril，1834，foundhimstandingnearhisbed，andholdinginhishandsomecartridgeswhichhewasintheactofpreparing。
　　Towardsthehourwhenworkingmenrepose，twomenwereseentomeetbetweentheBarrierePicpusandtheBarriereCharentoninalittlelanebetweentwowalls，nearawine—shop，infrontofwhichtherewasa"JeudeSiam。"[33]Onedrewapistolfrombeneathhisblouseandhandedittotheother。Ashewashandingittohim，henoticedthattheperspirationofhischesthadmadethepowderdamp。
　　Heprimedthepistolandaddedmorepowdertowhatwasalreadyinthepan。Thenthetwomenparted。
　　[33]Agameofninepins，inwhichonesideoftheballissmallerthantheother，sothatitdoesnotrollstraight，butdescribesacurveontheground。
　　AcertainGallais，afterwardskilledintheRueBeaubourgintheaffairofApril，boastedofhavinginhishousesevenhundredcartridgesandtwenty—fourflints。
　　Thegovernmentonedayreceivedawarningthatarmsandtwohundredthousandcartridgeshadjustbeendistributedinthefaubourg。
　　Onthefollowingweekthirtythousandcartridgesweredistributed。
　　Theremarkablepointaboutitwas，thatthepolicewerenotabletoseizeasingleone。
　　Aninterceptedletterread:"Thedayisnotfardistantwhen，withinfourhoursbytheclock，eightythousandpatriotswillbeunderarms。"
　　Allthisfermentationwaspublic，onemightalmostsaytranquil。
　　Theapproachinginsurrectionwaspreparingitsstormcalmlyinthefaceofthegovernment。Nosingularitywaslackingtothisstillsubterraneancrisis，whichwasalreadyperceptible。Thebourgeoistalkedpeaceablytotheworking—classesofwhatwasinpreparation。
　　Theysaid:"Howistherisingcomingalong？"inthesametoneinwhichtheywouldhavesaid:"Howisyourwife？"
　　Afurniture—dealer，oftheRueMoreau，inquired:"Well，whenareyougoingtomaketheattack？"
　　Anothershop—keepersaid:——
　　"Theattackwillbemadesoon。"
　　"Iknowit。Amonthago，therewerefifteenthousandofyou，nowtherearetwenty—fivethousand。"Heofferedhisgun，andaneighborofferedasmallpistolwhichhewaswillingtosellforsevenfrancs。
　　Moreover，therevolutionaryfeverwasgrowing。NotapointinParisnorinFrancewasexemptfromit。Thearterywasbeatingeverywhere。
　　Likethosemembraneswhicharisefromcertaininflammationsandforminthehumanbody，thenetworkofsecretsocietiesbegantospreadalloverthecountry。FromtheassociationsoftheFriendsofthePeople，whichwasatthesametimepublicandsecret，sprangtheSocietyoftheRightsofMan，whichalsodatedfromoneoftheordersoftheday:Pluviose，Year40oftherepublicanera，whichwasdestinedtosurviveeventhemandateoftheCourtofAssizeswhichpronounceditsdissolution，andwhichdidnothesitatetobestowonitssectionssignificantnameslikethefollowing:——
　　Pikes。
　　Tocsin。
　　Signalcannon。
　　Phrygiancap。
　　January21。
　　Thebeggars。
　　Thevagabonds。
　　Forwardmarch。
　　Robespierre。
　　Level。
　　CaIra。
　　TheSocietyoftheRightsofManengenderedtheSocietyofAction。
　　Thesewereimpatientindividualswhobrokeawayandhastenedahead。
　　Otherassociationssoughttorecruitthemselvesfromthegreatmothersocieties。Themembersofsectionscomplainedthattheyweretornasunder。Thus，theGallicSociety，andthecommitteeoforganizationoftheMunicipalities。Thustheassociationsforthelibertyofthepress，forindividualliberty，fortheinstructionofthepeopleagainstindirecttaxes。ThentheSocietyofEqualWorkingmenwhichwasdividedintothreefractions，thelevellers，thecommunists，thereformers。ThentheArmyoftheBastilles，asortofcohortorganizedonamilitaryfooting，fourmencommandedbyacorporal，tenbyasergeant，twentybyasub—lieutenant，fortybyalieutenant；therewerenevermorethanfivemenwhokneweachother。
　　CreationwhereprecautioniscombinedwithaudacityandwhichseemedstampedwiththegeniusofVenice。
　　Thecentralcommittee，whichwasatthehead，hadtwoarms，theSocietyofAction，andtheArmyoftheBastilles。
　　Alegitimistassociation，theChevaliersofFidelity，stirredaboutamongthesetherepublicanaffiliations。Itwasdenouncedandrepudiatedthere。
　　TheParisiansocietieshadramificationsintheprincipalcities，Lyons，Nantes，Lille，Marseilles，andeachhaditsSocietyoftheRightsofMan，theCharbonniere，andTheFreeMen。
　　AllhadarevolutionarysocietywhichwascalledtheCougourde。
　　Wehavealreadymentionedthisword。
　　InParis，theFaubourgSaint—MarceaukeptupanequalbuzzingwiththeFaubourgSaint—Antoine，andtheschoolswerenolessmovedthanthefaubourgs。AcafeintheRueSaint—Hyacintheandthewine—shopoftheSevenBilliards，RuedesMathurins—Saint—Jacques，servedasrallyingpointsforthestudents。TheSocietyoftheFriendsoftheABCaffiliatedtotheMutualistsofAngers，andtotheCougourdeofAix，met，aswehaveseen，intheCafeMusain。
　　Thesesameyoungmenassembledalso，aswehavestatedalready，inarestaurantwine—shopoftheRueMondetourwhichwascalledCorinthe。
　　Thesemeetingsweresecret。Otherswereaspublicaspossible，andthereadercanjudgeoftheirboldnessfromthesefragmentsofaninterrogatoryundergoneinoneoftheulteriorprosecutions:
　　"Wherewasthismeetingheld？""IntheRuedelaPaix。"
　　"Atwhosehouse？""Inthestreet。""Whatsectionswerethere？"
　　"Onlyone。""Which？""TheManuelsection。""Whowasitsleader？"
　　"I。""Youaretooyoungtohavedecidedaloneupontheboldcourseofattackingthegovernment。Wheredidyourinstructionscomefrom？"
　　"Fromthecentralcommittee。"
　　Thearmywasminedatthesametimeasthepopulation，aswasprovedsubsequentlybytheoperationsofBeford，Luneville，andEpinard。
　　Theycountedonthefifty—secondregiment，onthefifth，ontheeighth，onthethirty—seventh，andonthetwentiethlightcavalry。
　　InBurgundyandinthesoutherntownstheyplantedthelibertytree；
　　thatistosay，apolesurmountedbyaredcap。
　　Suchwasthesituation。
　　TheFaubourgSaint—Antoine，morethananyothergroupofthepopulation，aswestatedinthebeginning，accentuatedthissituationandmadeitfelt。Thatwasthesorepoint。Thisoldfaubourg，peopledlikeanant—hill，laborious，courageous，andangryasahiveofbees，wasquiveringwithexpectationandwiththedesireforatumult。
　　Everythingwasinastateofagitationthere，withoutanyinterruption，however，oftheregularwork。Itisimpossibletoconveyanideaofthislivelyyetsombrephysiognomy。Inthisfaubourgexistspoignantdistresshiddenunderatticroofs；therealsoexistrareandardentminds。Itisparticularlyinthematterofdistressandintelligencethatitisdangeroustohaveextremesmeet。
　　TheFaubourgSaint—Antoinehadalsoothercausestotremble；
　　foritreceivedthecounter—shockofcommercialcrises，offailures，strikes，slackseasons，allinherenttogreatpoliticaldisturbances。
　　Intimesofrevolutionmiseryisbothcauseandeffect。Theblowwhichitdealsreboundsuponit。Thispopulationfullofproudvirtue，capabletothehighestdegreeoflatentheat，alwaysreadytoflytoarms，prompttoexplode，irritated，deep，undermined，seemedtobeonlyawaitingthefallofaspark。Whenevercertainsparksfloatonthehorizonchasedbythewindofevents，itisimpossiblenottothinkoftheFaubourgSaint—AntoineandoftheformidablechancewhichhasplacedattheverygatesofParisthatpowder—houseofsufferingandideas。
　　Thewine—shopsoftheFaubourgAntoine，whichhavebeenmorethanoncedrawninthesketcheswhichthereaderhasjustperused，possesshistoricalnotoriety。Introubloustimespeoplegrowintoxicatedtheremoreonwordsthanonwine。Asortofpropheticspiritandanafflatusofthefuturecirculatesthere，swellingheartsandenlargingsouls。ThecabaretsoftheFaubourgSaint—AntoineresemblethosetavernsofMontAventineerectedonthecaveoftheSibylandcommunicatingwiththeprofoundandsacredbreath；
　　tavernswherethetableswerealmosttripods，andwherewasdrunkwhatEnniuscallsthesibyllinewine。
　　TheFaubourgSaint—Antoineisareservoirofpeople。
　　Revolutionaryagitationscreatefissuresthere，throughwhichtricklesthepopularsovereignty。Thissovereigntymaydoevil；
　　itcanbemistakenlikeanyother；but，evenwhenledastray，itremainsgreat。Wemaysayofitasoftheblindcyclops，Ingens。
　　In’93，accordingastheideawhichwasfloatingaboutwasgoodorevil，accordingasitwasthedayoffanaticismorofenthusiasm，thereleapedforthfromtheFaubourgSaint—Antoinenowsavagelegions，nowheroicbands。
　　Savage。Letusexplainthisword。Whenthesebristlingmen，whointheearlydaysoftherevolutionarychaos，tattered，howling，wild，withupliftedbludgeon，pikeonhigh，hurledthemselvesuponancientParisinanuproar，whatdidtheywant？Theywantedanendtooppression，anendtotyranny，anendtothesword，workformen，instructionforthechild，socialsweetnessforthewoman，liberty，equality，fraternity，breadforall，theideaforall，theEdenizingoftheworld。Progress；andthatholy，sweet，andgoodthing，progress，theyclaimedinterriblewise，driventoextremitiesastheywere，halfnaked，clubinfist，aroarintheirmouths。Theyweresavages，yes；butthesavagesofcivilization。
　　Theyproclaimedrightfuriously；theyweredesirous，ifonlywithfearandtrembling，toforcethehumanracetoparadise。
　　Theyseemedbarbarians，andtheyweresaviours。Theydemandedlightwiththemaskofnight。
　　Facingthesemen，whowereferocious，weadmit，andterrifying，butferociousandterrifyingforgoodends，thereareothermen，smiling，embroidered，gilded，beribboned，starred，insilkstockings，inwhiteplumes，inyellowgloves，invarnishedshoes，who，withtheirelbowsonavelvettable，besideamarblechimney—piece，insistgentlyondemeanorandthepreservationofthepast，oftheMiddleAges，ofdivineright，offanaticism，ofinnocence，ofslavery，ofthedeathpenalty，ofwar，glorifyinginlowtonesandwithpoliteness，thesword，thestake，andthescaffold。Forourpart，ifwewereforcedtomakeachoicebetweenthebarbariansofcivilizationandthecivilizedmenofbarbarism，weshouldchoosethebarbarians。
　　But，thankHeaven，stillanotherchoiceispossible。Noperpendicularfallisnecessary，infrontanymorethanintherear。
　　Neitherdespotismnorterrorism。Wedesireprogresswithagentleslope。
　　Godtakescareofthat。God’swholepolicyconsistsinrenderingslopeslesssteep。
　　CHAPTERVI
　　ENJOLRASANDHISLIEUTENANTS
　　ItwasaboutthisepochthatEnjolras，inviewofapossiblecatastrophe，institutedakindofmysteriouscensus。
　　AllwerepresentatasecretmeetingattheCafeMusain。
　　Enjolrassaid，mixinghiswordswithafewhalf—enigmaticalbutsignificantmetaphors:——
　　"Itisproperthatweshouldknowwherewestandandonwhomwemaycount。Ifcombatantsarerequired，theymustbeprovided。
　　Itcandonoharmtohavesomethingwithwhichtostrike。
　　Passers—byalwayshavemorechanceofbeinggoredwhentherearebullsontheroadthanwhentherearenone。Letus，therefore，reckonalittleontheherd。Howmanyofusarethere？
　　Thereisnoquestionofpostponingthistaskuntilto—morrow。
　　Revolutionistsshouldalwaysbehurried；progresshasnotimetolose。
　　Letusmistrusttheunexpected。Letusnotbecaughtunprepared。
　　Wemustgooveralltheseamsthatwehavemadeandseewhethertheyholdfast。Thisbusinessoughttobeconcludedto—day。Courfeyrac，youwillseethepolytechnicstudents。Itistheirdaytogoout。
　　To—dayisWednesday。Feuilly，youwillseethoseoftheGlaciere，willyounot？CombeferrehaspromisedmetogotoPicpus。
　　Thereisaperfectswarmandanexcellentonethere。BahorelwillvisittheEstrapade。Prouvaire，themasonsaregrowinglukewarm；
　　youwillbringusnewsfromthelodgeoftheRuedeGrenelle—Saint—Honore。
　　JolywillgotoDupuytren’sclinicallecture，andfeelthepulseofthemedicalschool。Bossuetwilltakealittleturninthecourtandtalkwiththeyounglawlicentiates。IwilltakechargeoftheCougourdemyself。"
　　"Thatarrangeseverything，"saidCourfeyrac。
　　"No。"
　　"Whatelseisthere？"
　　"Averyimportantthing。"
　　"Whatisthat？"askedCourfeyrac。
　　"TheBarriereduMaine，"repliedEnjolras。
　　Enjolrasremainedforamomentasthoughabsorbedinreflection，thenheresumed:——
　　"AttheBarriereduMainetherearemarble—workers，painters，andjourneymeninthestudiosofsculptors。Theyareanenthusiasticfamily，butliabletocooloff。Idon’tknowwhathasbeenthematterwiththemforsometimepast。Theyarethinkingofsomethingelse。
　　Theyarebecomingextinguished。Theypasstheirtimeplayingdominoes。
　　Thereisurgentneedthatsomeoneshouldgoandtalkwiththemalittle，butwithfirmness。TheymeetatRichefeu’s。Theyaretobefoundtherebetweentwelveandoneo’clock。Thoseashesmustbefannedintoaglow。ForthaterrandIhadcountedonthatabstractedMarius，whoisagoodfellowonthewhole，buthenolongercomestous。
　　IneedsomeonefortheBarriereduMaine。Ihavenoone。"
　　"Whataboutme？"saidGrantaire。"HereamI。"
　　"You？"
　　"I。"
　　"Youindoctrinaterepublicans！youwarmupheartsthathavegrowncoldinthenameofprinciple！"
　　"Whynot？"
　　"Areyougoodforanything？"
　　"Ihaveavagueambitioninthatdirection，"saidGrantaire。
　　"Youdonotbelieveineverything。"
　　"Ibelieveinyou。"
　　"Grantairewillyoudomeaservice？"
　　"Anything。I’llblackyourboots。"
　　"Well，don’tmeddlewithouraffairs。Sleepyourselfsoberfromyourabsinthe。"
　　"Youareaningrate，Enjolras。"
　　"YouthemantogototheBarriereduMaine！Youcapableofit！"
　　"IamcapableofdescendingtheRuedeGres，ofcrossingthePlaceSaint—Michel，ofslopingthroughtheRueMonsieur—le—Prince，oftakingtheRuedeVaugirard，ofpassingtheCarmelites，ofturningintotheRued’Assas，ofreachingtheRueduCherche—Midi，ofleavingbehindmetheConseildeGuerre，ofpacingtheRuedesViellesTuileries，ofstridingacrosstheboulevard，offollowingtheChausseeduMaine，ofpassingthebarrier，andenteringRichefeu’s。Iamcapableofthat。
　　Myshoesarecapableofthat。"
　　"DoyouknowanythingofthosecomradeswhomeetatRichefeu’s？"
　　"Notmuch。Weonlyaddresseachotherasthou。"
　　"Whatwillyousaytothem？"
　　"IwillspeaktothemofRobespierre，pardi！OfDanton。
　　Ofprinciples。"
　　"You？"
　　"I。ButIdon’treceivejustice。WhenIsetaboutit，Iamterrible。
　　IhavereadPrudhomme，IknowtheSocialContract，IknowmyconstitutionoftheyearTwobyheart。`Thelibertyofonecitizenendswherethelibertyofanothercitizenbegins。’Doyoutakemeforabrute？Ihaveanoldbank—billoftheRepublicinmydrawer。
　　TheRightsofMan，thesovereigntyofthepeople，sapristi！IamevenabitofaHebertist。Icantalkthemostsuperbtwaddleforsixhoursbytheclock，watchinhand。"
　　"Beserious，"saidEnjolras。
　　"Iamwild，"repliedGrantaire。
　　Enjolrasmeditatedforafewmoments，andmadethegestureofamanwhohastakenaresolution。
　　"Grantaire，"hesaidgravely，"Iconsenttotryyou。YoushallgototheBarriereduMaine。"
　　GrantairelivedinfurnishedlodgingsveryneartheCafeMusain。
　　Hewentout，andfiveminuteslaterhereturned。HehadgonehometoputonaRobespierrewaistcoat。
　　"Red，"saidheasheentered，andhelookedintentlyatEnjolras。
　　Then，withthepalmofhisenergetichand，helaidthetwoscarletpointsofthewaistcoatacrosshisbreast。
　　AndsteppinguptoEnjolras，hewhisperedinhisear:——
　　"Beeasy。"
　　Hejammedhishatonresolutelyanddeparted。
　　Aquarterofanhourlater，thebackroomoftheCafeMusainwasdeserted。AllthefriendsoftheABCweregone，eachinhisowndirection，eachtohisowntask。Enjolras，whohadreservedtheCougourdeofAixforhimself，wasthelasttoleave。
　　ThosemembersoftheCougourdeofAixwhowereinParisthenmetontheplainofIssy，inoneoftheabandonedquarrieswhicharesonumerousinthatsideofParis。
　　AsEnjolraswalkedtowardsthisplace，hepassedthewholesituationinreviewinhisownmind。Thegravityofeventswasself—evident。
　　Whenfacts，thepremonitorysymptomsoflatentsocialmalady，moveheavily，theslightestcomplicationstopsandentanglesthem。
　　Aphenomenonwhencearisesruinandnewbirths。Enjolrasdescriedaluminousupliftingbeneaththegloomyskirtsofthefuture。
　　Whoknows？Perhapsthemomentwasathand。Thepeoplewereagaintakingpossessionofright，andwhatafinespectacle！
　　TherevolutionwasagainmajesticallytakingpossessionofFranceandsayingtotheworld:"Thesequelto—morrow！"Enjolraswascontent。
　　Thefurnacewasbeingheated。HehadatthatmomentapowdertrainoffriendsscatteredalloverParis。Hecomposed，inhisownmind，withCombeferre’sphilosophicalandpenetratingeloquence，Feuilly’scosmopolitanenthusiasm，Courfeyrac’sdash，Bahorel’ssmile，JeanProuvaire’smelancholy，Joly’sscience，Bossuet’ssarcasms，asortofelectricsparkwhichtookfirenearlyeverywhereatonce。
　　Allhandstowork。Surely，theresultwouldanswertotheeffort。
　　Thiswaswell。ThismadehimthinkofGrantaire。
　　"Hold，"saidhetohimself，"theBarriereduMainewillnottakemefaroutofmyway。WhatifIweretogoonasfarasRichefeu’s？
　　LetushavealookatwhatGrantaireisabout，andseehowheisgettingon。"
　　Oneo’clockwasstrikingfromtheVaugirardsteeplewhenEnjolrasreachedtheRichefeusmoking—room。
　　Hepushedopenthedoor，entered，foldedhisarms，lettingthedoorfalltoandstrikehisshoulders，andgazedatthatroomfilledwithtables，men，andsmoke。
　　Avoicebrokeforthfromthemistofsmoke，interruptedbyanothervoice。
　　ItwasGrantaireholdingadialoguewithanadversary。
　　Grantairewassittingoppositeanotherfigure，atamarbleSaint—Annetable，strewnwithgrainsofbrananddottedwithdominos。Hewashammeringthetablewithhisfist，andthisiswhatEnjolrasheard:——
　　"Double—six。"
　　"Fours。"
　　"Thepig！Ihavenomore。"
　　"Youaredead。Atwo。"
　　"Six。"
　　"Three。"
　　"One。"
　　"It’smymove。"
　　"Fourpoints。"
　　"Notmuch。"
　　"It’syourturn。"
　　"Ihavemadeanenormousmistake。"
　　"Youaredoingwell。"
　　"Fifteen。"
　　"Sevenmore。"
　　"Thatmakesmetwenty—two。"[Thoughtfully，"Twenty—two！"]
　　"Youweren’texpectingthatdouble—six。IfIhadplaceditatthebeginning，thewholeplaywouldhavebeenchanged。"
　　"Atwoagain。"
　　"One。"
　　"One！Well，five。"
　　"Ihaven’tany。"
　　"Itwasyourplay，Ibelieve？"
　　"Yes。"
　　"Blank。"
　　"Whatluckhehas！Ah！Youarelucky！[Longrevery。]Two。"
　　"One。"
　　"Neitherfivenorone。That’sbadforyou。"
　　"Domino。"
　　"Plaguetakeit！"
　　BOOKSECOND。——EPONINE
　　CHAPTERI
　　THELARK’SMEADOW
　　MariushadwitnessedtheunexpectedterminationoftheambushuponwhosetrackhehadsetJavert；butJaverthadnosoonerquittedthebuilding，bearingoffhisprisonersinthreehackney—coaches，thanMariusalsoglidedoutofthehouse。Itwasonlynineo’clockintheevening。MariusbetookhimselftoCourfeyrac。
　　CourfeyracwasnolongertheimperturbableinhabitantoftheLatinQuarter，hehadgonetoliveintheRuedelaVerrerie"forpoliticalreasons"；thisquarterwasonewhere，atthatepoch，insurrectionlikedtoinstallitself。MariussaidtoCourfeyrac:
　　"Ihavecometosleepwithyou。"Courfeyracdraggedamattressoffhisbed，whichwasfurnishedwithtwo，spreaditoutonthefloor，andsaid:"There。"
　　Atseveno’clockonthefollowingmorning，Mariusreturnedtothehovel，paidthequarter’srentwhichheowedtoMa’amBougon，hadhisbooks，hisbed，histable，hiscommode，andhistwochairsloadedonahand—cartandwentoffwithoutleavinghisaddress，sothatwhenJavertreturnedinthecourseofthemorning，forthepurposeofquestioningMariusastotheeventsoftheprecedingevening，hefoundonlyMa’amBougon，whoanswered:
　　"Movedaway！"
　　Ma’amBougonwasconvincedthatMariuswastosomeextentanaccompliceoftherobberswhohadbeenseizedthenightbefore。
　　"Whowouldeverhavesaidit？"sheexclaimedtotheportressesofthequarter，"ayoungmanlikethat，whohadtheairofagirl！"
　　Mariushadtworeasonsforthispromptchangeofresidence。
　　Thefirstwas，thathenowhadahorrorofthathouse，wherehehadbeheld，socloseathand，andinitsmostrepulsiveandmostferociousdevelopment，asocialdeformitywhichis，perhaps，evenmoreterriblethanthewickedrichman，thewickedpoorman。
　　Thesecondwas，thathedidnotwishtofigureinthelawsuitwhichwouldinsueinallprobability，andbebroughtintotestifyagainstThenardier。
　　Javertthoughtthattheyoungman，whosenamehehadforgotten，wasafraid，andhadfled，orperhaps，hadnotevenreturnedhomeatthetimeoftheambush；hemadesomeeffortstofindhim，however，butwithoutsuccess。
　　Amonthpassed，thenanother。MariuswasstillwithCourfeyrac。
　　Hehadlearnedfromayounglicentiateinlaw，anhabitualfrequenterofthecourts，thatThenardierwasincloseconfinement。EveryMonday，Mariushadfivefrancshandedintotheclerk’sofficeofLaForceforThenardier。
　　AsMariushadnolongeranymoney，heborrowedthefivefrancsfromCourfeyrac。Itwasthefirsttimeinhislifethathehadeverborrowedmoney。TheseperiodicalfivefrancswereadoubleriddletoCourfeyracwholentandtoThenardierwhoreceivedthem。"Towhomcantheygo？"thoughtCourfeyrac。"Whencecanthiscometome？"
　　Thenardieraskedhimself。
　　Moreover，Mariuswasheart—broken。Everythinghadplungedthroughatrap—dooroncemore。Henolongersawanythingbeforehim；
　　hislifewasagainburiedinmysterywherehewanderedfumblingly。
　　Hehadforamomentbeheldverycloseathand，inthatobscurity，theyounggirlwhomheloved，theoldmanwhoseemedtobeherfather，thoseunknownbeings，whowerehisonlyinterestandhisonlyhopeinthisworld；and，attheverymomentwhenhethoughthimselfonthepointofgraspingthem，agusthadsweptalltheseshadowsaway。
　　Notasparkofcertaintyandtruthhadbeenemittedeveninthemostterribleofcollisions。Noconjecturewaspossible。Henolongerkneweventhenamethathethoughtheknew。ItcertainlywasnotUrsule。AndtheLarkwasanickname。Andwhatwashetothinkoftheoldman？Washeactuallyinhidingfromthepolice？
　　Thewhite—hairedworkmanwhomMariushadencounteredinthevicinityoftheInvalidesrecurredtohismind。ItnowseemedprobablethatthatworkingmanandM。Leblancwereoneandthesameperson。Sohedisguisedhimself？Thatmanhadhisheroicandhisequivocalsides。
　　Whyhadhenotcalledforhelp？Whyhadhefled？Washe，orwashenot，thefatheroftheyounggirl？Washe，inshort，themanwhomThenardierthoughtthatherecognized？Thenardiermighthavebeenmistaken。Theseformedsomanyinsolubleproblems。
　　Allthis，itistrue，detractednothingfromtheangeliccharmsoftheyounggirloftheLuxembourg。Heart—rendingdistress；
　　Mariusboreapassioninhisheart，andnightoverhiseyes。
　　Hewasthrustonward，hewasdrawn，andhecouldnotstir。
　　Allhadvanished，savelove。Ofloveitselfhehadlosttheinstinctsandthesuddenilluminations。Ordinarily，thisflamewhichburnsuslightsusalsoalittle，andcastssomeusefulgleamswithout。
　　ButMariusnolongerevenheardthesemutecounselsofpassion。
　　Heneversaidtohimself:"WhatifIweretogotosuchaplace？
　　WhatifIweretotrysuchandsuchathing？"ThegirlwhomhecouldnolongercallUrsulewasevidentlysomewhere；nothingwarnedMariusinwhatdirectionheshouldseekher。Hiswholelifewasnowsummedupintwowords；absoluteuncertaintywithinanimpenetrablefog。
　　Toseeheronceagain；hestillaspiredtothis，buthenolongerexpectedit。
　　Tocrownall，hispovertyhadreturned。Hefeltthaticybreathclosetohim，onhisheels。Inthemidstofhistorments，andlongbeforethis，hehaddiscontinuedhiswork，andnothingismoredangerousthandiscontinuedwork；itisahabitwhichvanishes。
　　Ahabitwhichiseasytogetridof，anddifficulttotakeupagain。
　　Acertainamountofdreamingisgood，likeanarcoticindiscreetdoses。
　　Itlullstosleepthefeversofthemindatlabor，whicharesometimessevere，andproducesinthespiritasoftandfreshvaporwhichcorrectstheover—harshcontoursofpurethought，fillsingapshereandthere，bindstogetherandroundsofftheanglesoftheideas。Buttoomuchdreamingsinksanddrowns。
　　Woetothebrain—workerwhoallowshimselftofallentirelyfromthoughtintorevery！Hethinksthathecanre—ascendwithequalease，andhetellshimselfthat，afterall，itisthesamething。Error！
　　Thoughtisthetoiloftheintelligence，reveryitsvoluptuousness。
　　Toreplacethoughtwithreveryistoconfoundapoisonwithafood。
　　Mariushadbeguninthatway，asthereaderwillremember。
　　Passionhadsupervenedandhadfinishedtheworkofprecipitatinghimintochimaeraswithoutobjectorbottom。Onenolongeremergesfromone’sselfexceptforthepurposeofgoingofftodream。
　　Idleproduction。Tumultuousandstagnantgulf。And，inproportionaslabordiminishes，needsincrease。Thisisalaw。Man，inastateofrevery，isgenerallyprodigalandslack；theunstrungmindcannotholdlifewithinclosebounds。
　　Thereis，inthatmodeoflife，goodmingledwithevil，forifenervationisbaleful，generosityisgoodandhealthful。
　　Butthepoormanwhoisgenerousandnoble，andwhodoesnotwork，islost。Resourcesareexhausted，needscropup。
　　Fataldeclivitydownwhichthemosthonestandthefirmestaswellasthemostfeebleandmostviciousaredrawn，andwhichendsinoneoftwoholds，suicideorcrime。
　　Bydintofgoingoutdoorstothink，thedaycomeswhenonegoesouttothrowone’sselfinthewater。
　　ExcessofreverybreedsmenlikeEscousseandLebras。
　　Mariuswasdescendingthisdeclivityataslowpace，withhiseyesfixedonthegirlwhomhenolongersaw。Whatwehavejustwrittenseemsstrange，andyetitistrue。Thememoryofanabsentbeingkindlesinthedarknessoftheheart；themoreithasdisappeared，themoreitbeams；thegloomyanddespairingsoulseesthislightonitshorizon；thestaroftheinnernight。She——thatwasMarius’
　　wholethought。Hemeditatedofnothingelse；hewasconfusedlyconsciousthathisoldcoatwasbecominganimpossiblecoat，andthathisnewcoatwasgrowingold，thathisshirtswerewearingout，thathishatwaswearingout，thathisbootsweregivingout，andhesaidtohimself:"IfIcouldbutseeheronceagainbeforeIdie！"
　　Onesweetideaalonewaslefttohim，thatshehadlovedhim，thatherglancehadtoldhimso，thatshedidnotknowhisname，butthatshedidknowhissoul，andthat，wherevershewas，howevermysterioustheplace，shestilllovedhimperhaps。
　　Whoknowswhethershewerenotthinkingofhimashewasthinkingofher？Sometimes，inthoseinexplicablehourssuchasareexperiencedbyeveryheartthatloves，thoughhehadnoreasonsforanythingbutsadnessandyetfeltanobscurequiverofjoy，hesaidtohimself:
　　"Itisherthoughtsthatarecomingtome！"Thenheadded:
　　"Perhapsmythoughtsreachheralso。"
　　Thisillusion，atwhichheshookhisheadamomentlater，wassufficient，nevertheless，tothrowbeams，whichattimesresembledhope，intohissoul。Fromtimetotime，especiallyatthateveninghourwhichisthemostdepressingtoeventhedreamy，heallowedthepurest，themostimpersonal，themostidealofthereverieswhichfilledhisbrain，tofalluponanotebookwhichcontainednothingelse。Hecalledthis"writingtoher。"
　　Itmustnotbesupposedthathisreasonwasderanged。
　　Quitethecontrary。Hehadlostthefacultyofworkingandofmovingfirmlytowardsanyfixedgoal，buthewasendowedwithmoreclear—sightednessandrectitudethanever。Mariussurveyedbyacalmandreal，althoughpeculiarlight，whatpassedbeforehiseyes，eventhemostindifferentdeedsandmen；hepronouncedajustcriticismoneverythingwithasortofhonestdejectionandcandiddisinterestedness。Hisjudgment，whichwasalmostwhollydisassociatedfromhope，helditselfaloofandsoaredonhigh。
　　Inthisstateofmindnothingescapedhim，nothingdeceivedhim，andeverymomenthewasdiscoveringthefoundationoflife，ofhumanity，andofdestiny。Happy，eveninthemidstofanguish，ishetowhomGodhasgivenasoulworthyofloveandofunhappiness！
　　Hewhohasnotviewedthethingsofthisworldandtheheartofmanunderthisdoublelighthasseennothingandknowsnothingofthetrue。
　　Thesoulwhichlovesandsuffersisinastateofsublimity。
　　However，dayfollowedday，andnothingnewpresenteditself。
　　Itmerelyseemedtohim，thatthesombrespacewhichstillremainedtobetraversedbyhimwasgrowingshorterwitheveryinstant。
　　Hethoughtthathealreadydistinctlyperceivedthebrinkofthebottomlessabyss。
　　"What！"herepeatedtohimself，"shallInotseeheragainbeforethen！"
　　WhenyouhaveascendedtheRueSaint—Jacques，leftthebarrierononesideandfollowedtheoldinnerboulevardforsomedistance，youreachtheRuedelaSante，thentheGlaciere，and，alittlewhilebeforearrivingatthelittleriveroftheGobelins，youcometoasortoffieldwhichistheonlyspotinthelongandmonotonouschainoftheboulevardsofParis，whereRuysdeelwouldbetemptedtositdown。
　　Thereissomethingindescribabletherewhichexhalesgrace，agreenmeadowtraversedbytightlystretchedlines，fromwhichflutterragsdryinginthewind，andanoldmarket—gardener’shouse，builtinthetimeofLouisXIII。，withitsgreatroofoddlypiercedwithdormerwindows，dilapidatedpalisades，alittlewateramidpoplar—trees，women，voices，laughter；onthehorizonthePantheon，thepoleoftheDeaf—Mutes，theVal—de—Grace，black，squat，fantastic，amusing，magnificent，andinthebackground，theseveresquarecrestsofthetowersofNotreDame。
　　Astheplaceisworthlookingat，noonegoesthither。Hardlyonecartorwagonerpassesinaquarterofanhour。
　　ItchancedthatMarius’solitarystrollsledhimtothisplotofground，nearthewater。Thatday，therewasararityontheboulevard，apasser—by。Marius，vaguelyimpressedwiththealmostsavagebeautyoftheplace，askedthispasser—by:——"Whatisthenameofthisspot？"
　　Thepersonreplied:"ItistheLark’smeadow。"
　　Andheadded:"ItwasherethatUlbachkilledtheshepherdessofIvry。"
　　Butaftertheword"Lark"Mariusheardnothingmore。Thesesuddencongealmentsinthestateofrevery，whichasinglewordsufficestoevoke，dooccur。Theentirethoughtisabruptlycondensedaroundanidea，anditisnolongercapableofperceivinganythingelse。
　　TheLarkwastheappellationwhichhadreplacedUrsuleinthedepthsofMarius’melancholy。——"Stop，"saidhewithasortofunreasoningstuporpeculiartothesemysteriousasides，"thisishermeadow。
　　Ishallknowwhereshelivesnow。"
　　Itwasabsurd，butirresistible。
　　AndeverydayhereturnedtothatmeadowoftheLark。
　　CHAPTERII
　　EMBRYONICFORMATIONOFCRIMESINTHEINCUBATIONOFPRISONS
　　Javert’striumphintheGorbeauhovelseemedcomplete，buthadnotbeenso。
　　Inthefirstplace，andthisconstitutedtheprincipalanxiety，Javerthadnottakentheprisonerprisoner。Theassassinatedmanwhofleesismoresuspiciousthantheassassin，anditisprobablethatthispersonage，whohadbeensopreciousacapturefortheruffians，wouldbenolessfineaprizefortheauthorities。
　　Andthen，MontparnassehadescapedJavert。
　　Anotheropportunityoflayinghandsonthat"devil’sdandy"
　　mustbewaitedfor。Montparnassehad，infact，encounteredEponineasshestoodonthewatchunderthetreesoftheboulevard，andhadledheroff，preferringtoplayNemorinwiththedaughterratherthanSchinderhanneswiththefather。Itwaswellthathedidso。
　　Hewasfree。AsforEponine，Javerthadcausedhertobeseized；
　　amediocreconsolation。EponinehadjoinedAzelmaatLesMadelonettes。
　　Andfinally，onthewayfromtheGorbeauhousetoLaForce，oneoftheprincipalprisoners，Claquesous，hadbeenlost。Itwasnotknownhowthishadbeeneffected，thepoliceagentsandthesergeants"couldnotunderstanditatall。"Hehadconvertedhimselfintovapor，hehadslippedthroughthehandcuffs，hehadtrickledthroughthecrevicesofthecarriage，thefiacrewascracked，andhehadfled；
　　allthattheywereabletosaywas，thatonarrivingattheprison，therewasnoClaquesous。Eitherthefairiesorthepolicehadhadahandinit。HadClaquesousmeltedintotheshadowslikeasnow—flakeinwater？Hadtherebeenunavowedconnivanceofthepoliceagents？
　　Didthismanbelongtothedoubleenigmaoforderanddisorder？
　　Washeconcentricwithinfractionandrepression？Hadthissphinxhisforepawsincrimeandhishindpawsinauthority？
　　Javertdidnotacceptsuchcomminations，andwouldhavebristledupagainstsuchcompromises；buthissquadincludedotherinspectorsbesideshimself，whoweremoreinitiatedthanhe，perhaps，althoughtheywerehissubordinatesinthesecretsofthePrefecture，andClaquesoushadbeensuchavillainthathemightmakeaverygoodagent。
　　Itisanexcellentthingforruffianismandanadmirablethingforthepolicetobeonsuchintimatejugglingtermswiththenight。
　　Thesedouble—edgedrascalsdoexist。Howeverthatmaybe，Claquesoushadgoneastrayandwasnotfoundagain。Javertappearedtobemoreirritatedthanamazedatthis。
　　AsforMarius，"thatboobyofalawyer，"whohadprobablybecomefrightened，andwhosenameJaverthadforgotten，Javertattachedverylittleimportancetohim。Moreover，alawyercanbehuntedupatanytime。Butwashealawyerafterall？
　　Theinvestigationhadbegun。
　　ThemagistratehadthoughtitadvisablenottoputoneofthesemenofthebandofPatronMinetteincloseconfinement，inthehopethathewouldchatter。ThismanwasBrujon，thelong—hairedmanoftheRueduPetit—Banquier。HehadbeenletlooseintheCharlemagnecourtyard，andtheeyesofthewatcherswerefixedonhim。
　　ThisnameofBrujonisoneofthesouvenirsofLaForce。
　　Inthathideouscourtyard，calledthecourtoftheBatiment—Neuf（NewBuilding），whichtheadministrationcalledthecourtSaint—Bernard，andwhichtherobberscalledtheFosseaux—Lions（TheLion’sDitch），onthatwallcoveredwithscalesandleprosy，whichroseonthelefttoalevelwiththeroofs，nearanolddoorofrustyironwhichledtotheancientchapeloftheducalresidenceofLaForce，thenturnedinadormitoryforruffians，therecouldstillbeseen，twelveyearsago，asortoffortressroughlycarvedinthestonewithanail，andbeneathitthissignature:——
　　BRUJON，1811。
　　TheBrujonof1811wasthefatheroftheBrujonof1832。
　　Thelatter，ofwhomthereadercaughtbutaglimpseattheGorbeauhouse，wasaverycunningandveryadroityoungspark，withabewilderedandplaintiveair。Itwasinconsequenceofthisplaintiveairthatthemagistratehadreleasedhim，thinkinghimmoreusefulintheCharlemagneyardthanincloseconfinement。
　　Robbersdonotinterrupttheirprofessionbecausetheyareinthehandsofjustice。Theydonotletthemselvesbeputoutbysuchatrifleasthat。Tobeinprisonforonecrimeisnoreasonfornotbeginningonanothercrime。Theyareartists，whohaveonepictureinthesalon，andwhotoil，nonetheless，onanewworkintheirstudios。
　　Brujonseemedtobestupefiedbyprison。Hecouldsometimesbeseenstandingbythehourtogetherinfrontofthesutler’swindowintheCharlemagneyard，staringlikeanidiotatthesordidlistofpriceswhichbeganwith:garlic，62centimes，andendedwith:cigar，5centimes。Orhepassedhistimeintrembling，chatteringhisteeth，sayingthathehadafever，andinquiringwhetheroneoftheeightandtwentybedsinthefeverwardwasvacant。
　　Allatonce，towardstheendofFebruary，1832，itwasdiscoveredthatBrujon，thatsomnolentfellow，hadhadthreedifferentcommissionsexecutedbytheerrand—menoftheestablishment，notunderhisownname，butinthenameofthreeofhiscomrades；
　　andtheyhadcosthiminallfiftysous，anexorbitantoutlaywhichattractedtheattentionoftheprisoncorporal。
　　Inquirieswereinstituted，andonconsultingthetariffofcommissionspostedintheconvict’sparlor，itwaslearnedthatthefiftysouscouldbeanalyzedasfollows:threecommissions；
　　onetothePantheon，tensous；onetoVal—de—Grace，fifteensous；
　　andonetotheBarrieredeGrenelle，twenty—fivesous。Thislastwasthedearestofthewholetariff。Now，atthePantheon，attheVal—de—Grace，andattheBarrieredeGrenelleweresituatedthedomicilesofthethreeveryredoubtableprowlersofthebarriers，Kruideniers，aliasBizarre，Glorieux，anex—convict，andBarre—Carosse，uponwhomtheattentionofthepolicewasdirectedbythisincident。
　　ItwasthoughtthatthesemenweremembersofPatronMinette；
　　twoofthoseleaders，BabetandGueulemer，hadbeencaptured。
　　Itwassupposedthatthemessages，whichhadbeenaddressed，nottohouses，buttopeoplewhowerewaitingfortheminthestreet，musthavecontainedinformationwithregardtosomecrimethathadbeenplotted。Theywereinpossessionofotherindications；
　　theylaidhandonthethreeprowlers，andsupposedthattheyhadcircumventedsomeoneorotherofBrujon’smachinations。
　　Aboutaweekafterthesemeasureshadbeentaken，onenight，asthesuperintendentofthewatch，whohadbeeninspectingthelowerdormitoryintheBatiment—Neuf，wasabouttodrophischestnutinthebox——thiswasthemeansadoptedtomakesurethatthewatchmenperformedtheirdutiespunctually；everyhourachestnutmustbedroppedintoalltheboxesnailedtothedoorsofthedormitories——
　　awatchmanlookedthroughthepeep—holeofthedormitoryandbeheldBrujonsittingonhisbedandwritingsomethingbythelightofthehall—lamp。Theguardianentered，Brujonwasputinasolitarycellforamonth，buttheywerenotabletoseizewhathehadwritten。
　　Thepolicelearnednothingfurtheraboutit。
　　Whatiscertainis，thatonthefollowingmorning，a"postilion"
　　wasflungfromtheCharlemagneyardintotheLions’Ditch，overthefive—storybuildingwhichseparatedthetwocourt—yards。
　　Whatprisonerscalla"postilion"isapalletofbreadartisticallymoulded，whichissentintoIreland，thatistosay，overtheroofsofaprison，fromonecourtyardtoanother。
　　Etymology:overEngland；fromonelandtoanother；intoIreland。
　　Thislittlepelletfallsintheyard。Themanwhopicksitupopensitandfindsinitanoteaddressedtosomeprisonerinthatyard。
　　Ifitisaprisonerwhofindsthetreasure，heforwardsthenotetoitsdestination；ifitisakeeper，oroneoftheprisonerssecretlysoldwhoarecalledsheepinprisonsandfoxesinthegalleys，thenoteistakentotheofficeandhandedovertothepolice。
　　Onthisoccasion，thepostilionreacheditsaddress，althoughthepersontowhomitwasaddressedwas，atthatmoment，insolitaryconfinement。ThispersonwasnootherthanBabet，oneofthefourheadsofPatronMinette。
　　Thepostilioncontainedarollofpaperonwhichonlythesetwolineswerewritten:——
　　"Babet。ThereisanaffairintheRuePlumet。Agateonagarden。"
　　ThisiswhatBrujonhadwrittenthenightbefore。
　　Inspiteofmaleandfemalesearchers，BabetmanagedtopassthenoteonfromLaForcetotheSalpetriere，toa"goodfriend"
　　whomhehadandwhowasshutupthere。Thiswomaninturntransmittedthenotetoanotherwomanofheracquaintance，acertainMagnon，whowasstronglysuspectedbythepolice，thoughnotyetarrested。
　　ThisMagnon，whosenamethereaderhasalreadyseen，hadrelationswiththeThenardier，whichwillbedescribedindetaillateron，andshecould，bygoingtoseeEponine，serveasabridgebetweentheSalpetriereandLesMadelonettes。
　　Ithappened，thatatpreciselythatmoment，asproofswerewantingintheinvestigationdirectedagainstThenardierinthematterofhisdaughters，EponineandAzelmawerereleased。WhenEponinecameout，Magnon，whowaswatchingthegateoftheMadelonettes，handedherBrujon’snotetoBabet，charginghertolookintothematter。
　　EponinewenttotheRuePlumet，recognizedthegateandthegarden，observedthehouse，spied，lurked，and，afewdayslater，broughttoMagnon，whodeliversintheRueClocheperce，abiscuit，whichMagnontransmittedtoBabet’smistressintheSalpetriere。
　　Abiscuit，intheshadysymbolismofprisons，signifies:Nothingtobedone。
　　Sothatinlessthanaweekfromthattime，asBrujonandBabetmetinthecircleofLaForce，theoneonhiswaytotheexamination，theotheronhiswayfromit:——
　　"Well？"askedBrujon，"theRueP。？"
　　"Biscuit，"repliedBabet。ThusdidthefoetusofcrimeengenderedbyBrujoninLaForcemiscarry。
　　Thismiscarriagehaditsconsequences，however，whichwereperfectlydistinctfromBrujon’sprogramme。Thereaderwillseewhattheywere。
　　Oftenwhenwethinkweareknottingonethread，wearetyingquiteanother。