按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Marius； on his side； had gone forth in indignation。
There was one circumstance which； it must be admitted； aggravated his exasperation。 There are always petty fatalities of the sort which plicate domestic dramas。
They augment the grievances in such cases； although； in reality； the wrongs are not increased by them。 While carrying Marius' 〃duds〃 precipitately to his chamber； at his grandfather's mand； Nicolette had； inadvertently； let fall； probably； on the attic staircase； which was dark； that medallion of black shagreen which contained the paper penned by the colonel。 Neither paper nor case could afterwards be found。
Marius was convinced that 〃Monsieur Gillenormand〃from that day forth he never alluded to him otherwisehad flung 〃his father's testament〃 in the fire。
He knew by heart the few lines which the colonel had written； and； consequently； nothing was lost。
But the paper； the writing； that sacred relic；all that was his very heart。 What had been done with it？
Marius had taken his departure without saying whither he was going； and without knowing where； with thirty francs； his watch； and a few clothes in a hand…bag。 He had entered a hackney…coach； had engaged it by the hour； and had directed his course at hap…hazard towards the Latin quarter。
What was to bee of Marius？
BOOK FOURTH。THE FRIENDS OF THE A B C
CHAPTER I
A GROUP WHICH BARELY MISSED BEING HISTORIC
At that epoch； which was； to all appearances indifferent； a certain revolutionary quiver was vaguely current。
Breaths which had started forth from the depths of '89 and '93 were in the air。
Youth was on the point； may the reader pardon us the word； of moulting。 People were undergoing a transformation； almost without being conscious of it； through the movement of the age。
The needle which moves round the pass also moves in souls。
Each person was taking that step in advance which he was bound to take。 The Royalists were being liberals； liberals were turning democrats。 It was a flood tide plicated with a thousand ebb movements； the peculiarity of ebbs is to create intermixtures； hence the bination of very singular ideas； people adored both Napoleon and liberty。 We are making history here。
These were the mirages of that period。 Opinions traverse phases。
Voltairian royalism； a quaint variety； had a no less singular sequel； Bonapartist liberalism。
Other groups of minds were more serious。
In that direction； they sounded principles； they attached themselves to the right。 They grew enthusiastic for the absolute； they caught glimpses of infinite realizations； the absolute； by its very rigidity； urges spirits towards the sky and causes them to float in illimitable space。 There is nothing like dogma for bringing forth dreams。
And there is nothing like dreams for engendering the future。
Utopia to…day； flesh and blood to…morrow。
These advanced opinions had a double foundation。
A beginning of mystery menaced 〃the established order of things；〃 which was suspicious and underhand。
A sign which was revolutionary to the highest degree。
The second thoughts of power meet the second thoughts of the populace in the mine。
The incubation of insurrections gives the retort to the premeditation of coups d'etat。
There did not； as yet； exist in France any of those vast underlying organizations； like the German tugendbund and Italian Carbonarism； but here and there there were dark underminings； which were in process of throwing off shoots。
The Cougourde was being outlined at Aix； there existed at Paris； among other affiliations of that nature； the society of the Friends of the A B C。
What were these Friends of the A B C？
A society which had for its object apparently the education of children； in reality the elevation of man。
They declared themselves the Friends of the A B C；the Abaisse； the debased；that is to say； the people。
They wished to elevate the people。
It was a pun which we should do wrong to smile at。 Puns are sometimes serious factors in politics； witness the Castratus ad castra； which made a general of the army of Narses； witness： Barbari et Barberini； witness：
Tu es Petrus et super hanc petram； etc。； etc。
The Friends of the A B C were not numerous； it was a secret society in the state of embryo； we might almost say a coterie； if coteries ended in heroes。
They assembled in Paris in two localities； near the fish…market； in a wine…shop called Corinthe； of which more will be heard later on； and near the Pantheon in a little cafe in the Rue Saint…Michel called the Cafe Musain； now torn down； the first of these meeting…places was close to the workingman； the second to the students。
The assemblies of the Friends of the A B C were usually held in a back room of the Cafe Musain。
This hall； which was tolerably remote from the cafe； with which it was connected by an extremely long corridor； had two windows and an exit with a private stairway on the little Rue des Gres。
There they smoked and drank； and gambled and laughed。
There they conversed in very loud tones about everything； and in whispers of other things。 An old map of France under the Republic was nailed to the wall； a sign quite sufficient to excite the suspicion of a police agent。
The greater part of the Friends of the A B C were students； who were on cordial terms with the working classes。
Here are the names of the principal ones。
They belong； in a certain measure； to history：
Enjolras； beferre； Jean Prouvaire； Feuilly； Courfeyrac； Bahorel； Lesgle or Laigle； Joly； Grantaire。
These young men formed a sort of family； through the bond of friendship。
All； with the exception of Laigle； were from the South。
This was a remarkable group。
It vanished in the invisible depths which lie behind us。
At the point of this drama which we have now reached； it will not perhaps be superfluous to throw a ray of light upon these youthful heads； before the reader beholds them plunging into the shadow of a tragic adventure。
Enjolras； whose name we have mentioned first of all；the reader shall see why later on；was an only son and wealthy。
Enjolras was a charming young man； who was capable of being terrible。 He was angelically handsome。
He was a savage Antinous。
One would have said； to see the pensive thoughtfulness of his glance； that he had already； in some previous state of existence； traversed the revolutionary apocalypse。
He possessed the tradition of it as though he had been a witness。
He was acquainted with all the minute details of the great affair。
A pontifical and warlike nature； a singular thing in a youth。
He was an officiating priest and a man of war； from the immediate point of view； a soldier of the democracy； above the contemporary movement； the priest of the ideal。
His eyes were deep； his lids a little red； his lower lip was thick and easily became disdainful； his brow was lofty。
A great deal of brow in a face is like a great deal of horizon in a view。
Like certain young men at the beginning of this century and the end of the last； who became illustrious at a