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es； and to transfigure Europe at the pace of a charge； to make you feel that when you threaten you lay your hand on the hilt of the sword of God； to follow in a single man； Hannibal； Caesar； Charlemagne； to be the people of some one who mingles with your dawns the startling announcement of a battle won； to have the cannon of the Invalides to rouse you in the morning； to hurl into abysses of light prodigious words which flame forever； Marengo； Arcola； Austerlitz； Jena； Wagram！ To cause constellations of victories to flash forth at each instant from the zenith of the centuries； to make the French Empire a pendant to the Roman Empire； to be the great nation and to give birth to the grand army； to make its legions fly forth over all the earth； as a mountain sends out its eagles on all sides to conquer； to dominate； to strike with lightning； to be in Europe a sort of nation gilded through glory； to sound athwart the centuries a trumpet…blast of Titans； to conquer the world twice； by conquest and by dazzling； that is sublime； and what greater thing is there？〃
〃To be free；〃 said beferre。
Marius lowered his head in his turn； that cold and simple word had traversed his epic effusion like a blade of steel； and he felt it vanishing within him。
When he raised his eyes； beferre was no longer there。
Probably satisfied with his reply to the apotheosis； he had just taken his departure； and all； with the exception of Enjolras； had followed him。
The room had been emptied。
Enjolras； left alone with Marius； was gazing gravely at him。
Marius； however； having rallied his ideas to some extent； did not consider himself beaten； there lingered in him a trace of inward fermentation which was on the point； no doubt； of translating itself into syllogisms arrayed against Enjolras； when all of a sudden； they heard some one singing on the stairs as he went。
It was beferre； and this is what he was singing： 〃Si Cesar m'avait donne＇25＇ La gloire et la guerre；
Et qu'il me fallait quitter L'amour de ma mere；
Je dirais au grand Cesar： Reprends ton sceptre et ton char；
J'aime mieux ma mere； o gue！
J'aime mieux ma mere！〃
＇25＇ If Cesar had given me glory and war； and I were obliged to quit my mother's love； I would say to great Caesar； 〃Take back thy sceptre and thy chariot； I prefer the love of my mother。〃
The wild and tender accents with which beferre sang municated to this couplet a sort of strange grandeur。
Marius； thoughtfully； and with his eyes diked on the ceiling； repeated almost mechanically： 〃My mother？〃
At that moment； he felt Enjolras' hand on his shoulder。
〃Citizen；〃 said Enjolras to him； 〃my mother is the Republic。〃
BOOK FOURTH。THE FRIENDS OF THE A B C
CHAPTER VI
RES ANGUSTA
That evening left Marius profoundly shaken； and with a melancholy shadow in his soul。
He felt what the earth may possibly feel； at the moment when it is torn open with the iron； in order that grain may be deposited within it； it feels only the wound； the quiver of the germ and the joy of the fruit only arrive later。
Marius was gloomy。
He had but just acquired a faith； must he then reject it already？
He affirmed to himself that he would not。 He declared to himself that he would not doubt； and he began to doubt in spite of himself。
To stand between two religions； from one of which you have not as yet emerged； and another into which you have not yet entered； is intolerable； and twilight is pleasing only to bat…like souls。
Marius was clear…eyed； and he required the true light。
The half…lights of doubt pained him。 Whatever may have been his desire to remain where he was； he could not halt there； he was irresistibly constrained to continue； to advance； to examine； to think； to march further。
Whither would this lead him？ He feared； after having taken so many steps which had brought him nearer to his father； to now take a step which should estrange him from that father。
His disfort was augmented by all the reflections which occurred to him。
An escarpment rose around him。 He was in accord neither with his grandfather nor with his friends； daring in the eyes of the one； he was behind the times in the eyes of the others； and he recognized the fact that he was doubly isolated； on the side of age and on the side of youth。
He ceased to go to the Cafe Musain。
In the troubled state of his conscience； he no longer thought of certain serious sides of existence。
The realities of life do not allow themselves to be forgotten。
They soon elbowed him abruptly。
One morning； the proprietor of the hotel entered Marius' room and said to him：
〃Monsieur Courfeyrac answered for you。〃
〃Yes。〃
〃But I must have my money。〃
〃Request Courfeyrac to e and talk with me；〃 said Marius。
Courfeyrac having made his appearance； the host left them。 Marius then told him what it had not before occurred to him to relate； that he was the same as alone in the world； and had no relatives。
〃What is to bee of you？〃 said Courfeyrac。
〃I do not know in the least；〃 replied Marius。
〃What are you going to do？〃
〃I do not know。〃
〃Have you any money？〃
〃Fifteen francs。〃
〃Do you want me to lend you some？〃
〃Never。〃
〃Have you clothes？〃
〃Here is what I have。〃
〃Have you trinkets？〃
〃A watch。〃
〃Silver？〃
〃Gold； here it is。〃
〃I know a clothes…dealer who will take your frock…coat and a pair of trousers。〃
〃That is good。〃
〃You will then have only a pair of trousers； a waistcoat； a hat and a coat。〃
〃And my boots。〃
〃What！ you will not go barefoot？
What opulence！〃
〃That will be enough。〃
〃I know a watchmaker who will buy your watch。〃
〃That is good。〃
〃No； it is not good。
What will you do after that？〃
〃Whatever is necessary。
Anything honest； that is to say。〃
〃Do you know English？〃
〃No。〃
〃Do you know German？〃
〃No。〃
〃So much the worse。〃
〃Why？〃
〃Because one of my friends； a publisher； is getting up a sort of an encyclopaedia； for which you might have translated English or German articles。
It is badly paid work； but one can live by it。〃
〃I will learn English and German。〃
〃And in the meanwhile？〃
〃In the meanwhile I will live on my clothes and my watch。〃
The clothes…dealer was sent for。
He paid twenty francs for the cast…off garments。
They went to the watchmaker's。 He bought the watch for forty…five francs。
〃That is not bad；〃 said Marius to Courfeyrac； on their return to the hotel； 〃with my fifteen francs； that makes eighty。〃
〃And the hotel bill？〃 observed Courfeyrac。
〃Hello； I had forgotten that；〃 said Marius。
The landlord presented his bill； which had to be paid on the spot。 It amounted to seventy francs。
〃I have ten francs left；〃 said Marius。
〃The deuce；〃 exclaimed Courfeyrac； 〃you will eat up five francs while you are learning English； and five while learning German。 That will be swallowing a tongue very fast； or a hundred sous very slowly。〃
In the meantime Aunt Gillenormand； a rather good…hearted person at bottom in difficult