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On such evenings； Marius put on his new coat。
But he never went to these evening parties or balls except on days when it was freezing cold； because he could not afford a carriage； and he did not wish to arrive with boots otherwise than like mirrors。
He said sometimes； but without bitterness：
〃Men are so made that in a drawing…room you may be soiled everywhere except on your shoes。 In order to insure a good reception there； only one irreproachable thing is asked of you； your conscience？
No； your boots。〃
All passions except those of the heart are dissipated by revery。 Marius' political fevers vanished thus。
The Revolution of 1830 assisted in the process； by satisfying and calming him。 He remained the same； setting aside his fits of wrath。 He still held the same opinions。
Only； they had been tempered。 To speak accurately； he had no longer any opinions； he had sympathies。 To what party did he belong？
To the party of humanity。
Out of humanity he chose France； out of the Nation he chose the people； out of the people he chose the woman。
It was to that point above all； that his pity was directed。
Now he preferred an idea to a deed； a poet to a hero； and he admired a book like Job more than an event like Marengo。
And then； when； after a day spent in meditation； he returned in the evening through the boulevards； and caught a glimpse through the branches of the trees of the fathomless space beyond； the nameless gleams； the abyss； the shadow； the mystery； all that which is only human seemed very pretty indeed to him。
He thought that he had； and he really had； in fact； arrived at the truth of life and of human philosophy； and he had ended by gazing at nothing but heaven； the only thing which Truth can perceive from the bottom of her well。
This did not prevent him from multiplying his plans； his binations； his scaffoldings； his projects for the future。
In this state of revery； an eye which could have cast a glance into Marius' interior would have been dazzled with the purity of that soul。 In fact； had it been given to our eyes of the flesh to gaze into the consciences of others； we should be able to judge a man much more surely according to what he dreams； than according to what he thinks。
There is will in thought； there is none in dreams。 Revery； which is utterly spontaneous； takes and keeps； even in the gigantic and the ideal； the form of our spirit。
Nothing proceeds more directly and more sincerely from the very depth of our soul； than our unpremeditated and boundless aspirations towards the splendors of destiny。
In these aspirations； much more than in deliberate； rational coordinated ideas； is the real character of a man to be found。
Our chimeras are the things which the most resemble us。 Each one of us dreams of the unknown and the impossible in accordance with his nature。
Towards the middle of this year 1831； the old woman who waited on Marius told him that his neighbors； the wretched Jondrette family； had been turned out of doors。
Marius； who passed nearly the whole of his days out of the house； hardly knew that he had any neighbors。
〃Why are they turned out？〃 he asked。
〃Because they do not pay their rent； they owe for two quarters。〃
〃How much is it？〃
〃Twenty francs；〃 said the old woman。
Marius had thirty francs saved up in a drawer。
〃Here；〃 he said to the old woman； 〃take these twenty…five francs。 Pay for the poor people and give them five francs； and do not tell them that it was I。〃
BOOK FIFTH。THE EXCELLENCE OF MISFORTUNE
CHAPTER VI
THE SUBSTITUTE
It chanced that the regiment to which Lieutenant Theodule belonged came to perform garrison duty in Paris。
This inspired Aunt Gillenormand with a second idea。
She had； on the first occasion； hit upon the plan of having Marius spied upon by Theodule； now she plotted to have Theodule take Marius' place。
At all events and in case the grandfather should feel the vague need of a young face in the house；these rays of dawn are sometimes sweet to ruin；it was expedient to find another Marius。
〃Take it as a simple erratum；〃 she thought； 〃such as one sees in books。 For Marius； read Theodule。〃
A grandnephew is almost the same as a grandson； in default of a lawyer one takes a lancer。
One morning； when M。 Gillenormand was about to read something in the Quotidienne； his daughter entered and said to him in her sweetest voice； for the question concerned her favorite：
〃Father； Theodule is ing to present his respects to you this morning。〃
〃Who's Theodule？〃
〃Your grandnephew。〃
〃Ah！〃 said the grandfather。
Then he went back to his reading； thought no more of his grandnephew； who was merely some Theodule or other； and soon flew into a rage； which almost always happened when he read。
The 〃sheet〃 which he held； although Royalist； of course； announced for the following day； without any softening phrases； one of these little events which were of daily occurrence at that date in Paris：
〃That the students of the schools of law and medicine were to assemble on the Place du Pantheon； at midday；to deliberate。〃
The discussion concerned one of the questions of the moment； the artillery of the National Guard； and a conflict between the Minister of War and 〃the citizen's militia；〃 on the subject of the cannon parked in the courtyard of the Louvre。 The students were to 〃deliberate〃 over this。
It did not take much more than this to swell M。 Gillenormand's rage。
He thought of Marius； who was a student； and who would probably go with the rest； to 〃deliberate； at midday； on the Place du Pantheon。〃
As he was indulging in this painful dream； Lieutenant Theodule entered clad in plain clothes as a bourgeois； which was clever of him； and was discreetly introduced by Mademoiselle Gillenormand。 The lancer had reasoned as follows：
〃The old druid has not sunk all his money in a life pension。
It is well to disguise one's self as a civilian from time to time。〃
Mademoiselle Gillenormand said aloud to her father：
〃Theodule； your grandnephew。〃
And in a low voice to the lieutenant：
〃Approve of everything。〃
And she withdrew。
The lieutenant； who was but little accustomed to such venerable encounters； stammered with some timidity：
〃Good day； uncle；〃 and made a salute posed of the involuntary and mechanical outline of the military salute finished off as a bourgeois salute。
〃Ah！ so it's you； that is well； sit down；〃 said the old gentleman。
That said； he totally forgot the lancer。
Theodule seated himself； and M。 Gillenormand rose。
M。 Gillenormand began to pace back and forth； his hands in his pockets； talking aloud； and twitching； with his irritated old fingers； at the two watches which he wore in his two fobs。
〃That pack of brats！ they convene on the Place du Pantheon！ by my life！ urchins who were with their nurses but yesterday！ If one were to squeeze their noses； milk would burst out。 And they deliberate to…morrow； at midday。
What are we ing to？ What are we ing to？
It is clear that we are making for the abyss。 That is what the descami