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Such was the situation。
The Faubourg Saint…Antoine； more than any other group of the population； as we stated in the beginning； accentuated this situation and made it felt。
That was the sore point。
This old faubourg； peopled like an ant…hill； laborious； courageous； and angry as a hive of bees； was quivering with expectation and with the desire for a tumult。 Everything was in a state of agitation there； without any interruption； however； of the regular work。
It is impossible to convey an idea of this lively yet sombre physiognomy。
In this faubourg exists poignant distress hidden under attic roofs； there also exist rare and ardent minds。
It is particularly in the matter of distress and intelligence that it is dangerous to have extremes meet。
The Faubourg Saint…Antoine had also other causes to tremble； for it received the counter…shock of mercial crises； of failures； strikes； slack seasons； all inherent to great political disturbances。 In times of revolution misery is both cause and effect。
The blow which it deals rebounds upon it。
This population full of proud virtue； capable to the highest degree of latent heat； always ready to fly to arms； prompt to explode； irritated； deep； undermined； seemed to be only awaiting the fall of a spark。
Whenever certain sparks float on the horizon chased by the wind of events； it is impossible not to think of the Faubourg Saint…Antoine and of the formidable chance which has placed at the very gates of Paris that powder…house of suffering and ideas。
The wine…shops of the Faubourg Antoine； which have been more than once drawn in the sketches which the reader has just perused； possess historical notoriety。
In troublous times people grow intoxicated there more on words than on wine。
A sort of prophetic spirit and an afflatus of the future circulates there； swelling hearts and enlarging souls。
The cabarets of the Faubourg Saint…Antoine resemble those taverns of Mont Aventine erected on the cave of the Sibyl and municating with the profound and sacred breath； taverns where the tables were almost tripods； and where was drunk what Ennius calls the sibylline wine。
The Faubourg Saint…Antoine is a reservoir of people。 Revolutionary agitations create fissures there； through which trickles the popular sovereignty。
This sovereignty may do evil； it can be mistaken like any other； but； even when led astray； it remains great。
We may say of it as of the blind cyclops； Ingens。
In '93； according as the idea which was floating about was good or evil； according as it was the day of fanaticism or of enthusiasm； there leaped forth from the Faubourg Saint…Antoine now savage legions； now heroic bands。
Savage。
Let us explain this word。
When these bristling men； who in the early days of the revolutionary chaos； tattered； howling； wild； with uplifted bludgeon； pike on high； hurled themselves upon ancient Paris in an uproar； what did they want？
They wanted an end to oppression； an end to tyranny； an end to the sword； work for men； instruction for the child； social sweetness for the woman； liberty； equality； fraternity； bread for all； the idea for all； the Edenizing of the world。
Progress； and that holy； sweet； and good thing； progress； they claimed in terrible wise； driven to extremities as they were； half naked； club in fist； a roar in their mouths。
They were savages； yes； but the savages of civilization。
They proclaimed right furiously； they were desirous； if only with fear and trembling； to force the human race to paradise。 They seemed barbarians； and they were saviours。
They demanded light with the mask of night。
Facing these men； who were ferocious； we admit； and terrifying； but ferocious and terrifying for good ends； there are other men； smiling； embroidered； gilded； beribboned； starred； in silk stockings； in white plumes； in yellow gloves； in varnished shoes； who； with their elbows on a velvet table； beside a marble chimney…piece； insist gently on demeanor and the preservation of the past； of the Middle Ages； of divine right； of fanaticism； of innocence； of slavery； of the death penalty； of war； glorifying in low tones and with politeness； the sword； the stake； and the scaffold。
For our part； if we were forced to make a choice between the barbarians of civilization and the civilized men of barbarism； we should choose the barbarians。
But； thank Heaven； still another choice is possible。
No perpendicular fall is necessary； in front any more than in the rear。
Neither despotism nor terrorism。
We desire progress with a gentle slope。
God takes care of that。
God's whole policy consists in rendering slopes less steep。
BOOK FIRST。A FEW PAGES OF HISTORY
CHAPTER VI
ENJOLRAS AND HIS LIEUTENANTS
It was about this epoch that Enjolras； in view of a possible catastrophe； instituted a kind of mysterious census。
All were present at a secret meeting at the Cafe Musain。
Enjolras said； mixing his words with a few half…enigmatical but significant metaphors：
〃It is proper that we should know where we stand and on whom we may count。
If batants are required； they must be provided。 It can do no harm to have something with which to strike。 Passers…by always have more chance of being gored when there are bulls on the road than when there are none。
Let us； therefore； reckon a little on the herd。
How many of us are there？ There is no question of postponing this task until to…morrow。 Revolutionists should always be hurried； progress has no time to lose。 Let us mistrust the unexpected。
Let us not be caught unprepared。 We must go over all the seams that we have made and see whether they hold fast。
This business ought to be concluded to…day。 Courfeyrac； you will see the polytechnic students。
It is their day to go out。 To…day is Wednesday。
Feuilly； you will see those of the Glaciere； will you not？
beferre has promised me to go to Picpus。 There is a perfect swarm and an excellent one there。
Bahorel will visit the Estrapade。
Prouvaire； the masons are growing lukewarm； you will bring us news from the lodg