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Credeville the thief on the Pyramids。
Paris is always showing its teeth； when it is not scolding it is laughing。
Such is Paris。
The smoke of its roofs forms the ideas of the universe。 A heap of mud and stone； if you will； but； above all； a moral being。 It is more than great； it is immense。
Why？
Because it is daring。
To dare； that is the price of progress。
All sublime conquests are； more or less； the prizes of daring。 In order that the Revolution should take place； it does not suffice that Montesquieu should foresee it； that Diderot should preach it； that Beaumarchais should announce it； that Condorcet should calculate it； that Arouet should prepare it； that Rousseau should premeditate it； it is necessary that Danton should dare it。
The cry：
Audacity！ is a Fiat lux。
It is necessary； for the sake of the forward march of the human race； that there should be proud lessons of courage permanently on the heights。
Daring deeds dazzle history and are one of man's great sources of light。 The dawn dares when it rises。
To attempt； to brave； to persist； to persevere； to be faithful to one's self； to grasp fate bodily； to astound catastrophe by the small amount of fear that it occasions us； now to affront unjust power； again to insult drunken victory； to hold one's position； to stand one's ground； that is the example which nations need； that is the light which electrifies them。 The same formidable lightning proceeds from the torch of Prometheus to Cambronne's short pipe。
BOOK FIRST。PARIS STUDIED IN ITS ATOM
CHAPTER XII
THE FUTURE LATENT IN THE PEOPLE
As for the Parisian populace； even when a man grown； it is always the street Arab； to paint the child is to paint the city； and it is for that reason that we have studied this eagle in this arrant sparrow。 It is in the faubourgs； above all； we maintain； that the Parisian race appears； there is the pure blood； there is the true physiognomy； there this people toils and suffers； and suffering and toil are the two faces of man。
There exist there immense numbers of unknown beings； among whom swarm types of the strangest； from the porter of la Rapee to the knacker of Montfaucon。
Fex urbis； exclaims Cicero； mob； adds Burke； indignantly； rabble； multitude； populace。
These are words and quickly uttered。
But so be it。
What does it matter？ What is it to me if they do go barefoot！
They do not know how to read； so much the worse。
Would you abandon them for that？
Would you turn their distress into a malediction？
Cannot the light penetrate these masses？
Let us return to that cry：
Light！ and let us obstinately persist therein！
Light！
Light！
Who knows whether these opacities will not bee transparent？
Are not revolutions transfigurations？ e； philosophers； teach； enlighten； light up； think aloud； speak aloud； hasten joyously to the great sun； fraternize with the public place； announce the good news； spend your alphabets lavishly； proclaim rights； sing the Marseillaises； sow enthusiasms； tear green boughs from the oaks。
Make a whirlwind of the idea。 This crowd may be rendered sublime。
Let us learn how to make use of that vast conflagration of principles and virtues； which sparkles； bursts forth and quivers at certain hours。
These bare feet； these bare arms； these rags； these ignorances； these abjectnesses； these darknesses； may be employed in the conquest of the ideal。 Gaze past the people； and you will perceive truth。
Let that vile sand which you trample under foot be cast into the furnace； let it melt and seethe there； it will bee a splendid crystal； and it is thanks to it that Galileo and Newton will discover stars。
BOOK FIRST。PARIS STUDIED IN ITS ATOM
CHAPTER XIII
LITTLE GAVROCHE
Eight or nine years after the events narrated in the second part of this story； people noticed on the Boulevard du Temple； and in the regions of the Chateau…d'Eau； a little boy eleven or twelve years of age； who would have realized with tolerable accuracy that ideal of the gamin sketched out above； if； with the laugh of his age on his lips； he had not had a heart absolutely sombre and empty。 This child was well muffled up in a pair of man's trousers； but he did not get them from his father； and a woman's chemise； but he did not get it from his mother。
Some people or other had clothed him in rags out of charity。
Still； he had a father and a mother。 But his father did not think of him； and his mother did not love him。
He was one of those children most deserving of pity； among all； one of those who have father and mother； and who are orphans nevertheless。
This child never felt so well as when he was in the street。 The pavements were less hard to him than his mother's heart。
His parents had despatched him into life with a kick。
He simply took flight。
He was a boisterous； pallid； nimble； wide…awake； jeering； lad； with a vivacious but sickly air。
He went and came； sang； played at hopscotch； scraped the gutters； stole a little； but； like cats and sparrows； gayly laughed when he was called a rogue； and got angry when called a thief。
He had no shelter； no bread； no fire； no love； but he was merry because he was free。
When these poor creatures grow to be men； the millstones of the social order meet them and crush them； but so long as they are children； they escape because of their smallness。
The tiniest hole saves them。
Nevertheless； abandoned as this child was； it sometimes happened； every two or three months； that he said； 〃e； I'll go and see mamma！〃 Then he quitted the boulevard； the Cirque； the Porte Saint…Martin； descended to the quays； crossed the bridges； reached the suburbs； arrived at the Salpetriere； and came to a halt； where？
Precisely at that double number 50…52 with which the reader is acquainted at the Gorbeau hovel。
At that epoch； the hovel 50…52 generally deserted and eternally decorated with the placard：
〃Chambers to let；〃 chanced to be； a rare thing； inhabited by numerous individuals who； however； as is always the case in Paris； had no connection with each other。 Al