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The Revolution； whose heirs we are； ought to be intelligent on all points。 To attack Royalism is a misconstruction of liberalism。
What an error！ And what blindness！
Revolutionary France is wanting in respect towards historic France； that is to say； towards its mother； that is to say； towards itself。
After the 5th of September； the nobility of the monarchy is treated as the nobility of the Empire was treated after the 5th of July。
They were unjust to the eagle； we are unjust to the fleur…de…lys。 It seems that we must always have something to proscribe！
Does it serve any purpose to ungild the crown of Louis XIV。； to scrape the coat of arms of Henry IV。？ We scoff at M。 de Vaublanc for erasing the N's from the bridge of Jena！ What was it that he did？
What are we doing？
Bouvines belongs to us as well as Marengo。
The fleurs…de…lys are ours as well as the N's。 That is our patrimony。
To what purpose shall we diminish it？ We must not deny our country in the past any more than in the present。 Why not accept the whole of history？
Why not love the whole of France？
It is thus that doctrinarians criticised and protected Royalism； which was displeased at criticism and furious at protection。
The ultras marked the first epoch of Royalism； congregation characterized the second。 Skill follows ardor。
Let us confine ourselves here to this sketch。
In the course of this narrative； the author of this book has encountered in his path this curious moment of contemporary history； he has been forced to cast a passing glance upon it； and to trace once more some of the singular features of this society which is unknown to…day。 But he does it rapidly and without any bitter or derisive idea。
Souvenirs both respectful and affectionate； for they touch his mother； attach him to this past。
Moreover； let us remark； this same petty world had a grandeur of its own。 One may smile at it； but one can neither despise nor hate it。 It was the France of former days。
Marius Pontmercy pursued some studies； as all children do。
When he emerged from the hands of Aunt Gillenormand； his grandfather confided him to a worthy professor of the most purely classic innocence。 This young soul which was expanding passed from a prude to a vulgar pedant。
Marius went through his years of college； then he entered the law school。
He was a Royalist； fanatical and severe。
He did not love his grandfather much； as the latter's gayety and cynicism repelled him； and his feelings towards his father were gloomy。
He was； on the whole； a cold and ardent； noble； generous； proud； religious； enthusiastic lad； dignified to harshness； pure to shyness。
BOOK THIRD。THE GRANDFATHER AND THE GRANDSON
CHAPTER IV
END OF THE BRIGAND
The conclusion of Marius' classical studies coincided with M。 Gillenormand's departure from society。
The old man bade farewell to the Faubourg Saint…Germain and to Madame de T。's salon； and established himself in the Mardis； in his house of the Rue des Filles…du…Calvaire。 There he had for servants； in addition to the porter； that chambermaid； Nicolette； who had succeeded to Magnon； and that short…breathed and pursy Basque； who have been mentioned above。
In 1827； Marius had just attained his seventeenth year。
One evening； on his return home； he saw his grandfather holding a letter in his hand。
〃Marius；〃 said M。 Gillenormand； 〃you will set out for Vernon to…morrow。〃
〃Why？〃 said Marius。
〃To see your father。〃
Marius was seized with a trembling fit。
He had thought of everything except thisthat he should one day be called upon to see his father。 Nothing could be more unexpected； more surprising； and； let us admit it； more disagreeable to him。
It was forcing estrangement into reconciliation。
It was not an affliction； but it was an unpleasant duty。
Marius； in addition to his motives of political antipathy； was convinced that his father； the slasher； as M。 Gillenormand called him on his amiable days； did not love him； this was evident； since he had abandoned him to others。
Feeling that he was not beloved； he did not love。
〃Nothing is more simple；〃 he said to himself。
He was so astounded that he did not question M。 Gillenormand。 The grandfather resumed：
〃It appears that he is ill。
He demands your presence。〃
And after a pause； he added：
〃Set out to…morrow morning。
I think there is a coach which leaves the Cour des Fontaines at six o'clock； and which arrives in the evening。 Take it。
He says that here is haste。〃
Then he crushed the letter in his hand and thrust it into his pocket。 Marius might have set out that very evening and have been with his father on the following morning。
A diligence from the Rue du Bouloi took the trip to Rouen by night at that date； and passed through Vernon。
Neither Marius nor M。Gillenormand thought of making inquiries about it。
The next day； at twilight； Marius reached Vernon。
People were just beginning to light their candles。
He asked the first person whom be met for 〃M。 Pontmercy's house。〃
For in his own mind； he agreed with the Restoration； and like it； did not recognize his father's claim to the title of either colonel or baron。
The house was pointed out to him。
He rang； a woman with a little lamp in her hand opened the door。
〃M。 Pontmercy？〃 said Marius。
The woman remained motionless。
〃Is this his house？〃 demanded Marius。
The woman nodded affirmatively。
〃Can I speak with him？〃
The woman shook her head。
〃But I am his son！〃 persisted Marius。
〃He is expecting me。〃
〃He no longer expects you；〃 said the woman。
Then he perceived that she was weeping。
She pointed to the door of a room on the ground…floor； he entered。
In that room； which was lighted by a tallow candle standing on the chimney…piece； there were three men； one standing erect； another kneeling； and one lying at full length； on the floor in his shirt。
The one on the floor was the colonel。
The other two were the doctor； and the priest； who was engaged in prayer。
The colo