按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Despot but dictator； a despot resulting from a republic and summing up a revolution。 Napoleon became for him the man…people as Jesus Christ is the man…God。
It will be perceived； that like all new converts to a religion； his conversion intoxicated him； he hurled himself headlong into adhesion and he went too far。
His nature was so constructed； once on the downward slope； it was almost impossible for him to put on the drag。
Fanaticism for the sword took possession of him； and plicated in his mind his enthusiasm for the idea。 He did not perceive that； along with genius； and pell…mell； he was admitting force； that is to say； that he was installing in two partments of his idolatry； on the one hand that which is divine； on the other that which is brutal。
In many respects； he had set about deceiving himself otherwise。
He admitted everything。 There is a way of encountering error while on one's way to the truth。 He had a violent sort of good faith which took everything in the lump。 In the new path which he had entered on； in judging the mistakes of the old regime； as in measuring the glory of Napoleon； he neglected the attenuating circumstances。
At all events； a tremendous step had been taken。
Where he had formerly beheld the fall of the monarchy； he now saw the advent of France。 His orientation had changed。
What had been his East became the West。 He had turned squarely round。
All these revolutions were acplished within him； without his family obtaining an inkling of the case。
When； during this mysterious labor； he had entirely shed his old Bourbon and ultra skin； when he had cast off the aristocrat； the Jacobite and the Royalist； when he had bee thoroughly a revolutionist； profoundly democratic and republican； he went to an engraver on the Quai des Orfevres and ordered a hundred cards bearing this name： Le Baron Marius Pontmercy。
This was only the strictly logical consequence of the change which had taken place in him； a change in which everything gravitated round his father。
Only； as he did not know any one and could not sow his cards with any porter； he put them in his pocket。
By another natural consequence； in proportion as he drew nearer to his father； to the latter's memory； and to the things for which the colonel had fought five and twenty years before； he receded from his grandfather。
We have long ago said； that M。 Gillenormand's temper did not please him。
There already existed between them all the dissonances of the grave young man and the frivolous old man。 The gayety of Geronte shocks and exasperates the melancholy of Werther。
So long as the same political opinions and the same ideas had been mon to them both； Marius had met M。 Gillenormand there as on a bridge。
When the bridge fell； an abyss was formed。 And then； over and above all； Marius experienced unutterable impulses to revolt； when he reflected that it was M。 Gillenormand who had； from stupid motives； torn him ruthlessly from the colonel； thus depriving the father of the child； and the child of the father。
By dint of pity for his father； Marius had nearly arrived at aversion for his grandfather。
Nothing of this sort； however； was betrayed on the exterior； as we have already said。
Only he grew colder and colder； laconic at meals； and rare in the house。
When his aunt scolded him for it； he was very gentle and alleged his studies； his lectures； the examinations； etc。； as a pretext。
His grandfather never departed from his infallible diagnosis：
〃In love！
I know all about it。〃
From time to time Marius absented himself。
〃Where is it that he goes off like this？〃 said his aunt。
On one of these trips； which were always very brief； he went to Montfermeil； in order to obey the injunction which his father had left him； and he sought the old sergeant to Waterloo； the inn…keeper Thenardier。
Thenardier had failed； the inn was closed； and no one knew what had bee of him。 Marius was away from the house for four days on this quest。
〃He is getting decidedly wild；〃 said his grandfather。
They thought they had noticed that he wore something on his breast； under his shirt； which was attached to his neck by a black ribbon。
BOOK THIRD。THE GRANDFATHER AND THE GRANDSON
CHAPTER VII
We have mentioned a lancer。
He was a great…grand…nephew of M。 Gillenormand； on the paternal side； who led a garrison life； outside the family and far from the domestic hearth。
Lieutenant Theodule Gillenormand fulfilled all the conditions required to make what is called a fine officer。 He had 〃a lady's waist；〃 a victorious manner of trailing his sword and of twirling his mustache in a hook。
He visited Paris very rarely； and so rarely that Marius had never seen him。 The cousins knew each other only by name。
We think we have said that Theodule was the favorite of Aunt Gillenormand； who preferred him because she did not see him。
Not seeing people permits one to attribute to them all possible perfections。
One morning； Mademoiselle Gillenormand the elder returned to her apartment as much disturbed as her placidity was capable of allowing。 Marius had just asked his grandfather's permission to take a little trip； adding that he meant to set out that very evening。 〃Go！〃 had been his grandfather's reply； and M。 Gillenormand had added in an aside； as he raised his eyebrows to the top of his forehead：
〃Here he is passing the night out again。〃 Mademoiselle Gillenormand had ascended to her chamber greatly puzzled； and on the staircase had dropped this exclamation：
〃This is too much！〃and this interrogation：
〃But where is it that he goes？〃 She espied some adventure of the heart； more or less illicit； a woman in the shadow； a rendezvous； a mystery； and she would not have been sorry to thrust her spectacles into the affair。 Tasting a mystery resembles getting the first flavor of a scandal； sainted souls do not detest this。
There is some curiosity about scandal in the secret partments of bigotry。
So she was the prey of a vague appetite for learning a history。
In order to get rid of this curiosity which agitated her