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One morning； however； Courfeyrac abruptly addressed this interrogation to him：
〃By the way； have you any political opinions？〃
〃The idea！〃 said Marius； almost affronted by the question。
〃What are you？〃
〃A democrat…Bonapartist。〃
〃The gray hue of a reassured rat；〃 said Courfeyrac。
On the following day； Courfeyrac introduced Marius at the Cafe Musain。 Then he whispered in his ear； with a smile：
〃I must give you your entry to the revolution。〃
And he led him to the hall of the Friends of the A B C。 He presented him to the other rades； saying this simple word which Marius did not understand：
〃A pupil。〃
Marius had fallen into a wasps'…nest of wits。
However； although he was silent and grave； he was； none the less； both winged and armed。
Marius； up to that time solitary and inclined to soliloquy； and to asides； both by habit and by taste； was a little fluttered by this covey of young men around him。
All these various initiatives solicited his attention at once； and pulled him about。 The tumultuous movements of these minds at liberty and at work set his ideas in a whirl。
Sometimes； in his trouble； they fled so far from him； that he had difficulty in recovering them。 He heard them talk of philosophy； of literature； of art； of history； of religion； in unexpected fashion。
He caught glimpses of strange aspects； and； as he did not place them in proper perspective； he was not altogether sure that it was not chaos that he grasped。 On abandoning his grandfather's opinions for the opinions of his father； he had supposed himself fixed； he now suspected； with uneasiness； and without daring to avow it to himself； that he was not。 The angle at which he saw everything began to be displaced anew。 A certain oscillation set all the horizons of his brains in motion。 An odd internal upsetting。
He almost suffered from it。
It seemed as though there were no 〃consecrated things〃 for those young men。
Marius heard singular propositions on every sort of subject； which embarrassed his still timid mind。
A theatre poster presented itself； adorned with the title of a tragedy from the ancient repertory called classic：
〃Down with tragedy dear to the bourgeois！〃 cried Bahorel。
And Marius heard beferre reply：
〃You are wrong； Bahorel。
The bourgeoisie loves tragedy； and the bourgeoisie must be left at peace on that score。 Bewigged tragedy has a reason for its existence； and I am not one of those who； by order of AEschylus； contest its right to existence。 There are rough outlines in nature； there are； in creation； ready…made parodies； a beak which is not a beak； wings which are not wings； gills which are not gills； paws which are not paws； a cry of pain which arouses a desire to laugh； there is the duck。 Now； since poultry exists by the side of the bird； I do not see why classic tragedy should not exist in the face of antique tragedy。〃
Or chance decreed that Marius should traverse Rue Jean…Jacques Rousseau between Enjolras and Courfeyrac。
Courfeyrac took his arm：
〃Pay attention。
This is the Rue Platriere； now called Rue Jean…Jacques Rousseau； on account of a singular household which lived in it sixty years ago。
This consisted of Jean…Jacques and Therese。 From time to time； little beings were born there。
Therese gave birth to them； Jean…Jacques represented them as foundlings。〃
And Enjolras addressed Courfeyrac roughly：
〃Silence in the presence of Jean…Jacques！ I admire that man。 He denied his own children； that may be； but he adopted the people。〃
Not one of these young men articulated the word：
The Emperor。 Jean Prouvaire alone sometimes said Napoleon； all the others said 〃Bonaparte。〃
Enjolras pronounced it 〃Buonaparte。〃
Marius was vaguely surprised。
Initium sapientiae。
BOOK FOURTH。THE FRIENDS OF THE A B C
CHAPTER IV
THE BACK ROOM OF THE CAFE MUSAIN
One of the conversations among the young men； at which Marius was present and in which he sometimes joined； was a veritable shock to his mind。
This took place in the back room of the Cafe Musain。
Nearly all the Friends of the A B C had convened that evening。
The argand lamp was solemnly lighted。
They talked of one thing and another； without passion and with noise。
With the exception of Enjolras and Marius； who held their peace； all were haranguing rather at hap…hazard。 Conversations between rades sometimes are subject to these peaceable tumults。
It was a game and an uproar as much as a conversation。
They tossed words to each other and caught them up in turn。
They were chattering in all quarters。
No woman was admitted to this back room； except Louison； the dish…washer of the cafe； who passed through it from time to time； to go to her washing in the 〃lavatory。〃
Grantaire； thoroughly drunk； was deafening the corner of which he had taken possession； reasoning and contradicting at the top of his lungs； and shouting：
〃I am thirsty。
Mortals； I am dreaming：
that the tun of Heidelberg has an attack of apoplexy； and that I am one of the dozen leeches which will be applied to it。
I want a drink。
I desire to forget life。 Life is a hideous invention of I know not whom。
It lasts no time at all； and is worth nothing。
One breaks one's neck in living。 Life is a theatre set in which there are but few practicable entrances。 Happiness is an antique reliquary painted on one side only。 Ecclesiastes says：
‘All is vanity。'
I agree with that good man； who never existed； perhaps。
Zero not wishing to go stark naked； clothed himself in vanity。
O vanity！
The patching up of everything with big words！ a kitchen is a laboratory； a dancer is a professor； an acrobat is a gymnast； a boxer is a pugilist； an apothecary is a chemist； a wigmaker is an artist； a hodman is an architect； a jockey is a sportsman； a wood…louse is a pterigybranche。
Vanity has a right and a wrong side； the right side is stupid； it is the negro with his glass beads； the wrong side is foolish； it is the philosopher with his rags。
I weep over the one and I laugh over the other。