Part 244 (1/2)

No one stirred.

”Married men and the supporters of families, step out of the ranks!”

repeated Marius.

His authority was great. Enjolras was certainly the head of the barricade, but Marius was its savior.

”I order it,” cried Enjolras.

”I entreat you,” said Marius.

Then, touched by Combeferre's words, shaken by Enjolras' order, touched by Marius' entreaty, these heroic men began to denounce each other.--”It is true,” said one young man to a full grown man, ”you are the father of a family. Go.”--”It is your duty rather,” retorted the man, ”you have two sisters whom you maintain.”--And an unprecedented controversy broke forth. Each struggled to determine which should not allow himself to be placed at the door of the tomb.

”Make haste,” said Courfeyrac, ”in another quarter of an hour it will be too late.”

”Citizens,” pursued Enjolras, ”this is the Republic, and universal suffrage reigns. Do you yourselves designate those who are to go.”

They obeyed. After the expiration of a few minutes, five were unanimously selected and stepped out of the ranks.

”There are five of them!” exclaimed Marius.

There were only four uniforms.

”Well,” began the five, ”one must stay behind.”

And then a struggle arose as to who should remain, and who should find reasons for the others not remaining. The generous quarrel began afresh.

”You have a wife who loves you.”--”You have your aged mother.”--” You have neither father nor mother, and what is to become of your three little brothers?”--”You are the father of five children.”--”You have a right to live, you are only seventeen, it is too early for you to die.”

These great revolutionary barricades were a.s.sembling points for heroism.

The improbable was simple there. These men did not astonish each other.

”Be quick,” repeated Courfeyrac.

Men shouted to Marius from the groups:

”Do you designate who is to remain.”

”Yes,” said the five, ”choose. We will obey you.”

Marius did not believe that he was capable of another emotion. Still, at this idea, that of choosing a man for death, his blood rushed back to his heart. He would have turned pale, had it been possible for him to become any paler.

He advanced towards the five, who smiled upon him, and each, with his eyes full of that grand flame which one beholds in the depths of history hovering over Thermopylae, cried to him:

”Me! me! me!”

And Marius stupidly counted them; there were still five of them! Then his glance dropped to the four uniforms.

At that moment, a fifth uniform fell, as if from heaven, upon the other four.

The fifth man was saved.