Page 2411 - les-miserables

a citadel by night, eight hundred inhabitants,— that is the
village. Why so many precautions? because the country is
dangerous; it is full of cannibals. Then why do people go
there? because the country is marvellous; gold is found
there.’
‘What are you driving at?’ interrupted Marius, who had
passed from disappointment to impatience.
‘At this, Monsieur le Baron. I am an old and weary dip-
lomat. Ancient civilization has thrown me on my own
devices. I want to try savages.’
‘Well?’
‘Monsieur le Baron, egotism is the law of the world. The
proletarian peasant woman, who toils by the day, turns
round when the diligence passes by, the peasant propri-
etress, who toils in her field, does not turn round. The dog of
the poor man barks at the rich man, the dog of the rich man
barks at the poor man. Each one for himself. Self-interest—
that’s the object of men. Gold, that’s the loadstone.’
‘What then? Finish.’
‘I should like to go and establish myself at la Joya. There
are three of us. I have my spouse and my young lady; a very
beautiful girl. The journey is long and costly. I need a little
money.’
‘What concern is that of mine?’ demanded Marius.
The stranger stretched his neck out of his cravat, a gesture
characteristic of the vulture, and replied with an augment-
ed smile.
‘Has not Monsieur le Baron perused my letter?’
There was some truth in this. The fact is, that the con-

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