Page 1127 - les-miserables

CHAPTER III

MARIUS’ ASTONISHMENTS

In a few days, Marius had become Courfeyrac’s friend.
Youth is the season for prompt welding and the rapid heal-
ing of scars. Marius breathed freely in Courfeyrac’s society,
a decidedly new thing for him. Courfeyrac put no questions
to him. He did not even think of such a thing. At that age,
faces disclose everything on the spot. Words are superflu-
ous. There are young men of whom it can be said that their
countenances chatter. One looks at them and one knows
them.
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 ques-
tion.
‘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

1127