Page 1149 - les-miserables

take a step which should estrange him from that father. His
discomfort was augmented by all the reflections which oc-
curred to him. An escarpment rose around him. He was in
accord neither with his grandfather nor with his friends;
daring in the eyes of the one, he was behind the times in the
eyes of the others, and he recognized the fact that he was
doubly isolated, on the side of age and on the side of youth.
He ceased to go to the Cafe Musain.
In the troubled state of his conscience, he no longer
thought of certain serious sides of existence. The realities
of life do not allow themselves to be forgotten. They soon
elbowed him abruptly.
One morning, the proprietor of the hotel entered Marius’
room and said to him:—
‘Monsieur Courfeyrac answered for you.’
‘Yes.’
‘But I must have my money.’
‘Request Courfeyrac to come and talk with me,’ said
Marius.
Courfeyrac having made his appearance, the host left
them. Marius then told him what it had not before occurred
to him to relate, that he was the same as alone in the world,
and had no relatives.
‘What is to become of you?’ said Courfeyrac.
‘I do not know in the least,’ replied Marius.
‘What are you going to do?’
‘I do not know.’
‘Have you any money?’
‘Fifteen francs.’

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