Page 1997 - les-miserables

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 sev-
enteen, it is too early for you to die.’
These great revolutionary barricades were assembling
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,

1997