CHAPTER XIV.
IN WHICH WE READ THE NAME OF THE MISTRESS OF ENJOLRAS.
Courfeyrac, seated on a stone by the side of Enjolras, continued toinsult the cannon, and each time that the gloomy shower of projectileswhich is called a grape-shot passed with its monstrous noise he greetedit with an ironical remark.
"You are wasting your breath, my poor old brute, and I feel sorry foryou, as your row is thrown away. That is not thunder, but a cough."
"I admire Enjolras," said Bossuet. "His temerity astonishes me. Helives alone, which, perhaps, renders him a little sad; and Enjolras isto be pitied for his greatness, which attaches him to widowhood. Wefellows have all, more or less, mistresses, who make us mad, that isto say brave, and when a man is as full of love as a tiger the leasthe can do is to fight like a lion. That is a way of avenging ourselvesfor the tricks which our grisettes play us. Roland lets himself bekilled to vex Angelique, and all our heroism comes from our women. Aman without a woman is like a pistol without a hammer, and it is thewoman who makes the man go off. Well, Enjolras has no woman, he is notin love, and finds means to be intrepid. It is extraordinary that a mancan be cold as ice and daring as fire."
Enjolras did not appear to listen; but any one who had been near himmight have heard him murmur, in a low voice, _Patria._ Bossuet laughedagain, when Courfeyrac shouted, "Here's something fresh."
And assuming the voice of a groom of the chambers who announces avisitor, he added,---"Mr. Eight-Pounder."
"The annoyance of these guns must be reduced," said Enjolras; and heshouted, "Fire at the artillerymen!"
All were ready: the barricade, which had so long been silent, wasbelted with flame; seven or eight rounds succeeded one another witha sort of rage and joy; the street was filled with a blinding smoke,and at the expiration of a few minutes there might be confusedlyseen through the mist, all striped with flame, two thirds of theartillerymen lying under the gun-wheels. Those who remained standingcontinued to serve the guns with a stern tranquillity, but the fire wasreduced.
"Things are going well," said Bossuet to Enjolras; "that is a success."
"Another quarter of an hour of that success, and there will not be tencartridges left in the barricade."
It appears that Gavroche heard the remark.