1448 Les Miserables
day to go out. To-day is Wednesday. Feuilly, you will see
those of the Glaciere, will you not? Combeferre has prom-
ised me to go to Picpus. There is a perfect swarm and an
excellent one there. Bahorel will visit the Estrapade. Prou-
vaire, the masons are growing lukewarm; you will bring
us news from the lodge of the Rue de Grenelle-Saint-Hon-
ore. Joly will go to Dupuytren’s clinical lecture, and feel the
pulse of the medical school. Bossuet will take a little turn in
the court and talk with the young law licentiates. I will take
charge of the Cougourde myself.’
‘That arranges everything,’ said Courfeyrac.
‘No.’
‘What else is there?’
‘A very important thing.’
‘What is that?’ asked Courfeyrac.
‘The Barriere du Maine,’ replied Enjolras.
Enjolras remained for a moment as though absorbed in
reflection, then he resumed:—
‘At the Barriere du Maine there are marble-workers,
painters, and journeymen in the studios of sculptors. They
are an enthusiastic family, but liable to cool off. I don’t know
what has been the matter with them for some time past.
They are thinking of something else. They are becoming ex-
tinguished. They pass their time playing dominoes. There is
urgent need that some one should go and talk with them a
little, but with firmness. They meet at Richefeu’s. They are to
be found there between twelve and one o’clock. Those ashes
must be fanned into a glow. For that errand I had count-
ed on that abstracted Marius, who is a good fellow on the