1184 Les Miserables
me go, traitor?’ Fouche replied: ‘Wherever you please, im-
becile!’ That’s what the Republicans are like.’
‘That is true,’ said Theodule.
M. Gillenormand half turned his head, saw Theodule,
and went on:—
‘When one reflects that that scoundrel was so vile as to
turn carbonaro! Why did you leave my house? To go and
become a Republican! Pssst! In the first place, the people
want none of your republic, they have common sense, they
know well that there always have been kings, and that there
always will be; they know well that the people are only the
people, after all, they make sport of it, of your republic— do
you understand, idiot? Is it not a horrible caprice? To fall in
love with Pere Duchesne, to make sheep’s-eyes at the guil-
lotine, to sing romances, and play on the guitar under the
balcony of ‘93—it’s enough to make one spit on all these
young fellows, such fools are they! They are all alike. Not
one escapes. It suffices for them to breathe the air which
blows through the street to lose their senses. The nineteenth
century is poison. The first scamp that happens along lets
his beard grow like a goat’s, thinks himself a real scoundrel,
and abandons his old relatives. He’s a Republican, he’s a ro-
mantic. What does that mean, romantic? Do me the favor to
tell me what it is. All possible follies. A year ago, they ran to
Hernani. Now, I just ask you, Hernani! antitheses! abomi-
nations which are not even written in French! And then,
they have cannons in the courtyard of the Louvre. Such are
the rascalities of this age!’
‘You are right, uncle,’ said Theodule.