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CHAPTER VI
THE AGONY OF DEATH
AFTER THE AGONY OF LIFE
A peculiarity of this species of war is, that the attack of
the barricades is almost always made from the front, and
that the assailants generally abstain from turning the po-
sition, either because they fear ambushes, or because they
are afraid of getting entangled in the tortuous streets. The
insurgents’ whole attention had been directed, therefore, to
the grand barricade, which was, evidently, the spot always
menaced, and there the struggle would infallibly recom-
mence. But Marius thought of the little barricade, and went
thither. It was deserted and guarded only by the fire-pot
which trembled between the paving-stones. Moreover, the
Mondetour alley, and the branches of the Rue de la Petite
Truanderie and the Rue du Cygne were profoundly calm.
As Marius was withdrawing, after concluding his inspec-
tion, he heard his name pronounced feebly in the darkness.
‘Monsieur Marius!’
He started, for he recognized the voice which had called
to him two hours before through the gate in the Rue Plu-