2018 Les Miserables
took place with the terrifying rattle of a round of grape-
shot. This is what it was, in fact.
The charge had been aimed at the cut in the redoubt,
and had there rebounded from the wall; and this terrible re-
bound had produced two dead and three wounded.
If this were continued, the barricade was no longer ten-
able. The grape-shot made its way in.
A murmur of consternation arose.
‘Let us prevent the second discharge,’ said Enjolras.
And, lowering his rifle, he took aim at the captain of the
gun, who, at that moment, was bearing down on the breach
of his gun and rectifying and definitely fixing its pointing.
The captain of the piece was a handsome sergeant of ar-
tillery, very young, blond, with a very gentle face, and the
intelligent air peculiar to that predestined and redoubtable
weapon which, by dint of perfecting itself in horror, must
end in killing war.
Combeferre, who was standing beside Enjolras, scruti-
nized this young man.
‘What a pity!’ said Combeferre. ‘What hideous things
these butcheries are! Come, when there are no more kings,
there will be no more war. Enjolras, you are taking aim at
that sergeant, you are not looking at him. Fancy, he is a
charming young man; he is intrepid; it is evident that he is
thoughtful; those young artillery-men are very well educat-
ed; he has a father, a mother, a family; he is probably in love;
he is not more than five and twenty at the most; he might
be your brother.’
‘He is,’ said Enjolras.