II
"LAMARQUE IS DEAD"
Marius came bounding up the stairs of the ABC, where all of us had gathered to celebrate the night before the barricade rose. He collapsed in a chair, gazing dreamily off into the distance. "Marius, you look as if you have seen a ghost!" I remarked, turning to face him.
"She could have been," He breathed, smiling giddily. "She was there one moment, and gone the next."
I laughed, not believing my what I was hearing. Marius, in love at last? Surely not.
Enjolras had overheard the commotion and sat across from me, his eyes fixed on Marius. I immediately quieted, ignoring the pain in my chest. "Marius." Enjolras said sternly, "You are no longer a child. I do not doubt you mean it well, but now there is a higher cause." Marius nodded, still grinning. Enjolras stood, addressing the room of students.
"Our world is changing day by day, and we are moving from times of darkness into a time of light."
Marius stood to face Enjolras, a pleading look on his face.
"Had you been there today, you might know how it feels." Marius chuckled, and Enjolras glanced over at me, then turned his head back to face Marius.
"Marius, think of the people." Marius just shook his head and laughed. I found this quite amusing, and decided Enjolras needed reminding of what love really was.
"Go on, Marius," I urged him. "Tell him how you feel about the girl." Enjolras glared at me, but Marius was already rambling about the woman he met.
"She was beautiful, her eyes like sapphires, oh, Enjolras, if you could have seen her; to be struck to the bone in a moment of breathless delight!" Enjolras rolled his eyes at Marius. Marius opened his mouth to protest, but his retort was interrupted by Gavroche's footsteps on the stairs.
"General Lamarque is dead."
Enjolras gasped, but composed himself and turned to the rest of the students. "Lamarque's death is the hour of faith. The people shall rise at the barricade, our flag held high!"