In what manner would the revetment of the barricade behave against a cannon-ball? Would a breach be formed? That was the question. While the insurgents were reloading their guns the artillerymen loaded the cannon. The anxiety within the redoubt was profound; the shot was fired, and the detonation burst forth. "Present!" a joyous voice cried. And at the same time as the cannon-ball struck the barricade, Gavroche bounded inside it. He came from the direction of the Rue du Cygne, and actively clambered over the accessory barricade which fronted the labyrinth of the Little Truanderie. Gavroche produced greater effect at the barricade than the cannon-ball did; for the latter was lost in the heap of rubbish. It had broken a wheel of the omnibus, and finished the old truck, on seeing which the insurgents burst into a laugh. "Persevere!" cried Bossuet to the gunners. CHAPTER VIII. THE ARTILLERY SETS TO WORK IN EARNEST. Gavroche was surrounded, but he had no time to report anything, as Marius, shuddering, drew him on one side. "What have you come to do here?" "What a question?" the boy said; "and you, pray?" And he gazed fixedly at Marius with his epic effrontery: his eyes were dilated by the proud brightness which they contained. It was with a stern accent that Marius continued,-- "Who told you to return? I only trust that you have delivered my letter at its address." Gavroche felt some degree of remorse in the matter of the letter; for, in his hurry to return to the barricade, he had got rid of it rather than delivered it. He was forced to confess to himself that he had confided somewhat too lightly in this stranger, whose face he had not even been able to distinguish. It is true that this man was bareheaded, but that was not enough. In short, he reproached himself quietly for his conduct, and feared Marius's reproaches. He took the simplest process to get out of the scrape,--he told an abominable falsehood. "Citizen, I delivered the letter to the porter. The lady was asleep, and she will have the letter when she wakes." Marius had two objects in sending the letter,--to bid Cosette farewell and save Gavroche. He was obliged to satisfy himself with one half of what he wanted. The connection between the Bending of the letter and M. Fauchelevent's presence at the barricade occurred to his mind, and he pointed him out to Gavroche. "Do you know that man?" "No," said Gavroche.