- description
- # V.
## Overview
Section V. is a textual component extracted from the file [pierre.txt](arke:01KG89J1JSYKSGCE149MH9HF6A) and is part of the larger [Melville Complete Works](arke:01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW) collection. This section spans lines 15921 to 15996 of the source file and is labeled "V."
## Context
This section is situated within [BOOK XXVI. A WALK: A FOREIGN PORTRAIT: A SAIL: AND THE END.](arke:01KG8AJV19W1VB1DSZZ5CS6M4R), a chapter from Herman Melville's novel *Pierre; or, The Ambiguities*. It follows [Section IV.](arke:01KG8AKJAB2S75Y7CQ5TWKRXE6) and precedes [Section VI.](arke:01KG8AKJA1ZQJ0FSY9512CWD68) within the chapter's narrative progression.
## Contents
Section V. details Pierre's actions as he retrieves pistols, powder, and bullets from a hidden drawer. He then tears off a part of a letter from Glen and Fred, which he describes as containing "the lie," and rams it into the pistols. Pierre conceals the weapons and proceeds through the city streets, observing the bustling thoroughfare. The section culminates in a confrontation where Glen assaults Pierre, striking him across the cheek. In response, Pierre draws his pistols and fatally shoots Glen, leading to his own immediate apprehension by a crowd.
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- 2026-01-30T20:50:25.428Z
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- V.
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- 15996
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- 2026-01-30T20:48:07.474Z
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- 15921
- text
- V.
Pierre passed on to a remote quarter of the building, and abruptly
entered the room of one of the Apostles whom he knew. There was no one
in it. He hesitated an instant; then walked up to a book-case, with a
chest of drawers in the lower part.
"Here I saw him put them:--this,--no--here--ay--we'll try this."
Wrenching open the locked drawer, a brace of pistols, a powder flask, a
bullet-bag, and a round green box of percussion-caps lay before him.
"Ha! what wondrous tools Prometheus used, who knows? but more wondrous
these, that in an instant, can unmake the topmost
three-score-years-and-ten of all Prometheus' makings. Come: here's two
tubes that'll outroar the thousand pipes of Harlem.--Is the music in
'em?--No?--Well then, here's powder for the shrill treble; and wadding
for the tenor; and a lead bullet for the concluding bass!
And,--and,--and,--ay; for the top-wadding, I'll send 'em back their lie,
and plant it scorching in their brains!"
He tore off that part of Glen and Fred's letter, which more
particularly gave the lie; and halving it, rammed it home upon the
bullets.
He thrust a pistol into either breast of his coat; and taking the
rearward passages, went down into the back street; directing his rapid
steps toward the grand central thoroughfare of the city.
It was a cold, but clear, quiet, and slantingly sunny day; it was
between four and five of the afternoon; that hour, when the great
glaring avenue was most thronged with haughty-rolling carriages, and
proud-rustling promenaders, both men and women. But these last were
mostly confined to the one wide pavement to the West; the other pavement
was well nigh deserted, save by porters, waiters, and parcel-carriers of
the shops. On the west pave, up and down, for three long miles, two
streams of glossy, shawled, or broadcloth life unceasingly brushed by
each other, as long, resplendent, drooping trains of rival peacocks
brush.
Mixing with neither of these, Pierre stalked midway between. From his
wild and fatal aspect, one way the people took the wall, the other way
they took the curb. Unentangledly Pierre threaded all their host, though
in its inmost heart. Bent he was, on a straightforward, mathematical
intent. His eyes were all about him as he went; especially he glanced
over to the deserted pavement opposite; for that emptiness did not
deceive him; he himself had often walked that side, the better to scan
the pouring throng upon the other.
Just as he gained a large, open, triangular space, built round with the
stateliest public erections;--the very proscenium of the town;--he saw
Glen and Fred advancing, in the distance, on the other side. He
continued on; and soon he saw them crossing over to him obliquely, so as
to take him face-and-face. He continued on; when suddenly running ahead
of Fred, who now chafingly stood still (because Fred would not make two,
in the direct personal assault upon one) and shouting "Liar! Villain!"
Glen leaped toward Pierre from front, and with such lightning-like
ferocity, that the simultaneous blow of his cowhide smote Pierre across
the cheek, and left a half-livid and half-bloody brand.
For that one moment, the people fell back on all sides from them; and
left them--momentarily recoiled from each other--in a ring of panics.
But clapping both hands to his two breasts, Pierre, on both sides
shaking off the sudden white grasp of two rushing girls, tore out both
pistols, and rushed headlong upon Glen.
"For thy one blow, take here two deaths! 'Tis speechless sweet to murder
thee!"
Spatterings of his own kindred blood were upon the pavement; his own
hand had extinguished his house in slaughtering the only unoutlawed
human being by the name of Glendinning;--and Pierre was seized by a
hundred contending hands.
- title
- V.