The woman showed Mr. Barker to the inn. The atmosphere changed dramatically once inside. There was an abundance of people, all talking and laughing, telling stories of little importance to each other. Most of them were drunk, and those who weren't were eating and slowly becoming drunk. As Madame Thenardier walked away, Mr. Thenardier walked up, a drunkard's smile on his face. He was taller than his wife in stature, but he wasn't to be considered thin. Though obviously older, he appeared much younger than his wife as well. He had a large noise and a bent up smile, his face reddened from alcohol. He wore a bright blue jacket that appeared as if it didn't previously belong to him, and a thick, stained leather apron. I small ledger was attached to him with some string.

THENARDIER: "Welcome, mister, sit yourself down, and meet the best innkeeper in town. As for the rest, all of 'em crooks, rooking their guests and cooking their books. Seldom do you see, honest men like me, a man of good intent, who's content to be - "

"But sir, understand, I'm not here to stay, I'm here for a job offering I believe you asked of me." Mr. Barker said calmly.

"Ah. Well then. Follow me, I suppose." Mr. Thenardier said, exposing a smile of crooked, discolored teeth.

THENARDIER: "Master of the house, doling out the charm, ready with a handshake and an open palm, tells a saucy tale , makes a little stir, customers appreciate a bon viveur!" As he walked, Mr. Barker in tow, he patted men on the backs and shook their hands,, and what not, making himself look like a great keeper. "Glad to do me friends a favor, doesn't cost me to be nice, but nothing gets you nothing everything has got a little price!" he took a coin from a woman as she handed it to him. "Master of the house, keeper of the zoo, ready to relieve 'em of a sou or two. Watering the wine, making up the weight, picking up their knick-knacks when they can't see straight. Everybody loves a landlord! Everybody's bosom friend! I do whatever pleases, Jesus! Won't I bleed them in the end!"

By now he had seemed to have forgotten about Mr. Barker and had joined his guests in partying. The barber, seeing what kind of company was kept here, began to make his way back to the door.

ALL: Master of the house, quick to catch yer eye, never wants a passerby pass him by!" A couple drinkers grabbed Mr. Barker and pulled him back into the crowd. "Servant to the poor, butler to the great, comforter, philosopher and lifelong mate! Everybody's boon companion, everybody's chaperone!"

THENARDIER: "But lock up your valises, Jesus, won't I skin you to the bone! Enter, mister, lay down your load, unlace your boots, rest from the road." He said, showing Mr. Barker to a table. "This weighs a ton, travel's a curse, but here we strive to lighten your purse." The innkeeper looked around suspiciously. "Here the goose is cooked, here the fat is fried, and nothing's overlooked till I'm satisfied!"

DRINKER: "Food beyond compare! Food beyond belief!"

THENARDIER: "Mix it in a mincer and pretend it's beef! Kidney of a horse, liver of a cat, filling up the sausages with this and that! Resident's are more than welcome, bridal suite is occupied, reasonable charges plus some little extras on the side!" He pulled out the tiny ledger and began jotting things down in it. "Charge 'em for the lice, extra for the mice, two percent for looking in the mirror twice. Here a little slice, there a little cut, three percent for sleeping with the window shut. When it comes to fixing prices, there are lots of tricks he knows. How it all increases, all them bits and pieces, Jesus! It's amazing how it grows!"

Madame Thenardier walked out and began talking and joking with some of her friends.

MME: "I used to dream that I would meet a prince, but God Almighty, have you seen what's happened since? Master of the house, isn't worth me spit, comforter, philosopher and lifelong shit! Cunning little brain, regular Voltaire, thinks he's quite a lover, but there's not much there...What a cruel trick of nature landed me with such a louse? God knows how I've lasted living with this bastard in the house!" she said, causing all of her friends and anyone around her to burst out laughing, too drunk to even remember what she had said.

DRINKERS: "Master of the house!"

MME: "Master and a half!"

DRINKERS: "Comforter, philosopher,"

MME: "Ah don't make me laugh!"

DRINKERS: "Servant to the poor, butler to the great!"

MME: "Hypocrite and toady and inebriate!"

DRINKERS: "Everybody bless the landlord! Everybody bless his spouse! Everybody raise a glass!"

MME: "Raise it up the master's arse!"

ALL: "Everybody raise a glass to the master of the house!"

The crowd raised their mugs, shouting and cheering from stupid, drunken happiness, not one noticing that Mr. Barker has left.

He walks out onto the steps, putting his gloves back on, filled with disappointment. He heard a noise and looked up to see the young girl had just finished cleaning out the pail. She picked it up with both arms after wiping leftover tears from her eyes, and walked solemnly toward the back of the inn. He decided to follow her.

"Excuse me, miss."

"Please sir, I beg you to leave me go, for if you are seen talking to me it will mean bad things for the both of us." she said without even looking up at him.

"I promise you, we won't be seen. May I ask your name?" she stops and looks at him, pondering him for a moment before deciding to whether or not to answer.

"Lorette Finch." She said, as if proud of her title. "But they just call me Lottie."

"I'm Mr. Barker. It's a pleasure to meet you." He said while kneeling down to eye level with her, giving her a gentle smile. He held out his hand to her, and with great reluctance, she shook it with her trembling little hands. She quickly removed her hand from his and picked her bucket back up and continued on her way. "How old are you?"

"I just turned eseven." she mumbled. He stood back up and followed her over to a well, filled with surprise at her age and thinking that she was older. She heaved the pail up into the well and with a moldy aged rope lowered it into the watery abyss below. He helped her pull it back up, then accompanied her back to the inn.