Egalite In Motion

Javert did not care too much for the neighborhood of the Rue des Filles du Calvaire, but somehow he felt rather drawn towards it. "There is something there that has to do with those two I saw outside the university," he said to himself. He felt the weight of his snuffbox in his pocket; there'd be a time for it later, he hoped. It was already afternoon; he'd spent the whole day on the street, carefully watching and even surreptitiously questioning people.

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a brougham driving past. "There goes Monsieur Thenardier," Javert remarked. He could still remember with perfect clarity the half-finished notes he had stowed in a drawer in his own flat.

"M. Thenardier in strange circles. Noticed him in company of Patron-Minette, but no proof quite found for this."

Javert watched the brougham drive towards Number Six. "Playing both sides, I see," he said, furrowing his brow. For weeks now, he'd been trying to figure out Thenardier's schemes; it seemed as if Patron-Minette was always on the businessman's trail. Then there was the fact that the Thenardier girls seemed to be associated with a group of rebellious and wealthy students.

"If he's not careful, I'm going to collar him too one of these days," Javert resolved. Never mind the scandal it would cause; it was better than having mayhem all over Paris.
"Pauline, stop looking out the window. You'll attract attention."

"I don't see our girls anywhere, Nicolas!"

M. Thenardier rolled his eyes. "Come now, they're good young ladies. They'll do their business right," he said to his wife.

Mme. Thenardier crossed her arms over her lavishly embroidered dress front. "What will be said about them? That we're letting them run around with those young men?" she snapped.

"There, there, you know that Eponine is practically promised to Monsieur Pontmercy," M. Thenardier said. "And Azelma, she has her pick of the suitors."

Mme. Thenardier shook her head. "I'd rather that my Eponine be married to Monsieur Enjolras. He's from a wealthier family. Too bad that she detests him."

"Well, that can easily be arranged," M. Thenardier grinned.

Mme. Thenardier's eyes grew cold. "You're selling off our girls to the highest bidder!"

"We can't provide for them forever!" M. Thenardier reasoned. "Ah, here we are at the Luxembourg. They'll be here?"

"Hopefully with that Valjean and that Montparnasse," Mme. Thenardier said as she stepped out of the brougham, making sure not to bump her head on the roof of the carriage.

The Luxembourg was not so crowded at this time of the day; people had a clear view of each other. M. Thenardier could not kill the smile of glee on his face as he caught sight of a slender young man at one end of the promenade.

"Monsieur Pontmercy!" he meant to greet before another face entered on this scene.

"Marius! You're early today," Cosette greeted as she walked towards him. The young serving girl had put on her cleanest dress; her hair was still a little wet from washing, but she'd done it up well under her simple hat.

"The better to spend some more time with you," Marius said with a bow. "Cosette, how much I wanted to see you the whole day."

"You should have stayed longer with us," Cosette said. "I could have helped you sneak out the servants' entrance when your grandfather came home."

"I already had a narrow escape, Cosette," Marius said abashedly. "I did not wish to get you into more trouble..."

In the meantime, the Thenardiers exchanged disgusted looks. "That fool, going about with a serving girl!" Mme. Thenardier fumed. "Why, I know her, the maid at his grandfather's house!"

"The one with the pretty---" M. Thenardier had meant to say before his wife silenced him with a look.

Now two more young people had ventured on the promenade. "Now this is the place for egalite, the Luxembourg. This place is free for all," Courfeyrac said to the girl with him.

Azelma pursed her lips. "I could think of better places to go if you wanted to make amends, Monsieur," she said.

"Cherie, this is the best walk in all of Paris," Courfeyrac said. "It is far too early yet for supper."

Azelma tossed back her dark hair. "How now, I see your friend?"

"Indeed," Courfeyrac said. "Bonjour, Marius!"

At the other end of the promenade, Marius froze while Cosette hid her face, hiding the pink flush starting to creep up to the tips of her ears.

"There, that's an interrupted rendezvous!" M. Thenardier laughed.

"Doubly so," Mme. Thenardier added, noticing Fantine at the gate to the Luxembourg.

Fantine trusted Marius enough not to bring Cosette to any disaster, therefore she had no fear of leaving Cosette alone at the Luxembourg while she went to run an errand.

However, the poor woman had quite forgotten about herself in her worry about her daughter. Now, as she approached the park, she forced herself to carry an expression of happiness.

"If Cosette learns that I've lost my purse, she'll worry. And that child deserves so much better..." she reminded herself.

In her haste, she nearly walked right into a man standing at the gate to the promenade, half-concealed by the shadows. "Oh! I'm so sorry, Monsieur!" Fantine said, backing off.

"Are you alright, Madame?" the man asked.

Fantine nodded, feeling fear rise up in her at the sight of this elderly yet muscular stranger. "I was just on my way in, Monsieur."

The man stared at her, then glanced towards Cosette and Marius. "Your daughter?"

"Oui..." Fantine said quietly.

The stranger smiled; envy and sadness mingled in his worn face. "Keep her safe. There are people about," he said gruffly, stepping aside to let Fantine pass.

Fantine whispered a prayer of thanks as she ran in. "Cosette!" she greeted her daughter. She also curtsied to Marius. "And bonjour, Monsieur Marius. Thank you for taking care of my daughter."

Courfeyrac, who by this time had walked up to them with Azelma in tow, could not hide the grin on his face. "She's Mademoiselle Cosette's mother?" he said, glancing from Fantine to Cosette, and lastly to Marius.

Marius nodded. "She is like a mother to me. I'll see you soon," he said.

Courfeyrac winked at Marius. "Go on. You have the keys to your own flat anyway,"

Marius turned red, aware of Azelma's withering glares in his direction. "I have something to do," he said quickly. "Madame Fantine, Mademoiselle Cosette, let me walk you out of here," he said quickly moving to escort Fantine and Cosette away from the Luxembourg.

Azelma put her hands on her hips as she watched them go. "Imagine when Eponine hears about this!"

Courfeyrac smiled cryptically. "Well, no one can curtail the freedom of meeting..."

Azelma rolled her eyes. "I see Maman and Papa. We can meet them in a while," she said, glancing to where her parents stood talking to Jean Valjean. The ex-convict handed a purse to M. Thenardier before slipping back into the relative safety of the street outside the Luxembourg.

Courfeyrac looked around. "Were you supposed to meet your sister here?"

Azelma nodded. "Seems as if Monsieur Prouvaire and his friends enjoy her company?"

Courfeyrac wisely chose to bite his tongue as Azelma took his hand and led him towards her parents.