Double-Crossing
Even before Combeferre mentioned the actual address, Valjean already recognized the house they were headed to.
"What luck. I hope they don't find out I've been on the job." he mused just before the door of the house opened to reveal a young girl wearing a simple yet elegantly sewn dress of blue.
"Monsieur Combeferre! What a surprise---mon Dieu, what happened?" Eponine said, rather aghast.
"We found this girl. She's hurt, she needs help. Do you mind..." Combeferre said sheepishly.
"Non. Not at all," Eponine said, stepping aside to let Combeferre and Valjean into the living room. Valjean laid Cosette down on the nearest couch while Combeferre went to look for some water.
Eponine examined Cosette's face, and cursorily went through her pockets as well. "The silly went out without a purse," she remarked. "Now what if Monsieur Marius Pontmercy were to hear of---"
At the mention of Marius' name, suddenly Cosette stirred and her eyes fluttered open. "Where am I?" the girl asked.
"My house, obviously," Eponine said, sticking her tongue out at her.
Cosette winced as she felt for the bruise around her eye. "Someone knocked me down," she said. She tried to get up, but ended up sinking back down onto the couch. "Dieu, I have so many things to do."
"Mademoiselle...Cosette, am I right?" Combeferre said, coming back into the room with a basin of water and a sponge.
Cosette nodded. "You're Monsieur Combeferre...one of Monsieur Marius' friends?"
"Oui, mademoiselle," Combeferre said, putting the wet sponge on Cosette's black eye. "Don't try to get up yet."
"Too late," Cosette said. "I can't stay here so long."
Eponine smiled gleefully. "I can give a message for you. Who should I look for? Your mother?" she said.
Cosette sighed. "You know where I live anyway, Mademoiselle Thenardier. Please, could you tell her where I am, and that I'll be back by..."
"Noon, at the earliest," Combeferre said. He frowned as he examined Cosette's bruise. "I have to go and fetch a doctor. I'm going to need permission before giving you medicines."
"Can't you do it yourself?" Eponine asked. "Oh, I forget you're still a medical student."
Combeferre winced. "If you're going out, Mademoiselle, I'll join you for a bit of the way," he said, offering his arm to Eponine.
"A bien tot," Eponine said coolly to Cosette before sauntering out the door.
Cosette feebly rummaged for her purse. "I thought I'd lost it!" she laughed as she came up with the purse again. "I could have sworn..."
Valjean merely smiled before going out of the living room to look for M. Thenardier.