The Righteous Hurry Past, The Virtuous Do Not
"Azelma, please take care of her. I'm sure that M. Gillenormand will be put out if we do not," Mme. Thenardier said to her youngest daughter as she bustled about the parlor. Not long after Eponine slipped out, the rest of the Thenardier household had come to see what Valjean had been up to. Combeferre had left a few moments earlier, after giving instructions and a little medicine to Cosette.
Valjean bowed to Mme. Thenardier. "I shall take my leave now," he said gruffly. He turned to Cosette, who was lying propped up on the couch. "Will you be fine, mademoiselle?"
Cosette nodded with an angelic smile on her face. "I'm well taken care of, Monsieur. I cannot thank you all enough,"
Azelma looked at the clock. "Now where has my silly sister gotten off too?" she muttered. She tapped Valjean's arm. "If it's not too much to ask, can you look for her?"
Valjean nodded stiffly before leaving the Thenardiers' house. He felt a little wary about leaving Cosette alone, but he figured that she would not come to much harm even in there.
He hadn't even gone a few blocks when he heard two voices talking sharply at a street corner. One, he recognized as Eponine's. The other, much to his surprise, was Enjolras.
"I don't care about it, really. I had it sent back to you, since it's none of my business," Eponine said, tossing back her red hair. "So don't you ask me about it, Monsieur."
"Well, that is easy for you to say," Enjolras said, fury coloring his usually calm voice. "Now, that piece of paper can fall in the wrong hands."
Eponine stamped her foot. "Go back to your flat then! I don't care. Did you come all the way here to accost me?"
Enjolras' eyes narrowed. "Non. Still, I cannot leave any stone unturned. I'm sorry to have taken so much of your time," he said coldly before walking past her.
Eponine wiped a handkerchief over her face, which had reddened slightly. "Well, we'll see what he'll do!" she muttered petulantly as she hurried past Valjean, not even noticing him.
Valjean thought of stopping her to ask if she'd informed Cosette's mother of her whereabouts, but decided against it. Instead, the former convict walked on resolutely, eyes surreptiously searching purses and faces.
In his intense concentration, he almost did not see Fantine running up the street. The poor woman's eyes were wild and her dress was slightly disheveled as she crossed the street. Valjean stepped forward to greet her, until the woman approached the Inspector standing at the corner.
"M'sieur Inspecteur, have you seen my daughter?" Fantine asked, forcing a calm tone into her voice. "She's a tall girl, with dark hair, and a simple green dress..."
Javert's eyes were impassive as they met Fantine's gaze. "I have not seen such a girl,"
Fantine bit back a cry of dismay. "Oh surely she must have gone somewhere! Do you know who can help me, M'sieur? I haven't seen her in a few hours; she just went to run an errand in Les Halles!"
"Ask at the Prefecture. I cannot help you at the moment," Javert said.
"M'sieur, please!" Fantine begged, grabbing Javert's arm.
Javert shook her off. "Must you insist, woman?"
Valjean felt his hands grow cold as he stepped towards the pair. "Madame..." he began, clearing his throat.