Arranged By Threes

Immediately, a smile grew on Eponine's face. "Bonsoir, Messeurs," she said, managing an awkward curtsy. "We were just looking for my father, that's all," she said in a chatty tone.

"Chetta's been worried! What have you been up to?" Joly asked Cosette. "And Montparnasse, I saw him downstairs."

"I was with him," Cosette replied, standing up straight.

Joly looked around quickly. "Go home, Cosette. Chetta's waiting for you."

"But what's wrong with sitting here? You're here, and Chetta will understand." Cosette said.

Bossuet gave Joly a meaningful look. "They're children. What harm can they do?"

"No, they're children, and what harm can they get into, you mean," Joly said. He wiped his hands on his coat sleeves. "I'll bring Cosette and Montparnasse back to the Latin Quartier. You tell Enjolras--"

"You mean to tell me what?" Enjolras asked as he entered the room. The conversation slowly died down as all eyes turned to him.

Cosette felt the blood rush to her cheeks even as she noticed Eponine's jaw drop. "He's handsome, but so was that young man, Marius..." Cosette thought before she averted her eyes.

She realized now that Enjolras was looking at her and Eponine. "Are you here with anyone?" he asked them.

Eponine looked up meekly at him. "My father, Monsieur. He's downstairs, I think."

"I advise you join him," the law student said impassively, stepping aside to let the girls pass.

Cosette looked at Joly. "I'd best better be going---"

"Excuse me a moment," Joly said to Enjolras, half-ushering Cosette and Eponine downstairs.

Babet was already there with Montparnasse and M. Thenardier. "There you are, Eponine," M. Thenardier said to his daughter. "Who sent you here?"

Eponine pointed to Babet. "He wanted to speak to you."

In the meantime, Joly took Montparnasse outside. "Could you please get Cosette back to the flat?" he asked the boy quickly.

Montparnasse smiled coolly at him. "She'll be fine with me, Monsieur Joly."

Joly shook his head. "Promise me! Musichetta and I have been looking for both of you since you disappeared," he said in a lower voice.

Montparnasse raised an eyebrow. "I see," he nodded. He glanced at Cosette. "We'd better go."

M. Thenardier looked up from where he was speaking to Eponine. "Are you leaving already, Montparnasse?"

"An errand," Montparnasse said.

"Eponine will go with you. I think her mother will be asking by now," M. Thenardier said.

Eponine crossed her arms. "But Papa--"

"Now, Eponine."

Muttering under her breath, Eponine stalked out after Montparnasse and Cosette. The street was aglow with spluttering streetlamps, and the lamps from inside the various cafes, bistros, and houses in the area.

"We're much too young for anything, aren't we?" Cosette asked her companions after they'd walked in silence for a few minutes.

"One day, they'll see. We'll do them one better," Montparnasse said. His eyes were hard and glittering, like the cold paving stones.

Eponine fiddled with her cap. "So you both help out Monsieur Babet and the others with all kinds of things?"

"He does more," Cosette said, nodding to Montparnasse.

"I see," Eponine whistled. "I could help you. I know people to talk to, you know. My Papa knows a lot too."

"Clearly," Montparnasse replied. "Cosette doesn't go with us on all our jobs, you know. We aren't always short of hands."

"But sometimes we are," Cosette pointed out. "Like last night."

Montparnasse paused reflectively, as if weighing all the premises given to him in his mind. The light of a nearby streetlamp made his dark hair seem shiny, and his coat almost new. "A most interesting offer. We will find you in the Rue Clocheperce if we ever need you?" he asked Eponine.

"If all goes well," Eponine shrugged. "I'll tell you if we move elsewhere."

Cosette smiled. "I think we can work with that."

"Then I think the three of us are agreed then," Montparnasse said, holding out his hand by way of accord.