Chapter 9

"What do you see?"

"A family eating supper."

"Next house?"

"A woman cooking, and a man smoking a pipe."

"Next house," Eponine asked, irritated.

"Nothing."

"What?"

"Nothing, I see nothing in this house."

"Check around back."

Montparnasse disappeared around the back of the house and then came back. "Everything's clear. Picked the lock and all. Come on."

He brought her around the back and pushed her into the house. He left the door open a little.

"Why don't you close the door? It's freezing in here! Whoever lives here has never taken advantage of a warm fireplace."

"Doesn't mean we can't." Montparnasse went over to the fireplace, put two logs inside and lit a match. He poked the fire until it was large and glowing. "Can't close the door, though. Quick escape in case they come home."

"You think they will?"

"They might. Lets look around."

He took her hand and led her around the house. They found a single bedroom, which had a bed and a closet that contained clothes in navy, black, and gray colors. Montparnasse went to the closet and began searching through.

"What are you doing?"

Montparnasse smiled and stopped. "I'm sorry. Habit."

"I'm sorry that your desire to steal has overpowered your desire for me."

"Never again," he laughed and kissed her passionately.

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Eponine awoke next to Montparnasse several hours later. She noticed it had grown dark and realized they had to get out of the house as fast as they could. She quickly roused him as she gathered her clothes. She went out to the fireplace and poured water over the dying flames. As she turned the ashes, Montparnasse came out.

"Everything as before?" he asked.

"God, I hope so."

"Lets be gone."

She walked to him and took his hand. As they approached the end of the hallway, they heard the front door swing open. They could have made a clean escape, yet they looked back from an urge of their senses. They saw a man walk through the door and pocket his key. Suddenly, he glanced up and saw them standing in the back of the hallway.

"Who's there?" boomed a great voice. "Show yourselves this moment!"

"Excuse us, sir. We happened into the wrong house. We'll just be on our way."

"Rubbish. I never leave my doors unlocked. You snuck into my house. Don't lie."

"We are sorry, sir." It took all her courage to speak louder. "We truly did happen upon the wrong house."

"Yes, you certainly did. Do you know who I am?"

"No, sir," they both uttered simultaneously.

The man chuckled to himself. "How unfortunate that you should happen upon the house that the infamous Inspector Javert resigns in."

"Javert?" Eponine looked into Montparnasse's face for any explanation, but his face was fixated upon the man that stood just five feet in front of them.

"We could escape and he would never catch us," whispered Eponine.

"No. This one would catch us, 'Ponine. He's the police."

"I may be an officer of the law, but I am also hospitable. Please, won't you take a seat? I don't like to assume. So, why don't we all talk about what has happened."

"'Parnasse, we can escape!" Eponine's tone was so high, it almost hurt to whisper.

"No, 'Ponine. We've been caught. We have to face it." He took her hand and guided her down the hallway.

"See? That's much better. Now, perhaps I'll start. I'm Inspector Javert, as I've already disclosed. I live a very humble life as you may have perhaps found. Now, what are you? Pickpockets? Beggars who got tired of getting nothing? A prostitute and her customer just looking for a warm place to sleep?"

"None of those, sir. Just two people who grew cold in the winter's chill."

Eponine saw something in the Inspector's eyes soften for a moment, but then they turned back to how they were before. "You realize that you both could be arrested and tried for this; breaking an entering." He saw the two exchange fearful glances at one another. "Still, being the police myself, I could spare you that."

Eponine nearly bounded out of her chair. "Inspector, I would be forever grateful and law abiding if you could not report this. We didn't take a thing. We merely made a fire and fell asleep upon the floor."

"Yes, there is a definite warmness here that I have never before felt. If I do spare you, you must heed every word I say to you."

"Sir, we would listen to you as if you were Christ himself."

Javert smiled to himself. "Very well. I shall let you go. However, you must never again break into the house of another for the enjoyment of their luxuries. We working people have indeed worked very hard to get what we want and deserve and do not want anyone using it for their enjoyment. I trust that once you leave my home, I will find everything as it had been before. If I find otherwise, I will find you and have you arrested. So if you have anything that belongs to me, I suggest you hand it over now." Neither stirred. "Very well. Finally, if I happen to see you again, I shall tip my hat in acknowledgement to you, unless of course you happen to be breaking the law, in which case, I will bring you down to the police station. Now, are we clear with ourselves?"

"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir."

"Right," said Javert walking to the door and unlocking it. "Be off, now. The night grows late. Good evening to you both."

"Good evening, Inspector."

And with that, they walked down the street.

Javert locked the door behind them, and noticed that the back door was ajar. He did the same to it, and then looked around. The same cleanliness that he saw day in and day out surrounded him. He walked from room to room, but found nothing out of place. As he walked into the hallway, his eyes were drawn to the fireplace. He went and stood over it. He finally took a log and lit a match, then reclined in a chair before the crackling flames.

As he drifted, he wondered what it was in his conviction that made him weak in his punishment at times. His thoughts drifted back to that man that entered his mind daily. He had let the man slip away once, but he wouldn't let it happen again. From that moment forward, he swore that he would never rest until that man, Jean Valjean, was safely back behind bars.

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"She's late, Marius. Wait, excuse me. Eponine is late."

"I realize that, Enjolras. Perhaps she got lost."

"I thought she knew the way."

"So she told me." Marius was growing irritated with his friend's comments. Suddenly, he saw her walk in and look around. Marius hopped down and went to greet her.

Enjolras tapped Grantaire. "I think that's her."

"Well, I can see why Marius stares into oblivion over her," smiled Joly.

"Don't forget, she's still just a bit of skirt that Marius is attracted to. I might be attracted to her, after another round or so," said Grantaire as he buried himself in his mug.

"Here they come. Try to be nice, Grantaire. Marius wouldn't bring just any girl around," said Feuilly, trying to straighten him up.

"Gentlemen," announced Marius walking up to them. "May I present Eponine Thenardier?" Eponine made a humble curtsy. "Eponine these are my friends. Joly."

"Pleasure, Mademoiselle," he said standing to make a bow.

"Feuilly."

"Lovely to finally meet you," he said doing much the same.

"Enjolras."

"Pleased to make your acquaintance," he said taking her hand and placing a kiss upon it, causing Eponine to blush slightly.

"And...Grantaire."

"Hello there," he said not looking up from his drink.

"Don't mind him too much. Shall we take a seat? Order another round, won't you Grantaire."

"Gladly," responded the drunk as a smile lit up his face.

"We are so pleased to finally meet the woman who has captivated young Marius here."

"You do me too much justice, Monsieur Enjolras. I am sure that is not true."

"But it is, Mademoiselle," said Feuilly. "He cannot concentrate upon his work when you fill his head. Which is far too often, I do believe."

"We heard that you live with friends of your father. Where exactly do you live?"

"I live right outside of Paris. Not too far, but far enough to be just a little late for such an important event, Monsieur Joly."

"Come, come," said Marius, who had received his drink. "You were not one minute late."

"I propose a toast," roared Grantaire. All four men massaged their eyes and foreheads as they shook their heads. "To the lovely Eponine, who took the time to meet five men that she would have never encountered otherwise. And to Marius for bringing this ray of sunshine into our lives." All four men looked up and stared into their friend's beaming eyes.

"Here, here!" said Enjolras, as the others did the same. All six glasses came together as a loud clank was heard.

"I am extremely interested to know what happens in that university that we all hear about, yet never see," stated Eponine after two rounds and mindless small talk.

"Well, there's a great deal of French history, philosophy, and current events." Enjolras took a sip from his glass.

"Not much math, which makes me more than happy, but plenty of science and studies in Latin."

"You don't enjoy mathematical studies, Marius?"

"I can honestly say that if Euclid was never born, it would have been no great loss to the world," laughed Marius as his friends joined him.

"Here...here!" added Grantaire between hiccups.

"I have never had this much fun before!"

"You never had friends before," said Marius.

"We shall be glad to be your friends," said Enjolras. "However, you must promise us one thing."

"And what would that be?"

"You must be our friend as well. A beautiful, intelligent woman as yourself with five," he paused glancing at Grantaire. "Four students such as us, why, we'll take Paris by storm."

She laughed along with the others. "I will be glad to be your friend!"

As all six friends sat enjoying the afternoon, another man stood outside in the frosty air. He had not moved since Eponine had gone inside. He stood hunched over the window, his breath fogging his view. Montparnasse vowed that Eponine would never be with another man; not when he would follow her every move from now on.