Chapter 11
Montparnasse sat lurking in the shadows. He did admit that it wasn't his favorite place to be, but it was the only place that Eponine wouldn't see him. He had lied to her once more, still only a few steps behind her or just around the corner. Yet this morning, Babet, who claimed that Montparnasse owed him money, had delayed him. After nearly half an hour, Montparnasse realized that Eponine was somewhere in town, while he had been here in the middle of a pointless conversation. He tore down the street, only to find her once again with the student she was always in the company of. Marius.
Montparnasse never denied that he was a jealous man. He knew it was so and it couldn't be helped. He felt what was his should stay his, and one of those things was Eponine. It was clear as daylight that she was taken with the young Marius. He was an appealing package, after all. He was younger, much smarter, much more attractive, and even, although Montparnasse hated to admit it, more wonderful to Eponine than he had ever been.
His head throbbed with thoughts of Eponine and Marius; walking along the streets, playing frivolous games and laughing all the while. No! He would not have it that way! Eponine wore his ring and she would be his wife! Marius needed to be completely out of the picture in order for Montparnasse to achieve happiness with Eponine.
Suddenly, everything became plain to Montparnasse, and a sick smile formed upon the face of the man Eponine had promised herself to. He stepped out into the light and strode off to find his beloved.
**************************************************************************
"Where is everyone? M'dear?"
"Right here, love."
"Babet, Brujon, Claquesous?"
"Here, here, and here," counted Claquesous.
"Where is the other two?"
"Here, Papa," cried Eponine as Montparnasse and her rounded the corner. Brujon shot them a look of disgust as they neared the group.
"Excellent. 'Ere we 'ave it. There is a rich man who comes into town every Saturday afternoon. 'E is perfect for us. Always 'as 'is eye on the girl at 'is side. This be my plan. Madame and me do our begging act with Brujon wrapped in a blanket." He produced an old, worn out piece of cloth. "'E'll pretend to be our starving child."
"Why don't Eponine do it? She's your real child!" complained Brujon, who never saw any action.
"A'cause Eponine is the fastest of the lot of you. She needs to be aware of the law and come to tell us so. So stop that! Babet and Claquesous, you'ze follow 'im from a'ind, and take what you'ze can get."
"What about me?" asked Montparnasse.
"You, Montparnasse. You 'elp Eponine watch for the police. I'll give the signal once I see the ol' boy. Stay close."
Thenardier, his wife, and Brujon propped themselves along the wall ready for whatever was to come. Babet and Claquesous stood half a block away, as Montparnasse took Eponine's hand and lead her to the middle of the square.
"What's the matter?" he asked her.
Eponine had felt a slight case of sickness this morning, but it was all gone now. She felt the sun shine down on her and couldn't help but smile.
"Nothing. I was just thinking about how this would be all too easy."
"I was thinking about the same thing," Montparnasse uttered as Eponine turned around.
Suddenly, Marius and Enjolras emerged from the university and made their way across the square. Eponine left the side of Montparnasse, who stood fixated on her as she moved to the two men.
"Morning, Eponine," said Enjolras without a smile or a hint of friendship.
"Hello, Eponine. What's going on today?"
"Good morning. Nothing much is new. Where are you headed?"
"To the cafe, they is headed," panted a small boy who had run to the side of Enjolras.
"Hello, Gavroche. Are they waiting?"
"Afraid so, professor. All them is waiting and drinking. Especially that one fellow. Drinking more and more as you grow later and later."
"Oh, dear. I should have known not to let Grantaire go out so early."
"What's going on?" questioned Eponine.
"The professors here are speaking of rebellion!"
"General Lamarque, perhaps you've heard, has taken ill and doesn't have a good chance of survival."
"Lamarque is the people's only hope, you see. No other nobleman has thought of the people as Lamarque has. We are organizing a battle to win our freedom."
"I know I could be of help!"
Enjolras turned sterner than he was before. "No, Eponine. This has no business concerning you. We can't have anything happen to you." He emphasized 'anything' greatly.
"Enjolras, it's the people's fight. Eponine can do so much to aid..."
"I said 'no' Marius, and that is precisely what I mean. Gavroche, lead the way."
"Yes, sir, professor."
"I wish to help," Eponine said as she watched Enjolras move away.
"I'll find a way to bring him around. He has just been acting so peculiar lately. I haven't a clue to what it might be."
Eponine heard three shrill, quick whistles. Her father's signal. She had to get to her post, but Marius!
"Marius, you have to go to the meeting. You'll be late and upset Enjolras further."
Marius laughed. "Since when has that stopped me? Besides, Enjolras has taken this all too seriously. He needs to lighten up."
"Marius, I need to go. My father..."
"Your father? Eponine, your father. Well, he is dead, isn't he?"
"Yes. No. I mean..."
"'Ponine, lets go," growled Babet, who had run up to pull her back.
"Who is this man? What are you doing, sir?"
"Marius, leave me alone!"
"But Eponine..."
Suddenly, Marius felt as if he had been turned about and was knocked into someone. The books he had been carrying fell upon the pavement.
"I am terribly sorry," apologized Marius.
A figure bent down beside him and began scooping up his books. "No, no. I wasn't paying attention."
Marius looked into the face of the person beside him. It was a girl, a beautiful girl, perhaps the same age, if not older, than Eponine. They stood staring at one another until the girl realized that she had his books.
"Your books, Monsieur."
"Thank you."
"Cosette. We will be late. Come along." A man appeared beside the girl and pulled her away. Marius stood in a daze, glancing on after her.
"Oh! Please Monsieur! Spare just a tiny bit of what you 'ave to feed me poor child 'ere."
"I am sorry, sir. I have no money for you."
"We is not asking much," pleaded Madame. "Just a sou or two."
"I tell you I have nothing. Cosette, keep walking."
"Wait a bit. Where 'ave I seen you before?"
"I beg your pardon?"
Thenardier stood and walked next to the man, who hid the girl behind his body. Thenardier laughed in the man's face. "Ain't the world a remarkable place, M'dear?"
"Who is it, dear? Just some rich tart who can't spare his loose change, he is."
"No, love. Men like me don't forget men like you, Monsieur. You're that bastard who bought Cosette from me! I can prove so!" Thenardier grabbed the man's shirt and ripped it open, exposing a tattoo he had on his upper chest. The girl behind him cried in fright, and was grabbed by Marius, who drew her away from the scene.
"What is this! You are mad, sir! You haven't a clue who I am or what you're doing!" screamed the man, restraining Thenardier.
"You know very well who I am! I'm a con, Monsieur! Just like yourself!" Thenardier screamed back with unprecedented delight.
Eponine turned her head and saw a uniform rounding the corner to the square. Montparnasse saw the officer too, because he grabbed her shoulder and pushed her towards her parents.
"Hide! Disappear! Run for it! An officer is rounding the corner!" screamed Eponine as loud as she could before running past the commotion.
"Eponine! What are you..." shouted Marius as Eponine flew past him.
"What is this? Monsieur? What has happened to you?"
Inspector Javert approached Thenardier and the man who grasped his shirt.
"Down on your knees, ruffian!" yelled Javert to Thenardier. "You four as well."
Eponine and Montparnasse watched as the five gang members were forced to grovel at the feet of the police inspector. Montparnasse put his hand on Eponine's shoulder, and she put her hand on top of his.
"Now, Monsieur. I know these men and this woman. They are part of a notorious gang. Isn't that right, Thenardier?" Thenardier nodded, and the Inspector resumed his address. "They might have picked you to the bone, had they been given the chance."
"Yes, yes. Fine. Very good," said the man walking towards Cosette. Marius released her from his grasp as the man took her and hurried away.
Javert kept his eyes on the thugs at his feet. "Once you file a report, Monsieur, I will be more than happy to lock them up myself." He turned to say something, until he realized that the man had disappeared.
"Where has the gentleman gone? Why in Heaven's name did he run from such a disturbance?"
Thenardier picked himself up. "You've made an 'orrible mistake! He's the one you'ze should arrest, not us! I saw it with me own eyes! Surely you did too!"
"What are you talking about?"
"That man! He had a brand upon his chest!"
Suddenly Javert fell into deep thought and Thenardier cleared his throat.
"Since there ain't a victim to consult, may I go? Me family as well? Oh, and remember when you catch 'im, was me who told you'ze so."
Javert muttered to himself before finally saying, "Clear out of here, everyone! Everyone back to their business."
The crowd diminished and Montparnasse moved to talk to Thenardier. Eponine made her way to the awe struck Marius.
"My God, Marius! What a display! I can't believe it."
"Who could that girl be?"
"That officer, he would put half the city in jail, if he had the chance."
"Eponine," said Marius snapping back into reality. "Who was that girl?"
"Some rich snob's brat, no doubt."
"Eponine, would you find her for me? I need to know her name, if nothing else."
"What will you give me if I do?" Eponine asked playfully.
"Anything," Marius responded longingly.
"You're all excited, you are."
"I'll pay you anything if you do," said Marius digging into his pocket.
"No, Marius. I don't want your money," squeaked Eponine.
"Would you try to find where she lives. I feel like I'm lost until I find her."
Eponine adorned her face with the biggest smile she could muster and responded, "Don't worry, Marius. I'm a girl who knows a lot of things. You better hurry up! Enjolras and the meeting! Go! I'll find her."
"Thank you, Eponine," he threw over his shoulder as he made his way down to the cafe.
Eponine sighed and started to look for houses in the direction where the man and girl had run in. 'Good old Eponine', she thought to herself. 'Always good. Always obedient. She knows her way around.' She never looked back as she moved forward.
Montparnasse sat lurking in the shadows. He did admit that it wasn't his favorite place to be, but it was the only place that Eponine wouldn't see him. He had lied to her once more, still only a few steps behind her or just around the corner. Yet this morning, Babet, who claimed that Montparnasse owed him money, had delayed him. After nearly half an hour, Montparnasse realized that Eponine was somewhere in town, while he had been here in the middle of a pointless conversation. He tore down the street, only to find her once again with the student she was always in the company of. Marius.
Montparnasse never denied that he was a jealous man. He knew it was so and it couldn't be helped. He felt what was his should stay his, and one of those things was Eponine. It was clear as daylight that she was taken with the young Marius. He was an appealing package, after all. He was younger, much smarter, much more attractive, and even, although Montparnasse hated to admit it, more wonderful to Eponine than he had ever been.
His head throbbed with thoughts of Eponine and Marius; walking along the streets, playing frivolous games and laughing all the while. No! He would not have it that way! Eponine wore his ring and she would be his wife! Marius needed to be completely out of the picture in order for Montparnasse to achieve happiness with Eponine.
Suddenly, everything became plain to Montparnasse, and a sick smile formed upon the face of the man Eponine had promised herself to. He stepped out into the light and strode off to find his beloved.
**************************************************************************
"Where is everyone? M'dear?"
"Right here, love."
"Babet, Brujon, Claquesous?"
"Here, here, and here," counted Claquesous.
"Where is the other two?"
"Here, Papa," cried Eponine as Montparnasse and her rounded the corner. Brujon shot them a look of disgust as they neared the group.
"Excellent. 'Ere we 'ave it. There is a rich man who comes into town every Saturday afternoon. 'E is perfect for us. Always 'as 'is eye on the girl at 'is side. This be my plan. Madame and me do our begging act with Brujon wrapped in a blanket." He produced an old, worn out piece of cloth. "'E'll pretend to be our starving child."
"Why don't Eponine do it? She's your real child!" complained Brujon, who never saw any action.
"A'cause Eponine is the fastest of the lot of you. She needs to be aware of the law and come to tell us so. So stop that! Babet and Claquesous, you'ze follow 'im from a'ind, and take what you'ze can get."
"What about me?" asked Montparnasse.
"You, Montparnasse. You 'elp Eponine watch for the police. I'll give the signal once I see the ol' boy. Stay close."
Thenardier, his wife, and Brujon propped themselves along the wall ready for whatever was to come. Babet and Claquesous stood half a block away, as Montparnasse took Eponine's hand and lead her to the middle of the square.
"What's the matter?" he asked her.
Eponine had felt a slight case of sickness this morning, but it was all gone now. She felt the sun shine down on her and couldn't help but smile.
"Nothing. I was just thinking about how this would be all too easy."
"I was thinking about the same thing," Montparnasse uttered as Eponine turned around.
Suddenly, Marius and Enjolras emerged from the university and made their way across the square. Eponine left the side of Montparnasse, who stood fixated on her as she moved to the two men.
"Morning, Eponine," said Enjolras without a smile or a hint of friendship.
"Hello, Eponine. What's going on today?"
"Good morning. Nothing much is new. Where are you headed?"
"To the cafe, they is headed," panted a small boy who had run to the side of Enjolras.
"Hello, Gavroche. Are they waiting?"
"Afraid so, professor. All them is waiting and drinking. Especially that one fellow. Drinking more and more as you grow later and later."
"Oh, dear. I should have known not to let Grantaire go out so early."
"What's going on?" questioned Eponine.
"The professors here are speaking of rebellion!"
"General Lamarque, perhaps you've heard, has taken ill and doesn't have a good chance of survival."
"Lamarque is the people's only hope, you see. No other nobleman has thought of the people as Lamarque has. We are organizing a battle to win our freedom."
"I know I could be of help!"
Enjolras turned sterner than he was before. "No, Eponine. This has no business concerning you. We can't have anything happen to you." He emphasized 'anything' greatly.
"Enjolras, it's the people's fight. Eponine can do so much to aid..."
"I said 'no' Marius, and that is precisely what I mean. Gavroche, lead the way."
"Yes, sir, professor."
"I wish to help," Eponine said as she watched Enjolras move away.
"I'll find a way to bring him around. He has just been acting so peculiar lately. I haven't a clue to what it might be."
Eponine heard three shrill, quick whistles. Her father's signal. She had to get to her post, but Marius!
"Marius, you have to go to the meeting. You'll be late and upset Enjolras further."
Marius laughed. "Since when has that stopped me? Besides, Enjolras has taken this all too seriously. He needs to lighten up."
"Marius, I need to go. My father..."
"Your father? Eponine, your father. Well, he is dead, isn't he?"
"Yes. No. I mean..."
"'Ponine, lets go," growled Babet, who had run up to pull her back.
"Who is this man? What are you doing, sir?"
"Marius, leave me alone!"
"But Eponine..."
Suddenly, Marius felt as if he had been turned about and was knocked into someone. The books he had been carrying fell upon the pavement.
"I am terribly sorry," apologized Marius.
A figure bent down beside him and began scooping up his books. "No, no. I wasn't paying attention."
Marius looked into the face of the person beside him. It was a girl, a beautiful girl, perhaps the same age, if not older, than Eponine. They stood staring at one another until the girl realized that she had his books.
"Your books, Monsieur."
"Thank you."
"Cosette. We will be late. Come along." A man appeared beside the girl and pulled her away. Marius stood in a daze, glancing on after her.
"Oh! Please Monsieur! Spare just a tiny bit of what you 'ave to feed me poor child 'ere."
"I am sorry, sir. I have no money for you."
"We is not asking much," pleaded Madame. "Just a sou or two."
"I tell you I have nothing. Cosette, keep walking."
"Wait a bit. Where 'ave I seen you before?"
"I beg your pardon?"
Thenardier stood and walked next to the man, who hid the girl behind his body. Thenardier laughed in the man's face. "Ain't the world a remarkable place, M'dear?"
"Who is it, dear? Just some rich tart who can't spare his loose change, he is."
"No, love. Men like me don't forget men like you, Monsieur. You're that bastard who bought Cosette from me! I can prove so!" Thenardier grabbed the man's shirt and ripped it open, exposing a tattoo he had on his upper chest. The girl behind him cried in fright, and was grabbed by Marius, who drew her away from the scene.
"What is this! You are mad, sir! You haven't a clue who I am or what you're doing!" screamed the man, restraining Thenardier.
"You know very well who I am! I'm a con, Monsieur! Just like yourself!" Thenardier screamed back with unprecedented delight.
Eponine turned her head and saw a uniform rounding the corner to the square. Montparnasse saw the officer too, because he grabbed her shoulder and pushed her towards her parents.
"Hide! Disappear! Run for it! An officer is rounding the corner!" screamed Eponine as loud as she could before running past the commotion.
"Eponine! What are you..." shouted Marius as Eponine flew past him.
"What is this? Monsieur? What has happened to you?"
Inspector Javert approached Thenardier and the man who grasped his shirt.
"Down on your knees, ruffian!" yelled Javert to Thenardier. "You four as well."
Eponine and Montparnasse watched as the five gang members were forced to grovel at the feet of the police inspector. Montparnasse put his hand on Eponine's shoulder, and she put her hand on top of his.
"Now, Monsieur. I know these men and this woman. They are part of a notorious gang. Isn't that right, Thenardier?" Thenardier nodded, and the Inspector resumed his address. "They might have picked you to the bone, had they been given the chance."
"Yes, yes. Fine. Very good," said the man walking towards Cosette. Marius released her from his grasp as the man took her and hurried away.
Javert kept his eyes on the thugs at his feet. "Once you file a report, Monsieur, I will be more than happy to lock them up myself." He turned to say something, until he realized that the man had disappeared.
"Where has the gentleman gone? Why in Heaven's name did he run from such a disturbance?"
Thenardier picked himself up. "You've made an 'orrible mistake! He's the one you'ze should arrest, not us! I saw it with me own eyes! Surely you did too!"
"What are you talking about?"
"That man! He had a brand upon his chest!"
Suddenly Javert fell into deep thought and Thenardier cleared his throat.
"Since there ain't a victim to consult, may I go? Me family as well? Oh, and remember when you catch 'im, was me who told you'ze so."
Javert muttered to himself before finally saying, "Clear out of here, everyone! Everyone back to their business."
The crowd diminished and Montparnasse moved to talk to Thenardier. Eponine made her way to the awe struck Marius.
"My God, Marius! What a display! I can't believe it."
"Who could that girl be?"
"That officer, he would put half the city in jail, if he had the chance."
"Eponine," said Marius snapping back into reality. "Who was that girl?"
"Some rich snob's brat, no doubt."
"Eponine, would you find her for me? I need to know her name, if nothing else."
"What will you give me if I do?" Eponine asked playfully.
"Anything," Marius responded longingly.
"You're all excited, you are."
"I'll pay you anything if you do," said Marius digging into his pocket.
"No, Marius. I don't want your money," squeaked Eponine.
"Would you try to find where she lives. I feel like I'm lost until I find her."
Eponine adorned her face with the biggest smile she could muster and responded, "Don't worry, Marius. I'm a girl who knows a lot of things. You better hurry up! Enjolras and the meeting! Go! I'll find her."
"Thank you, Eponine," he threw over his shoulder as he made his way down to the cafe.
Eponine sighed and started to look for houses in the direction where the man and girl had run in. 'Good old Eponine', she thought to herself. 'Always good. Always obedient. She knows her way around.' She never looked back as she moved forward.