Chapter 7
"Papa, why don't we stop for a minute? I'm tired from all this walking. Here's our bench."
"We have important business and can't be late."
"No, you have important business, Papa. Go, and leave me here."
"I can't do that. Imagine what could happen to you."
"Papa, I'll be fine."
"I'll be back in half an hour. Don't move. Do you understand, Cosette? Don't move."
"I heard you. I won't move."
Cosette watched as her father disappeared down the street. She sat patiently waiting for Marius to come. After fifteen minutes went by, she grew worried and began searching the people for Marius. A minute later, she saw the girl who had come to her the first night running over to the bench.
"Hello, Mademoiselle."
"Hello," the girl said sitting next to Cosette. "Marius couldn't make it, but he said to give you this letter. He promises that he'll see you soon."
"I'll try my best to make it here tomorrow," said Cosette, taking the letter. "But it isn't easy to get rid of my father. You see, he's not the most open person in the world."
"A little overprotective?"
"A little? He never lets me go anywhere without him. In fact, he's due back any minute." Cosette looked at the girl. "I don't believe you told me your name."
"Oh, forgive me. I'm Eponine Thenardier. I'm sorry I didn't introduce myself the other night. I was a little distant that night."
"Eponine? It can't be."
"I beg your pardon?"
Cosette remembered her years at the inn, in the care of the wretched Thenardiers. Thenardier himself beat her raw, Madame made her a slave, and the two children taunted her mercilessly. This couldn't be the same girl. Her manner was calm, she was polite and clean, and she wasn't poor by the look of it.
"Don't you remember?"
"Remember what?"
"Cosette! We are leaving now!"
Cosette looked up and saw her father holding a carriage.
"Tell Marius I will be here tomorrow. Thank you."
Eponine watched as the girl hurried over to her father. What had she meant by 'remember'? Her name was familiar, but she didn't recall anything. She remembered that Marius was stuck in class all day, and that she had work to do back in the cafe. She left her thoughts on the bench, and made her way back to where her siblings were.
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'Dearest Cosette,
I cannot believe that what I am about to say is true. I have never known such a feeling as my heart possesses now. I know not if this is love or not, but if it is, I do not want to run away from it. I feel as if everything I have ever acquired in my life means nothing unless you can share it with me. Please forgive today's absence, but meet me soon. Just give me the date and place, and I will be there without a second thought.
Forever yours,
Marius'
Cosette felt her heart explode with delight. She had felt all these things for Marius, but she was unsure if he felt the same way about her. She knew that everything would be perfect now. She placed the letter at her heart, and stared out the window, thinking of her Marius.
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"Marius, do come away from that window. Really, the people on the street will begin to think ill of our young speechmaker."
Enjolras, Joly, Combeferre, and Grantaire had come by Courfeyrac's apartment room for a night of discussion.
"He's a little depressed. He missed his little date this afternoon."
"No doubt his mind was on the girl and not on school, Courfeyrac," commented Joly.
"What do you think, Grantaire?" Grantaire hadn't heard Combeferre's question, as he was searching through all the cabinets repeating, "Absinthe."
All the others rolled their eyes and took a seat. Enjolras spoke, but Marius didn't listen. He thought about the letter he had written this morning and given to Eponine. He wondered if she had read it or not, but he presumed that she had not. He felt as if he were stuck in a decision against the two women. One the one hand, he had known Eponine for years. He trusted her, cared about her siblings, and he loved her. Yet, she didn't love him. On the other hand, he had just met Cosette, knew nothing about her, and he was only infatuated with her. Still, it was evident that she deeply cared about him, perhaps even loved him. Marius thought that in time, after he had forgotten his love for Eponine, he could live happily with and possibly even love Cosette.
"What do you think, Marius? A barricade or open battle?"
Marius was shoved in the middle of the already heated conversation. They were obviously speaking about the fight that would happen against the National Guard. It was now late April, and they were planning a fight for the beginning of June.
"Personally, it would be to our advantage if we built a barricade. We could see them coming."
"But they don't know the streets. We could hide and they would never see us coming."
"You don't think that they have spies out there right now, Combeferre? They're patrolling the streets, looking for a place to hide. It's the National Guard, they're not going into a fight, especially a rebellion, unprepared."
Everyone looked stunned. Marius had been full of surprises in the past few weeks. Maybe it was his lovesick heart that caused this, but he was drawn into whatever caught his eye.
"Very well. A barricade will do. Made of what?"
"Whatever we can find. Tables, chairs, wood. We have a month's time to find and start building."
"But where?" asked Enjolras.
"Why not outside the cafe?" suggested Grantaire.
"That's probably the single best idea he's had in his life," whispered Courfeyrac.
"That's not fair!" said Grantaire coming to the group. "I'll have you know that I am a student, too, which shows that I possess some intelligence. Maybe not as much as our Baron Pontmercy over there, but I have some. I don't care if you think I'm a drunk half the time." Everyone smiled. "All right, all the time. But I'd care to think that I'm doing alright for myself. I've got a steady income, I've got a great group a friends, I have love in my life, and as long as that is that, I'm happy. Enjolras, it's perfectly simple. If we build the barricade in front of the cafe, it's almost like a retreat behind the retreat. You can have people in the cafe to take care of the wounded, God forbid."
"After that monologue, I see you in a different light, my friend. And your reasoning is right on target. Do we all agree?" All the men turned and nodded their heads. "Now, Grantaire, I do believe you've neglected the wine. Go to it and we'll call you if we need you."
"I wouldn't have it any other way."
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"Morning, Marius."
"Morning, Eponine."
"You aren't going anywhere today?"
"No, my day is clear. Why?"
Eponine wanted to be selfish, to not tell Marius that Cosette was coming. She knew she was jealous, and that couldn't be helped. She loved him with all her heart, with all her being. She couldn't see herself lose him to another woman. Yet, she couldn't lose him as a friend either. She looked up at him.
"Cosette said she was coming today. At the same time and place. I would have told you sooner, but I couldn't find you."
"No, that's fine. Thank you, Eponine. You don't know how much I appreciate all your help."
"It's not a problem."
"I'll be back later," he yelled running from the cafe.
"'Ponine, how can you do that?"
"Do what, 'Zelma?"
"Let him run after another woman when you know you'd rather him be running after you," said Enjolras coming behind the two girls.
"What? Have all of you started a secret society in which you plot ways to get Marius and me together?"
"That's 'Plan B'," smiled Azelma. "'Plan A' consists of trying to get you to tell Marius how you feel."
"What good would it do? He doesn't love me, that's why he's chasing after this girl."
"I'm really growing tired of the same answers. Surely you are, Azelma."
"Enjolras, give me one good reason why I should tell Marius that I love him."
"Because he loves you."
"Then why hasn't he said anything to me?"
"He's as equally as stubborn as you are! Can't you see that you're perfect in every way for each other?"
"He's with Cosette. Subject closed. No matter how much I love him, I won't compromise his happiness."
"'Zelma, I give up." Enjolras threw up his arms and walked away.
"'Ponine, if that's how you feel, fine. I'm not going to bring it up again. But I'm going to watch you suffer miserably and that will hurt me greatly."
"Then you'll go meet up with Grantaire and everything will be wonderful."
"Maybe, but you're my sister. Remember, we have each other's best interests at heart. I always have."
"So have I." The two girls embraced, until Eponine remembered. "Where's Gavroche?"
"Yes, where is your brother?" asked Enjolras coming back again.
"Maybe I should go find him."
"I'll go with you."
"You don't have to, Enjolras," said Eponine, removing her apron.
"No, I'm fond of the little leader. I want to see what's taking priority over the revolution."
"Azelma, do something productive."
"When do I not?"
"I'll choose not to answer that."
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Gavroche stood against a wall watching people pass. He had been so bored lately with the cafe and all the meetings. Half the time he didn't understand a thing that was being said, and he knew that many others felt the same way. He looked for something to steal off anyone passing by. He may have been a good kid for a while, but he was a Thenardier at heart. He wouldn't get caught, and it would just be a kind of trophy to show that he could steal anything from anyone and they wouldn't even notice.
He saw a man walk by with a pocket watch hanging loosely at his side. 'This is too easy,' thought Gavroche as he walked a slow pace behind the man and grabbed the watch without ease.
"It would serve in your best interest to put that back."
"Who's going to make me?" asked Gavroche mockingly.
"Inspector Javert, that's who."
"God, Eponine. Stop fooling around. That game's so old."
"Quite the contrary, young man. I am not fooling. I'm dead serious."
Gavroche spun around and saw that it was not his sister, but the infamous police inspector. Javert grabbed the boy and pulled him off the street.
"So, gamin. Is all this trouble worth a measly pocket watch? Excuse me, sir! I do believe you dropped your watch."
"Oh, I thank you very much, Inspector. Very much indeed." The man hurried over, collected his belonging, and saw the boy next to Javert. "Riff-raff."
"Indeed. Good day, sir. Now, what was cause for that? You don't look like an urchin. Your clothes are neat, you're far from dirty. What in God's name were you thinking, boy?"
"I...I was bored."
"Well, I'll have to take you down to the station."
"You can't arrest me!"
"And why is that?"
"Because I'm leader of the revolution! I'm leading the fight! They need me, and you..."
"What is this? What fight? What rebellion?"
Gavroche realized that he had let it slip. "Nothing, sir."
"Boy, if you tell me all about this rebellion, I'll forget that I saw that little incident."
"Never! I'd rot in jail before I gave up my friends, especially to the likes of you!"
"Gavroche?"
The boy looked up and saw Eponine and Enjolras running towards him. He left Javert's side and ran into his sister's arms.
"And who are you? This child's parents?"
Eponine and Enjolras looked at one another. "No, Inspector. I'm his sister and this is our friend, Monsieur Enjolras. What have you done now?"
"He stole a man's watch, but it's been returned. In the future, Mademoiselle, kindly see that your brother is always in the supervision of another so we can prevent these problems. I was going to take him down to the station, but under these circumstances, I think I can let him off with a warning."
"Thank you, Inspector. We'll make sure he's not alone. Go on, Gavroche, tell the Inspector you'll never do this again." Enjolras looked sternly at the boy.
"Forgive me, Inspector. I promise not to steal again."
"Good lad. Have a good day."
"Eponine..."
"Let's just go back to the cafe."
"But Enjolras..."
"No 'buts'," said Eponine. "You are going back and that's final."
Gavroche was somewhat relieved that he wasn't allowed to explain because he would have had to say that he told Javert about the uprising. He walked in silence with his head hung all the way back to the cafe.
"Papa, why don't we stop for a minute? I'm tired from all this walking. Here's our bench."
"We have important business and can't be late."
"No, you have important business, Papa. Go, and leave me here."
"I can't do that. Imagine what could happen to you."
"Papa, I'll be fine."
"I'll be back in half an hour. Don't move. Do you understand, Cosette? Don't move."
"I heard you. I won't move."
Cosette watched as her father disappeared down the street. She sat patiently waiting for Marius to come. After fifteen minutes went by, she grew worried and began searching the people for Marius. A minute later, she saw the girl who had come to her the first night running over to the bench.
"Hello, Mademoiselle."
"Hello," the girl said sitting next to Cosette. "Marius couldn't make it, but he said to give you this letter. He promises that he'll see you soon."
"I'll try my best to make it here tomorrow," said Cosette, taking the letter. "But it isn't easy to get rid of my father. You see, he's not the most open person in the world."
"A little overprotective?"
"A little? He never lets me go anywhere without him. In fact, he's due back any minute." Cosette looked at the girl. "I don't believe you told me your name."
"Oh, forgive me. I'm Eponine Thenardier. I'm sorry I didn't introduce myself the other night. I was a little distant that night."
"Eponine? It can't be."
"I beg your pardon?"
Cosette remembered her years at the inn, in the care of the wretched Thenardiers. Thenardier himself beat her raw, Madame made her a slave, and the two children taunted her mercilessly. This couldn't be the same girl. Her manner was calm, she was polite and clean, and she wasn't poor by the look of it.
"Don't you remember?"
"Remember what?"
"Cosette! We are leaving now!"
Cosette looked up and saw her father holding a carriage.
"Tell Marius I will be here tomorrow. Thank you."
Eponine watched as the girl hurried over to her father. What had she meant by 'remember'? Her name was familiar, but she didn't recall anything. She remembered that Marius was stuck in class all day, and that she had work to do back in the cafe. She left her thoughts on the bench, and made her way back to where her siblings were.
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'Dearest Cosette,
I cannot believe that what I am about to say is true. I have never known such a feeling as my heart possesses now. I know not if this is love or not, but if it is, I do not want to run away from it. I feel as if everything I have ever acquired in my life means nothing unless you can share it with me. Please forgive today's absence, but meet me soon. Just give me the date and place, and I will be there without a second thought.
Forever yours,
Marius'
Cosette felt her heart explode with delight. She had felt all these things for Marius, but she was unsure if he felt the same way about her. She knew that everything would be perfect now. She placed the letter at her heart, and stared out the window, thinking of her Marius.
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"Marius, do come away from that window. Really, the people on the street will begin to think ill of our young speechmaker."
Enjolras, Joly, Combeferre, and Grantaire had come by Courfeyrac's apartment room for a night of discussion.
"He's a little depressed. He missed his little date this afternoon."
"No doubt his mind was on the girl and not on school, Courfeyrac," commented Joly.
"What do you think, Grantaire?" Grantaire hadn't heard Combeferre's question, as he was searching through all the cabinets repeating, "Absinthe."
All the others rolled their eyes and took a seat. Enjolras spoke, but Marius didn't listen. He thought about the letter he had written this morning and given to Eponine. He wondered if she had read it or not, but he presumed that she had not. He felt as if he were stuck in a decision against the two women. One the one hand, he had known Eponine for years. He trusted her, cared about her siblings, and he loved her. Yet, she didn't love him. On the other hand, he had just met Cosette, knew nothing about her, and he was only infatuated with her. Still, it was evident that she deeply cared about him, perhaps even loved him. Marius thought that in time, after he had forgotten his love for Eponine, he could live happily with and possibly even love Cosette.
"What do you think, Marius? A barricade or open battle?"
Marius was shoved in the middle of the already heated conversation. They were obviously speaking about the fight that would happen against the National Guard. It was now late April, and they were planning a fight for the beginning of June.
"Personally, it would be to our advantage if we built a barricade. We could see them coming."
"But they don't know the streets. We could hide and they would never see us coming."
"You don't think that they have spies out there right now, Combeferre? They're patrolling the streets, looking for a place to hide. It's the National Guard, they're not going into a fight, especially a rebellion, unprepared."
Everyone looked stunned. Marius had been full of surprises in the past few weeks. Maybe it was his lovesick heart that caused this, but he was drawn into whatever caught his eye.
"Very well. A barricade will do. Made of what?"
"Whatever we can find. Tables, chairs, wood. We have a month's time to find and start building."
"But where?" asked Enjolras.
"Why not outside the cafe?" suggested Grantaire.
"That's probably the single best idea he's had in his life," whispered Courfeyrac.
"That's not fair!" said Grantaire coming to the group. "I'll have you know that I am a student, too, which shows that I possess some intelligence. Maybe not as much as our Baron Pontmercy over there, but I have some. I don't care if you think I'm a drunk half the time." Everyone smiled. "All right, all the time. But I'd care to think that I'm doing alright for myself. I've got a steady income, I've got a great group a friends, I have love in my life, and as long as that is that, I'm happy. Enjolras, it's perfectly simple. If we build the barricade in front of the cafe, it's almost like a retreat behind the retreat. You can have people in the cafe to take care of the wounded, God forbid."
"After that monologue, I see you in a different light, my friend. And your reasoning is right on target. Do we all agree?" All the men turned and nodded their heads. "Now, Grantaire, I do believe you've neglected the wine. Go to it and we'll call you if we need you."
"I wouldn't have it any other way."
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"Morning, Marius."
"Morning, Eponine."
"You aren't going anywhere today?"
"No, my day is clear. Why?"
Eponine wanted to be selfish, to not tell Marius that Cosette was coming. She knew she was jealous, and that couldn't be helped. She loved him with all her heart, with all her being. She couldn't see herself lose him to another woman. Yet, she couldn't lose him as a friend either. She looked up at him.
"Cosette said she was coming today. At the same time and place. I would have told you sooner, but I couldn't find you."
"No, that's fine. Thank you, Eponine. You don't know how much I appreciate all your help."
"It's not a problem."
"I'll be back later," he yelled running from the cafe.
"'Ponine, how can you do that?"
"Do what, 'Zelma?"
"Let him run after another woman when you know you'd rather him be running after you," said Enjolras coming behind the two girls.
"What? Have all of you started a secret society in which you plot ways to get Marius and me together?"
"That's 'Plan B'," smiled Azelma. "'Plan A' consists of trying to get you to tell Marius how you feel."
"What good would it do? He doesn't love me, that's why he's chasing after this girl."
"I'm really growing tired of the same answers. Surely you are, Azelma."
"Enjolras, give me one good reason why I should tell Marius that I love him."
"Because he loves you."
"Then why hasn't he said anything to me?"
"He's as equally as stubborn as you are! Can't you see that you're perfect in every way for each other?"
"He's with Cosette. Subject closed. No matter how much I love him, I won't compromise his happiness."
"'Zelma, I give up." Enjolras threw up his arms and walked away.
"'Ponine, if that's how you feel, fine. I'm not going to bring it up again. But I'm going to watch you suffer miserably and that will hurt me greatly."
"Then you'll go meet up with Grantaire and everything will be wonderful."
"Maybe, but you're my sister. Remember, we have each other's best interests at heart. I always have."
"So have I." The two girls embraced, until Eponine remembered. "Where's Gavroche?"
"Yes, where is your brother?" asked Enjolras coming back again.
"Maybe I should go find him."
"I'll go with you."
"You don't have to, Enjolras," said Eponine, removing her apron.
"No, I'm fond of the little leader. I want to see what's taking priority over the revolution."
"Azelma, do something productive."
"When do I not?"
"I'll choose not to answer that."
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Gavroche stood against a wall watching people pass. He had been so bored lately with the cafe and all the meetings. Half the time he didn't understand a thing that was being said, and he knew that many others felt the same way. He looked for something to steal off anyone passing by. He may have been a good kid for a while, but he was a Thenardier at heart. He wouldn't get caught, and it would just be a kind of trophy to show that he could steal anything from anyone and they wouldn't even notice.
He saw a man walk by with a pocket watch hanging loosely at his side. 'This is too easy,' thought Gavroche as he walked a slow pace behind the man and grabbed the watch without ease.
"It would serve in your best interest to put that back."
"Who's going to make me?" asked Gavroche mockingly.
"Inspector Javert, that's who."
"God, Eponine. Stop fooling around. That game's so old."
"Quite the contrary, young man. I am not fooling. I'm dead serious."
Gavroche spun around and saw that it was not his sister, but the infamous police inspector. Javert grabbed the boy and pulled him off the street.
"So, gamin. Is all this trouble worth a measly pocket watch? Excuse me, sir! I do believe you dropped your watch."
"Oh, I thank you very much, Inspector. Very much indeed." The man hurried over, collected his belonging, and saw the boy next to Javert. "Riff-raff."
"Indeed. Good day, sir. Now, what was cause for that? You don't look like an urchin. Your clothes are neat, you're far from dirty. What in God's name were you thinking, boy?"
"I...I was bored."
"Well, I'll have to take you down to the station."
"You can't arrest me!"
"And why is that?"
"Because I'm leader of the revolution! I'm leading the fight! They need me, and you..."
"What is this? What fight? What rebellion?"
Gavroche realized that he had let it slip. "Nothing, sir."
"Boy, if you tell me all about this rebellion, I'll forget that I saw that little incident."
"Never! I'd rot in jail before I gave up my friends, especially to the likes of you!"
"Gavroche?"
The boy looked up and saw Eponine and Enjolras running towards him. He left Javert's side and ran into his sister's arms.
"And who are you? This child's parents?"
Eponine and Enjolras looked at one another. "No, Inspector. I'm his sister and this is our friend, Monsieur Enjolras. What have you done now?"
"He stole a man's watch, but it's been returned. In the future, Mademoiselle, kindly see that your brother is always in the supervision of another so we can prevent these problems. I was going to take him down to the station, but under these circumstances, I think I can let him off with a warning."
"Thank you, Inspector. We'll make sure he's not alone. Go on, Gavroche, tell the Inspector you'll never do this again." Enjolras looked sternly at the boy.
"Forgive me, Inspector. I promise not to steal again."
"Good lad. Have a good day."
"Eponine..."
"Let's just go back to the cafe."
"But Enjolras..."
"No 'buts'," said Eponine. "You are going back and that's final."
Gavroche was somewhat relieved that he wasn't allowed to explain because he would have had to say that he told Javert about the uprising. He walked in silence with his head hung all the way back to the cafe.