"We should try to find him," Prouvaire repeated, and since Enjolras did not raise any further objection, he and Combeferre quickly organized parties to seek Grantaire at his other haunts.
As the room began to empty, Enjolras rubbed his tired eyes. When he looked up, only Combeferre remained with him.
"Are you sure you're alright?" Combeferre asked.
"Only tired," Enjolras answered.
"Can you excuse me? I have an errand to run while the others are gone. I won't be long."
Combeferre didn't move. "May I come with you?"
No, Enjolras thought, but "If you wish," was what he said. He did not want anyone with him at Richefeu's, but he didn't want to appear secretive either.
Combeferre walked alongside him on the streets. Even though it was never silent in this district of the city, these late evenings were quiet enough to allow several men to walk astride. Combeferre had no trouble keeping up with the pace that Enjolras set. After a few minutes, Combeferre said, "There's something you're not telling us."
"And what would that be?" Enjolras snapped.
"I don't know. You haven't told me." Combeferre cut in front of Enjolras and stopped him with a hand against his chest. "Something is wrong, and I want to know what it is."
"I don't know what you're talking about," Enjolras said. He brushed past Combeferre.
"Where is he, Enjolras?" Combeferre threw after him. "You know something, and I will not let you keep silent."
"How should I know where the fool has got himself off to? We're hardly close." Enjolras had stopped walking to answer, which he suspected had been Combeferre's goal.
"Liar."
Enjolras flushed from the disgusted tone in his friend's voice. Then he quickly paled with the anger that followed. "I do not have to answer to you. Now I have somewhere to go, and if you'll excuse me, I'll be on my way."
"I will not excuse you," Combeferre said, but Enjolras ignored him.
Enjolras did not see Combeferre quietly begin to follow him. As quickly as he could walk, Enjolras returned to Richefeu's.
Since it was much earlier in the evening, Richefeu's was more crowded. Enjolras patiently pushed his way through the crowd in the main room to get to the smoking room. Once inside, he reviewed his memory of last night for a familiar face. His main hope was that Grantaire would somehow still be there, but he was not.
Enjolras recognized Grantaire's dominoes opponent sitting in much the same place as he'd been the night before.
He approached the man. "May I join you?" he asked.
The man looked up, eyes muddy and barely focused. "Oh," he said, "You must be the damn angel of the Republic."