A/N: Some credit has to be given to A. Bailly and his book /Le Radeau de la
Méduse/, without which I could have thought of no names (Chaumérey and
Guichard in particular, the rest are mine). I am really bad at thinking up
English names, let alone 1800's-era French ones. And if you're wondering
why Mathieu is Claquesous' son, and why I picked Claquesous in particular,
it just happens to be because I think that's a really cool name and I had
to link him to Patron-Minette /somehow/.
The clouded skies provided a perfect cover for Mathieu when he made his way toward the river where he was to meet his gang. Patron-Minette, it was called, and had been so since the days of his father. As he drew near, he could see that he was one of the last to arrive. The rest of the gang was under the bridge, talking in hushed voices.
"You're late, Claquesous." Hissed Chaumérey, holding up his lantern to see who was approaching. Mathieu held up his hand in the light that was flooding into his face. "Where were you?"
"Scouting out something, is all." Mathieu explained, shoving his hands into his coat pockets once Chaumérey lowered the lantern. The others gave snorts of dubiousness. "Truly."
Guichard laughed aloud. "Cover your behind all you wish, Claquesous. Me 'n Louis saw you today in the park with a wench on your arm. Scouting the area indeed."
Mathieu studied Guichard for a moment. "Well, the 'wench' is what's going to get us some cash!" he whispered, leaning in.
Chaumérey grinned. "Now you're getting the smarts. So, who is she?"
"Some baron's daughter, or something. And she hasn't got a clue what's going on. Naïve as hell, I'm telling you this." Mathieu said with a laugh.
Christophe Thénardier, the youngest of the group at about thirteen, nudged him in the side. "Easy to get and has the money."
"Exactly." Mathieu replied.
"But," Chaumérey interrupted. "We've got other things to do first. The robbery..?" He prompted.
"Of course," said Louis. He held up two pistols and directed them toward Mathieu and Christophe. "Tomorrow night, we meet here, of course. Then, off to old Gautreau's. If we're lucky, he won't know a thing and we'll get out of there clean. But he has been known to have a housekeeper. Just to be safe."
Christophe took his and pocketed it into his trousers under his coat. Mathieu, however, hesitated.
"What's with you, Claquesous? Take it." Guichard prompted.
Mathieu rounded on him. "And see the girl? Not with that on me."
"Good thinking," muttered Chaumérey. "You keep it, Louis. Give it to him tomorrow night. In the meantime, work on the girl, see what you can get out of her." Snickers erupted from the group. "And I don't mean like that, though I'm not deterring you if you get the chance." He laughed, and Mathieu cracked that devilish grin again.
~*~
The next morning came pale and clear, with summery dew clinging to the grass and leaves. Ariadne awoke in a more cheerful mood than she had been in for a very long time. She sat up in bed and looked at the window, where she had put the pink flower that Mathieu had given her. The vase was crystal and reflected beams of morning sunlight, splaying a rainbow against the wall.
She rose and dressed, taking special care with her hair and choice of dress. Then she bounded down the stairs into the dining room, which was unusually empty. The table was set for only one. Ariadne ventured into the kitchen, where she found Virginie.
"Good morning, Mademoiselle," the maid murmured. "You're finally awake."
"Finally?" Ariadne echoed. She looked around. "How late is it?"
"Almost noon, Mademoiselle." Virginie replied casually, not turning to look at her. "Your parents have gone away to the market and told me just to wait for you to get up."
But Ariadne was not listening, and had already gone from the kitchen and was hurrying for the foyer. Virginie caught her just as she was slipping out the door.
"Where are you off to so quickly, Miss Ariadne? You haven't even eaten yet." She protested.
"Don't worry, Virginie. I'm late to meet someone." Ariadne replied.
"Who?"
She heard just as the door closed, "Madeleine!" and then the girl was gone. Virginie watched through the lace curtain on the window as she hurried down the street toward the park. She smiled slightly and shook her head, then returned to the kitchen.
~*~
From the window in her bedroom, Madeleine watched the street below. The clock had just rung noonday, and Ariadne had not yet arrived to pick her up. She had a strong feeling that she would be spending another afternoon alone. She sat down on the windowsill and placed her forehead against the glass.
There was Ariadne, bounding around the corner and apparently in very high spirits. Madeleine took notice how she was dressed, almost lavishly so. And she was making no direction to even glance towards her house. Madeleine watched her skip off towards the park. She crossed her arms and then turned away from the window, pulling the curtains closed violently.
~*~
Mathieu was already waiting for Ariadne when she arrived in the park. He was sitting at their customary bench and turned as she approached, looking winded.
"You're late," he said with a smile.
Ariadne gave a laugh and slid onto the bench, very close to Mathieu. "I slept late this morning." She said. Mathieu nodded, still smiling.
"But that's all right. You're here now."
Ariadne laughed again and attempted to catch her breath. Suddenly Mathieu leaned toward her, and then he was kissing her.
~*~
A short distance away, Christophe Thénardier and Louis sat watching the couple. The boy cracked a grin.
"Look at him go." He muttered.
"Necking with the girl, huh?" Louis replied, squinting to see better. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Christophe nod. He himself was only a few years older than the Thénardier boy. Chaumérey had sent them both out together to keep an eye on the progress between Mathieu and the girl.
"You think he actually likes her?" Christophe mused.
"A waif like that?" Louis said dubiously. "I know I wouldn't, baron's daughter or no."
"Couldn't convince me of that, the way he's kissing her." The boy replied.
Louis snorted. "He's an actor, what do you expect?"
Christophe shook his head. "Whatever the reason, it's making my stomach turn. Let's go, we can tell Chaumérey that it's a done deal now. We can go for her after we finish with Gautreau tonight." Louis grunted his consent and they rose, heading back to the city.
~*~
Madeleine was sitting on the steps of her apartment when Ariadne came bouncing back an hour later. At first, the carefree girl took no apparent notice of her.
"You look in a good mood, Ariadne." She called from the steps.
Ariadne stopped and looked at her friend. The expression on her face was one of complete obliviousness, as if she had to take a moment to remind herself who she was talking to. "Oh, hello Mattie! Are you feeling any better?"
"Much." Madeleine replied bluntly. "How are you?"
Ariadne giggled. "Oh, it's just the most wonderful thing, Mattie, I think I'm in love." She admitted.
Madeleine didn't give any sort of reaction for a moment. "Wonderful." She said finally.
"Come now, Mattie, you're not still sore about the other day, are you?"
"I just don't think you should be seeing that Mathieu student." Madeleine replied.
Ariadne stared at her friend for a moment. "Well-you're just jealous, then."
Madeleine laughed. "Of what, Ariadne? I'll tell you something-I saw him last night walking straight past my window, heading toward the river. You /know/ that's where all the gangs hide! He's up to no good, I'm telling you this!"
Ariadne stumbled over a few responses. "No-not Mathieu. It couldn't have been Mathieu."
"You see that street lamp there? Right outside my window. I saw him perfectly, Ariadne. You ought to stay away before you get in trouble." Madeleine replied, standing up. "Are you going to trust me or him?"
"I-I don't believe you!" Ariadne said sharply. "You're jealous, Madeleine, that's all there is to it! Ever since that first day when he didn't give you the welcome you wanted from him."
"Now he's putting words in your mouth. You're not talking like the Ariadne I know, you're talking like some.some leashed pet poodle!"
Ariadne's mouth fell open in astonishment. "Madeleine!" she shook her head, unable to say anything at all. Finally she turned and ran, disappearing around the corner toward her home.
Madeleine stood there and watched her go, shaking her head. She sat down on the step again.
She lost track of the time as she sat there, and only seemed aware that she was still there when the door to the apartment next door opened and a sharply-dressed elderly man in a cap stepped out. He spotted the teen sitting on the step and approached, clutching his cane.
"What's this, Mademoiselle Madeleine? I haven't seen such a sour look on your face in years." He said. Madeleine looked over at him and smiled.
"It's nothing, Monsieur Gautreau." She insisted.
He stroked his grey beard and watched her, nodding his head. "Oh, all right. But I don't like to see a frown on a pretty face like yours."
Madeleine rose to her feet. "Where are you off to, Monsieur Gautreau? You're dressed very nicely."
He used his cane to point down the street. "I'm off to see a play, at the theatre. You have a good night now, Mademoiselle."
Madeleine nodded and gave a smile, turning toward her door. The old man started down the street.
~*~
Across the street, Christophe sat on the corner side looking like a typical beggar, watching the old man come out of his apartment. He stopped for a moment and spoke with the girl on the steps of the apartment next door, speaking words that the boy couldn't hear. Then the old man started away down the street.
Christophe grinned and picked himself up, scrambling back to Patron- Minette.
The clouded skies provided a perfect cover for Mathieu when he made his way toward the river where he was to meet his gang. Patron-Minette, it was called, and had been so since the days of his father. As he drew near, he could see that he was one of the last to arrive. The rest of the gang was under the bridge, talking in hushed voices.
"You're late, Claquesous." Hissed Chaumérey, holding up his lantern to see who was approaching. Mathieu held up his hand in the light that was flooding into his face. "Where were you?"
"Scouting out something, is all." Mathieu explained, shoving his hands into his coat pockets once Chaumérey lowered the lantern. The others gave snorts of dubiousness. "Truly."
Guichard laughed aloud. "Cover your behind all you wish, Claquesous. Me 'n Louis saw you today in the park with a wench on your arm. Scouting the area indeed."
Mathieu studied Guichard for a moment. "Well, the 'wench' is what's going to get us some cash!" he whispered, leaning in.
Chaumérey grinned. "Now you're getting the smarts. So, who is she?"
"Some baron's daughter, or something. And she hasn't got a clue what's going on. Naïve as hell, I'm telling you this." Mathieu said with a laugh.
Christophe Thénardier, the youngest of the group at about thirteen, nudged him in the side. "Easy to get and has the money."
"Exactly." Mathieu replied.
"But," Chaumérey interrupted. "We've got other things to do first. The robbery..?" He prompted.
"Of course," said Louis. He held up two pistols and directed them toward Mathieu and Christophe. "Tomorrow night, we meet here, of course. Then, off to old Gautreau's. If we're lucky, he won't know a thing and we'll get out of there clean. But he has been known to have a housekeeper. Just to be safe."
Christophe took his and pocketed it into his trousers under his coat. Mathieu, however, hesitated.
"What's with you, Claquesous? Take it." Guichard prompted.
Mathieu rounded on him. "And see the girl? Not with that on me."
"Good thinking," muttered Chaumérey. "You keep it, Louis. Give it to him tomorrow night. In the meantime, work on the girl, see what you can get out of her." Snickers erupted from the group. "And I don't mean like that, though I'm not deterring you if you get the chance." He laughed, and Mathieu cracked that devilish grin again.
~*~
The next morning came pale and clear, with summery dew clinging to the grass and leaves. Ariadne awoke in a more cheerful mood than she had been in for a very long time. She sat up in bed and looked at the window, where she had put the pink flower that Mathieu had given her. The vase was crystal and reflected beams of morning sunlight, splaying a rainbow against the wall.
She rose and dressed, taking special care with her hair and choice of dress. Then she bounded down the stairs into the dining room, which was unusually empty. The table was set for only one. Ariadne ventured into the kitchen, where she found Virginie.
"Good morning, Mademoiselle," the maid murmured. "You're finally awake."
"Finally?" Ariadne echoed. She looked around. "How late is it?"
"Almost noon, Mademoiselle." Virginie replied casually, not turning to look at her. "Your parents have gone away to the market and told me just to wait for you to get up."
But Ariadne was not listening, and had already gone from the kitchen and was hurrying for the foyer. Virginie caught her just as she was slipping out the door.
"Where are you off to so quickly, Miss Ariadne? You haven't even eaten yet." She protested.
"Don't worry, Virginie. I'm late to meet someone." Ariadne replied.
"Who?"
She heard just as the door closed, "Madeleine!" and then the girl was gone. Virginie watched through the lace curtain on the window as she hurried down the street toward the park. She smiled slightly and shook her head, then returned to the kitchen.
~*~
From the window in her bedroom, Madeleine watched the street below. The clock had just rung noonday, and Ariadne had not yet arrived to pick her up. She had a strong feeling that she would be spending another afternoon alone. She sat down on the windowsill and placed her forehead against the glass.
There was Ariadne, bounding around the corner and apparently in very high spirits. Madeleine took notice how she was dressed, almost lavishly so. And she was making no direction to even glance towards her house. Madeleine watched her skip off towards the park. She crossed her arms and then turned away from the window, pulling the curtains closed violently.
~*~
Mathieu was already waiting for Ariadne when she arrived in the park. He was sitting at their customary bench and turned as she approached, looking winded.
"You're late," he said with a smile.
Ariadne gave a laugh and slid onto the bench, very close to Mathieu. "I slept late this morning." She said. Mathieu nodded, still smiling.
"But that's all right. You're here now."
Ariadne laughed again and attempted to catch her breath. Suddenly Mathieu leaned toward her, and then he was kissing her.
~*~
A short distance away, Christophe Thénardier and Louis sat watching the couple. The boy cracked a grin.
"Look at him go." He muttered.
"Necking with the girl, huh?" Louis replied, squinting to see better. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Christophe nod. He himself was only a few years older than the Thénardier boy. Chaumérey had sent them both out together to keep an eye on the progress between Mathieu and the girl.
"You think he actually likes her?" Christophe mused.
"A waif like that?" Louis said dubiously. "I know I wouldn't, baron's daughter or no."
"Couldn't convince me of that, the way he's kissing her." The boy replied.
Louis snorted. "He's an actor, what do you expect?"
Christophe shook his head. "Whatever the reason, it's making my stomach turn. Let's go, we can tell Chaumérey that it's a done deal now. We can go for her after we finish with Gautreau tonight." Louis grunted his consent and they rose, heading back to the city.
~*~
Madeleine was sitting on the steps of her apartment when Ariadne came bouncing back an hour later. At first, the carefree girl took no apparent notice of her.
"You look in a good mood, Ariadne." She called from the steps.
Ariadne stopped and looked at her friend. The expression on her face was one of complete obliviousness, as if she had to take a moment to remind herself who she was talking to. "Oh, hello Mattie! Are you feeling any better?"
"Much." Madeleine replied bluntly. "How are you?"
Ariadne giggled. "Oh, it's just the most wonderful thing, Mattie, I think I'm in love." She admitted.
Madeleine didn't give any sort of reaction for a moment. "Wonderful." She said finally.
"Come now, Mattie, you're not still sore about the other day, are you?"
"I just don't think you should be seeing that Mathieu student." Madeleine replied.
Ariadne stared at her friend for a moment. "Well-you're just jealous, then."
Madeleine laughed. "Of what, Ariadne? I'll tell you something-I saw him last night walking straight past my window, heading toward the river. You /know/ that's where all the gangs hide! He's up to no good, I'm telling you this!"
Ariadne stumbled over a few responses. "No-not Mathieu. It couldn't have been Mathieu."
"You see that street lamp there? Right outside my window. I saw him perfectly, Ariadne. You ought to stay away before you get in trouble." Madeleine replied, standing up. "Are you going to trust me or him?"
"I-I don't believe you!" Ariadne said sharply. "You're jealous, Madeleine, that's all there is to it! Ever since that first day when he didn't give you the welcome you wanted from him."
"Now he's putting words in your mouth. You're not talking like the Ariadne I know, you're talking like some.some leashed pet poodle!"
Ariadne's mouth fell open in astonishment. "Madeleine!" she shook her head, unable to say anything at all. Finally she turned and ran, disappearing around the corner toward her home.
Madeleine stood there and watched her go, shaking her head. She sat down on the step again.
She lost track of the time as she sat there, and only seemed aware that she was still there when the door to the apartment next door opened and a sharply-dressed elderly man in a cap stepped out. He spotted the teen sitting on the step and approached, clutching his cane.
"What's this, Mademoiselle Madeleine? I haven't seen such a sour look on your face in years." He said. Madeleine looked over at him and smiled.
"It's nothing, Monsieur Gautreau." She insisted.
He stroked his grey beard and watched her, nodding his head. "Oh, all right. But I don't like to see a frown on a pretty face like yours."
Madeleine rose to her feet. "Where are you off to, Monsieur Gautreau? You're dressed very nicely."
He used his cane to point down the street. "I'm off to see a play, at the theatre. You have a good night now, Mademoiselle."
Madeleine nodded and gave a smile, turning toward her door. The old man started down the street.
~*~
Across the street, Christophe sat on the corner side looking like a typical beggar, watching the old man come out of his apartment. He stopped for a moment and spoke with the girl on the steps of the apartment next door, speaking words that the boy couldn't hear. Then the old man started away down the street.
Christophe grinned and picked himself up, scrambling back to Patron- Minette.