We were all sitting in the front room at Corinthe-"

"Who exactly is 'we?'" I interrupted, a little rudely, I must admit.

"Well, me," Jean Prouvaire answered. "Marius Pontmercy, Combeferre, Grantaire, and we were waiting for Courfeyrac. As usual, Courfeyrac was late, and, as usual, we were all growing a tad weary of waiting for him. However, Marius was becoming most agitated at Courfeyrac's absence. He is an diffident boy by nature, but I've noticed that when it comes to Courfeyrac, he makes a field mouse look like Napoleon by comparison."

I gave a slight laugh. "A perfect description, Jehan," I told my friend.

"Why, thank you, Enjolras. Anyhow, Marius began to wring his hands together, worrying and fretting over what Courfeyrac may be up to. Perhaps he was afraid that he had found it necessary to find another woman for Marius, I don't know. But after about an hour, Marius was starting to unsettle me.

'Marius,' I finally said to him. 'Please calm down. Courfeyrac is always late, which I believe you are aware of. Don't assume that it has anything to do with you.'

'I'm too sober to deal with you, Pontmercy,' Grantaire gruffly informed him. 'And I'll knock you out before I let you drive me to drink again.'

Flustered and contrite, Marius began to stutter out an apology, only to be interrupted by the opening of the door.

'Marius Pontmercy!' a voice roared.

Poor Marius must have jumped almost two feet in the air at the sound of his name. He swung about and found Courfeyrac standing in the doorway. Marius' face blanched, however, at what accompanied Courfeyrac.

It was an absolutely gigantic shaggy grey English sheepdog.

Grantaire, Combeferre and I, enthused by the noble creature, rose excitedly and darted over to get acquainted with Courfeyrac's new friend. The three of us charmed the dog with our attention. He thumped his thick tail on the ground and smiled up at each of us with his great muzzle.

'Courfeyrac, what a beautiful animal!' exclaimed Combeferre, scratching the mighty beast between the ears. 'What have you decided to call him?'

'Ah,' said Courfeyrac, taking the dog's leash and leading him further inside. 'I have decided nothing, nor will I decide anything. The decision is for Marius to make.'

Although I scarcely believe it possible, Marius went even paler.

'What?' he said.

'This fine animal is for you, Marius,' Courfeyrac told him. He gave the leash to Marius, who took it gingerly.

Marius stared at the dog, trying desperately to remember how to blink or breathe. Finally, he asked, 'Wherever did you get this?'

'He's a him, not a this,' Courfeyrac corrected. 'And I got him from Fiera's father's boss' wife.'

Marius slowly stood up. He was horrified to see that the sheepdog stood almost to the last button on his waistcoat. All was silent for a moment.

'Well, Marius,' said Combeferre. 'Whatever shall you call him?'

Silence again descended on my companions and I as Marius racked his brain, desperately trying to think of a suitable dog name.

'I suppose I will just call him Tache,' he said slowly. ("Tache" means "Spot" in French.)

We all grimaced, and Grantaire was brave enough to tell Marius exactly what he thought of the name.

'Well, I've never had a dog before,' Marius replied, somewhat defensively-well, defensively for Marius. 'And I'm not quite sure that I want one. Courfeyrac, what ever gave you the idea that I would want a dog?'

Before Courfeyrac could answer him, Tache did, in the form of a low growl.

Marius' eyes went wide, and he took a step back from his new pet.

'Marius, look what you've gone and done; you've upset him!' Courfeyrac cried.

'But he can't understand me!'

'Yes he can,' Grantaire countered. 'Do you want to fight over it?'"

"Grantaire certainly has been bad-tempered lately, has he not?" I said to Jehan.

"Perhaps a little, yes. But I'm sure that it has something to do with his newly acquired sobriety," Jean Prouvaire asserted.

I snorted. "I certainly would prefer a little temper over his drunken ramblings, or obscene overtures to me. Never mind the stench! Anyhow, back to your story?"

"Oh, Yes! 'Well, I've never had a dog before,' Marius replied-"

"You've read that already, Jehan," I told him.
"Oh, yes, quite sorry, Enjolras. 'No!' Marius said. "That's alright, really.' There was an uneasy silence.

'Ah, Marius,' Combeferre stepped in. 'Why don't you take Tache for a walk?'

'A walk?'

"And that's all I have so far," Jean Prouvaire finished.