Chapter Three
At long last, Fantine slept, although probably due more to near hypothermia then general fatigue. She was awakened by the voice of a stranger.
"Madame?"
The single word shattered the icy silence of the winter evening, and startled Fantine. She looked up to see a well-to-do gentleman standing before her, and, thinking she had trespassed, quickly stood.
"I did not know this was your property, M'sieur," she said. "I am sorry. We will go now, and be no trouble to you." She began to walk away, and was stopped by his words as if he had grabbed her.
"You will not leave," he said conversationally, his tone contradicting his words.
"I--I will not?" Fantine repeated, frightened. Surely he would not have her arrested for such a small transgression.
He shook his head. "You are aware that there is not another house, much less an inn, for many miles, regardless of which direction you are traveling?"
"I am, M'sieur," Fantine replied quietly, unsure of what he was getting at.
"So, am I to assume that you were planning to sleep outdoors tonight?"
His tone was slightly mocking, and at this, Fantine took offense. Yet, she did not want to anger the gentleman. "It was not planned, M'sieur," she replied wearily. She was too tired and cold to go into further detail.
He smiled at her, and suddenly became much less frightening. "It is my opinion that nothing worthwhile is ever planned." He paused. "Do you find your journey to have been worthwhile, despite the lovely weather we're having?"
Fantine looked at Cosette, who was now awake, and smiled. "Yes," she said, "I do."
"That's good to hear," he replied sincerely. "But for whatever reason you're making this trip, it can't be worth dying for, and you're certain to freeze to death if you stay out here tonight. You're welcome to stay at my home for the night. I hope that's not an indecent proposal?" His eyes were full of laughter and warmth, and Fantine irrelevantly thought about how the night didn't seem quite so cold anymore.