Page 2349 - les-miserables

Valjean.
‘There,’ said she, ‘I am going to install myself near you
in an easy-chair, we breakfast in half an hour, you shall say
anything you like, I know well that men must talk, and I
will be very good.’
Marius took her by the arm and said lovingly to her:
‘We are talking business.’
‘By the way,’ said Cosette, ‘I have opened my window,
a flock of pierrots has arrived in the garden,—Birds, not
maskers. To-day is Ash-Wednesday; but not for the birds.’
‘I tell you that we are talking business, go, my little Co-
sette, leave us alone for a moment. We are talking figures.
That will bore you.’
‘You have a charming cravat on this morning, Marius.
You are very dandified, monseigneur. No, it will not bore
me.’
‘I assure you that it will bore you.’
‘No. Since it is you. I shall not understand you, but I shall
listen to you. When one hears the voices of those whom one
loves, one does not need to understand the words that they
utter. That we should be here together—that is all that I de-
sire. I shall remain with you, bah!’
‘You are my beloved Cosette! Impossible.’
‘Impossible!’
‘Yes.’
‘Very good,’ said Cosette. ‘I was going to tell you some
news. I could have told you that your grandfather is still
asleep, that your aunt is at mass, that the chimney in my fa-
ther Fauchelevent’s room smokes, that Nicolette has sent for

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