Page 1084 - les-miserables

CHAPTER VII

SOME PETTICOAT

We have mentioned a lancer.
He was a great-grand-nephew of M. Gillenormand, on
the paternal side, who led a garrison life, outside the family
and far from the domestic hearth. Lieutenant Theodule Gil-
lenormand fulfilled all the conditions required to make what
is called a fine officer. He had ‘a lady’s waist,’ a victorious
manner of trailing his sword and of twirling his mustache
in a hook. He visited Paris very rarely, and so rarely that
Marius had never seen him. The cousins knew each other
only by name. We think we have said that Theodule was the
favorite of Aunt Gillenormand, who preferred him because
she did not see him. Not seeing people permits one to attri-
bute to them all possible perfections.
One morning, Mademoiselle Gillenormand the elder
returned to her apartment as much disturbed as her pla-
cidity was capable of allowing. Marius had just asked his
grandfather’s permission to take a little trip, adding that
he meant to set out that very evening. ‘Go!’ had been his
grandfather’s reply, and M. Gillenormand had added in an
aside, as he raised his eyebrows to the top of his forehead:

1084 Les Miserables