Page 1086 - les-miserables

And he kissed her. Aunt Gillenormand went to her writ-
ing-desk and opened it.
‘You will remain with us a week at least?’
‘I leave this very evening, aunt.’
‘It is not possible!’
‘Mathematically!’
‘Remain, my little Theodule, I beseech you.’
‘My heart says ‘yes,’ but my orders say ‘no.’ The matter
is simple. They are changing our garrison; we have been at
Melun, we are being transferred to Gaillon. It is necessary
to pass through Paris in order to get from the old post to the
new one. I said: ‘I am going to see my aunt.’’
‘Here is something for your trouble.’
And she put ten louis into his hand.
‘For my pleasure, you mean to say, my dear aunt.’
Theodule kissed her again, and she experienced the joy
of having some of the skin scratched from her neck by the
braidings on his uniform.
‘Are you making the journey on horseback, with your
regiment?’ she asked him.
‘No, aunt. I wanted to see you. I have special permission.
My servant is taking my horse; I am travelling by diligence.
And, by the way, I want to ask you something.’
‘What is it?’
‘Is my cousin Marius Pontmercy travelling so, too?’
‘How do you know that?’ said his aunt, suddenly pricked
to the quick with a lively curiosity.
‘On my arrival, I went to the diligence to engage my seat
in the coupe.’

1086 Les Miserables