“I leave this very evening, aunt.”
“It is not possible!”
“Mathematically!”
“Remain, my little Théodule, 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.”
Théodule 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 coupé.”