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‘Wel l? ’
‘A traveller had already come to engage a seat in the im-
perial. I saw his name on the card.’
‘What name?’
‘Marius Pontmercy.’
‘The wicked fellow!’ exclaimed his aunt. ‘Ah! your cousin
is not a steady lad like yourself. To think that he is to pass
the night in a diligence!’
‘Just as I am going to do.’
‘But you—it is your duty; in his case, it is wildness.’
‘Bosh!’ said Theodule.
Here an event occurred to Mademoiselle Gillenor-
mand the elder,— an idea struck her. If she had been a
man, she would have slapped her brow. She apostrophized
Theodule:—
‘Are you aware whether your cousin knows you?’
‘No. I have seen him; but he has never deigned to notice
me.’
‘So you are going to travel together?’
‘He in the imperial, I in the coupe.’
‘Where does this diligence run?’
‘To Andelys.’
‘Then that is where Marius is going?’
‘Unless, like myself, he should stop on the way. I get down
at Vernon, in order to take the branch coach for Gaillon. I
know nothing of Marius’ plan of travel.’
‘Marius! what an ugly name! what possessed them to
name him Marius? While you, at least, are called Theod-
u le.’