244 Les Miserables
“Elle etait de ce monde ou coucous et carrosses[3]
Ont le meme destin;
Et, rosse, elle a vecu ce que vivant les rosses,
L’espace d’un matin!’[3] She belonged to that circle where cuckoos and car-
riages share the same fate; and a jade herself, she lived, as
jades live, for the space of a morning (or jade).
‘Poor horse!’ sighed Fantine.
And Dahlia exclaimed:—
‘There is Fantine on the point of crying over horses. How
can one be such a pitiful fool as that!’
At that moment Favourite, folding her arms and throw-
ing her head back, looked resolutely at Tholomyes and
said:—
‘Come, now! the surprise?’
‘Exactly. The moment has arrived,’ replied Tholomyes.
‘Gentlemen, the hour for giving these ladies a surprise has
struck. Wait for us a moment, ladies.’
‘It begins with a kiss,’ said Blachevelle.
‘On the brow,’ added Tholomyes.
Each gravely bestowed a kiss on his mistress’s brow; then
all four filed out through the door, with their fingers on
their lips.
Favourite clapped her hands on their departure.
‘It is beginning to be amusing already,’ said she.
‘Don’t be too long,’ murmured Fantine; ‘we are waiting
for you.’