Memoirs of Les Amis de l'ABC

Chapter Seven: Once More with Feeling

The following Tuesday, Sybill and Cosette Fauchelevent followed Gavroche to the Café Musain. The little boy was beyond ecstatic to be able to go to the Musain with the girls and see his friends. Gavroche considered the men to be amongst his dearest friends. In fact, he called only the men his friends with the exception of one or two little street urchins his own age. Monsieur Courfeyrac had sent a letter with Gavroche to Sybill on Friday to ensure that the she and her sister would return to the Café. Once it was arranged, all that was left was for Courfeyrac and Marius to anxiously await the few days that seemed to stretch forever.

"Courfeyrac," Marius said worriedly on Tuesday afternoon, "you are quite sure that her sister was taken with me, yes?"

"Marius," sighed Courfeyrac exasperatedly, "I cannot answer that. Only the lady herself knows the answer of whether or not she is taken with you. I can only assure you that her sister wrote me saying that she believed her sister to feel some certain...affections towards you."

"Good," Marius nodded happily, "good. Yes, and what is her name?"

"Mademoiselle Fauchelevent," replied Courfeyrac.

"Do you recall her Christian name?" the boy inquired.

Courfeyrac froze then shrugged. "I don't suspect she ever told me," he lied. "That will be a great place to start asking her questions."

The two men waited in the downstairs area of the Café Musain for the girls to arrive. Courfeyrac kept glancing over at the bar area, expecting Muschietta but was always met with the gaze of an elderly woman who eventually began to scowl at the boy. He was worried about Muschietta since he had not seen her the past week though Joly assured him that she was perfectly fine.

It was a quarter past noon when finally the Fauchelevent girls stumbled awkwardly into the Café Musain behind a beaming boy. Courfeyrac noticed at once, and he drew close towards the door smoothly while Marius stumbled slightly while standing then figured it best for himself if he stay put at the table.  

"Mademoiselle Fauchelevent," smiled Courfeyrac, taking Sybill's hand and kissing it. "It is such a pleasure to make your acquaintance once more if I may say."

"You may," smiled Sybill with a regular, flirtatious air. "Now, monsieur, what precisely is the plan for the afternoon?"

Courfeyrac smirked as he motioned to Marius who stole close to Cosette's side while blushing furiously. Cosette giggled. Marius offered the girl her arm which Cosette happily took. Courfeyrac offered his to Sybill who took it quite quickly. Gavroche looked at the four of them with a slightly upset air before he was summoned by the old woman to the bar counter. The old woman had noticed the appearance of things between the two couples, and she had decided that it would be best for them to head away without the little boy.

"Monsieur," teased Sybill. "I will ask you once more: what precisely is the plan for the afternoon?"

"Oh, dear mademoiselle," smiled Courfeyrac, "my dear friend Marius Pontmercy decided on our heading to the marketplace for a quick visit this afternoon before returning to the Café Musain."

"Simple," commented Sybill with a small smile.

"You say that as if it is a bad thing," remarked Courfeyrac.

"No, sometimes simple is excellent," Sybill quickly explained.

Courfeyrac smirked. "Fancy hearing that from a girl who appears anything but simple," he chuckled. "Simple Sybill."