Section 4 - Saint-Denis and Idyll of the Rue Plumet
Book Two - Eponine
After Javert had left the Gorbeau house with his prisoners, Marius went to Courfeyrac's to spend the night. The next day he had his things moved to Courfeyrac's. He did not want to have to testify in court against Thenardier. He borrowed money from his friend in order to be able to send five francs a week anonymously to Thenardier in prison. Javert did not have Marius' name and had no way of being certain that he was even in the house at the time of the ambush. Months passed during which time Marius was uncertain concerning many things including the nature of Monsieur Leblanc and whether or not he was actually the father of the young girl. He had no way of finding them and walked daily in a place called The Field of the Lark because the name was also the only one he had for the girl.
The raid upon the Gorbeau house failed to net the bandit Montparnasse, Eponine, and Monsieur Leblanc. Although Eponine was later picked up, on the trip from the house to the prison the bandit Claquesous escaped. The bandit Brujon was put in solitary confinement but managed to get a note to his comrade Babet concerning a possible robbery at a house in the Rue Plumet. Babet managed to get a note to Eponine whom, when she and her sister were released, scouted the location and sent back a biscuit which in the code of the prisons meant nothing to do. As such, the planned crime was not pursued.
Meanwhile, Father Mabeuf had become increasingly more destitute and he had been forced to pawn all the plates for his book. One evening he tried to draw water from his well for his garden but found that he lacked the strength. Dejected and despairing he looked at the stars for pity and was surprised when a young girl jumped over his hedge and offered to water his garden. She drew three buckets of water and completed the task with ease. Father Mabeuf apologized that he was too poor to offer her any money but she asked only that he tell her where to find Marius. Somewhat confused but willing, Father Mabeuf told her to look in the Field of the Lark during the afternoon. She left as suddenly as she came.
A few days later Eponine finds Marius daydreaming in the Field of the Lark. Marius is oblivious to her thinly veiled romantic feelings for him. She tells him that she can take him to the house where the young lady resides and he becomes very excited and happy. He makes her promise never to tell her father the address. When Eponine reminds him that he has promised to give her anything she wants if she provides him with the information, he gives her a five-franc piece which she sadly drops to the ground. She says, "I don't want your money."
Analysis
Marius was very upset when he realized that Thenardier, the man who had helped his father, was a crook. To avoid having to testify against him, he moves away and takes lodgings with Courfeyrac. Out of respect to his father, he sends money anonymously to Thenardier who has been imprisoned.
Marius continues to try to find out the name of the mysterious girl of the park and refers to her as "the lark." He discovers a park called the Field of the Lark and spends time there as a means of consoling himself. He is so immersed with his own thoughts that he does not even realize that Eponine is interested in him and is trying to please him by even helping him find the girl.
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