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So she was the prey of a vague appetite for learning a history。
In order to get rid of this curiosity which agitated her a little beyond her wont； she took refuge in her talents； and set about scalloping； with one layer of cotton after another； one of those embroideries of the Empire and the Restoration； in which there are numerous cart…wheels。 The work was clumsy； the worker cross。
She had been seated at this for several hours when the door opened。
Mademoiselle Gillenormand raised her nose。 Lieutenant Theodule stood before her； making the regulation salute。 She uttered a cry of delight。
One may be old； one may be a prude； one may be pious； one may be an aunt； but it is always agreeable to see a lancer enter one's chamber。
〃You here； Theodule！〃 she exclaimed。
〃On my way through town； aunt。〃
〃Embrace me。〃
〃Here goes！〃 said Theodule。
And he kissed her。
Aunt Gillenormand went to her writing…desk and opened it。
〃You will remain with us a week at least？〃
〃I leave this very evening； aunt。〃
〃It is not possible！〃
〃Mathematically！〃
〃Remain； my little Theodule； 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。〃
Theodule 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 coupe。〃
〃Well？〃
〃A traveller had already e to engage a seat in the imperial。 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 youit is your duty； in his case； it is wildness。〃
〃Bosh！〃 said Theodule。
Here an event occurred to Mademoiselle Gillenormand 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 Theodule。〃
〃I would rather be called Alfred；〃 said the officer。
〃Listen； Theodule。〃
〃I am listening； aunt。〃
〃Pay attention。〃
〃I am paying attention。〃
〃You understand？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Well； Marius absents himself！〃
〃Eh！ eh！〃
〃He travels。〃
〃Ah！ ah！〃
〃He spends the night out。〃
〃Oh！ oh！〃
〃We should like to know what there is behind all this。〃
Theodule replied with the posure of a man of bronze：
〃Some petticoat or other。〃
And with that inward laugh which denotes certainty； he added：
〃A lass。〃
〃That is evident；〃 exclaimed his aunt； who thought she heard M。 Gillenormand speaking； and who felt her conviction bee irresistible at that word fillette； accentuated in almost the very same fashion by the granduncle and the grandnephew。
She resumed：
〃Do us a favor。
Follow Marius a little。
He does not know you； it will be easy。
Since a lass there is； try to get a sight of her。 You must write us the tale。
It will amuse his grandfather。〃
Theodule had no excessive taste for this sort of spying； but he was much touched by the ten louis； and he thought he saw a chance for a possible sequel。
He accepted the mission and said： 〃As you please； aunt。〃
And he added in an aside； to himself：
〃Here I am a duenna。〃
Mademoiselle Gillenormand embraced him。
〃You are not the man to play such pranks； Theodule。
You obey discipline； you are the slave of orders； you are a man of scruples and duty； and you would not quit your family to go and see a creature。〃
The lancer made the pleased grimace of Cartouche when praised for his probity。
Marius； on the evening following this dialogue； mounted the diligence without suspecting that he was watched。
As for the watcher； the first thing he did was to fall asleep。
His slumber was plete and conscientious。
Argus snored all night long。
At daybreak； the conductor of the diligence shouted：
〃Vernon！ relay of Vernon！
Travellers for Vernon！〃
And Lieutenant Theodule woke。
〃Good；〃 he growled； still half asleep； 〃this is where I get out。〃
Then； as his memory cleared by degrees； the effect of waking； he recalled his aunt； the ten louis； and the account which he had undertaken to render of the deeds and proceedings of Marius。 This set him to laughing。
〃Perhaps he is no longer in the coach；〃 he thought； as he rebuttoned the waistcoat of his undress uniform。
〃He may have stopped at Poissy； he may have stopped at Triel； if he did not get out at Meulan； he may have got out at Mantes； unless he got out at Rolleboise； or if he did not go on as far as Pacy； with the choice of turning to the left at Evreus； or to the right a