This surprised Fantine.
"That's odd!" said she.
"I thought the diligence never stopped."
Favourite shrugged her shoulders.
"This Fantine is surprising.
I am coming to take a look at her out of curiosity.
She is dazzled by the simplest things.
Suppose a case:I am a traveller; I say to the diligence, `I will go on in advance; you shall pick me up on the quay as you pass.'
The diligence passes, sees me, halts, and takes me.
That is done every day.
You do not know life, my dear."
In this manner a certain time elapsed.
All at once Favourite made a movement, like a person who is just waking up.
"Well," said she, "and the surprise?"
"Yes, by the way," joined in Dahlia, "the famous surprise?"
"They are a very long time about it!" said Fantine.
As Fantine concluded this sigh, the waiter who had served them at dinner entered.
He held in his hand something which resembled a letter.
"What is that?" demanded Favourite.
The waiter replied:--