A New Start
Author's Note:
This is one of my
favorites as it's the story of the Innkeeper who was in the play Les
Miserables. If you have seen the play or read the book, you note that the pompous
bastard became rich. But what did happen after Paris has quashed the rebellion.
Here is the missing part.
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The smell of the
sea is fine with my nose and to be honest, it's a lot more fresh if I am not
among these sweaty bodies of those they called themselves sailors. I am
Monsieur Thenardier formerly of Jondrette of the Paris society. But now I am
back to my real identity of Thenardier. You're surprised that you as once knew me
as the unkempt Innkeeper who will fish even your last crown off your pocket for
a whiff of the dead cat I was cooking. Don't be as I was who I was and now I am
back to who I was. I have been many but it comes with dire needs to blend in
the times of then.
But I missed those
days; the carefree life we led with my now-deceased love, Mme. Thernardier and
her foul use of the vocal words. She may be a lesser of a lady then but a vixen
in my room was what produced us the two lasses of our marriage. But sadly she
died of late, and she has seen me in the tatters to the silk bounded sash to
hold my waist in place. Alas, life was a day's work to a day's food, but the
Inn kept us going with the unwary travelers. I remember then Cosette but we had
little choice but to squeeze the treasures out of her mum. I know it was evil
then and so was my liaison with the Patron-Minette, but the pickings kept ut
alive and well. Its gold was hard-earned and more difficult to peddle with the ever-vigilant
Javert. Curses are to him then for he kept me up at nights on some and huffed
my limbs on some of those runs in the dark alleys. But I did keep myself from
his arm for a spell of imprisonment.
Vive le
revolution! That was the call for the uprising in Paris in 1832. I was there
with my love; fanning the hatred and joining the looters. Oh please, we were
not unkind then, as we opened the Inn to the injured and tend to the dying. I
admit we extract some purses and maybe a gold tooth once or twice, but we were faithful
to the cause. I even brought the drinks to the barrier and quench the thirst of
the fighters although all I could afford then was the plain water from my well.
But I did my cause true to my heart.
I agreed that my
mind was to get rich so that I am out of the rut of cheating. And it pleased me
to said it worked as I was soon laden with wealth and allowed us to rub cheeks
with the elites. It was then we became the Jondrette. It was the life of social
with perfume from head to the toes and caked with powder on our face, we float
in those dance halls with the accompaniment of the music. It was life then
unless my love forgets her steps when a drink too big gets in her head. Then it
may call for discretion as I rushed her to the carriage. She is unbearable at
that state and worse as I have to stop her pawing my tights.
But she is gone now while my
wealth increased in folds. I wished sometimes it as the other so I can get into
her folds. But she left me her gentler side of our surviving daughter, Azelma who
now travels with me to the new state on a new continent.
"Papa, how
soon before we reached the shores of Montreal?" The object of my adulation
grazed the banister of the ship.
"Soon, my
dear. The Captain tells me we will dock by noon tomorrow and I hoped that we will
live well here." I brought her out on the death of her sister and mother;
leaving a life that I hoped she does not have to endure. It's the new land we
seek and with my wealth, I shall erect a life around her befitting a lady. She
would one day marry a beau of her equal and have their own family. But they
would not be in an Inn or sweep the untidy floorboards; that is my past and not
hers.
I am now Monsieur
Thenardier; a rich trader although what I trade maybe not to some liking, but
business is never for the faint-hearted. And if anyone raised the whispers of
my life in Paris, I would not hesitate to show them what I do best with my
dagger in my waist.
"Papa, what
is the dress to wear for my arrival in Montreal?"
"Oui, only
the finest for my daughter. Go now and seek your dress. Ask Martha to help with
it." I watched as she runs below deck to seek the nanny of her dress. I
called on the Captain to come forth.
"When we
reached Montreal, send my family on board first. When we have left the port, then
bring forth the cargo. I do not want her to see my trade as a slaver. Here is a
gold piece for your effort." I walked away humming my favorite song;
Master of the House.
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