Fantine trudges up the street with Thenardier's letter clutched in her hand. Moonlight gleams faintly on the rain-slicked cobblestones. She stops to cough, leaning against the lamppost.
"You all right?"
She starts, straightening with difficulty. The voice is high and anxious. "Madame? You all right?"
"Yes." She coughs again, manages to smother it. "I'm fine."
The child emerges from behind the grating, round-eyed. "Want any help?"
"No, I'm all right. Does your mother know you're out at this hour?"
"Got no mother."
"Oh." He is not much older than Cosette. "Well. Good night."
"'Night," he says, and vanishes.