Marius snorts at the look on Courfeyrac's face, though his expression perfectly sums up how he, too, feels in regard to his grandfather. He remembers too well being dragged to parlors and mansions of people equally as charitable as Monsieur Gillenormand; sour memories as potent as any of his unpleasant childhood he rather disdains in dwelling upon. "They all shared my grandfather's view of the world," he says, shaking his head. "And his delight in pointing out everything wrong with me."

Marius snorts again when Courfeyrac catches sight of the lovely stablehand. "I planned for us to ride along one of the paths through the woods," he says. "With mademoiselle Violet as our guide. I don't suppose you can hold off until the end of our venture to ask for her number?"