EP

[heartbeneathastone]

The newest and most befuddled member of the 19th century Parisian contingent is back in the bar, and looking distinctly less like he is teetering on the brink of a nervous breakdown.

Then again, that might just be because he's mostly hidden behind a sizable stack of books; plainly, someone has pointed him in the direction of the library, and he has made free with the offerings. Browsing the spines (not difficult to do, most of them are very thick) will reveal a series of quite formal, dense, boring-looking volumes on French law of his own era.

Comments

[not_his_pa]

William recognizes the young man who was with Javert and comes over, "Do you need some help with all of those, sir?"

[heartbeneathastone]

"What? Oh-- no," Marius says, even then arriving at a table and tipping the books onto it. "Thank you."

[not_his_pa]

"Oh good, are you studying for something?" Those are big and interesting looks books but not ones he knows.

[venerable_ibis]

Djehuty is not appearing as a bird-headed gentleman at the moment. He was, a little while ago, when he first stepped into the room and perceived the presence of law-books; but then he had gone on to perceive a certain fragility about the scribe behind them, and had discreetly exited so that he could return looking human. He's even wearing clothes that shouldn't be too alarming: one of the first people he'd met here was Joly, and Djehuty can easily manage an 1830s silhouette.

So the person who comes up to Marius looks altogether human, and even bows in a not-especially-foreign way, and greets Marius in flawless French. "Forgive me for interrupting you, but I believe you are studying the law?"

[heartbeneathastone]

"Oh-- yes," Marius says. He's rather relieved when he looks up and sees a person who looks so (relatively) ordinary, and perhaps it shows. "I am. Are you, um-- that is, do you-- study--?"

[venerable_ibis]

"I have a great interest in the law," he says cheerfully, "and I could not help but notice your delicious collection here. But please, am I interrupting you in anything of great importance?"

[heartbeneathastone]

"You are not," Marius replies. "It is work that may as readily be done later-- or when I return home."

Remembering his manners, he adds abruptly, "Would you like to sit?"

[venerable_ibis]

"Oh, thank you!" He sits, looking somehow statuesque, with his hands planted on his knees. "If I may--is your home Paris? I am acquainted with several French people here; I think so highly of Jehan Prouvaire, and Doctor Joly."

[heartbeneathastone]

"Why, yes," Marius says, surprised. Perhaps his clothes give him away? Surely he and the rest aren't the only ones from their year, given all of time, as everyone claims--? Well, a thought for another time. "Yes, they are friends of mine, both of them. I-- I think very highly of them, too."

[venerable_ibis]

Yyyyeah, funny thing, odds are overwhelmingly high that anyone showing up here in that style of clothing knows the Paris revolutionary collection.

Djehuty smiles, radiating contentment. "Excellent people, although I find their ideas strange and challenging. But you study the law of your time? You are not opposed to it?"

[heartbeneathastone]

...now there's a question.

"I am a lawyer," Marius says slowly. "But I may assume that you have spoken to them of-- political matters?"

[venerable_ibis]

"Oh, yes." He tilts his head to one side and looks at the young man, faintly puzzled. "--Oh. Oh, of course, forgive me. I am not from your time and place; I know that your friends' political beliefs set them at odds with the rule of law in Paris, but I am not here to combat criminal activity."

Is that reassuring? Maybe not reassuring enough. Oh dear. Perhaps an introduction will help. "My name is Djehuty; I am from Egypt."

[heartbeneathastone]

"Egypt!" Marius echoes, clearly sufficiently reassured to allow himself to be distracted. "I have read about Egypt, of course. Where do you come from?"

[venerable_ibis]

"I am well-traveled throughout Egypt," he says, after considering how to answer. He's not trying to be evasive, just careful of human sensitivities. "But Khmun is the town I most frequently visit. I don't know if you will have read of it? I believe the Greek name will be Hermopolis, the Greeks and Romans calling it Hermopolis Megale or Hermopolis Magna, but that time has not yet come. --But may I look at your books?"

[heartbeneathastone]

"Oh-- yes--" Marius closes the volume he was reading and nudges the stack towards Djehuty. "Of course, they are not mine. They are from the library."

[venerable_ibis]

Dehuty lifts one of the books and holds it very carefully for a few moments before opening it. "It is quite well made, as a book." And the contents? He turns the pages, looking like a man settling down to read a menu. Hmm, hmm. "Inheritance law?"

[heartbeneathastone]

"Oh, yes," Marius says. leaning in just a touch to see what Djehuty is looking at. "I-- I am looking into a question of a will on a friend's behalf."

[venerable_ibis]

"Oh, that is an excellent work! Is it for a friend here?"

[heartbeneathastone]

Marius nods. "It is. But pardon me-- I should not say more about it." He doubts Joly and Bossuet feel terribly secretive about the whole question, but it feels improper to discuss even so. "And may I ask, monsieur, what business has carried you across Egypt?"