"Is that so? I'm sorry. This 'Montparnasse' sounds like a violent man. But you will have many more opportunities to love and be loved, my dear. I would not worry." He didn't know anyone as unlucky as Eponine (except, perhaps, himself), and in a way, wanted to give her hope if he could not do anything else.

Sigma looked at Eponine blankly, at first, as if uncertain of how to answer. And then, deciding that the question did indeed make him happy, he smiled. "Just one. A boy, a bit older than you." He wondered if a statement like that would bewilder the poor girl, as he knew he must be quite old compared to most parents from her time. "There's also you and Howard, too," he said jokingly, and grinned.