Les Miserables
Story written by Victor Hugo, cliff-notes by Joe Kenny
Bishop M. Charles Francois-Bienvenu Myriel, Bishop of Brignolles.
In 1815, Bishop of Brignolles was 75 years old. He had been bishop since 1806.
He lived in a palace adjacent to a small crowded hospital. He gave up his dwellings so the hospital could move to create more room for the patients. He in return took up residence in the small run down hospital.
It was apparent that Bishop of B___ gave all his treasures and money away. The government gave him allowance each month, which he gave it all away except enough for him, his sister and servant to live meagerly on.
He sold everything of worth to give to the poor except for a silver set of dishes, utensils, and 2 silver candlesticks. He had mentioned more than once. " it would be difficult for me to give up eating from silver."
His sister, Mademoiselle Baptitine, and his servant, Madame Magloire were very faithful and obedient to the bishop.
After Jean Valjean stole the silver, his only remarks were " for the longest time, I felt guilty for owning it. It did not belong to me, it belonged to the poor". He from then on, ate on wood plates.
Bishop Myriel died near the beginning of the year 1821.
Jean Valjean
Born of a poor peasant family in Brie. He lost his parents when young. His mother died of malpractice with milk-fever; his father, a pruner before him, died when a tree fell on him. They lived in Faverolles.
Jean had but one relative left, a sister, a widow with 7 children. Jean had just reached his 25th year when he took over the children’s father’s place. He too worked as a pruner. There was a very severe winter and there was no work. One Sunday night, Maubert Isabeau, the baker in Faverolles was just leaving when he heard glass break and just then saw a hand enter in between the bars and stole a loaf of bread. The baker chased the robber and the robber threw the bread away, but was still caught. Jean was caught in 1795 and sent to the tribunals of the time for "burglary at night, in an inhabited house." He was sentenced to 5 years in the galleys. He was taken to Toulon, after a journey of 27days on a cart with a chain around his neck and given a new name; 24,601.
His sister moved to Paris, but without any means, past away.
Near the end of his forth year, he successfully escaped and wandered free for 2 day and was caught. He was given 3 more years. In his 6th year attempted again and resisted arrest. This gave him 5 more years. On his 10th year, tried to escape again with similar success. It gave him 3 more. After his 13th year, he escaped for 4 hours and got an additional 3 years for those 4 hours, totaling, 19 years at Toulon. In Oct. 1815, he was set at large with 109 francs and 15 sous for his 19 years of labor. He went in with despair and shivering, and came out harden.
In Toulon, he learned to read and write.
When released, he managed to find a small amount of work, but was paid much less than honest men received. His yellow passport, though required to show the mayor of every town he entered, was like a brand that called him a convict. No-one would serve him food or lodging. One very cold night, after countless tries at the taverns and inns, he found himself curling up on a bench outside the cathedral. A lady passing by, gave him a few sous to go to the tavern, but he explained that no one would take him in. She said, "Did you try that place?" and pointed over to the old hospital, where the Bishop lived. He was shown a place that would change his life forever.
The bishop more than willingly admitted Jean and fed him and gave him a bed. The cathedral struck its bell at 2 AM and awoke Jean. His mind went instantly to the 6 silver plates and ladle from earlier that they used for his dinner. It was old silver that would bring about 200 francs. After an hour of temptation, he left the house with them.
Madame Magloire woke and saw the missing silver at woke the Bishop to tell him.
Right after the Bishop awoke, there was a knock on his door with 3 gendarmes and Valjean. The priest said, " Ah, there you are. I am glad to see you. But! I gave you the candlesticks too which are silver like the rest and would bring 200 francs. Why did you not take them too?"
The Bishop assured the guards that Valjean spoke the truth and convinced them to release him.
The Bishop then said to Valjean, " Forget not, never forget that you have promised me to use this silver to become an honest man. Jean Valjean, my brother, you belong no longer to evil, but to good. It is your soul that I am buying for you. I withdraw it from dark thoughts and from the spirit of perdition, and I give it to God.!"
After leaving the bishop, he came across a young man of about 12 years named Petit Gervais. The boy was playing catch with a few coins and one dropped and Valjean places his foot over a 40 sous piece and denied doing so. The boy pleaded, but Valjean scared him a way. Later, he felt remorse and looked for Gervais, but didn’t find him. He wept for hours, remembering what the Bishop had said.
Fantine
She didn’t know who her parents were. At the age of 15, she came to Paris to make her fortune. She was beautiful with nice teeth and long blonde hair.
She fell in love with a man names Felix Tholomyes. He had an income of 4,000 francs and was considered quite wealthy.
Her friends were Dahlia, Zephine and Favourite. One day, after nearly a year, the boy friends had promised a surprise for the ladies. One beautiful autumn day, they took them to a fancy restaurant and ended up leaving them all there, ‘high and dry’. Fantine was pregnant. She had given herself to Tholomyes as to be a husband soon. It was her first love. Later we find Tholomyes, 20 years later was a fat provincial attorney, rich and influential, under King Louis Philippe.
Thenardier’s
In a the town of Montfermeil there was a little chop-house / tavern / inn, run by the Thenardiers. (Pronounced Tenardiyays) The inn did not succeed very well. They were low class and basic scoundrels. They profited on others misfortunes. Thenardier was supposedly a Sergeant at Waterloo.
One day a person happened to be walking by this inn and saw a mother swinging her two girls in a pleasant manner and singing to them. Madame Thenardier was seen at one of her rare nice moments when Fantine was walking by with her daughter, going on three year old. Fantine’s daughter was named Cosette. Fantine talked for a while with Madame Thenardier and they worked out a deal for the Thenardier to watch over Cosette until Fantine was able to get some money together. With a child, Fantine could find no work, so she was forced into this situation. Fantine was 22 years old at this time. After nursing her child this whole time, she had developed a slight cough.
The Thenardiers insisted upon 7 francs a month for her daughters keep, with 6 months in advance. After 6 months, they demanded 12 francs per month, and when they learned the child was illegitimate they demanded 15 francs per month.
Thenardiers had two girls, Eponine being the eldest, who was almost 3 years old at this time and Azelma.
After Fantine left Cosette, the Thenardiers pawned her clothes for 60 francs and gave her Eponines hand-me-downs. Cosette’s mess-mates were a dog and cat, where she was fed orts and ends under the table with the cat.
They loved their own children but looked upon Cosette as a burden and grossly mistreated her, forcing her to do all the chores and nasty work while Eponine and Azelma would play and never do any chores.
A side note on Thenardier; At the end of the Battle at Waterloo, a Sergeant was rummaging through the dead bodies looking for valuables. This Sergeant came across one individual who was an officer with a silver star and a shining ring. After these items were removed, this officer presumed dead, moved. He saw the Sergeant who was Thenardier bending over his body and said, "Thanks". This officer thought Thenardier had saved his live and told him to take the purse that was in his pocket. Thenardier went through the motions, even though the purse was already taken by him. The officer said that he will never forget Thenardiers name for saving his life and that Thenardier should never forget his name, Colonel Pontmercy.
Fantine returns to her hometown and worked in a factory and is later fired by the foreman because some busy-bodies find out that she has a child. The Thenardiers wrote her and told her that Cosette was dying and they needed fifty francs. She is forced to sell her two best assets; her beautiful hair and her two incisors; all this time the Thenardiers are demanding more and more. She became accustom to eating very small amounts of food which caused her to get very ill. She had found herself making a last resort decision and entered into prostitution and had a bad instance where she refused a man and then stuck him. The police Inspector Javert saw this and had her arrested and said she would serve 6 months in jail.
Cosette
Cosette’s real name is Eupraise but her mother made Cosette out of it. In Cosette’s early years, the towns people of Montfermeil called her "the lark" because she was always so small, thin and quiet. Injustice had made her sullen and misery had had her ugly.
Father Madeline
Fantine returns to her hometown of M_sur M_. No one remembers her. She works at a factory that is owned by a man name Father Madeline. No one knows where Father Madeline came from because when he first came to town it was speculated that he had but a few hundred francs at the most with him. There was a big fire as this man entered into town on an evening in December. This man rushed into a house, at the peril of his own life and saved two children. It happened to be the captain of the gendarmerie. In the hurry and gratitude, no one thought to ask for his papers. He was known from this time as Father Madeline.
There was a large demand for something called ‘jet-work". From my closest description, I will say it was a form of bracelet that was very popular. They were expensive to make and to buy.
It was toward the end of 1815, when Madeline conceived the idea of substituting gum-lac for resins (made imitation glass from products that came from Norway and England) and in particular, he made clasps for the bracelets by simply bending the ends of the metal together instead of soldering them. This very slight change reduces the price of manufacturing and of the raw materials. He was able to first, raise wages, second, improve the quality of the goods, and third, sell them at a lower price while making 3 times the profits. In less than 3 years the inventor had become very rich and had made all around him, rich. M_ sur M_ became a considerable center of business because of this factory. There was a large demand for this product. Before Father Madeline came to town,. the town languished. He employed everyone. He had only one condition; "Be an honest man."
In 1820 he was known to have 630,000 francs in the bank at Laffitte and that is after he spent over a million on the city and giving to the poor. He built a school and upgraded the hospital. He built two factories, one for males and one for females. He paid the schoolmaster out of his own pocket and he went to mass every Sunday. In 1819, he was asked to be Mayor and declined. After several more attempts to make him mayor, he accepted in 1820, five years after his arrival. Whenever he left for a walk, his pockets were full and when he came back, they were empty, always giving to the poor. People came from 30 miles around to consult with Monsieur le Mayor Madeline to settle differences.
Javert
There was a man that had come to town who always seemed to suspect M. Madeline. He was one of the police, that had been assigned there, named Javert. He had the unpleasant but useful job of Inspector. His mother was a fortuneteller whose husband was in the galleys and therefore as a child lived in a prison. He became Inspector at the age of 40. In his youth, he was a guard, stationed in the galleys in the south, at Toulon.
Father Fauchelevent
This was an old man who had a bad spell of luck and was forced into bankruptcy. He seemed to want to blame the mayor for this. One day his cart broke and he had fallen under it. No one could help. Javert ordered someone to fetch a jack, but that would take 15 minutes to get. The mayor was walking by and saw this tragedy and placed himself under the cart and used his back as a jack until the old man was pulled to safety. Javert mentioned to the mayor that he had only seen one man in his life that had such strength, a convict at Toulan that was now a fugitive.
Fauchelevent had broken his knee in his fall. Father Madeline visited him in the hospital and told him that he just bought his horse and broken cart for 1000 francs, and through his influence and recommendation, had him placed in the position of gardener at the convent in the Quarter Saint Antonie at Paris.
Trial of Champmathieu
After Fantine was arrested by Javert, the mayor came in the jail for some business with Javert. When Fantine saw the mayor she spat upon him and blamed him for what had happened to her, loosing her job. Monsieur le Mayor knew nothing of what she was talking about, but ordered her release. Javert argued it, but the mayor knew that as mayor, he had the authority to have her released, and Javert was forced to do so.
The Mayor asked her why she didn’t come to him sooner and insisted that she stayed at his place. The mayor agreed to pay her debts to her landlord and to the Thenardiers, and to have Cosette brought to her very soon. Fantine came down with a bad fever and was tended to by the Sisters, at the mayors home. When the Thenardiers received M. Madeline’s letter, with 300 francs to pay the 150 they asked for, they replied that it wasn’t enough that the bill was 500 francs. So M. Madeline sent 200 more and ordered that she be delivered to M_sur M_ immediately. Thenardiers replied that she was too sick to travel, but actually, they just refused to let her go.
All this time, Fantine was on her deathbed with a lung disease. About 6 weeks past when Javert came to see the mayor with official business. A few weeks ago, Javert, being angry with the mayor over the Fantine affair in jail, wrote a letter to Paris and in this letter, accused the Mayor of M_ sur M_ of being the convict, Jean Valjean. They replied to Javert with laughter, stating that the real Jean Valjean was just caught recently stealing an apple from someone’s yard and even an inmate from Toulan, Brevet, identified him. Javert instantly went to the neighboring community of Arras, which was about 9-10 hours away. There, Javert also identified the man as Valjean. The supposedly captured Valjean was also on trial for highway robbery with Petit Gervais, the boy he stole 40 francs from. This man claimed to be Champmathieu, who so happened to also be from Faverolles, the same town as Valjean, and was a pruner, like Valjean, but claimed his was named Champmathieu, not Valjean.
While Javert was speaking to the Mayor, Javert asked for discipline against him with dismissal, to have him punished, and stripped of his duties. Valjean told him to leave his office without punishment.
Madeline was tormented within on what to do. If he turned himself in, what would happen to the poor of the city? What would happen to Fantine and Cosette? All the good he had done would be ended… But if he didn’t, this man would be tried and sentenced for life, which he should be charged with a mere misdemeanor. (stealing an apple from a tree). He looked at the 2 candlesticks on his mantel which he kept as a reminder of the Bishop, and knew what he must do.
After finding out that this man was to be tried tomorrow and sentence by the evening, Madeline made arrangements to find a horse that would be able to gallop 20 leagues, about 8 hours and then he planned to take the mail carriage back to M_ sur M_ the same evening after the trial.
The next day he did indeed go to Arras though his buggy broke its wheel, but he ended up hiring another horse and just made it in time for the sentence. The court was full and the guard would not permit anyone in unless they were someone of importance. Well, Mayor of M_ sur M_ was very well known and respected in the whole region of Bas-Boulonnais. He was announced and given the seat behind the Judge.
Upon seeing this man accused, Madeline could see a definite resemblance.
After he heard all the testimony and he saw 3 convicts that swore that the man falsely accused was Valjean, he asked the court if he can talk to the 3 convicts, Brevet, Chenildieu, and Cochepaille.
While Mayor Madeline talked to these convicts, he asked them if they recognized him. They didn’t. He reminded each of the convicts a particular thing that only 24,601 would know about their time in Toulan, then announced to the court to set the man free, that he was Jean Valjean. He admitted the highway robbery of Pettit Gervais and that he stole from the Bishop. He said since he was not being tried and not being arrested, that the prosecutor would know where to find him and stormed out of the courtroom and hurried back to M_ sur M_.
The accused man, which real name was Champmathieu, was set free.
Jean Valjean
Valjean went back to M_ sur M_ and took care of a few things, and saw Fantine still with fever in bed. He didn’t want to tell her that he did not have Cosette, though she thought that was where he had traveled to, Montfermeil, to get Cosette. Valjean wasn’t there long, when Javert came, with a couple gendarmes and arrested Valjean. The sight of this happening in front of Fantine was too much and she died right there. Valjean asked Javert for three days to take care of matters with Fantine, but was laughed at. Valjean was taken to jail where he escaped that night by loosening a bar on the window and climbing out on the roof. He returned back to his house where he met with Sister Simplice, a nun that was taking care of Fantine, a nun that has never lied a day in her life. Valjean was taking care of last minute details when he heard Javert burst through the doors. When Javert asked the nun if she had seen Valjean, she said, "No."
During this period of time, even over night, Madeline’s hair seemed to change to white.
Valjean left but was seen walking down the road and was arrested again.
This time he was tried and given a new number, 9430, and sent back to Toulon. While aboard the ship "Orion", the ship encountered an enemy vessel and the Orion took a hit. It was reported in the papers that a convict, 9430 - Jean Valjean was seen rescuing a shipmate, but was reported drowned while trying to save him. No body was found.
Necessary money was left to keep the factory going and to bury Fantine. Fantine was buried, but not how it was requested. She was placed in a simple fashion, in a unmarked grave in Potter’s field, and the factories eventually shut down and the city of M_ sur M_ ended up as it had started.
Valjean made his way to Paris and found a place called the old Gorbeau House, located at 50-52, Boulevard de Hosital. He then went to Montfermeil and upon arriving in the outskirts, he met a girl that was trying to carry a heavy pail of water in the dark. He helped her carry this heavy load when he found out that this girl, was Cosette.
He helped her back to the Thenardiers. Cosette insisted that she must carry the pail into the inn, in fear of repercussions.
The Thenardiers and the inn are exactly like the song, Master of the House", so I do not need to further describe this. Cosette was very mistreated though, not ever being allowed to play like the Thenardiers little girls. Ponine and Zelma had nice cloths and nice dolls. Cosette, in rags, had a little sword, the size of her finger. This was her make believe doll. Valjean while eating his meal, asked if he could see the little girl play instead of work, not disclosing that he knew of her or came to get her. He offered money to let her have playtime instead of work. When Cosette touched Ponine doll, she was scolded. Right then, Valjean went out the door, and came back in with a brand new 40 franc doll. As the story goes on, Valjean does tell the Thenardiers about Fantine and that he has come for Cosette. They settle after haggling for 1500 francs. Then, Valjean takes Cosette to the old Gorbeau House. Nine months had passed since Valjean last saw Fantine.
Old Gorbeau House
Cosette and Valjean stayed at this very humble place. There were no other tenants and Valjean liked that. They would never leave during the days and when he left in the evenings, he usually took side streets or alleys. He would often take evening walks and usually dressed like a pauper. He would always indiscreetly pass a few coins to any beggars or poor people as he came across them.
He had asked his landlord to cash his 1000 franc note for him so he would draw attention. He kept some of these notes sewn in his yellow coat that he wore. The rest were buried outside Montfermeil. One day the landlady saw him take out a note and sew his coat back up and she reported this to the authorities. A few days past, while Valjean was walking he came across a beggar and gave him a coin but when the beggar looked up, Valjean feared the worse. It looked just like Javert.
A few days later a new tenant moved in next door to Valjean, though Valjean did not know who it was, it was Javert. Valjean didn’t stick around long enough to ever find this out. He and Cosette left immediately. While they were walking, they were being followed. To make a long story shorter, they managed to get away by climbing a wall, which landed them in the old convent of the Order of Benedictines of Martin Verga.
Cosette asked why they were hiding, and Valjean had to lie and told her the Madame Thenardier was looking for her. Where they ended up, happened to be where old Fauchelevent lived. Valjean didn’t remember him, but Fauchelevent remember Monsieur le Mayor.
Fauchelevent had a plan to help Valjean and arranged it with the Mother Superior to allow his brother to help with the garden. Valjean would be known as Ultimus Fauchelevent.
A note on this order of nuns: The sisters of Benedictine of Martin Verga is a very strict order. They were not allowed to look at any men, (for the most part) Even when the parish priest would come to the convent to say mass, a veil was placed before the priest they kept the nuns from seeing the priest. The Fauchelevent brothers, being the only men on the grounds, were made to wear a leather strap on their legs that had a bell on it, to warn the sisters when they were coming so they could look away. During the hours from 4 AM to 4 PM, they spent most of their day on their knees, praying. They did manage a school for girls where Cosette was placed while Valjean served as a gardener. This time was for 5 years.
At the convent, Cosette remained silent about where she came from, afraid of Madame Thenardier. She had suffered so much that she was afraid of everything. Soon she became accustom to the convent. She was allowed to see her father once a day. Years past, Cosette was growing.
Old Gorbeau House Again
Years past on and there were new tenants living at the house we know as the old Gorbeau House. The old landlady died and there was a new one in her place, similar in nature to the first one. There were two tenants, a family named Jondrette, which consisted of a husband, wife with their two daughters. The other apartment was rented to a poor young man named Monsieur Marius.
Monsieur Luke Esprit Gillenormand
One of the old inhabitants, Monsieur Gillenormand, was well in his 80’s and was a genuine Bourgeois. He literally worshipped the Royals. He had two daughters, born 10 years apart, one each from 2 marriages. He had an unmarried daughter, Mademoiselle Gillenormand and another that was married, but died while giving birth, Madame Pontmercy. Madame Pontmercy disgraced the family by marrying a Bonapartist. Though her husband, George Pontmercy lived on, he had agreed to give up all rights to his son, otherwise his son Marius, would be disinherited by his grandfather, Monsieur Gillenormand. This was a hard thing for a father to do, but he was unable to support his son and felt it was the best thing to do for Marius. Monsieur Gillenormand kept all contacts of his father away from Marius, though over the years, George Pontmercy would leave his town of Vernon and would hide in the back of the church, behind the pillars and watch Marius while attending church. Letters would be written to Marius, but were kept from Marius ever seeing them.
A side note on G. Pontmercy; He accompanied Napoleon to the isle Elba and during the battle at Waterloo, Napoleon made him a Baron.
Gillenormand never had a good bond with Marius, though he saw to his education and anything else he needed but always spoke to him with a stern voice.
In 1827, Marius had his 18th birthday.
George Pontmercy
Shortly after this time, Monsieur Gillenormand told Marius to go to Vernon to see his father. Apparently, he received word that Pontmercy was dying, so he allowed Pontmercy his dying wish, to see his son. Though Marius has never known much of his father except from Monsieur Gillenormand cuts and mockeries of him, and therefore felt no closeness to him, but set off the next day to see him, only to learn that he had just died. Pontmercy did leave a note for his son that said:
"For my son- The Emperor made me a Baron upon the battlefield of Waterloo. Since the restoration contest this title which I have bought with my blood, my son will take it and bear it. I need not say that he will be worthy of it. " On the back, the colonel add, " At this same battle of Waterloo, a Sergeant saved my life, I believe he was keeping a small tavern in Montfermeil. If my son ever meets him, he will do Thenardier all the services he can".
The sale of the colonel’s furniture barely paid for the funeral.
Marius learned from someone that his father would hide in the back of the church in secret and that he had sacrificed Marius to his father-in-law, so that Marius would have a proper upbringing with a good education. Marius was a student of law in Paris.
Marius went to the library because he wanted to learn everything he could about his father and what he stood for. The books filled his mind with a lot of information. He began to understand the political stance that his father had. To Marius, the republic and the empire meant nothing to him, but he began to change his thoughts about it as he learned what it meant to his father. Marius was on his way to adoration for his father. He began to realize that he had been deceived about Bonaparte, the Emperor, as well as everything else. Marius did go to Montfermeil, but the Inn was closed and no one knew the whereabouts of the Thenardiers. Marius actually spent three years trying to find Thenardier without any results. In his mind and imagination, he built Thenardier up to be a hero and admired this unknown man.
Marius ended up having a falling out with his grandfather. He was so upset that he said, " Down with the Bourbons and the great hog Louis XVlll. The old mad kicked out Marius, but later told his aunt to make sure that he received 60 pistoles (600 francs) every 6 months, which Marius ended up refusing.
We do find out later that Marius’ grandfather really does love Marius and missed him very much, but Marius chose to live in solitude.
The Friends of A B C
Marius ended up at a coffee house where he saw an acquaintance from school. His name is Laigle. This Laigle introduced Marius to his friends from the café; Enjolras, Combeferre, Jean Pouvaire, Feuilly, Courfeyrac, Bahorel, Lesgle, Joly and Grataire. This group of men were members of a secret society called "The Friends of A B C. They would hang out at one of two places, a wine shop called Corinthe, or a little coffee house called Le Café Musain. It was at the back room of Le Café Musain where they held regular meetings.
Enjolras was their leader and represented their logic of the revolution, Combeferre represented its philosophy, the first being more manly, the latter more humane.
They were all sons of the French revolution. Their fathers were or had all been Feuillants, or Royalists and they had nothing to do with them.
Marius decided not to join this group of fellows, but remained friends with many of them. He only had two real close friends, Courfeyrac and an old man named Monsieur Mabeuf. Monsieur Mabeuf was neither Royalist or Bonapartist, he was a bookist. He loved books. He would allow only two people into his home, Marius and the bookseller.
Marius
During the time of Marius’ solitude, he found himself taking long walks. It had been 2 years since he had left his grandfather and his cloths had become worn, but he still would notice girls turning their heads as he walked by. He figured it was because of his worn clothing and they perhaps were laughing at him, but it was because he was a very attractive young man, with jet black hair, and an intelligent brow and a calm expression.
He often walked at Luxembourg where every day he would see this old man with a young girl that appeared about 13-14 years old. This young girl looked puny and homely, almost ugly and very awkward looking, yet there seemed to be a promising look to her at the same time. They appeared to be father and daughter. The old man looked as if he was a retired soldier, and had very white hair.
Marius later found that the students of the area referred to him as Monsieur Leblanc, (White). Every day, Marius would see these two sitting on the same bench. Marius had broken off his habit of walking the Luxembourg area, but by the next year he came back to that area. He again saw these two sitting at the same bench, but something had changed. This young lady became very noble looking and from what he could see, beautiful. Leblanc wore the same old cloths, almost poor looking, but this young lady wore a lovely black damask dress. She had become a woman in just less than a year. Marius was fixated on her and would walk by to see her beautiful eyes and to hear her voice as she talked with Monsieur Leblanc. One day he followed them home and learned where they lived. Marius inquired to the porter of them and the porter did not give much information, but by the next day, the man and girl did not come back to Luxembourg. Summer came then autumn and winter, still so sign of them. Marius heart was broken. He came every day, but they were gone.
One day while Marius was walking, he saw two young barefoot girls that looked about 13 and 15 running from the police. He saw that the older girl dropped something, an envelope, so he picked it up and later tried to find the girls, but couldn’t.
He went home and was sitting at his table when he looked up and saw the older girl that he saw earlier running from the police. He didn’t know her, but it was the Jondrette girl, that lived in the other apartment. She was a girl with a dirty appearance, mouth open and sullen, some teeth missing, eyes dull, bold and drooping. She seemed that in her childhood she was pretty, but poverty made her ugly.
Marius didn’t know his neighbors, in fact, hardly noticed anyone in the neighborhood, but she had noticed Marius, in fact she knew a lot about him. She had seen him several times on the stairs of the apartment and would follow him to Monsieur Mabeuf’s house. Marius was only known in that neighborhood as Monsieur Marius.
Marius realized that he still had the envelope that she had dropped and gave it to her. In it were 4 letters, all from the same hand, but with a different name signing it, and all were letters asking for donations or money. One was addressed to the man at the Church of Saint Jacques du Haut Pas.
It was 5 years now that Marius lived in poverty himself. In his apartment was this little broken piece of plaster that one could see into the next apartment, and after meeting this neighbor, and for the first time, he looked into their apartment and as he did, the elder girl was just entering saying that she delivered the letter to the man at the Church of Saint Jacques du Haut Pas and he was following her home to give them a donation. When this man came to the Jondrette’s apartment, Marius could hardly believe what he saw. In came the girl whom Marius had fallen in love with and her father. He listened intently to try to hear a name. All this time, Marius always referred to her as Ursula, because he saw a handkerchief left on the bench that they were sitting at, with the monogram U F, but never did know her real name. No names were revealed, but Monsieur Leblanc did agree to return with more money at 6 PM because he only had 5 francs with him and the Jondrettes made it clear that they were months behind on their rent and that they needed all these things like coal and medicine and to fix their broken window pane, which they quickly broke before Leblanc entered to make their situation look worse.
Leblanc left and the man Jondrette said to his misses, did you recognize that man? He sent his daughters outside and told his wife that he was the man who stole their "lark" from them. Jondrette right away made plans for when Leblanc would return, that they would kill him. Jondrette went and found several of his criminal friends, some like Pauchaud, who was a celebrated bandit/murderer, whom the police had been actively searching for.
Shortly afterwards, Marius spoke to Eponine about this man and girl and ask her if she knew where they lived, she didn’t know. Marius asked her if she could find out, and she replied "what is it worth to you?" Marius replied that he would do anything for her.
Later, Marius felt it was his responsibility to seek help from the police. He went to the police station, introduced himself as Monsieur Marius Pontmercy, attorney of the law, and talked with Inspector Javert. Javert was informed that he overheard that a crime was to take place at his neighbors apartment at 6 PM that they were going to rob and kill a man.
Javert said he knew the apartment well, (remember that Javert occupied Marius’ apartment shortly when Valjean lived where the Jondrettes live now) but mentioned there would be no place to hide, so he mentioned that the police will be hidden outside and gave Marius 2 pistols to fire a shot off when the time was right.
To make the story short, Marius hid himself in his apartment, and Jondrettes did look to see if Marius was gone, which appeared to be true. At 6 PM, Leblanc the generous benefactor came alone and was allowed in. Jondrettes were alone with him for a while but gradually, other men with charcoaled faces began to arrive, some carrying weapons. This whole time, Marius was watching through the plaster. When all the bandits where in place, about 7 of them, Jondrette said the Leblanc, "Do you remember me? I remember you. My name is Thenardier, the inn keeper at Montfermeil." Leblanc pretended to have no remembrance, but at that moment, Marius could hardly believe his ears. He was ‘to do Thenardier all the services he can’, per his father. Now Marius was torn between his fathers dying wish and a crime with a man that has a daughter which Marius loved, though never had met.
Leblanc was bound and right before they were to kill Leblanc, Marius had an idea. He couldn’t seem to fire off the pistols, but quickly wrote on a paper that the house was about to be invaded by the police, and wrapped it around a piece of plaster and threw it through the hole in the plaster, near the broken window pane. No one saw this paper fly in, but heard it hit the ground.
Thenardier read the paper, assuming that Eponine threw it through the window and decided it was best to place the ladder out the window and escape as soon as possible. They said there was no time to slit Leblanc’s throat, and proceeded to head for the window. Right then, Javert came through the door. He didn’t hear the fire of the pistols he gave to Marius, so he decided to enter on his own accord after seeing so many wanted criminals enter into the tenement. Javert ordered the prisoner to be untied, but during all the commotion he had looked and the prisoner was gone, escaped down the ladder out the window.
He hauled all those in the room to jail, and his officers saw one of the daughters outside keeping watch, but was unable to find the eldest daughter, that went by the name Eponine.
The next day, by 7 AM, Marius loaded his few belongs into a hand cart and moved out of the old Gorbeau House and moved in with his friend Courfeyrac.
Later in the week, a little boy that had been seen often going to the old Gorbeau House, was kicking at the door getting no answer. The landlady came and the boy said, "Where is my father?" The landlady told the boy what had happened that they were in jail. This boy, who was a streetwise boy, that lived in the streets was then seen leaving, and merrily singing a song. The homeless boy’s name was little Gavroche.
Eponine
One day at Monsieur Mabeuf’s house, Eponine showed up in his garden and asked if she could water his plants. She took his bucket and began to water, while on the second bucket, she asked if he knew where Monsieur Marius lived, he was surprised that this peasant girl knew Marius, and replied that he did not know where he was staying, which was true. A few days later, Marius had showed up at Monsieur Mabeuf’s house and Eponine appeared. He was surprised to see her. She explained that she had looked a long time for him, that she had found out where the benefactor and young girl lived. Marius was ecstatic. She reminded him that he told her he would do anything for him for this information. Marius had only 5 francs on him, which he had borrowed from Courfeyac. She said she didn’t want his money, and took him to the house in the Rue Plumet. He made Eponine swear that she would not tell her father where this house was.
It was at this house that Valjean and Cosette had lived since October 1829. He bought it under the name Ultimus Fauchelevent. They had a servant named Toussaint that lived with them. Valjean left the convent after old Fauchelevent died. He had reasons. He knew that Cosette was being groomed to become a nun and he was selfish that he would loose her and wasn’t ready to let her go this way, besides he felt that she should have a chance to see the outside world, since all she had know in the last five years was the convent, so they left. They first moved to a location where you will remember that he moved from when someone was asking about him, and then to the Rue Plumet.
After Eponine had brought Marius to this house, Eponine left.
The following days, Marius secretly visited this house without anyone seeing him. One day he left a love letter under a stone on the bench in front of the house, which Cosette found. She knew who sent it. "It was he". Yes, Cosette was also dreaming of the gentleman from Luxembourg She could not get her mind off him. After their first glance at each other, it seemed they were in love, though neither one even knew the other had noticed. Cosette would look forward every day to the time when her and her father would walk Luxembourg, so she could see ‘him" again.
After the letter under the stone was found, Cosette spent most her evenings in her garden. Valjean was on one of his trips he sometimes took for a day or two, usually when he needed more cash.
The time came that Marius built up the courage to approach her. They sat for hours and talked on the bench outside her garden. They exchanged names and kissed, but only kissed once. The following evenings they secretively meet on this bench, but didn’t kiss again, just talked.
Little Gavroche
One day, little Gavroche had no dinner and remembered that he hadn’t had dinner the night before. He remembered a place where there were apples near a wall and went there. It was Monsieur Mabeuf’s house. That night, as he got there, he heard Monsieur Mabeuf and his wife talking in the garden on how they could not afford their bills that were due. While sitting on the wall, he also observed someone hiding in the corner, it was a bandit that Gavroche knew, named Montparnesse, yes one of the bandits at the Jondrette’s house that managed to get away. He was there to rob Monsieur Mabeuf. Right then, Gavroche noticed someone else behind the bandit, It was a white haired man that happened by, right as the bandit was about to do his robbing. There was a scuffle and the white haired man won, and gave to the bandit his purse with 60 francs in it and told him he should reconsider his career and the white haired man left. Gavroche snuck up to the beat up bandit and quietly reached into his pocket and took the purse and carefully walked away. He looked in the purse and saw the coins, closed the purse and threw it over the wall where Monsieur Mabeuf and his wife were. Monsieur Mabeuf said to his wife, " look what just fell from the sky!"
As little Gavroche was walking home, he came across 2 little boys about 5 and 4 that were brothers. The boys had just lost there home. Their parents were just arrested and the boys were lost, cold and hungry. Little did Gavroche know, but the two young children were his brothers.
The Thenardiers originally had 3 children, Gavroche, Eponine and Azela. The Thenardeiss never liked any children except her girls, so Gavroche was thrown out at an early age. Just a few years back, they had 2 more boys that they sold to a family named Magnon. The Magnons paid every month 10 francs to the Jondrettes. Gavroche did not know of this nor did he know he had brothers.
Gavroche took them to a bakery and asked for 5 centimes worth of bread, which they ate and went to his home, which was inside a large statue of an elephant. Inside the elephant was a straw mattress and a candelabra. Before reaching home, Gavroche and the boys ran into Montparnasse. Montparnesse asked his friend, Gavroche, if he would help him with something later that night. Well, that ended up being to help the bandits escape from jail. Because he was small, Gavroche was needed to climb up a flu and enter a small window. He did, and got them all out, including his father, which he did not know was one of the people in the jail. After Thenardier and the bandits were out, Gavroche merrily skipped on home while singing. Gavroche was always singing, even when there was hardship. He had a great outlook on everything.
Valjean and Cosette move
The bandits with Thenardier, didn’t waste any time. Eponine would follow Marius to the Rue Plumet and Thenadier followed Eponine. The bandits came up to the house and Eponine saw them and told them to leave, lying to them saying the house was vacant. Thenardier saw the little girl curtain and the light inside so Eponine told him that it is a poor man and his daughter, and to leave or she will scream. The bandit Babet said he was sick of seeing Thenardier and his daughter argue and said they should leave, and did leave to sleep under Paris for the night.
All this time, Cosette and Marius were together in their garden. Cosette was crying and told Marius that she was moving, possibly to England, but didn’t know when, just that it could be anytime. Marius could not believe what he was hearing. She told him to follow them, but he told her that he had no money at all and travel can be expensive, but told her to wait at least two days for him, that he would not be there tomorrow, but will be there on the next day. He carved his address, "16, rue de la Verrerie", into a tree in her garden so she would know where to find him if worse came to worst .
In the days leading up to now, Valjean would take his walks alone. He usually went out in disguise. Once while sitting on the embankments of Champ de Mars, he saw Thenardier who seemed to be looking for information, Valjean wasn’t recognized. Valjean began to consider moving, even out of France, to England, because there were so much political troubles and the police were being very secret in these matters and the searching of the escaped bandits, that he felt they would eventually stubble upon Jean Valjean, too. It was the following day that he saw the fresh cutting into his tree, "16 Rue de la Verrerie". He thought it was a warning to him, but nonetheless, the garden had been violated, some person unknown had penetrated it.
During the time that Marius told Cosette that he would be back in two days, he went to his grandfathers house and asked permission to be married. The Grandfather laughed and told him just to take her as a mistress. This offended Marius and Marius stormed out. His 91 year old grandfather realized what he had done and order his daughter to quick go after Marius, but it was too late. Marius was out of site. The grandfather felt terrible that he probably lost Marius forever.
Marius went back to Courfeyac’s and laid on his mattress and fell asleep, when he was awoke by Courfeyac, Enjolras, Combeferre, Bouset and Joly. They were just heading off to the funeral of General Lamarque.
That evening, Marius went to Cosette’s as he promised. It was 48 hours since he had seen her and it felt as if it was a century. As he arrived at Rue Plumet, he discovered the house was empty. He knocked and yelled her name and looked into the windows: the house was empty. They were gone. As he was standing near the front of the property, he heard a small voice from the forest in front. It said, "Monsiuer Marius, your friends are expecting you at the barricade, in the Rue de la Chanvrerie. Marius saw what looked like a small boy running off into the woods. Marius got the pistols that Javert gave him earlier and headed for the barricade. Without Cosette, life was nothing and he will die without her.
Revolution of June 5th, 1832
General Lamarque had served with the Emperor and was loved by the masses. His death, which was looked for, had been dreaded by the people as a loss and by the government as an opportunity. At the time of the procession, there was a problem, no one is sure exactly what happened, but 3 shots were fired and next thing that happened was a whole brigade of soldiers stormed the crowd. People fled and locked themselves into their homes and others retreated, but within an hour there were 27 barricades that rose from the ground in the single quarter of the markets.
Old Monsieur Mabeuf saw people heading toward the markets with shovels and other things and when inquired, he was told of the revolution. He joined the people heading to the market, with nothing to loose and soon joined up with Enjolras as his group.
Gavroche also joined with them.
Several other recruits came in too, including a tall man with a mussel and distinct features. Gavroche was given an assignment to go scout beyond the barricades to see what was happening. "No one will see you because you are small," Enjolras told him. Gavroche agreed, and said, " Little folks are good for something then! That is very lucky!. I will go!. Meantime, trust the little folks, distrust the big". - And raising his head and pointing his finger, pointed to one of the new recruits, "Like that big fellow over there. He is a spy".
It was verified and it was indeed the spy, Inspector Javert. The group tied him to a post in the café.
At the barricade, they went through several bouts of attacks and their barricade held well. On one such attack, their red flag had fallen and old Mabeuf said he would go raise it. As he did, he was shot and killed, being the first to fall. Others did die too, but for the most part all did well. Then there was an all and out assault on the barricade and right then Gavroche and Courfeyac looked and their were 2 National Guards that had entered the café where they were and where just getting ready to fire on them when Marius showed up to the barricade and Marius took his two pistols and killed both National Guards, saving Courfeyac and Gavroche’s life.
Then in the corner of Marius’ eye, he saw another guard that had taken aim, and fired at him, but the shot didn’t hit him.
Marius took a keg of gunpowder out to a smaller barricade to blow it up and while he was there, he heard a voice saying, "Monsieur Marius". He looked and saw it was Eponine, laying on the ground, wounded. Eponine when she saw the guard aiming at Marius, put her hand over the guns barrel and it shot her, but at the same time as the ball went through her hand, it also entered her chest. She was indeed dying.
She gave Marius a letter that Cosette had given to her as Cosette was leaving their house. It had an address that Cosette would be at for the night. She wasn’t going to give it to Marius, but felt that she should. It was this reason that she came to the barricade.
She told him her bother Gavroche was in the barricade with them fighting. She reminded him that he would do anything for her upon her request, and that request was that Marius would kiss her on the forehead after she had passed. Of course, he did. It was Eponine that was dressed as a boy that earlier told Marius to go see his friends at the barricade.
Marius thoughts went to Gavroche. He did not know this boy was Thenardier’s son. He still could only think of the letter to him from his father, and knew he had to get Gavroche out of the barricade.
He wrote a quick letter to Cosette explaining to her that marriage is impossible, that his grandfather wouldn’t give his blessing, besides she is moving to England. He will die at the barricade, but his soul will be near her at all times.
He gave this to Gavroche and told him to deliver it to Rue de l’Homme Arme’, No 7.
Gavroche didn’t want to leave, but owed it to Marius for saving his life.
Meanwhile, at the apartment that Cosette and Valjean was staying at, everyone was in bed, except Valjean. As he was walking past the mirror, he saw Cosette’s blotter that she had left open and through the mirror she saw that Cosset wrote, "My beloved, alas!. My father wishes to start immediately. We shall be tonight at Rue de l’Homme Arme’, No 7. In a week, we shall be in England." This was the letter that was given to Eponine who was outside her old residence while Cosette and her father were leaving. She couldn’t post it, no time. She saw this young lady and trusted it to her to post.
As Gavroche reached this house, he saw a man there, Cosette’s father, and gave the letter to him to give to Cosette because Cosette was asleep. Valjean asked where this letter came from and the young boy replied "at the barricade at Rue de la Chanverie".
Valjean read it and his first thoughts was, "Good". He has gotten rid of this man that Cosette had written to and didn’t have to do anything, but hide this letter that the young boy just gave him. Then he thought of Cosette’s happiness and decided to do something about it. He put on his old National Guard uniform, which we was a member of the reserve squad from a few years ago, and went to the barricade mentioned to him.
Meanwhile, at the barricade, Enjolras ordered if anyone had a wife or children, that they should leave. They had four National Guard uniforms there from dead soldiers and they could escape easily with these uniforms on. 5 men approached deciding to leave, but only four uniforms. At that instant, a fifth uniform dropped. Valjean arrived and took his coat off so that the fifth could easily leave.
It was questioned who this man was, but Marius and Courfeyrac vouched for him.
Gavroche made it back to the barricade which Marius was hoping he would stay away.
Gavroche had taken a basket and crawled out from beyond the barricade to gather ammunition from the dead National Guardsmen. There was a heavy fog of smoke that allowed him to pass easily unseen. He had the basket full when on his way back, right as he reached to wall, Gavroche was shot. He looked in the direction where the shot came from and began to sing:
"Je suis tombe’ par terre
C’est la faunte a’ Voltaire
La nez dans le ruisseau
C’est la faute a_________"
He did not finish, another shot killed him.
Marius and Comberferre managed to get him and the basket inside. Gavroche’s heroics gave each man in the barricade an extra 15 shots.
When Valjean saw the spy, Javert tied in the basement, he asked if he could be the one to take care of him. Enjolras agreed and Valjean took him out in back of the café. When he pulled his knife, Javert said " that suits you better", but Valjean cut the ropes and released him. Valjean told Javert that if he makes it out of this, he will be at Rue de l’Homme Arme’, No 7. Javert didn’t understand why Valjean didn’t kill him, but left. Then Valjean fired off a single shot, to let the others believe that he shot him, re-entered and said, "It is done".
Then suddenly there were drum beats and this brought an attack like a hurricane. Most all were being killed. Enjolras and Marius at opposite parts of the room were the only two left. Valjean who didn’t do any fighting since he arrived was not seen anywhere.
Then a ball got Marius in the shoulder blade and Marius felt he was fainting. Right then, as he was falling, he remembered falling into someone’s arms. He though he was taken prisoner. This is all he remembered.
Valjean grabs him, took him outside and into the sewers. He walked slumped over where the arch was only 5’ tall in most areas with Marius over his shoulders for hours, trying to get out. He finally saw a grate where the sewers came to the Seine, but it was locked. He could not free the grate or the lock. As he turned around, he saw a man standing there in the sewer. Valjean recognized his as Thenardier, but Thenardier didn’t recognize Valjean, because his back was to the light outside and Valjean was covered in filth and Marius’ blood, and Thenardier assumed him to be an assassin. Thenardier made the assassin a deal to let him out, for halve of what was in the pockets of the dead man he was carrying. There was nothing in Marius’ pocket except a note explaining anyone finding this body to carry it to his grandfathers address, which was also on this note. Valjean gave Thenardier 30 francs that he had on him and Thenardier opened the grate with a key that he had. Thenardier looked for himself and while looking, Thenardier secretively, tore a piece off this dead mans jacket and put it in his pocket.
Valjean and Marius were out of the sewers and free.
Javert , one more time
While out on the banks of the Seine, Valjean rested and checked to see if Marius was still alive. He was. Then he sensed someone standing behind him. It was Javert. Javert didn’t recognize Valjean, but Valjean identified himself, and told him he was planning on turning himself in, but wanted one favor granted, to help him get this man to his grandfathers house. Javert ordered the driver of his carriage to take them to the grandfathers address, where they left Marius at.
Valjean asked for one more favor, to stopped them by his apartment at Rue de l’Homme Arme’, No 7.. Javert reluctantly took him to his apartment and told Valjean that he would wait for him outside and allowed Valjean to go in by himself. Valjean found this odd, that he was trusted by someone who never in the past would have trusted a convict.
Meanwhile, while Valjean was upstairs, Javert dismissed the fiacre, but the driver of this carriage was concerned with all the blood on the velvet seats. Javert gave him four napoleons (80 francs), and the fiacre was on its way, alone. Javert walked very slowly away, for the first time with his head down, and his hands behind his back. He was tormented within himself of all that has happen this day to him, how all convicts are criminals and never change or rehabilitate themselves, but this convict, Jean Valjean seemed the exception. Javert, it seems, could not accept this.
While upstairs, Valjean looked out the window and noticed that Javert was gone.
Javert wandered aimlessly for quite some time. He found himself on a bridge over the Seine river, a point where the waters met with a crashing abyss. It was a particular spot where two bridges met and created very strong and deadly rapids. There have been several drowning in this spot in the past.
One thing astonished him, that Valjean spared him, and one thing petrified him, that he spared Valjean. Should he spare Valjean? This would be wrong. Should he arrest Valjean? This would be wrong…… He had the right to be killed at the barricade. He was exposed as a spy and caught, but was let free by this benefactor.
He stood there and thought more, then took out a pen and wrote ;
SOME OBSERVATIONS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE SERVICE
He listed several things to the Perfect to consider, like more effective ways to handle the prisoners and more efficient ways to operate matters in the precinct.
He took this to the perfect and left it on a desk and returned to the spot on the bridge. After much torment from within on his decisions, he jumped in to this dreadful and fatal spot and died.
Grandfather Gillenormand’s house
Marius was taken to his grandfather’s house. They thought he was dead, but when the physician came, he had a very light pulse and an apparent broken shoulder. The old man was so happy to see him home again. For several weeks, Marius had a bad fever and drifted in and out of sleep. At nights he would speak of Cosette in his dreams.
Every day and sometimes twice a day a well dressed man with white hair would stop by and leave some lint for dressings with the porter and inquire of the wounded man.
Weeks went on and Marius gradually got better. He did not know what had become of Cosette, nor who was the man that carried him safely from the barricade to his grandfathers house. His mind constantly went toward Eponine, Gavroche, Mabeuf, the Thenardiers and all his friends at the barricade. He felt sad that he would never see them nor Cosette again and that he would never be able to marry her anyway, because of his grandfather did not bless this union.
One day, Monsieur Gillenormand came to Marius and said that he wished to see Marius get married soon, to Cosette. Marius explained that she was gone, but the grandfather told him that she is still here in Paris and that she made lint for his bandages while he was ill, and her father brought them every day.. "She lives at Rue de l’Homme Arme’, Number Seven.
This made both grandfather and grandson very happy and Marius did not waste any time sending for them.
Both Monsieur Fauchelevent and Cosette showed up and the wedding plans were made and set for as soon as possible. It was December and they hoped for it to be in February.
Monsieur Fauchelevent was carrying a bundle that resembled a book wrapped in green paper. He placed it on the table and told Marius and the grandfather that this was Cosette’s inheritance from one of her relatives on the Fauchelevent side. In this bundle was five hundred and eighty four thousand franc, in 500 franc and 1000 franc bank notes.. Monsieur Fauchelevent took out 500 francs earlier for himself and gave them the rest.
From 1823 to 1833, Monsieur Fauchelevent and Cosette only managed to spend 500 francs, thanks to their living at the convent for 5 years.
In the following month Marius became confused about a few things pertaining to Monsieur Fauchelevent. Some things didn’t add up to Marius. Was he dreaming that he saw Monsieur Fauchelevent at the barricade? Maybe so. Several other things did not add up and he caught Monsieur Fauchelevent in a few lies, but did not let on anything.
The marriage of Baron Marius Pontmercy and Mademoiselle Eupraise Faucheleven, took place on the 16th of February, 1883. It was a wonderful day. On this day while they were in the procession, Thenardier happened to see Monsieur Fauchelevent and Cosette in one of the carriages and told his daughter Azelma to keep a watch on them.
Afterwards, at the wedding dinner, Monsieur Fauchelevent made an excuse and left. He didn’t want to be too visible.
The day after the wedding, Monsieur Fauchelevent came to Baron Marius Pontmercy’s house. They were staying at his grandfathers. Monsieur Fauchelevent wanted to speak privately with him. It is here that he confessed being a wanted convict, and if caught would serve a life sentence because of his second offense. He told Marius the story of Jean Valjean and that he was this man. Marius at first didn’t think too much of it, but Valjean reminded him that one day could come when they would all be at the theater and someone would recognize him as Valjean and he didn’t want something like this to ever happen and he felt the need to tell Marius now everything about Valjean.
He then said it would be best that he should limit his time with Marius and Cosette, but asked permission to come by at 5 PM every evening for a short time to spend with Cosette. Marius agreed.
Valjean did come by every evening, but was very distant to Cosette and he no longer would call her Cosette, but Madame and insisted that she call him Jean. Cosette understood none of this, for Valjean made Marius swear that he would tell Cosette nothing of which he was told.
After time, Monsieur Jean couldn’t help but notice that Marius and Cosette were living very meagerly. They had no luxuries and lived quite poorly. Marius refused to spend the money, figuring that Valjean had probably stolen it. He knew about the Mayor Madeline of M_ sur M_ , and all the wonderful things he had done for their city and the poor, but assumed that Monsieur Jean robbed this man.
Weeks passed and Monsieur Jean spend less time visiting. One day, he did not come at all. The next day, he did not come. From that time on, he did not return to see Cosette.
Cosette sent Mademoiselle Gillenormand several times to Monsieur Jean’s house, but he would not answer. Marius told her that he probably left town on one of his little trips. Valjean was at home, but his heart was broken. For awhile, he barely ate, and in time, pretty much stopped eating completely.
He began to die, in fact he felt that he would not live past this day. He picked up a pen and began to write a letter to Cosette.
In this letter, he explained how he made a fortune in M_ sur M_ and how he did it and explained it was a good business. As he was writing this letter a knock came at Monsieur Jean’s door…..
Earlier that day, a certain man knocked on Baron Marius Pontmercy’s door. It was Thenardier. When the porter told Marius who was at the door, Marius grabbed 1500 francs from his drawer and put them in his pocket.
Thenardier wanted 10,000 francs to offer information about Marius’ father in law. Marius assured Thenardier that he already knew everything about the convict Jean Valjean. Their conversation went on and the price for Thenardiers information went down to 10 francs.
The information all seemed to be known by Marius already.
Before Thenardier was dismissed, Thenardier said that he was worried for Marius that he was living with an assassin. Marius told him that Valjean was not living there and that he was a robber, but not an assassin. Thenardier then told him the story of meeting him in the sewers, carrying a dead man and that he was going to throw the corpse in the Seine. Thenardier managed to pull a piece of the dead mans coat to prove it, and showed Marius the piece. Marius recognized it as the piece torn from his own jacket.
Marius threw the 1500 francs at Thenardier and explained to him of the promise he made to his father that he would help Thenardier in any way he could. He felt this debt was paid and told Thenardier that he came to denounce his father in law to him but all he did was built him up to a saint. Marius now knew who saved his live at the barricade and carried him almost 4 miles through the sludge of the sewers.
He threw out Thenardier and told him never to return.
A side note on the Thenardiers. By this time, Madame Thenardier was dead. She died while in prison. As we know, Gavroche and Eponine was also dead, and this just left Thenardier and his daughter, Azelma.
Thenardier and his daughter purchased tickets to America and with 2000 francs that he had accumulated, became a slave trader in America.
Rue de l’Homme Arme’, Number Seven.
Marius immediately took Cosette to Rue de l’Homme Arme’, Number Seven, where he hoped to find Jean Valjean home. He truly did think that he had moved or might not be there any longer.
They knocked on the door, and when no one answered, opened it. There was Valjean, at his chair. He could barely move, he was so weak, and was writing his letter to Cosette. Valjean was relieved that he was forgiven by Marius and Cosette. He told Marius what broke his heart is that they had all this money and yet spent none of it. He explained how he made the money in glass work and bracelets, and told him it was a good way to make money if they wished to do this business.
Valjean told Cosette everything about her mother, Fantine, and how she loved her so much that she gave her life for her.
Valjean told her that he will die in a few minutes. Cosette tried to tell him that he will live, but he said, "Forbid me to die… Promise to bury me in a simple plot, with no name on my marker."
They asked if he needed a priest. Valjean, already seeing the light of the afterlife, said he thinks he sees one already there. As Valjean looked toward the ceiling, he saw the Bishop of Brignolles was indeed a witness of this death.
He had fallen backwards, the light from the candlesticks fell on him; his white face looked up toward heaven, he let Cosette and Marius cover his hand with kisses; he was dead.
Grass Hides and Rain Blots Out
There is a cemetery in Pere Lachaise in the neighborhood of Potter’s field, far from the elegant quarter of the city. In it, a deserted stone with no marks. It is near no paths and people do not go in that direction because the grass is too high.
Now, many years ago, someone had written on this stone with a pencil, these four lines;
Il dort. Quoique le sort fut pour lui bien etrange,
Il vivait. Il mourut quand il n’eut plus son ange.
La chose simplement d elle-meme arriva,
Comme la nuit se fait lorsque le jour s’en va.
English Translation:
He sleeps. Although his fate was very strange, he lived.
He died when he had no longer his angel.
The thing came to pass simply,
of itself, as the night comes when day is gone