Les Misérables, Book 4: The Gorbeau Hovel, Chapter 4 summary
Book 4: The Gorbeau Hovel, Chapter 4 of 365 · 4 min to read the chapter
In Chapter 4, Jean Valjean lives quietly with Cosette, avoids daylight outings, and gives money secretly despite his poor appearance. The principal tenant discovers a thousand-franc note hidden in his coat, spreads her suspicions, and finds other concealed contents that deepen her curiosity about him.
What happens
- Jean Valjean takes evening walks, often with Cosette, while their household keeps a modest appearance.
- His secret gifts to poor people earn him a neighborhood reputation for giving alms despite appearing to beg.
- The principal tenant secretly watches him remove a thousand-franc note from his coat lining.
- He asks her to change the note, but his explanation prompts her to spread suspicious gossip.
- While he saws wood, she examines his coat and finds apparent paper layers, tools, a wallet, a knife, and wigs.
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In this chapter
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Where does the tenant see Jean Valjean retrieve the thousand-franc note?
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