Les Misérables, Book 8: The Wicked Poor Man, Chapter 10 summary

What happens

1. Marius watches the young visitor with intense love, but Jondrette's loud complaints prevent him from hearing her voice.
2. He hesitates before following her, fearing that M. Leblanc might recognize him and evade him.
3. He reaches the boulevard as her carriage departs and tries to hire another cab to follow it.
4. The driver demands forty sous in advance; Marius has only sixteen, and the driver leaves.
5. Marius regrets giving away five francs that morning and returns home without considering M. Leblanc's promised evening visit.
6. Outside, he sees Jondrette talking with a suspicious man who resembles Panchaud, a criminal known by several names.

In this chapter

What to notice

The missing fare becomes an emotional catastrophe for Marius. It connects his lack of money directly to his failure to follow the girl.

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